To ASA or not and to new or older?

[Wrinkly]

I didn’t like ASA when I tested it.

Good for riding in traffic but out on the open road the shifts were not smooth.

Also, more cost, more weight and something else to go wrong.

Must have been that particular bike. The changes on mine out on the open road are pretty good in drive (auto) mode and in manual mode I would defy anyone to change as smoothly.

 

[theoneandonly]

oh dear , how sad , never mind.
why do you need this feature ? what does it do , that you , as the driver cannot do ?

 

[zoltan]

oh dear , how sad , never mind.
why do you need this feature ? what does it do , that you , as the driver cannot do ?

Don't know about the OP.
In my case I only used it in town, wrist problem left hand. Manual on the open road, which is brilliant. Best gear change BM I ever had or tested. I think most people used it that way.

 

[Wrinkly]

oh dear , how sad , never mind.
why do you need this feature ? what does it do , that you , as the driver cannot do ?

Due to a physical issue (essential tremor) for me, using a clutch operated bike had become virtually impossible and dangerous. It's kept me riding and that's all I'm bothered about.

 

[JoeBiff]

oh dear , how sad , never mind.
why do you need this feature ? what does it do , that you , as the driver cannot do ?

You’re overthinking it.
Just buy one and ride it.

 

[gateway77]

Manual mode is fantastic as a quick-shifter. Much better than the QS system with the standard manual gear change.
Auto mode slows down in traffic and takes off from lights smoother than I can do so manually - but I've only been riding 40 years so I've still a lot to learn.

I don't have ASA on my GS but I'd certainly consider it next time around long as I wasn't planning on much off road stuff.

 

[RallyeGS]

99% of GS owners will never venture off road and for that reason the ASA system makes good sense. My 1300GSA has 6500 miles on the clock and the ASA has been faultless, both in auto and manual mode where the QS is sublime. I would be more than happy taking it down gravel tracks, fire breaks and light green lanes, anything more than that then a clutch is always handy. The GS is more of a touring bike these days than the RT in my opinion, with better rider ergonomics all round. After a very brief stint on a RT after 8 GS/A bikes, I am back on a R1300 GSA and the ASA is just what I want to take me to Nordkapp in 2027.