GS Automatic Stability Control (ASC)

[Brainfry]

Any reason why those of you with earlier model 07 GSA's (and GS's) didn't wait for the ASC models to ship?... I'm assuming you wanted to jump on one pretty quickly rather than wait, but was there any other reason? I would think it's worth waiting for. Unless like many BMW tech advances, there's concern over malfunction in the earlier models, etc. I'm debating whether or not to buy a GSA now without it, or wait and get one with it in the Spring.

Thoughts?

B

[Ted Shred]

Any reason why those of you with earlier model 07 GSA's (and GS's) didn't wait for the ASC models to ship?... I'm assuming you wanted to jump on one pretty quickly rather than wait, but was there any other reason? I would think it's worth waiting for. Unless like many BMW tech advances, there's concern over malfunction in the earlier models, etc. I'm debating whether or not to buy a GSA now without it, or wait and get one with it in the Spring.

Thoughts?

B

Well....you DON'T want it in the dirt for sure (that's why you can turn it off) and while the GS has plenty of power, I'm not too worried about spinning up the back wheel on the pavement...

[Brainfry]

Agreed, but it would definitely be a nice feature in the wet.


B

[Randy]

Any reason why those of you with earlier model 07 GSA's (and GS's) didn't wait for the ASC models to ship?... I'm assuming you wanted to jump on one pretty quickly rather than wait, but was there any other reason? I would think it's worth waiting for. Unless like many BMW tech advances, there's concern over malfunction in the earlier models, etc. I'm debating whether or not to buy a GSA now without it, or wait and get one with it in the Spring.

Thoughts?

BI am ambivalent about the feature. It might be a very good feature, but I don't consider it of the same importance as ABS. In my riding career of nearly 40 years, loss of traction that was caused by over acceleration has rarely been a problem. That is not to say that I couldn't be convinced that ASC is a good feature, I just cannot recall a specific situation where it would have been valuable to me.

[ronk1200lt]

On dirt you turn it off. In 25 years of riding I have never been in a position on pavement where I lost a significant enough amount of traction on any type of bike to see the need for it. Because I am not an overly aggressive rider this is one feature that for me would be a waste of money.

[Ruben]

I don't think the GS is a good candidate for any form of traction control. If I had a choice, I'd probably have ordered it without that feature anyway.

Bikes with high horsepower or torque are a different matter. The slant four series (S, R, GT) have enough power and torque that traction control "might" be nice to have. If given the choice, I think I'd even like it on my Goldwing. Not a lot of horsepower, but lots of low end torque, and I HAVE spun the rear wheel a few times in the wet when leaving a traffic control device (traffic light or stop sign). However, I'm usually pretty gentle on the throttle, and especially so when the roads are wet, which is the only time I've had a noticeable slip, and it was no where near dangerous.

ABS, on the other hand, I would never do without again. I promise I'll NEVER buy another motorcycle without it!

[Brainfry]

Thanks for all the feedback. However, given my riding style I wouldn't mind trying one with ASC anyway... doesn't HURT to try it... so to speak. Now to wait months and months. Ugh.

B

[pjessen]

I am trying to figger out who asked for it? Did BMW just come up with it because they could, or because they are using the GS as a test bed for future use on the S and R.
Like Randy, I can't think of a time when it would be really important on a pig like the GS...pig in the sense of power to weight ratio, versus a sport bike. AND, the fact that most GS's are ridden by old farts with years of experience. Now on an R 600, ZX 6RR, etc...

What the GS really needs is a huge switch...like a wall switch for in your home, that would turn off the ABS permanently. When you go off road, you tend to stop a bunch to catch up, shoot the breeze, wait for on-coming, etc., and its easy to forget to turn that ABS off every time you stop. I forgot once, and dented up the bike. I know, what are you thinking taking a $17k bike off road and not expecting to ding it. BTW, my next GS will not have ABS either!

[dronning]

Being a fellow Minnesotan I am sure Brainfry can relate. One word why ASC would be great - Winter

I'd love to have ASC on my '06 GSA it will help greatly during my winter jaunts/commutes. I prefer not to ride without ABS now that I have had several bikes with it.

To be able to turn off the ASC & ABS for extended periods would be great - but the least risk for BMW is to default back to on.

Wonder why BMW made ASC available on the K1200GT and not the K12 R or S bikes.

Dave

[Brainfry]

True Dave, but considering my waiting period- Winter will be over by then. Oh, wait... what am I thinking? There'll still be snow on the ground here in June!!!!


B