BMW 1300 GS ASA Version | What's it like?

We reviewed the BMW 1300 GS a while ago and it was great, although this week we review the BMW 1300 GS ASA version. Sceptical at first, but what a machine!
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[@jjnewman65]

Not a fan. Auto put me into higher gears at low speeds. In the nationals I ride my GS in second a third gears, this system had my travelling into corners at 5th and 6th. I’d keep the clutch and have a quickshifter. Good vid guys.

[@martinhill9894]

Great video. I’ve ordered my 1300gsa/ asa and it’s coming in march. I can’t wait. Don’t think I will miss my 1250 gsa for long. 😁🤔

[@RiderCamTV]

Awesome machine buddy. Ride safe

[@davidherringgo]

Great review. 😊 learned alot about ASA .

[@maxflight777]

Good candid comments Mark. Trusted 👍🏻

[@davidoram3423]

The expiry of the Honda DCT copyright, if that is actually true, will have had no impact on the BMW ASA or even the Yamaha Y-AMT systems. The Honda DCT is a far superior system, neither BMW or Yamaha systems are DCT, but simple actuated manual gearboxes, with a single clutch, which rely on an ECU program to determine the actual gear change process - which may or may not satisfy. As a disabled person, I find the Yamaha Y-AMT to be the perfect addition to an already fantastic bike. It's not perfect, but it keeps me riding.

[@markholroyd3233]

Apparently until the patent for Honda ran out other manufacturers couldn’t produce a similar product. That’s the information we were given. Ride ssfe

[@andrewtofts7884]

Thanks for the video Mark and Toby. I’ve recently had a total knee replacement on my left leg;I’ve just bought a Honda Africa Twin with DCT, and the automatic system has been a game changer for me with my new leg, as well as for others in my situation. Question: the Honda has a parking brake as when you switch the bike off, it goes into neutral so you need a brake to stop it moving when parked on slopes. I notice the BMW ASA doesn’t have a parking brake, so can it be left in gear when switched off, or can the Hill Hold Assist be used? Cheers, Andy.

[@markholroyd3233]

This does have a physical brake for parking.

[@andrewtofts7884]

@ thanks Mark, where is it located?

[@markholroyd3233]

@@andrewtofts7884 mate I’m sorry, big fingers and a small keyboard… it doesn’t have a physical brake.

[@andrewtofts7884]

@@markholroyd3233 thanks Mark, that’s interesting! Do you know if it can be parked in gear; if not, that’s a flaw with the system.

[@markholroyd3233]

@@andrewtofts7884 it doesn’t need to be parked in gear.

[@Roy_Godiksen]

So it's Honda's E-clutch, but without a clutch lever... I like having a clutch for slow maneuvering. So i always prefer having a clutch. I think Honda is doing it smarter.

[@BugManRides]

I have a thought for BMW, the wing spoilers under the windscreen should be dark smoke, it would make the front the bike NOT look so small (Suzuki like), honestly the smallish look around the info panel, and the new smaller look of the bike overall is a definite NEGATIVE for me. That is why I bought the last of the 2024 GSA’s, it is what a BMW GS/A is supposed to be.

[@stalbansbiker]

The R1300 GS is so much better than the 1250 in looks handling and comfort Not riden the auto version yet but looking forward to it Just back from my second visit of week to the NEC show bit windy and wet today Great video I love my GSs 1300 and 750 Stalbansbiker

[@markgr1nyer]

Hope you get to try out the brand new Yamaha Tracer 9GT+. Similar system but on the handlebar instead of the foot pedal. All the same toys (except the height adjustment) including panniers for about £7k less

[@markholroyd3233]

The difference there would obviously be between a shaft or a chain. The Tracer is a brilliant bike so let’s see. Ride sfae

[@markgr1nyer]

@@markholroyd3233 True. You can buy a lot of chain and sprockets for 7K lol. The GT+ comes with an endurance chain, pair it up with a chain oiler set up correctly and you could to complete tours without even thinking of the chain

[@markholroyd3233]

@@markgr1nyer mmm, now you are talking..

[@rlw85]

I really don’t know what to make of the 1300 gs it seems to have come out a year too early in it’s development with all the problems. It’s a bike I really wanted for touring and days out with my daughter

[@jcrawford068]

If you ride in "Minimum", will it still drop down when you stop?

[@markholroyd3233]

I believe it does but please ask a dealer. Ride safe

[@SP-xd8gs]

I dont know, I tested a GSA1300 w ASA and in "drive mode" it was extremely jerky from gear to gear, especially from 2 to 3 I tried in road and in dynamic and it was really bad like hitting a speed bump, I even went back to the dealer a day later to try it again and took it out for about 45 minutes and still it was terribly jerky and rough between gears, nothing like hondas dct which is flawless, I have an order for a gsa 1300 asa now I dont know.... maybe the dealer bike had an issues? have you tried a honda dct goldwing?

[@markholroyd3233]

Not tried the Goldwing as dealers don’t have many as demonstrators. The DCT is very good having ridden it on quite a few bikes. I think possibly the BMW you rode had an issue because the one we rode was exceptional. Ride safe.

[@ItsBeenDanBefore]

I personally am not a fan the new 1300GS - having seen it in person, a brand new one with less than 1000 miles (garaged) already had rust on the exhaust, the front indicators were poor for visibility, the rear light arrangement is a rear ender waiting to happen, wires exposed on the RH side, list went on. But I can see a number of good pros and some cons with an auto bike - Pros: more accessible for more people, able to change how the auto mode works depending on the purpose of your journey or entirely use manual, enables a tutor/observer/examiner to focus less on their bike and more on the person they are assessing (a reason why a local examiner made the swap to a DCT NT1100), perhaps be more fuel economic and even allows those who ride a bit too quick to be able to not fluff up important changes at higher speed (I could see this being used for police usage if the system proves reliable and maintainable). Cons I can see are: weight and price increases, complete change of how you would maintain a very slow speed (stamping the rear brake and using very modulated throttle, according to local examiner), more difficult to resolve a problem if something arises, perhaps awkward to switch to if you have another manual bike, may go against using the System at times and maybe the Auto modes may not match up with what you want from each mode. As with anything, a test ride is the best way to do things. It took me 2 rides to get used to how my new 2011 RT-P corners because of the telelever suspension and how LIGHT the steering is

[@mikedignum1868]

I took my test ride a few weeks ago. Nope, I don't like the 1300 (I rode it around for a good few hours), I prefer the 1250GS I had... I'll hold onto my 1250RS and wait to see the 1300 RS and what they do to that.

[@BugManRides]

Go and collect a leftover 2024 GSA you will not be disappointed, i just did that…

[@jean-lucjourdan7227]

« Why are we riding bikes where we need changing gear » you wonder ?? Because this is part of the fun and we aren’t that lazy. If riding in traffic has become such a pain in the arse that you need a computer to do it for you maybe it’s time to consider an automatic car. This is one more gimmick that is just more expensive and more prone to break down, pushed to customers only for marketing purposes. Will you go further, safer and discover more remote places with this bike ? Nope !!

[@JPX8]

I ride my bike every day and I love it! Changing gears? Not so much... Not everyone is the same.

[@maxflight777]

jean-luckuddite … luddite response ! 🔝🤦‍♂️

[@maxflight777]

@@JPX8exactly!! I bought a Tesla, it’s makes all other cars look stupid. I like good design. Huge pat on the back for BMW for trying their damdest to move things forwards.

[@benkelly2190]

@@maxflight777Tesla! Like buying a fridge.

[@jean-lucjourdan7227]

@ Maxflight You’re misusing the term “Luddite,” and you’re also missing my point entirely. The Luddites were textile workers in the early 19th century who opposed industrial machinery because it threatened their jobs and livelihoods. Their resistance wasn’t about rejecting all technology-it was about protecting their economic and social interests. Today, the term is often thrown around like you did to label someone as anti-technology, but that’s an oversimplification. I’m not rejecting technology outright, nor am I opposed to innovation in motorbikes. What I’m questioning is whether this particular feature adds meaningful value for most riders. That’s not being a Luddite; it’s being thoughtful. I’m Focused on Practicality and Purpose. My issue with automatic shift assistants isn’t about resisting change for the sake of it. It’s about whether this feature improves the motorcycling experience or just adds cost and complexity. • Cost vs. Benefit: These systems make bikes more expensive but don’t offer proportional benefits for everyone. For those of us who value rugged exploration and adventure, simpler mechanics are more practical. • Reliability: The more complex a system, the more prone it is to breaking down. In remote or harsh environments, where repair options are limited, that’s a real drawback. • The Riding Experience: Shifting gears manually is part of the joy of riding. It’s a skill, an interaction with the bike, and part of what makes motorcycling immersive. Automating that takes away a piece of what makes it special. I’m not saying no one should want this feature-if it works for someone else, great. But it doesn’t align with the values of all riders, and that’s worth considering. Technology Should Serve Us, Not the Other Way Around. I’m not opposed to technology-I’m saying that not all technological advancements are inherently better. Motorcycling is as much about the journey and connection with the machine as it is about convenience. Features like automatic shift assistants risk diluting that experience, at least for riders like me. This isn’t about resisting innovation. It’s about ensuring that new features actually enhance the core purpose of a motorcycle, not just add unnecessary bells and whistles. So no, this isn’t a “Luddite view.” It’s a reasoned critique of a feature that doesn’t align with my needs or the spirit of motorcycling as I see it. Throwing out the word “Luddite” is reductive and misses the nuance of what I’m saying.