Automatic transmissions have struggled to affect motorcycle sales for decades - at least outside the scooter market - but we appear to be at a tipping point where the technology gets mass acceptance as Europe ' s most popular large-capacity bike is getting an auto option in 2025 . The bike in question is , of course , the |
BMW R 1300 GS . For 2025 , it will be joined by a 21 kg heavier R 1300 GS Adventure with more rugged styling and a larger fuel tank , and both versions will come with the option of BMW ' s newly-announced ' ASA ' Automated Shift Assistant . The word ' automatic ' is carefully avoided , with its connotations of slushy torque converters and sluggish performance , but while the ASA transmission is an automated version of a conventional manual clutch and transmission , it also has a fully-auto setting , where the bike takes care of all gear changing duties . It comes as a direct response to the success of Honda ' s Dual Clutch Transmission ( DCT ), which is now chosen by the majority of customers buying the Africa Twin Adventure Sports . Unlike the Honda DCT system , which uses two clutches and allows two gears to be selected simultaneously , so releasing one clutch and engaging the other gives a seamless shift with no |
interruption of drive , the BMW ASA transmission is essentially a conventional gearbox with electromechanical actuators operating the clutch and the gear shifter . With clever electronics , good integration of the ride-by-wire throttle and rapid movement of those actuators , the shifts should be as smooth as any human rider can achieve , but won ' t be truly seamless like the DCT gear changes . However , the system should also be much lighter and more affordable than the Honda design . BMW has confirmed that there will be both fully-auto and manual shift settings , selectable via a control on the bars , but there ' s no finger-operated gear controls . While the ASA transmission has been officially confirmed , we need to do some sleuthing to find out about the R 1300 GS Adventure it will be fitted to . Look carefully at the photos BMW released , showing the ASA controls |
and the red-and-black bike they ' re fitted to doesn ' t quite match anything in the existing range , with different hand guards , a different seat and changes to the fuel tank compared to the R 1300 GS . Type-approval documents filed by BMW confirm that there will be an R 1300 GS Adventure in 2025 . |
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front and 18 in rear wheel , while a large 22-litre fuel tank promises plenty of range . The real surprises are the level of standard electronic equipment . Keyless ignition , for example , along with electronic locks for the seat and fuel tank , as well as electric adjustment for the screen , heated grips and automatic , light-sensing headlights . There are cornering lights as well , plus scrolling |
indicators and tyre pressure monitors . ABS and traction control are standard , but so is a rear-mounted radar unit that monitors vehicles behind and provides blind spot warnings via lights in the mirrors . Deliveries in China are already underway , and Zontes ' decision to unveil the bike in Milan last year indicates that international sales will follow soon . The 703RR sports bike isn ' t |
quite in dealers yet , but it has passed Chinese type-approval , showing that it too is production-ready . The approval documents confirm that it puts out a bit more power than the 703F , with a peak of 100 hp ( 75 kW ), and it ' s a lot lighter , coming in at 196 kg , including a tank of fuel . The approvals also show that Zontes has refined the styling since EICMA , adding more subtle headlights than |
those seen on the show version , which unusually are mounted on either side of the fairing , incorporated into the winglets .
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