BMW Introduces Automated Shift Assistant for Boxers
Will it debut on the R 1300 GS Adventure?
BMW announced a new Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) for Boxer-engined motorcycles, offering automatic shifting without the need for a manual clutch lever. It’s not clear when this technology will be available on a production model, but BMW will follow Honda’s 2024 CBR650R and CB650R in bringing an electronically-controlled clutch to market.
The Automated Shift Assistant makes use of two electromechanical actuators, one for the clutch and one for controlling gear shifts. The actuators are managed by a transmission control unit which works in conjunction with the engine control unit, using data from sensors that determine the revs of the transmission input shaft and clutch position.
The system has two modes, M and D, with a button on the base of the left mirror stalk letting the rider toggle between them. M is the manual mode, though it’s probably more accurate to call it semi-manual. The rider uses a conventional shift lever with the left foot to choose up or down shifts, but the gear change is only made if the engine speed is within a required rev range. If the revs drop below a specific gear’s minimum speed threshold, the transmission will automatically downshift to prevent stalling.
In D mode, ASA controls shift points automatically, as decided by the ECU, taking into account the engine’s ride mode, engine speed, throttle position, and lean angle.
So far, the technology is designed to work with a Boxer engine, with an illustration showing the R 1300 GS’ engine. The provided photos show handguards suggesting a GS, but what’s interesting is the parts of the motorcycle that we can see in the background do not appear to match the R 1300 GS. For one thing, the 2024 GS doesn’t come in the red and black colors pictured. The fuel tank is out of focus in all of the photos, but the shape of the bodywork looks different from the R 1300’s tank.
What we may actually be looking at here is the 2025 R 1300 GS Adventure, which makes sense as BMW typically introduces the Adventure model the year after launching a new GS. The other possibility is this could be the M 1300 GS we’ve long been anticipating, though BMW’s M models usually use a mix of red and blue graphics.
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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I can see a lot of riders going for this clutchless feature especially those that are attracted to the Honda DCT but want a BMW. I'll stick to having an old fashioned clutch because to me it adds to the riding experience. A clutchless bike just seems to be to much like driving a car and hopefully BMW doesn't see fit to drop the clutch entirely on all their bikes because it'll mean I've bought my last BMW.
Like the power assisted brakes of 2005, here's another answer to a question no one asked. Let's see how well this one goes for BMW. I guess the Germans have forgotten K.I.S.S.