BMW’s latest rider aid for its upmarket motorcycles is a shift assistant which should make pulling away on steep hills less stressful.
Even with a quick-shifter, which has become commonplace on several larger motorbikes in recent years, the rider still has to operate the clutch.
The need to slip the clutch makes it harder when pulling away in traffic with the extra weight of a pillion passenger and luggage and also on steep gradients or rough road surfaces.
Industry experts have said the move towards automatic changes on large touring motorcycles mirrors the growing popularity of automatic cars which are often preferred by drivers who want a smoother and more relaxed driving experience.
The BMW Shift Assistant Pro will soon be available on the R-Series models which are powered by Boxer twin engines, said the Munich maker.
Combined with Active Cruise Control and front collision warning already available on BMW’s range-topping bikes, the system should make riding simpler and more intuitive.
The assistant functions in a similar way to Honda’s optional dual-clutch transmission (DCT) which was added to the option list several years and has since proved popular.
The Automated Shift Assistant features a neat, functional design in which two electromechanical actuators automate the clutch and gearshift of the six-speed transmission, which is the main difference to a conventional shift assistant.
There is no need for a hand lever to operate the clutch manually. Starting, stopping and manoeuvring the motorbike is thereby made easier.
A gearshift lever sensor transmits the rider's shift commands to the control unit, which is actuated by the conventional foot-operated gearshift lever.
“Riding with the Automated Shift Assistant also becomes more enjoyable thanks to fast, rev- and load-adapted shift sequences and the resulting precise gear changes. The rider's workload is reduced, which makes riding even more enjoyable,” said BMW.
In "M" shift mode, gear changes can still be made by foot control, allowing the rider to decide when to change gears. In "D" shift mode, the gears are automatically selected by the engine control unit. In both "M" and "D" modes, the rider benefits from perfectly executed gear changes with a smooth interruption of traction.
