BMW has unveiled its latest piece of high-tech kit: an automatic transmission for the latest R1300 Boxer engine. The new setup, dubbed Automated Shift Assistant (ASA), adds computer-controlled actuators to the standard transmission hardware, which looks after the clutch and gearbox operation. The rider can choose between either a full-auto ‘D’ mode twist-and-go auto box or an ‘M’ mode manual override, with a foot lever to change gears. There’s no clutch lever at all, so the entire clutch function is automated for pulling away, gear shifting and stopping, while the foot lever is just a switch with no mechanical link to the shifter mechanism. The shifting algorithm takes into account the riding mode selected and how the bike is being ridden, so in a rain or touring mode, the bike will shift up at lower revs, but in a sport mode, it will rev higher, more so if the rider is using full throttle.
BMW’s new ASA clutch actuator systemBDN saw the new ASA system demonstrated during an event near BMW HQ in Munich, and the prototype R1300 GS looked to be completely normal as the test rider rode past on an off-road test route. Only when he waved his left arm and leg in the air was it clear something unusual was happening!
One useful practical aspect is security: when the ignition is turned off with the bike in ‘Park’, the gearshift and clutch are locked, and there’s no way to disengage the rear wheel from the engine. So, a thief can’t simply roll the bike away without turning on the ignition with the key. The ASA also rules out bump-starting a bike with a flat battery, though, so there are some swings and roundabouts there.
The system will be available for the 2025 season, costing around £900 as a factory-fit option and adding 2.1kg of weight to the bike. The system was developed on the new 1300 Boxer motor, but there’s nothing in the tech that couldn’t be applied to other engine layouts like the S1000 inline-four or F900 parallel twin. We’d expect the new ASA system to feature on a new 2025 model first – either the R1300 GS Adventure or a new touring R1300 RT.