When BMW launched its new R 1300 GS, a number of oldsters throughout the interwebs thought that the bikes provided an digital middle stand, one thing that’d make pulling a motorcycle up onto it a factor of the previous. But regardless of what you could have seen or learn on the web, that’s not truly the case.
No, you’ve been lied to! Well, not likely, however the individuals who’ve been claiming that there’s such a tool are mistaken in how the system works. That’s to not say BMW didn’t give you one thing to make popping a motorbike up onto a middle stand simpler. The firm did and the best way its engineers designed it’s going to have you ever simply as intrigued as you have been earlier than.
So let’s break down how BMW’s Adaptive Ride Height Control and Prop-Up Assistant work.
Adaptive Ride Height Control is precisely what it seems like, in {that a} rider of a brand new R 1300 GS can choose between Low and High trip heights. The concept behind the system is that while you’re stationary or coming to a cease, the motorbike will routinely decrease itself so {that a} rider’s toes higher contact the pavement, however when transferring, doesn’t sacrifice floor clearance.
High setting raises the seat peak to 33.46 inches, whereas Low drops it 1.18 inches to 32.28 inches. According to BMW, “Adaptive Vehicle Height Control uses a hydraulic cylinder on each of the front and rear spring/shock assemblies to raise and lower the chassis. An MPU Motor Pump Unit operates through a switch valve to send hydraulic pressure to the two cylinders. Seat height can be lowered by 1.18” in 1.5 seconds at speeds beneath 15 mph. Raising seat peak again to regular stage takes 3.0 seconds and is finished above 30 mph.”
As for a way the system works that will help you pop the motorbike up onto its middle stand, “The Prop-Up Assistant is used with the ignition turned on but the engine off, by simply folding down the center stand while the bike is in the lowered position (AUTO). The bike will sense the intent to put the center stand down and will automatically align and raise itself from the low to standard height setting, giving greater leverage to the rider to get the bike up by pushing down on the foot plate part of the center stand.”
But BMW didn’t cease there with the corporate stating, “After the R 1300 GS is up on the center stand, the motorcycle will lower itself to the low setting to increase stability” whereas up on the stand itself.
So there you’ve got it. It’s a slick system, one I hope to check out for myself someday within the close to future. But, no, it isn’t an computerized middle stand such as you’ve been led to imagine. That stated, it’s fairly darn shut and appears to make the entire affair so simple as counting 1,2,4. Wait.
What do you all take into consideration BMW’s system? Is it one thing you’d prefer to see on the remainder of the corporate’s off-road lineup?