guest area » Hillstart Assist

I'm thinking of having the hill start assist fitted to my R1200 RS SE at the next service. Has anyone had this done? what's it cost and what's involved and more importantly, is it any good?

When I had my 600 mile service done I was planning to have that added. The dealer wanted something like $250. It's just a software patch. I had the service done on a Saturday, the dealer had some problem and no one was at BMW USA to help them so I didn't have it done. It sounds like it could be useful and the next time I have to take the bike to the dealer I'll consider it. So I can tell you about what they charge but have no first hand knowledge of it's function.

I was quoted £220 to have the software update. I might have been tempted at half the price so decided against it.
My riding buddy has it as a factory fitted option on his GS. He finds it tricky to get just right and tends to over-rev to get it to release, resulting in some interesting lurching and colourful language in my earpiece intercom..

Alan

Hi
I had my 18 1200rs wc done earlier this year.
Yes it works, its the same as on all the later 1200 wc models.
It is a software patch.
Dealers do not have the patch
BMW hq sell the patches to dealers to fit for £160
Dealer charge 1/2 hours labour to fit
All prices are negotiable depending on you relationship with your dealer

Hope this helps
Lofty

I enquired last year with Williams Manchester who I bought the bike from.

Quote was £204 fitted & activated, but I didn't go for it.

I had it retrofitted on my '17 RS at the normal costs (€200+, don't remember exact number) and really liked it. If you ride around in mountains it is really helpful, especially with luggage and/or pillion on the back of the bike.

Zitat von Alda im Beitrag #3

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He finds it tricky to get just right and tends to over-rev to get it to release, resulting in some interesting lurching and colourful language in my earpiece intercom..

Alan

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Hmmm... I've ridden many bikes, many miles, sometimes heavily loaded and sometimes in mountainous areas. I've never thought that I needed such a device and I still don't. Can anyone tell me an advantage over a finger on the front brake that warrants the expense and complexity/capacity for failure?

Have to agree .Never had a problem. But I have heard of people getting knocked off their bike when a numpty cage driver in front of them reversed into them, accidentally, And due to the Hillstart assist they couldn't back up to avoid an impact.🤔

Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #9

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Hmmm... I've ridden many bikes, many miles, sometimes heavily loaded and sometimes in mountainous areas. I've never thought that I needed such a device and I still don't. Can anyone tell me an advantage over a finger on the front brake that warrants the expense and complexity/capacity for failure?

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Zitat von L2RKE im Beitrag #10

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Have to agree .Never had a problem. But I have heard of people getting knocked off their bike when a numpty cage driver in front of them reversed into them, accidentally, And due to the Hillstart assist they couldn't back up to avoid an impact.🤔

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The version on the 1200 bikes doesn't release easily or cleanly, and can result in some lurching, so I rarely used it, and when I did I squeezed the lever to release it manually before moving off. In contrast the version on the 1250 is much more refined and useful, plus if you have the Riding Modes Pro option this adds a setting where you can enable the hill start to activate automatically if the bike stops on a slope. Saves on the foot shuffling which is great, especially when trying to balance with pillion and luggage.

Late last year I rode my previous bike with luggage over Harknott Pass in Cumbria. I'm not sure I would have wanted anything interfering because it was sketchy enough as it was.
Having said that, I have it on my new bike I really must turn it on and figure out how to use it because I have an uphill set of traffic lights 200m from my house.

Hi

The hill assist is easy to use.
You need to feel the clutch biting point until the "H" flashes on the dash, then gently increase the revs and pull away.
Remember you cannot practice on the flat as the hill assist only engages on a gradient. So find the shallowest gradient it'll engage, slowly increasing the steepness until mastered.

Simples.