1200GSA LC ESA harsh suspension

[Paul G (BHT)]

Will post and update tomorrow once I have collected and returned home.

Just collected my GSA and all seems to be fine now, I could tell the difference even before leaving their car park. Only done 50 miles so far, taking him on a 200 mile bimble around Wales on Saturday so that will give it a good test.

Spoke to the mechanic and he says he replaced the whole front shock, so I'm guessing the original one was faulty.

I asked him about the alleged software update that is being talked about and he knew nothing about it.

 

[Neil W]

I've been out today experimenting with mine, two up in road mode even on the solo plus luggage (soft) setting the suspension is far too harsh.... it feels like running a bike with 60 psi in both tyres you feel every slight irregularity tarmac repair and bit of gravel on the road surface.

Two up in solo mode on the normal or hard setting the suspension is compliant but ground clearance is lacking and it will bottom out on larger bumps.

In RAIN mode on solo plus luggage ,( normal ) the suspension is plush, compliant and gives a high degree of insulation from the road surface ,the bike handles yet doesn't bottom out , how the f@@k can they get the basics so wrong with the esa .


Tried Dynamic and to be honest after 5 minutes I gave up, yes the bike goes like a scalded cat but what a pain in the proverbial, no ride comfort, fidgety on poor road surfaces and every bump is felt by a kick in the base of the spine.

As for the correct two up setting neither of us are nine stone weaklings but on this setting even in rain mode the bike suspension feels as if it is locked up solid

 

[xspencex]

Hi,

So I thought I'd have a search through the forum to find out if anybody had been having strange issues with their suspension.

In the last 1.5k miles I've noticed a marked deterioration in the ride quality of my 2015 LC with ESA. I ride most of the time in the soft setting but where that seemed like a magic carpet from new I'm now getting the feeling something has changed. Tyres are PR4's and in good condition as well so I'm thinking there's something not right with the shocks. It feel like there's a reduction in rebound control and it's unsettling the bike over bumps at low/medium speed.

I see nobody has posted on this thread in a while. Just wondering if anybody has had issues with a 2015 bike?

 

[Pablo1]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...-TYRE-PRESSURES-AND-ESA?p=4201854#post4201854

 

[Motorcycle Michael]

Hi,

So I thought I'd have a search through the forum to find out if anybody had been having strange issues with their suspension.

In the last 1.5k miles I've noticed a marked deterioration in the ride quality of my 2015 LC with ESA. I ride most of the time in the soft setting but where that seemed like a magic carpet from new I'm now getting the feeling something has changed. Tyres are PR4's and in good condition as well so I'm thinking there's something not right with the shocks. It feel like there's a reduction in rebound control and it's unsettling the bike over bumps at low/medium speed.

I see nobody has posted on this thread in a while. Just wondering if anybody has had issues with a 2015 bike?

I had a 2013 and a 2014 GSlc and feel your pain and disappointment.
I was most unhappy with the Sachs suspension on both bikes having traded in a relatively plush K1300R with WP ESA. I still own an R1200R with WP ESA and it's waaay better than the latest BMW's.
I looked into getting the suspension revalved like they do with the Ducati Multistrada's (the Sachs set up on the MS is crap too) but you can't revalve the BMW units. Don't be disheartened though, there are 2 fixes. Either get wilbers ESA units fitted for @ £1500 or do what I did and get rid of the GS.

 

[Camel Toe]

Just taken my "14" GSA LC in as it started to shake and bang over bumps......rear shock knackered......not one available in UK...off road now till new year. Try pressing down on seat, you shouldnt be able to compress it, if it bounces up n down ya got a problem.

Does anyone else with a 2014 GSA fiited with the Dynamic pack feel their ESA is not performing?

My GSA suspension is 'bothering me', even cats eyes shake the bike like buggery and are avoided if possible... a pot hole is a nightmare and feels like I'm back in the 80's on my rigid frame Triumph chop

There seems to be very little between Hard, Normal and Soft and it makes no difference if the bike is in Rain, Road or Dynamic mode.

Seeing this has me wondering if there may be an issue with the ESA on the GS(A) LC lurking in the back ground

 

[mrtee43]

Just taken my "14" GSA LC in as it started to shake and bang over bumps......rear shock knackered......not one available in UK...off road now till new year. Try pressing down on seat, you shouldnt be able to compress it, if it bounces up n down ya got a problem.

Surely that should be, with ignition off you shouldn't be able to compress it but with ignition on, you can bounce it up and down albeit with a damped feeling.

 

[Camel Toe]

not sure on that one..all i can say is technician just came out off workshop and pressed down on seat and said it needs a shocker as you shouldnt be able to do that....

Surely that should be, with ignition off you shouldn't be able to compress it but with ignition on, you can bounce it up and down albeit with a damped feeling.

 

[PeterB4407]

This is true. The failure mode effectively locks the shock. Try turnING the ignition off and coasting.