1200GSA LC ESA harsh suspension

[Paul G (BHT)]

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

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

1200GSA LC Harsh suspension

I heard Humvee mention this about his GSA suspension too, last weekend on some the Dales's smaller roads with poor surfaces & washboard
He said he couldn't seem to find the best setting
My Ohlins performed great once adjusted to the settings I knew worked, before the weekend started
We were pressing on a bit at times & the bike's were airborne quite a bit - but my suspension was perfect & Oscar remarked he knew why I brought the Ohlins equipped bike over the Wilbers one

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

It has been to a dealers and they say there is nothing wrong with it. While it was in there I had their GSA demo which was a totally different bike to ride, it just smoothed the road out like a magic carpet.

I would say mine now feels so bad that it is detrimental to the bikes handling.

 

[madmartin]

You might have to trawl a load of threads on here but there was a post by a member who had a non-working esa similair to how you have described. Sure the post was in the last 3xweeks. I know this dont help ya but rain dyna and road modes make a noticeable difference on my 13lc as do the various esa settings. What and how did your dealer test your bike?

 

[mpriestley]

can you persuade one of the technicians to take yours round the block back to back with their demo bike.........

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It has been to a dealers and they say there is nothing wrong with it. While it was in there I had their GSA demo which was a totally different bike to ride, it just smoothed the road out like a magic carpet.

I would say mine now feels so bad that it is detrimental to the bikes handling.

See if you can try somebody else's similar bike too

Yours sounds not right

 

[Mr K]

Don't suppose it is anything to do with the RT LC recall for ESA equipped bikes?

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Anyone from BMW who may happen upon this thread will be thrilled to hear that the bossman is experiencing issues with his steed
I can only comment from my twin cam GSA experience but I can always notice the difference in the ESA settings.

 

[autogs]

i think you will find that after his trip to vines they already know.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Mines Loads better than the TC , really smooth and notice the changes

 

[Nutty]

Sorry it's not sorted, Paul. I was surprised by the difference you mentioned, when we went out that day. My ESA is working as it should, with noticeable difference between soft, normal and hard. I also took Jo out the other day, and she was impressed how the bike went up when I set the ESA to two up.

Keep us posted on what BMW say, when you reject your bike!

 

[chad]

Sorry it's not sorted, Paul. I was surprised by the difference you mentioned, when we went out that day. My ESA is working as it should, with noticeable difference between soft, normal and hard. I also took Jo out the other day, and she was impressed how the bike went up when I set the ESA to two up.

Keep us posted on what BMW say, when you reject your bike!

Hmmm intresting you should post this Paul last weekend i had a fully specked TE GSA to play with and very nice it was too But i have to say the suspention didnt feel to give any where near as nice a ride as the Nitrons on my 1150 i didnt want to post anything for fear of coming under attack for daring to critisize the mighty WC


however HOLYFUCKINCHRISTONABIKE WHATAFUCKINENGINE

 

[Schtum]

I can only comment from my twin cam GSA experience but I can always notice the difference in the ESA settings.

The new bike should be a major leap ahead from that. Apart from anything else, it calibrates the rate and extent of deflection of the suspension up to 100 times a second and uses that and additional sensor data to adjust the damping in something approaching real time.

I had reason to both ride and drive the same roads on the same day recently. The bike was my late 2013 GS TE and the car my wife's 2013 VW Tiguan Match which on only 17" wheels with 55 profile tyres and standard suspension, actually rides quite well in comparison with her previous one which had 19" wheels and sports suspension. However, that night it felt quite hard and unforgiving until I realised that was in comparison with the bike which had soaked up the bumpy country roads much better earlier in the day.

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Hope you get this sorted soon Paul and do let us know the outcome, as John has alluded above on some 1 in particular) of the roads we used in Yorkshire last weekend I felt the ride was really choppy, I was in road mode with the ESA on soft and the ride was becoming tiresome, the ride or handling was never dangerous I just felt the ride was very harsh, for the most part my bike felt sure footed and comfortable following JBs Ohlins equipped bike.
I didn't experience anything like this on the various road types we tried in Wales previously so put the Yorkshire experience down to a particularly washboard type of surface. I'm going to reduce the tyre pressure in the rear a little and see how it performs on some of the poorly surfaced single track roads around south and mid Wales at the next opportunity.

 

[Neil W]

The demo I tried out on normal settings felt as if the front esa strut was solid , on soft road it was better but overall the bike felt harsh in comparison to my Maxton equipped r1200gsa tc.
I have actually ordered a new bike but am having second thoughts, so much so that when my bike is in for service on Tuesday I have asked for the gsa demo again and am seriously considering cancelling my order if it feels no better.

I originally tried to order a basic with a view to getting Maxtons on it but none were being made

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Hope you get this sorted soon Paul and do let us know the outcome, as John has alluded above on some 1 in particular) of the roads we used in Yorkshire last weekend I felt the ride was really choppy, I was in road mode with the ESA on soft and the ride was becoming tiresome, the ride or handling was never dangerous I just felt the ride was very harsh, for the most part my bike felt sure footed and comfortable following JBs Ohlins equipped bike.
I didn't experience anything like this on the various road types we tried in Wales previously so put the Yorkshire experience down to a particularly washboard type of surface. I'm going to reduce the tyre pressure in the rear a little and see how it performs on some of the poorly surfaced single track roads around south and mid Wales at the next opportunity.

Different bikes for sure but I run 36/40, with Tourances as this gives me enough feedback (as I found out on that bend )
With the Ohlins I run a heavy rear spring & no preload - but adjust the rebound to give a controlled & well damped ride
Last weekend the roads were rough & bumpy in places but the bike never bottomed (as some others indicated with their bikes) & the ride was never harsh, mainly well controlled

I'd be surprised that you couldn't get a reasonable ride, with the WC GSA as the suspension is pretty sophisticated

Who makes it?

Sachs ?

 

[Nutty]

I rode the same GSA that Vines lent Paul, a few weeks ago, and noticed that compared to mine, it seemed like you sit on top of it, rather than in it, and it seemed more docile and not as precise in the bends. Are all GSA's like this?

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Different bikes for sure but I run 36/40, with Tourances as this gives me enough feedback (as I found out on that bend )
With the Ohlins I run a heavy rear spring & no preload - but adjust the rebound to give a controlled & well damped ride
Last weekend the roads were rough & bumpy in places but the bike never bottomed (as some others indicated) & the ride was never harsh, mainly well controlled

I'd be surprised that you couldn't get a reasonable ride, with the WC GSA as the suspension is pretty sophisticated

Who makes it?

Sachs ?

John, no bottoming out experienced at all, ride was always well controlled and nicely damped for the most part, I've always been happy with Conti Trail attacks which is what this bike was delivered with but feel the rear tyre may be too high at 2.9 bar, I was happy to ride at your pace all weekend with one exception later in the day on Saturday, yes the LC has Sachs suspension, maybe not an issue but will try and replicate the symptoms locally.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

John, no bottoming out experienced at all, ride was always well controlled and nicely damped for the most part, I've always been happy with Conti Trail attacks which is what this bike was delivered with but feel the rear tyre may be too high at 2.9 bar, I was happy to ride at your pace all weekend with one exception later in the day on Saturday, yes the LC has Sachs suspension, maybe not an issue but will try and replicate the symptoms locally.

I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it & maybe just getting used to it & how the settings pan out

Rear tyre pressure is always a good place to start

What's 2.9 bar in old money ?

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

The new bike should be a major leap ahead from that. Apart from anything else, it calibrates the rate and extent of deflection of the suspension up to 100 times a second and uses that and additional sensor data to adjust the damping in something approaching real time.

I had reason to both ride and drive the same roads on the same day recently. The bike was my late 2013 GS TE and the car my wife's 2013 VW Tiguan Match which on only 17" wheels with 55 profile tyres and standard suspension, actually rides quite well in comparison with her previous one which had 19" wheels and sports suspension. However, that night it felt quite hard and unforgiving until I realised that was in comparison with the bike which had soaked up the bumpy country roads much better earlier in the day.

I thought it must have gone tits up for a second there Schtum