1200GSA LC ESA harsh suspension

only a thought . i bought ohlins for my r1100rs had them converted to my 1200 2010 two spring rate's higher on the back at mick gardener racing russ my mate , if you buy ohlins over the counter they need properly setting for ride hight ect but the point is these are better by far as once set up the are fantastic I've done 65000 on them and just had both service and now like new again, and if i ever sell my bike they will be stopping with me for the next, i have a r1100gs with them on as well , without sounding like a lecture one set up cannot cover the full range on a bike like a light person to heavy one and with luggage and with out and off road the esa suspension cannot cover all the aspects , you can only wind up the spring and make the damping harder if the spring rate is not right you on a loosing battle to start with. as in saying jack of all trades master of none! and that sums up esa get your bum on one with ohlins try going 70 down a rough single track lane grass in middle rough holes filled in with blobs of gravel tarmac ect totally amazed still after riding the all these years they float . lol
 
I do felt the ESA is very harsh.. But at about 1200km, it doesn't felt as harsh as before. Does the ESA 'learn' and adjust?
 
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.

I have a certain road that I always use to get a feel for the suspension on a new bike and usually spend an hour or two on this road whenever I swap my bike playing with the suspension.

I sure JB will know this road it runs between Rosedale and Egton Bridge,anyhow my finding where that on rough choppy roads the best settings I found where...ESA...Enduro... Hard..MODE.. Rain...tyres same as Giles suggests at 34 f 39 r. I recently spent 3 days and 850mls in the NY moors the Dales and the Lake district doing some very gnarley back roads and choppy b roads...Enduro Hard...Rain... is now my preffered setting for these types of road.

The only time the suspension is set to soft is on very smooth straight roads.

It really is worth spending some time travelling the same road to get the suspension just right.

Steve
 
I have a certain road that I always use to get a feel for the suspension on a new bike and usually spend an hour or two on this road whenever I swap my bike playing with the suspension.

I sure JB will know this road it runs between Rosedale and Egton Bridge

Steve

Did it yesterday, in fact and my 1150GSA was like a magic carpet with Ohlins, on it:D
 
Every time I rub the lamp and the genie appears...................it's a dream:D

And tonight's dream is that a wheezy old traction engine could live with a new *Glitter Bike*......
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And tonight's dream is that a wheezy old traction engine could live with a new *Glitter Bike*......
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I wasn't with one (did I say I was) yesterday:confused:

And of course I know that it can't, however it's which bike you enjoy to ride

The new WC holds no desire for me, nope....................it's not my type of bike and they still haven't fully developed it yet either:augie

The WC is still 'work in progress'
 
I wasn't with one, did I say I was yesterday:confused:

And of course I know that, however it's which bike you enjoy to ride

The new WC holds no desire for me, nope....................it's not my type of bike and they still haven't developed it yet either:augie

Much too logical a retort..... :P
 
I wasn't with one (did I say I was) yesterday:confused:

And of course I know that it can't, however it's which bike you enjoy to ride

The new WC holds no desire for me, nope....................it's not my type of bike and they still haven't fully developed it yet either:augie

The WC is still 'work in progress'

Never fall for the hype and buy all the fancy add-ons, they are there just to maximise profit for the manufacturer and add very little benefit to the user - the basic LC is better than the old 1200, it is better handling (even without the electronic suspension), it is more powerful and more economical and a joy to ride - motorcycles don't need car type bling to make them fun, don't get taken in by it. KISS!
 
Never fall for the hype and buy all the fancy add-ons, they are there just to maximise profit for the manufacturer and add very little benefit to the user - the basic LC is better than the old 1200, it is better handling (even without the electronic suspension), it is more powerful and more economical and a joy to ride - motorcycles don't need car type bling to make them fun, don't get taken in by it. KISS!

I concur, that's the truth

Pity there are no demos in BASIC trim, to compare the evolution - all I want is Heated Grips on a bike
 
The rest of it is just a complete waste of time and effort, as Engineer says.....................it's just 'profit engineering' for the manufacturer

That depends how often you use the different settings.:rob I can honestly say that I change the ESA settings on my bike, on EVERY ride, as I normally take in a variety of roads.:thumb

Once you've got used to the way the bike handles in each setting, you can really take advantage of them. I don't understand people that spec ESA, then never change the settings.:nenau

It makes no sense to those that don't have it, or have never ridden with it, but once you have it, and get used to it, it's a cracking system.:beerjug:
 
Must say I'm with you on that one Nutty...I change the suspension settings numerous times when out on a ride,it just becomes second nature after a while.

Having said all that I still love riding my 99 1100gs...it has nothing, no heated grips no abs,15 year old suspension,but it's still very nice to ride,just in a different sort of way:thumb2

Steve
 
That depends how often you use the different settings.:rob I can honestly say that I change the ESA settings on my bike, on EVERY ride, as I normally take in a variety of roads.:thumb

Once you've got used to the way the bike handles in each setting, you can really take advantage of them. I don't understand people that spec ESA, then never change the settings.:nenau

It makes no sense to those that don't have it, or have never ridden with it, but once you have it, and get used to it, it's a cracking system.:beerjug:

I'm on my 3rd bike with ESA & have never noticed a difference on any of the settings on any of the 3 bikes.
 
I'm on my 3rd bike with ESA & have never noticed a difference on any of the settings on any of the 3 bikes.

I'm frankly amazed at that!......... I have had 3 with ESA and I notice the difference immediately. My current steed, a 2012 Rallye with Hilltop, is the best ESA of the lot, and the nicest GS I've ever ridden

I have not bothered to get a ride on the LC as I don't like its looks
 
Agree with the above - I have ESA and change modes on every ride.
 


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