2009 1200GS Front Suspension Dipping.

gt40driver

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Need some advice re the front suspension on my 2009 1200GS fitted with ESA. The bike is totally standard. I find the front suspension quite soft dipping a lot when changing gear and made worse by having my partner and luggage onboard. I have tried the different setting except the off road modes but still find the dipping a bit annoying. Is their any spring alternatives available which will fit the standard unit or should I be thinking of any other alternatives.

Martin.
 
I'm surprised to be honest; One of the features of tele-lever is it's reduced dive under braking.
Can you manually up the pre-load at the shock?

:nenau
 
well this is a new one,what on earth were you riding before to think the gs dives?.the whole point of telelever is it seperates brake and susp forces.
 
My 1150 did that when the shocks were knackered?
The bike should not dip much when stopped and you rock it on the front brake.
Mine bounced like a light offroader - set of ohlins all good now.:beerjug:
 
Their does not seem to be any way of adjusting the pre load other than with the ESA system.
 
imho it`ll dip whatever you do to the suspension due to the weight shift when you`re accelerating, clutch in, gear change, accelerate again. More weight = more movement.
Nowt to worry about, just about all vehicles do it :D
 
Just my humble but springs keep the bike of the ground and don't stop anything from moving. If you can dial in the right amount of sag then your springs are fine. Damping adjustment is what stops everything moving too much and might be what your actually looking to increase. I also think that your problem might be the opposite from what you think in that its not dipping so much as rising so when you power off to change gear its actually settling back down. Possibly this is due to too soft a damping on the rear but it could also be you have far too much sag on the front. A cable tie round the stanchion will tell you where the front is sitting at and you could possibly do the same on the rear with a small tie. These will give you your travel on the suspension to see if your springs are too soft.
Unfortunately your options are limited on ESA with the stock shocks. If you increase the spring rate your damping will never match properly. You might have to change to wilburs or ohlines if you cant get a setup that works on stock.
This is one of the reasons I don't like ESA. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a good system if it fits you but if it doesn't then your limited to what you can do to sort it out.
 
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I'm surprised to be honest.
 
Think Marki GSA may have something. I have now ridden the bike with no vario panniers or pillion for the first time and what a difference, its a completely different bike. Guess its just down to the added weight and more suspension travel than I have been used to in the past coming from a VFR800. Thanks for all the replies they are appreciated. Now I guess to save some weight on the back I will need the other half to lose a bit of weight. Any ideas how I go about that?!!!
 
All I can say is, that it doesn't happen with a decent shock fitted.
 
Marki GSA yes I think you have done the job and it hasn't cost a penny. I will though probably invest in a set of wilbers at some point. Everyone seems to think they improve the bikes handling and ride. I am doing a Europe trip later in the year so have just fitted a Sargent seat and have got an Adventure screen to go on when I get chance.
The GT40 thing relates to one I have built. Its a replica which has taken five years+ to complete and have just got it back from the painters today. Got some pictures but will post some more decent ones when its completely finished. If you want to see a video of tha car at Harewood House last year go on You Tube and put in GT40 Harewood.
Thanks again everyone for your input.

Martin.
 

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Nice motor :thumb2 Tornado? Kav? GTD?

A friend's son had a very early KVA which after being off the road for many years, the very nice lady at the DVLA asked what he wanted on the reg document - it started life as a 1968 Ford so that's what went on the V5, complete with a "historic ford" tax disc :D We took it to Le Mans a couple of times and it certainly drew the crowds, possibly due to being a gulf colour scheme and rather tatty!

Stu.
 
Hi Stu
Its a SouthernGT which is a modern version of a GTD. Wider cockpit, more leg room. Its fitted with a Ford 302 bored and stroked to 5.7L. 420bhp and 435ftlb
torque. This is a picture from today. Who was it who had the KVA I know a few of the guys. Driving mine to the Le-Mans Classic in the summer.
 

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Richard Gibson - in the Macclesfield area. He sadly sold it last year and it's now in France. I know his father through the Caterham community!
 
If anyone want's to see the car its at the event city classic car show near the trafford centre over the weekend.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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