2015 R1200 GSA ESA Preload

Noelk1200

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Can someone help? Is it normal to feel the suspension on the GS going up after start up. I stopped to fill up with petrol and when I got back on the bike felt lower and I could actually feel it rising back up after start up. Just wondering if this is normal?
 
Yep if you have it set to Auto.

I’m lost now, I did not think auto was an option, I constantly have it set to two up with luggage, which I am led to believe is the highest setting. The manual for the bike is very poor...
 
I’m lost now, I did not think auto was an option, I constantly have it set to two up with luggage, which I am led to believe is the highest setting. The manual for the bike is very poor...

OOPs sorry did not look at the year, Auto is on latest bikes from about 2017 I think, so you are set at highest setting with 2 up plus luggage, read below.



ESA & ESA II.

The second generation "Electronic Suspension Adjustment", or ESA II for short, accommodates every riding style and load thanks to its extremely convenient chassis and suspension setup. The selection of characteristic curves for suspension and damping provide unparalleled ease of use and an unprecedented level of options for adjusting the chassis and suspension to road conditions and loads.
Unique to the worldwide motorcycle market, this system provides riders with electronic controls that not only facilitate adjustments to the rebound-stage damping of the front and rear spring struts and the spring base of the rear spring strut ("spring preload"), but also to its spring rate and "tightness". This is all conveniently handled with one multi-controller, together with the menu navigation on the TFT colour display.
In order to best simplify control and avoid unintentional setting errors, riders are merely asked to enter the load status ("solo", "solo with luggage", or "with pillion passenger and luggage"). The system then analyses the corresponding spring base or spring rate and configures them automatically.
According to their personal riding preferences, riders can also select between chassis and suspension adjustments "Comfort", "Normal", or "Sport", which affect how the machine responds to their control. The electronic control unit then analyses these specifications and calculates the appropriate damping rates using optimal parameters. It then actuates an electric motor that configures the spring base accordingly. A total of nine different setting options are available. The damping rate is modified at the dampers by means of small stepper motors.
These additional modifications to the spring rate mean that the vehicle level can be optimised to various loads for an even higher level of riding stability, handling, and comfort. Full banking freedom is retained even under maximum load with pillion passenger and luggage for an enhanced sporty ride. These adjustments to the spring rate also greatly reduce the risk of bottoming out under extreme loads.
The shock absorber settings ("Normal", "Sport", "Comfort") can be changed at the touch of a button, even while the vehicle is moving. For functional and safety reasons, the spring base may only be changed when the vehicle is stationary. An electric motor with gears is used to modify the spring rate.
The spring rate is changed using two springs connected in series. Here, the compression forces are absorbed by an elastomer element (Cellasto) combined with a conventional coil spring installed below. The outward radial expansion of the Cellasto element is permanently contained inside a steel sleeve. On the inside, an aluminium sleeve is moved through electrohydraulically. The position of this inner sleeve affects the inward expansion behaviour of the Cellasto element, and therefore its spring rate. This has the same effect as two springs with different degrees of tightness. If the inner sleeve rests against the steel spring, the Cellasto element loses its function and only the steel spring is affected. If the inner sleeve is moved further along, the steel spring base or "spring preload" can also be modified.
This allows the normal static position and riding geometry to remain optimised in all loads. Additional adjustments to the spring rate across the wide range of 110–160 Nm serves to augment the "Sport", "Normal", and "Comfort" settings in ESA II, significantly enhancing rideability.
As compared to conventional mechanical adjustment techniques for spring preload and damping characteristics, the advantage of using ESA electronic chassis and suspension adjustment lies in its constant and immediate harmonisation of all of the chassis components and in its prevention of "normal user" error. Riders are also spared the time-consuming inconvenience of tool adjustments, helping them make modifications in mere seconds at the simple touch of a button. This makes taking on pillion passengers at a moment's notice or handling unexpected road surface changes a breeze.
 
I’m lost now, I did not think auto was an option, I constantly have it set to two up with luggage, which I am led to believe is the highest setting. The manual for the bike is very poor...

I have a -15 GSA, and once every now and it acts in the same way. I find no mentioning of it in the manual, but I suspect (Im guessing here) there might be a built in calibration routine in the software that every now and then drives the preoad to the limit and then backs off. Also, some bikes where the ESA Level adjustment hardly never is being used have run in to problems with a stuck motor. Actually, the motor is not stuck as such, but the mechanism gets so much resistance that the autofuse in ZFE triggers. Perhaps this might be their soultion, that is, cycling the preload at intevals.

Whatever the motivation might be, Your bike is not the only one doing it, so I would not worry about it.
I would also like to add that I did not notice this until after latest software upgrade.
 
Just for info mine is a 2017 model and set at Auto, so when riding 2 up fully loaded my feet are well planted on the floor with a tad of knee bend, once the pillion gets off and bike unloaded, once I start the bike up you can feel the bike going up, and feet planted on the floor but no more knee bend, if that is what you are feeling also.
 
No it is not correct , per BMW UK technical it is an internal fault on the rear shocks preload losing pressure when the bike is stationary , my old gsa did it leading to the suspension eventually starting to drop when being ridden two up .

Speak to a dealer , as mine had an extended warranty it ended up with new shocks.

Normal is you set it two up with luggage it should stay on that setting until you alter it, ps it will not show amy faults on diagnostic testing
 
Had the same last year on tour. Just the once it happened. Asked my local about it but they weren't overly concerned. The advice is if it does it once then no worries. When it does it more often like every 2nd or 3rd stop then it is goosed. Time for a suspension refresh. In that case Revs Racing comes highly recommended.
 
On mine it went very quickly from occasional glitch to having to stop 4 times on a 300 mile autobahn blast and remove the luggage before the suspension would go back up.

No fun when rear preload drops onto low setting at 80mph
 
I thought . or rather was told, its the suspension re calibrating itself, often when stopped at lights etc the bike would lower to minimum then rise back to the setting. Its normal is it not ?
Of course it is. My 15 and 66 GSA's both did it, my new 18 doesn't, or I've not noticed it.
 
I thought . or rather was told, its the suspension re calibrating itself, often when stopped at lights etc the bike would lower to minimum then rise back to the setting. Its normal is it not ?
Of course it is. My 15 and 66 GSA's both did it, my new 18 doesn't, or I've not noticed it.

Not normal , why would it need to recalibrate during a journey if the load remains the same , sounds more like service department bullsh*t, my info was from BMW technical via, dealer suspension technician.

Again as per bmw gen 2 esa apparently has a preload stepper motor not designed to raise the suspension of a fully loaded two up bike unlike the gen 1 system
 
No it is not correct , per BMW UK technical it is an internal fault on the rear shocks preload losing pressure when the bike is stationary , my old gsa did it leading to the suspension eventually starting to drop when being ridden two up .

Speak to a dealer , as mine had an extended warranty it ended up with new shocks.

Normal is you set it two up with luggage it should stay on that setting until you alter it, ps it will not show amy faults on diagnostic testing

On the first ESA I was under the impression that the ESA motor turned a large screw that lifted and lowered the spring.

I am not that familiar with the latest ESA, but basically what you are saying is that it now adjust preload by means of hydraulic adjustment, like the manual adjustment?
That makes sense…

In that case perhaps it's time to start keeping an eye on the matter.

Since the readjustment started right after software update and the adjustment went both ways I just assumed it was a software issue.
 
OOPs sorry did not look at the year, Auto is on latest bikes from about 2017 I think, so you are set at highest setting with 2 up plus luggage, read below.



ESA & ESA II.

The second generation "Electronic Suspension Adjustment", or ESA II for short, accommodates every riding style and load thanks to its extremely convenient chassis and suspension setup. The selection of characteristic curves for suspension and damping provide unparalleled ease of use and an unprecedented level of options for adjusting the chassis and suspension to road conditions and loads.
Unique to the worldwide motorcycle market, this system provides riders with electronic controls that not only facilitate adjustments to the rebound-stage damping of the front and rear spring struts and the spring base of the rear spring strut ("spring preload"), but also to its spring rate and "tightness". This is all conveniently handled with one multi-controller, together with the menu navigation on the TFT colour display.
In order to best simplify control and avoid unintentional setting errors, riders are merely asked to enter the load status ("solo", "solo with luggage", or "with pillion passenger and luggage"). The system then analyses the corresponding spring base or spring rate and configures them automatically.
According to their personal riding preferences, riders can also select between chassis and suspension adjustments "Comfort", "Normal", or "Sport", which affect how the machine responds to their control. The electronic control unit then analyses these specifications and calculates the appropriate damping rates using optimal parameters. It then actuates an electric motor that configures the spring base accordingly. A total of nine different setting options are available. The damping rate is modified at the dampers by means of small stepper motors.
These additional modifications to the spring rate mean that the vehicle level can be optimised to various loads for an even higher level of riding stability, handling, and comfort. Full banking freedom is retained even under maximum load with pillion passenger and luggage for an enhanced sporty ride. These adjustments to the spring rate also greatly reduce the risk of bottoming out under extreme loads.
The shock absorber settings ("Normal", "Sport", "Comfort") can be changed at the touch of a button, even while the vehicle is moving. For functional and safety reasons, the spring base may only be changed when the vehicle is stationary. An electric motor with gears is used to modify the spring rate.
The spring rate is changed using two springs connected in series. Here, the compression forces are absorbed by an elastomer element (Cellasto) combined with a conventional coil spring installed below. The outward radial expansion of the Cellasto element is permanently contained inside a steel sleeve. On the inside, an aluminium sleeve is moved through electrohydraulically. The position of this inner sleeve affects the inward expansion behaviour of the Cellasto element, and therefore its spring rate. This has the same effect as two springs with different degrees of tightness. If the inner sleeve rests against the steel spring, the Cellasto element loses its function and only the steel spring is affected. If the inner sleeve is moved further along, the steel spring base or "spring preload" can also be modified.
This allows the normal static position and riding geometry to remain optimised in all loads. Additional adjustments to the spring rate across the wide range of 110–160 Nm serves to augment the "Sport", "Normal", and "Comfort" settings in ESA II, significantly enhancing rideability.
As compared to conventional mechanical adjustment techniques for spring preload and damping characteristics, the advantage of using ESA electronic chassis and suspension adjustment lies in its constant and immediate harmonisation of all of the chassis components and in its prevention of "normal user" error. Riders are also spared the time-consuming inconvenience of tool adjustments, helping them make modifications in mere seconds at the simple touch of a button. This makes taking on pillion passengers at a moment's notice or handling unexpected road surface changes a breeze.

Having had this debate before, I think we established that, contrary to what I originally thought (based on reading a similar article to that above), the ESA system on the LC unfortunately does not have any adjustment of spring rate. I think this was only a feature of the earlier system used on the K1200/1300.

As you mention, the above is also now out of date with respect to preload adjustment where the choices are now MIN, MAX or AUTO.

Fred
 
Not normal , why would it need to recalibrate during a journey if the load remains the same , sounds more like service department bullsh*t, my info was from BMW technical via, dealer suspension technician.

Again as per bmw gen 2 esa apparently has a preload stepper motor not designed to raise the suspension of a fully loaded two up bike unlike the gen 1 system

Completely normal. As said, two of my previous GSA's did it. My 18 on auto doesn't as its being adjusted 100 times a second. the older ones do it when stationary for a short while. its normal, .....Move along....
I bet Neil W hasn't even got ESA :D
But has lots to say about it .....:rolleyes:
 
Onahi, it is not normal for the ESA. As I have said in response to the OP. The preload adjustment is set by the rider with the bike stationary. It is better not to have a load on the bike during this adjustment but it shouldn't drop for the setting it was in when the bike has been left switched off. If it happens all the time then the thing is fooked to use a proper technical term.
 
Having had this debate before, I think we established that, contrary to what I originally thought (based on reading a similar article to that above), the ESA system on the LC unfortunately does not have any adjustment of spring rate. I think this was only a feature of the earlier system used on the K1200/1300.

As you mention, the above is also now out of date with respect to preload adjustment where the choices are now MIN, MAX or AUTO.

Fred

Fred, it is a 15 plate GSA. It uses the older dynamic ESA.
 
I didn't say it did it when switched off.
My last two did it when stationary at lights etc. not frequently, but it did do it. Its normal.
 
Never experienced that. That is news to me. I'll let it be, I'm out.
 
When I first bought my 1200GSA, my mate had had he's for a while. I rode straight to his house to show him. As I pulled up, he said "What do you think of the suspension" ?
I said its great, He then said "Have you notice it adjust when stationary"? I hadn't at that point, but only a short while later , whilst sat at some lights, It did it. Slight drop in height, then straight back up again. And my Triple black GSA after that did exactly the same. It wasn't extrusive, or that noticeable, but it did it. My dealer said its simply calibrating.
100% Normal.
 


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