Binned the ESA

[rocky burns]

Binned the esa off on my 2010 1200gsa and best thing i ever did, Wilbers back on and its a totally different machine
Brings up no errors on the dash and got it all to go back on when i sell it.

 

[Pukmeister]

What about the errors when you come to sell it??

 

[Gromit]

I know someone who put on the ESA Wilbers on one said it was the best money he has spent on the bike.

 

[cocker]

i find the e s a very good very useful and very easy to use

 

[dvcress]

E.S.A

I don't notice any difference between Comfort, normal & sport settings myself.

 

[Pukmeister]

I don't notice any difference between Comfort, normal & sport settings myself.

Ride faster!

 

[rocky burns]

What about the errors when you come to sell it??

It doesn't leave any. They will be back on to sell

 

[rocky burns]

i find the e s a very good very useful and very easy to use

Easy to use yes. But It still doesnt cure the fact its like riding a big blamonge...

 

[1130cc]

Ride faster!

True.

You can definitely tell when it is set to comfort.
The bike is noticeably less stable at speed when not in a straight line.

I use the ESA a fair amount depending on my riding style and the road type, at the time.

 

[Pukmeister]

It doesn't leave any. They will be back on to sell

I misunderstood the wording in your earlier post, thinking you had removed the original shocks to get rid of errors. Now I get it.

Might go for Wilbers WESA myself one day, had plain Wilbers shocks on my earlier '04 bike and loved them.

 

[Bendy toy]

I don't notice any difference between Comfort, normal & sport settings myself.

I also dont notice much effective difference between comfort normal and sport. Sport feels more harsh but comfort still handles if I ignore the rolling wave effect. My understanding is that new shocks from Wilbers use the original ESA motors etc, but the shocks give a better differentiation between the three settings. Ive used a non ESA Wilbers shock which really was excellent.

What the bike really needs is ride height adjustment on the fly so us short arses can have comfortable seat to peg reach then set the bike low to reach the floor around town and crank it up when we want the ground clearance.

 

[BrokenPaw]

Hi Bendy Toy,
Quite right; I think BM missed a trick with a cool option of lowering the bike for around town. I think there was a Range Rover a while back that as well as giving higher off road settings, also lowered the vehicle after a certain speed on normal terrain. Not quite what you mean, but same kind of thing.
Maybe the new WC Adv will come up trumps?
Maybe it's just me, but I do seem to notice quite a significant difference between the 3 damper settings. That's on a Adv GS.

Just to prepare me for the future, what are the options currently known to refurbish an ESA system?

 

[Bendy toy]

Some of the suspension specialists who re-work and overhaul enduro bike suspension will service the standard BMW shocks. They drill a hole to release gas pressure then strip the shock replace seals and piston rods if parts are available, fit a gas filling valve, reassemble and refill the shock. Cost is around £100 to £150 per shock. Its best done before the old seals fail so the oil wont have congealed and potentially messed up the internals.

The more costly but better spec way is to get Wibers to fit their "WESA" shocks. They fit the original ESA motors etc to new Wilbers dampers and springs. Cost about £650 each end.

Ive ridden an Aprllia Pergaso 650 with a standard Wilbers rear shock - so smooth it felt like the tyre must be nearly flat, but the tyre was all correct and the bike handled really well. It now needs some forks that can keep up. Cost of the rear shock was about £500.

Ohlins have an ESA type system for about £2500 that includes new shocks and new electronics and stepper motors etc.

 

[BrokenPaw]

Thanks Bendy Toy.
That is all good news for the future; even the Ohlins is probably not much more than complete BMW units front and rear.
I have Ohlins on a GS and it gives it is a magic carpet ride; Wilbers prob about the same.