Carrying Pillion

Topcat

Registered user
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Location
Wells,Somerset,UK
Should I need to adjust suspension setting to carry pillion or is this carried out automatically as a recent passenger made the bike unstable with light front end. Cheers
 
Topcat,
if you set you suspension to “auto” (you will have to read the manual) it will adjust to the load automatically


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
they do get light on the front with a passenger.. and slow filtering can become a problem.. pull against the rear brake at very slow speed.. or set to ROAD and it won't let you pull too bigger wheelie ;)
 
they do get light on the front with a passenger.. and slow filtering can become a problem.. pull against the rear brake at very slow speed.. or set to ROAD and it won't let you pull too bigger wheelie ;)

I don't feel that much difference in handling when loaded with pillion and luggage, and we probably get within 20 kg of maximum payload. That's one of the things that so impresses me about the auto-adjusting suspension on the GS - previous bikes were a pain to adjust between solo and two-up and were never as good as the GS when they were heavily loaded. I do find the GS steering a bit on the light and twitchy side but I think that is partly due to the Roadtec 01 tyres I am using, and it doesn't seem any worse fully loaded. I generally ride in ROAD and AUTO when two-up.

2 up fully loaded I put mine to max and dynamic.

I don't see the point of having auto adjusting preload, and then running it in the MAX setting rather than AUTO, as AUTO will apply the exact amount of preload needed to ensure the bike rides in the attitude the suspension designers intended, and if AUTO runs out of adjustment due to excessive weight, then MAX will be no better as AUTO will use the maximum preload available if it needs to. I believe the MAX setting is really only intended for exceptional situations such as getting maximum ground clearance in difficult off road conditions.

The ride height detection sensors are used to work out what weight the bike is carrying and as well as being used to set the correct preload when in AUTO mode, this information can also be used to adjust the baseline damping to be correct for the weight it detects. I'm not sure it can do this if you run the bike with MAX preload as the rear ride height detector used to help work out what weight bike is carrying, and therefore what baseline dampng is needed, will get a false reading with the rear jacked up to the maximum all the time, so the damping will probably not be so well optimised.
 
2 up fully loaded I put mine to max and dynamic.

Same for me two up with luggage leaving it on auto it was terrible it did not turn in well, stuck it on max and it steered and turned in so much better, steered so badly on auto I took it back to dealers when I got back off my trip, they recalibrated the suspension sensor setting for me,Not had a chance to try it since then but fingers crossed(we both unfortunately are not lightweights :D I'm about 90 kg my wife 80kg

Dave
 
Same for me two up with luggage leaving it on auto it was terrible it did not turn in well, stuck it on max and it steered and turned in so much better, steered so badly on auto I took it back to dealers when I got back off my trip, they recalibrated the suspension sensor setting for me,Not had a chance to try it since then but fingers crossed(we both unfortunately are not lightweights :D I'm about 90 kg my wife 80kg

Dave

Exactly that Dave both with gear will take you to 200kg and then some wardrobes full, just imagine, the poor springs are only rated for 80kgs, personally they should be a 100kg to 110kg BMW should give a choice, but that would be to logical for them. :blast
 
unfortunately most of us are not racing snakes so Different spring rates would be a good option, I know when I used to have aftermarket Ohlins on my track bikes,And also on my a zzr 1400 you were always asked your weight and chose your spring rates to suit max rider weight, It made a massive difference to the bikes handling :thumby:

Dave :thumby:
 
unfortunately most of us are not racing snakes so Different spring rates would be a good option, I know when I used to have aftermarket Ohlins on my track bikes,And also on my a zzr 1400 you were always asked your weight and chose your spring rates to suit max rider weight, It made a massive difference to the bikes handling :thumby:

Dave :thumby:

Yes Dave exactly that we have all gained a tad more weight in our older days, I am going for Denzo,s spring upgrade soon, and if I win Euromiliions on Friday, will get full Touratech .:D
 
Exactly that Dave both with gear will take you to 200kg and then some wardrobes full, just imagine, the poor springs are only rated for 80kgs, personally they should be a 100kg to 110kg BMW should give a choice, but that would be to logical for them. :blast

I have the TT shock with the 100kg spring, it is just about right with a combined weight of 22st with kit and travelling light (panniers set on narrow) the ride is transformed the rear now sits very slightly higher when loaded than it did on the standard shock solo.
The front is now completely planted and confidence has gone through the roof.
This is the shock it should have as std.
 
I have the TT shock with the 100kg spring, it is just about right with a combined weight of 22st with kit and travelling light (panniers set on narrow) the ride is transformed the rear now sits very slightly higher when loaded than it did on the standard shock solo.
The front is now completely planted and confidence has gone through the roof.
This is the shock it should have as std.

Combined 22st is only 139kgs, I bet a few on here are that weight alone without gear or panniers, and they will moan about front feeling light. :jes
 
If you do win the euro lottery. I will give you my paypal address.so you can share it out lol

Dave

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
Exactly that Dave both with gear will take you to 200kg and then some wardrobes full, just imagine, the poor springs are only rated for 80kgs, personally they should be a 100kg to 110kg BMW should give a choice, but that would be to logical for them. :blast

Is the 1250 still using the ESA2 elastogram? On the older version where you chose one up/two up it would adjust the pre-load and also spring strength quite effectively.
 
Is the 1250 still using the ESA2 elastogram? On the older version where you chose one up/two up it would adjust the pre-load and also spring strength quite effectively.

Actually no change in suspension on the 1250, however if you want the springs to firm up a little more, no choice but to ride in Dynamic mode, if you are not paperweight, or Road and Max seems to help also, but certainly keeps you on your toes, even at 6ft 2
 


Back
Top Bottom