Considering removing ESA suspension for Wilbers

Dougie Danger

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This question relates to 2019 onwards 1250 GS bikes.
Just wondering if anyone has experience of removing the ESA suspension and replacing with Wilbers or similar manual suspension. I would like to know if once installed it showes up an error/issue on the TFT.
BMW dealer said they wouldn’t be able to get rid of the error warning if it did appear.
Bike is 2019 1250GSA.
Cheers.
 
Thanks Winjar. That is useful information.
I’m just wondering if someone has actually removed the existing ESA suspension and replaced with manual Wilbers. I had Wilbers on my last GSA and it gives a really comfortable ride. I seriously injured my back a while ago and know that the Wilbers give the kind of plush ride that I’m looking for.
As you probably know the current suspension can stiffen up at speed/on certain road surfaces. The problem is that it can’t see the bumps ahead thus hits the bumps sometimes when at its hardest setting.
Eventually my biking days will become to painful to ride but at present I just want to make my GSA as comfortable as possible. In hindsight I should have bought a bike with manual suspension and then changed to Wilbers.
Cheers
 
Dougie Danger said:
Thanks Winjar. That is useful information.
I’m just wondering if someone has actually removed the existing ESA suspension and replaced with manual Wilbers. I had Wilbers on my last GSA and it gives a really comfortable ride. I seriously injured my back a while ago and know that the Wilbers give the kind of plush ride that I’m looking for.
As you probably know the current suspension can stiffen up at speed/on certain road surfaces. The problem is that it can’t see the bumps ahead thus hits the bumps sometimes when at its hardest setting.
Eventually my biking days will become to painful to ride but at present I just want to make my GSA as comfortable as possible. In hindsight I should have bought a bike with manual suspension and then changed to Wilbers.
Cheers
Click to expand...

Change rear shock only to Touratech ESA will totally change bike and be better
 
I dealt with John at Wilbers for my last bike and spoke to him just last week but now that they don’t install anymore he can’t answer as to if the error on the TFT will actually appear or if it can be turned off. At least he did warn me it could be an issue before I buy the suspension from. I’m really surprised that he doesn’t know but at least he is being honest I suppose.
 
Hadn't quite appreciated that they no longer offer the install service. However, that ties in with an impression I got when Jon installed a wilburs rear shock and ktech front spring and valves on my crf250l a few months ago, that they weren't chomping on the bit to take on install work. Glad they did though, as it utterly transformed the crf.
 
Dougie Danger said:
In hindsight I should have bought a bike with manual suspension and then changed to Wilbers.
Click to expand...

Purchased a standard for the same reason. Did you actually speak to a BMW dealer? Maybe they have a solution?
 
I did speak to the BMW dealer and they assured me that they can’t access and are unable to turn off the ESA warnings if the ESA suspension is removed. I’ll look into the plug that Winjar sent the link for.
As it happens it seems the ESA suspension is in short supply thus BMW might have to supply and sell the TE versions of bikes without the ESA and then retro fit ESA at a later date. This could work in my favour and be the only time that we can purchase a fully loaded TE but without the ESA ie with standard suspension.
A costly exercise if I was to go down this route of buying another new bike🙄.
I appreciate the std suspension suits most people but for those that have replaced the existing with something that is of better quality will know exactly where I’m coming from.
Cheers.
 
[Dougie Danger]In hindsight I should have bought a bike with manual suspension and then changed to Wilbers.

That’s why I bought a basic and fitted TTX Ohlins.
 
That is why I bought mine with manual suspension so I can go replace it with what I want and whenever I want.
 
Dougie Danger said:
This question relates to 2019 onwards 1250 GS bikes.
Just wondering if anyone has experience of removing the ESA suspension and replacing with Wilbers or similar manual suspension. I would like to know if once installed it showes up an error/issue on the TFT.
BMW dealer said they wouldn’t be able to get rid of the error warning if it did appear.
Bike is 2019 1250GSA.
Cheers.
Click to expand...

I fitted Touretech ESA with spring custom fitted to my weight. The dealer removed the error sign. I fitted both front and rear despite knowing the front was a nice to have rather than need to have. It has made a big difference, especially the rebound and compliance as I have a herniated disc in my back. Very expensive but I tour , sometimes with the wife and 36 pairs os shoes.
 
Thanks Roundincircles. The issue I have is I’m not happy when the suspension adapts and stiffens up to suit the speed and road conditions and then hits a bump. Thus I’m looking to change to manual suspension so that it’s compliant all the time.
Is your bike a 1250?
 
Dougie Danger said:
Thanks Roundincircles. The issue I have is I’m not happy when the suspension adapts and stiffens up to suit the speed and road conditions and then hits a bump. Thus I’m looking to change to manual suspension so that it’s compliant all the time.
Is your bike a 1250?
Click to expand...

Yes its a 1250 with ESA. What drove me to upgrade was being in the Alps and ripply, close-spaced, bumpy roads at speed showed up the limitations of wheel control, plus was very painful on my back.

The Touratech is in a different league, which it should be at the price....IIRC it has multiple chambers and fast-acting valves. Touratech customer service and tech advice was first class.
 
Dougie Danger said:
Thanks Roundincircles. The issue I have is I’m not happy when the suspension adapts and stiffens up to suit the speed and road conditions and then hits a bump. Thus I’m looking to change to manual suspension so that it’s compliant all the time.
Is your bike a 1250?
Click to expand...

Ah, you want non ESA. Touratech is ESA. The best manual shocks I have had are OHLIN.....brilliant kit.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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