Electronic Suspension

[the director]

So, is it worth it or is it one of those toys that you have but then never ever use?

 

[tonkatoy]

Have it, use it, all the time.

 

[thosoneill]

waste of money - upgrade to an ohlins if really necessary

 

[Deleted member TF]

Have it, use it, all the time.

Me too.

 

[wilbjr21]

Me too.

And me

But I think you'll find that those who don't have it will say it's a waste of money.

 

[kiwiAdventure]

It is good for resale later

 

[Devon]

I have it on my latest SE and use it. It seems to work. (That said, my 2 previous 1200GS had standard shocks and I don't recall adjusting the shock so the ability to alter the shock is obviously not that important to me).
I guess when you buy into the R1200GS you buy into complexity. Otherwise buy an Airhead

 

[LBL]

And.....

And me

But I think you'll find that those who don't have it will say it's a waste of money.

And all those that have it say they use it

 

[Drofsereb]

And all those that have it say they use it

I use it, but can't honestly say that I feel a huge amount of difference - to the extent that I'm still not convinced that it's working properly, despite what the dealer says.

Assuming it is ok, I wouldn't pay the extra for it again.

 

[IanNicky]

And me

But I think you'll find that those who don't have it will say it's a waste of money.

with what he said

 

[ebbo]

If you take a passenger occasionally, get ESA, quick and easy adjustment to the spring rate and damping separately by push button means you will make the adjustment when a passenger hops on rather then putting up with it as it is.

 

[cookie]

my initial thought about ESA was that it would be the usual poor quality bmw suspension units with a crappy electric motors bodged on. not appealing in any way really.

having ridded one, i have to say, the ride quality was really pretty good. better than all of my other BMW OEM experiences.
but, i tried all the settings and could only ever see me using Comfort one up. all the other setting were either too hard or too soft.

Comfort was fine for all i did from cruising to fast scratching, so i would only use the adjustment for carrying passengers.

very happy with my wilburs and twice a year adjustments, so i wouldn't buy it personally.

 

[Dave The Driver]

If you take a passenger occasionally, get ESA, quick and easy adjustment to the spring rate and damping separately by push button means you will make the adjustment when a passenger hops on rather then putting up with it as it is.

my son is 14 years old and 13st, I dont notice it that much (a bit sometimes on comf) but he can tell me if I am adjusting it or not Before the gsa (on the gs) if I forgot to adjust it, again he could always tell me. IMHO some riders can tell but its the passenger (and the bike two up off road drive shaft nackerd forgot) that fill the real differents.

 

[Yonkyo]

Got it on my GSA and it works for me.
I fiddle with daily. I think it works brilliantly. Especially when fully loaded and/or with a pillion.

I set it to ‘comfort’ when I’m bimbling and ‘normal’ or ‘sport’ when I’m out with my mates on there rice burners…

Also, the enduro settings are useful when doing a bit of off-road stuff,
(just don’t try using them on road, as it turns your bike into a bouncy castle).

 

[Davel]

Ditto!

 

[Dave The Driver]

the enduro settings are useful when doing a bit of off-road stuff,
(just don’t try using them on road, as it turns your bike into a bouncy castle)

got to try this on the way home now

 

[The Bede]

... Well worth it if, as Mrs Bede and I do, you change between one-up and two-up, loaded and unloaded riding. The pre-determined factory damping and pre-load settings/options are pretty much spot-on for this Bede's pampered posterior, as good a set-up as you'd get with manual adjustment.

... Only one small fly in the ointment, mine is (very) slowly starting to weep away it's precious charge of life-fluid after 25,000 miles. (Having said that, it's the first ESA shock I've heard of that's dying the death of a thousand scratches, while there have been quite a few manual and aftermarket shocks reported as deconstructing at lower mileages)

... You pays your money and takes your choice. I choose electric

 

[DLBass]

Works for me. It's my second bike with ESA (K1200GT SE being the first), and I think it makes a great difference. Comfort is a nice setting for motorways, Normal does everything else for me as I find the Sport setting a bit harsh. And the load adjustment is great, and so much easier to use.

Just my 2p's worth

 

[wideparting]

ive got one,but dont know how to use it.perhaps someone at the windmill tonight will show me.[yes i know im thick]

 

[the director]

Thanks everyone. What a brilliant set of responses to my first post.

It seems the jury is out. So, summing up I think that yes, it would seem that it is worth it if you regularly ride fully loaded and/or two up but, if it's just you and the occasional bit of touring then it's probably not worth it (other than it might add to re-sale values a bit).

How's that sound?