ESA - is it me, or.......

[mikewan48]

Opinions are like kittens always giving them away....... so here's mine.

Had my 2010 model a year now and chose one with all the options. Did research before and like here, very divided thoughts.

1. Do I notice the difference? Yep. Use comfy for wet riding and when I feel like a bimble, sport when I'm enjoying myself.......
2. I don't often use normal mode as I tend to switch between comfy & sport.
3. I use the enduro (Low) mode all the time as I feel the additional ride height is more comfortable.
4. Is it just another funky button to play with?...... oooooh yessss.....
5. Would I pay the extra again or spend the money upgrading the suspension? Not so sure about this one as I've never ridden an "Upgraded" GS so I don't know if I'm missing out.... Nah...ESA again.

I don't regret choosing it as an option which I guess is the most important thing...... for me.....

 

[AshR1]

Here's me yesterday in comfort mode. Suprising how much the bike moves up and down as it's not that noticable when riding.

http://youtu.be/NjQE3rIr_0c?hd=1

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="853" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NjQE3rIr_0c?rel=0&hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[snerkler]

What crap!
The bloody thing moves - no argument

It moves switching between rider>riderplus luggage>Rider plus pillion plus luggage when you're off the bike? I'd love you to come and show me then as if yours moves it would suggest mine might not be working right. However, I know it is as when I'm sat on the bike the spring compresses less on rider plus luggage, than rider alone, and gives the feeling that the bike has moved up, but it hasn't, it's just the spring compresses less and so your weight won't lower the bike as far meaning that you're sat higher.
I'm sure if you're off the bike and measure floor to seat height with it set to rider, and then measure it again with it set on rider plus luggage the measurement would be more or less the same (assuming you've no luggage on it). It might move a trivial amount ie less than a mm or so due to the weight on the rear of the bike casuing a tiny bit of compression on the spring.
Next measure it on off road setting and they'll be a noticeable difference as the suspension travel has literally increased, therefore lifting the whole bike up.

 

[snerkler]

I notice it. When pillion gets off it puts me up on tip toes. best to to switch to rider only comfort mode first - then I'm flat footed. If I forget to switch to pillion mode with SWMBO on the back it's all a bit bouncy castle till I stop and sort it out.

Yes that's all to do with preload, ie how much the shock initially compresses with a load on. Take the load off and the spring won't compress so it won't matter if the preload is full or min, the springs not loaded in either case and so won't compress and so won't change height.

 

[snerkler]

Does it have rider/pillion/luggage - no

Does it have rider/pillion/luggage -yes

If you read the manual page 71(for the 2010 model) it clearly states that the two up setting is with luggage

 

[Martin S]

Does it have rider/pillion/luggage -yes

If you read the manual page 71(for the 2010 model) it clearly states that the two up setting is with luggage

Ok what about 2 up with no luggage?

 

[snerkler]

Ok what about 2 up with no luggage?

Don't you have a manual? The 3 preload settings for road are:-
One up
One up with luggage
Two up (with luggage)

Therefore I think we can assume that there's no setting for two up without luggage.

 

[sven]

Don't you have a manual? The 3 preload settings for road are:-
One up
One up with luggage
Two up (with luggage)

Therefore I think we can assume that there's no setting for two up without luggage.

I found the "Sport" damping was essential when fully loaded two-up in the Alps this summer as it stopped the bike wallowing under load (17st rider + 11st pillion + topbox, panniers & tankbag )

I always ride two-up nowadays and find the two-up preload on "normal" damping brilliant 90% of the time and use "sport" when riding fast on fast twisty roads and "comfort" on goat tracks - the differences are pronounced between the three modes and I wouldn't buy a GS without it

 

[MrC]

If you want to watch your suspension go up and down, pop it on the side stand while its running, hold the ESA button down and cycle through to the "big mountain" picture, and watch the fecker go skyward. AFAIK you can't alter this on the move, but the 3 riding modes can be swapped while riding without stopping.

Dude, you must have a very unsensitive arse...

 

[snerkler]

If you want to watch your suspension go up and down, pop it on the side stand while its running, hold the ESA button down and cycle through to the "big mountain" picture, and watch the fecker go skyward. AFAIK you can't alter this on the move, but the 3 riding modes can be swapped while riding without stopping.

Dude, you must have a very unsensitive arse...

As per the manual you can change between damping settings ie comfort, normal and sport whilst on the move (or soft, medium and hard if off road), but the bike should be stationary, preferably without load when changing preload, ie one up, two up, off road etc.

 

[Balders1450]

What crap!
The bloody thing moves - no argument

Pertaps he is so heavy it can't move....

As per the manual you can change between damping settings ie comfort, normal and sport whilst on the move (or soft, medium and hard if off road), but the bike should be stationary, preferably without load when changing preload, ie one up, two up, off road etc.

The bike HAS to be stationary to change preload, not should!

 

[Stretchamus]

- the differences are pronounced between the three modes and I wouldn't buy a GS without it

+1

 

[snerkler]

Pertaps he is so heavy it can't move....

Oh my god, do people actually read the threads or just read one or two before they comment? Or perhaps I'm writing in a foreign language?
I will say it one last time. My arguement is, and has always been that if you're off the bike and the bike has no load on it changing between rider>rider with luggage>rider plus pillion the bike will not lift as all you're doing is changing pre-load ie initial compression. If there's no load on the bike it will not compress regardless of the preload. So you're not changing the height of the bike. Of course if you're sat on the bike when you change it will lift you up as your weight will compress the spring less.
However, if you're again off the bike and change to off-road you will see the bike literally lift up as the suspension travel is being increased.

As per the manual you can change between damping settings ie comfort, normal and sport whilst on the move (or soft, medium and hard if off road), but the bike should be stationary, preferably without load when changing preload, ie one up, two up, off road etc.

The bike HAS to be stationary to change preload, not should!

That's just being petty

I tried so hard not to bite, but you've caught me on an off day

 

[Martin S]

Don't you have a manual? The 3 preload settings for road are:-
One up
One up with luggage
Two up (with luggage)

Therefore I think we can assume that there's no setting for two up without luggage.

Yes I have a manual - thank you for asking.
My point is that there can be 4 combinations(Rider, Rider+luggage, etc...) but there are only 3 settings. Whats that about? Why is there no setting for Rider/pillion - no luggage?

Have a look for the answer in your manual.

 

[snerkler]

Yes I have a manual - thank you for asking.
My point is that there can be 4 combinations(Rider, Rider+luggage, etc...) but there are only 3 settings. Whats that about? Why is there no setting for Rider/pillion - no luggage?

Have a look for the answer in your manual.

I don't know the answer to that question, maybe email BMW motorrad.
None of it is an exact science anyway, none of the settings take into consideration the weight of the rider or pillion. Maybe BMW decided these settings covered most needs
I guess the only way to get the exact preload would be to be able to input the total weight of rider, rider plus pillion etc and have the computer adjust the preload accordingly.