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

[Nutty]

Just been out for a ride on my 2010, and every time I change the ESA between Normal, Sport and Comfort, can't really tell the difference between each setting.

Is it me, or are the differences so minor that you can't tell the difference, or should there be a big noticeable difference between each setting?

When I switch to Sport mode in the car (new 5 Series), it firms up the suspension, and it handles completely differently, and I'd have expected the same on the bike, but really can't tell the difference between the settings.

 

[autogs]

its you the change should be obvious.

unless its fecked of course

does the bike rise and fall when you adjust pre load at standstill with the engine running?

 

[Martin S]

Its you.
Comfort is comfy
Normal is normal
Sport is sporty

I find I usually ride using comfort but sometimes use the others to remind myself how comfy comfort is.

Another thing- why is there rider,rider plus luggage,rider plus pillion but no rider plus pillion with luggage?

 

[polecat]

Another thing- why is there rider,rider plus luggage,rider plus pillion but no rider plus pillion with luggage?

I give in. Why ?

 

[Nutty]

its you the change should be obvious.

unless its fecked of course

does the bike rise and fall when you adjust pre load at standstill with the engine running?

I haven't adjusted the preload since I've had it, as it's normally just me.

I'll try it tomorrow. Should the bike rise and fall by a noticeable amount when I adjust the preload?

 

[Nutty]

Its you.
Comfort is comfy
Normal is normal
Sport is sporty

I find I usually ride using comfort but sometimes use the others to remind myself how comfy comfort is.

Another thing- why is there rider,rider plus luggage,rider plus pillion but no rider plus pillion with luggage?

So is there a physical difference with the bike then, ie does it move lower to the ground in sport mode etc when you change the setting?

I find the bike comfy in all the settings!

 

[61nearlybold]

Riding normally one up like I do you will not notice the differance.
Some riders who ride hard, maybe two up and with lugage will maybe notice the benifit of ESA. (you have to justify the expense)
I had ESA on my SE last year but my new one does not have ESA, I would never waste money on it again as I ride for enjoyment only.
Ride it like you are still paying for it within the speed limits and you wil not need it.

 

[autogs]

Riding normally one up like I do you will not notice the differance.
Some riders who ride hard, maybe two up and with lugage will maybe notice the benifit of ESA. (you have to justify the expense)
I had ESA on my SE last year but my new one does not have ESA, I would never waste money on it again as I ride for enjoyment only.
Ride it like you are still paying for it within the speed limits and you wil not need it.

what a load of bull,if your riding solo and you cant tell the diff between comfort and sport you must be paralysed

 

[the director]

I'm the same. I notice no difference when riding with ESA changes. Mind you, gives me something to do!

 

[JFC]

just what i was thinking

all I notice is the text changes on the dash - can't say there's much diff - normally on norm (sport is too hard for my old back).

does go up and down with the settings (show all my mates)

 

[autogs]

all I notice is the text changes on the dash - can't say there's much diff - normally on norm (sport is too hard for my old back).

does go up and down with the settings (show all my mates)

you dont notice the changes,but sport is too hard

 

[Giles]

I think it genuinely depends on how you ride your bike. Some peepes are happy plodding along at a pretty modest pace, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! And if that's your bag, to be honest, you probably won't notice much of a difference.

But if you enjoy pushing the bike's limits a bit, you'll quickly notice the difference. You'll feel it wallow a lot more in the softer settings, compressions in the road, hard braking into roundabouts and quick changes of direction ...

It all depends on how yer ride it .....

 

[Giles]

all I notice is the text changes on the dash - can't say there's much diff - normally on norm (sport is too hard for my old back).

does go up and down with the settings (show all my mates)

you dont notice the changes,but sport is too hard

Heh Heh .... Yes, JFC, you have slightly shot yerself in the foot there ....

 

[Schtum]

It's a truism that some people are more sensitive than others. I find that the ESA setting on my '09 GS makes a huge difference.

Comfort for city streets and for going ultra slowly anywhere else, (except that's a notion which is alien to me) and for soaking wet conditions pretty much anywhere.

Normal for twisty bumpy B roads and unclassifieds (+ luggage if I want to get the bike to steer a bit more quickly).

Sport for smooth fast twisty A roads. It's fine for that up to a sustained 100 mph + when it starts to get a bit floaty as you make fast transitions from one lean to another (again + luggage if I want the bike to steer more quickly.

Those of you who find it difficult to know how sensitive you are might like to take this test -

http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm

 

[i4mike]

I was wondering if I was missing something also as I couldnt feel the difference between, sports, comfort and normal. Butbwhen stationary it does move up and down when changed to two riders, also the front dropped down slot on one of the settings.

I do think mine was sticking though because it did move initially.

 

[i4mike]

Sorry typo should have said didn't move initially not did move.

 

[Nutty]

So should the bike move up and down by much when you switch between modes? I want to check it works properly before I take it to the dealer, to avoid making an idiot of myself! Any tips to how I can actually notice the difference? And don't say ride it in each setting!

 

[Drofsereb]

Just been out for a ride on my 2010, and every time I change the ESA between Normal, Sport and Comfort, can't really tell the difference between each setting.

Is it me, or are the differences so minor that you can't tell the difference, or should there be a big noticeable difference between each setting?

When I switch to Sport mode in the car (new 5 Series), it firms up the suspension, and it handles completely differently, and I'd have expected the same on the bike, but really can't tell the difference between the settings.

I agree. I don't see a huge amount of difference for the money. I've had it checked by the dealer who say it's working. There are two things you can alter. The preload is the one that changes for rider/luggage/pillion etc and is where you would notice ride height altering. The other one is damping and is for sport/comfort/normal. I can hear the servos buzzing, but for the s/c/n change there is no visible difference to see. Sometimes I think I can feel a difference on the road, but more often I can't and wonder if I imagined it!

I rode a K1200 with it fitted and there was a noticable difference between the modes. With the GS though, I can ride along a cobbled street flicking from sport to comfort with no discernible difference in how it feels. I don't think I would bother again......

 

[Dainese Brave]

Like you, and a few others, I never have noticed much of a difference between the modes.

I can sometimes notice a bit of difference....but not a drastic difference.

I'm sure it's doing something......but not sure it's worth the cost really.

 

[Giles]

So should the bike move up and down by much when you switch between modes? I want to check it works properly before I take it to the dealer, to avoid making an idiot of myself! Any tips to how I can actually notice the difference? And don't say ride it in each setting!

It'll move up and down a tad if you flip between solo and pillion and of course a lot if you flip between road and off road.

Go on to the beakchat&bollox forum and look at Tim's post on IOM video in slow mo. Look how tyres and suspension are working on what is an already rock hard race bike.

If you pootle about at a moderate pace (ok, one mans moderate is another mans hoon is another mans bimble..) you wont really stretch the suspension. It's not just about suspension travel, it's the whole game of rebound, damping... and to feel that difference in different settings you need to do more than potter down the road.