ESA question

[Bikermike1411]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking at picking up my new bike tomorrow. It has ESA, which is a new level of electrickery to me!

Is there a way I can test that it works with the bike stationary?

The owner cycled through the ‘road’ modes when I was over there at the weekend, but I don’t recall hearing any motors activating. He also was genuinely surprised at finding the two mountain symbols on the dash and didn’t fully know what they did! I believe they’re preload adjustment - could the lack of use be something that could potentially cause a fault?

Cheers
Mike


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[Deleted account 191119001]

To check that the ESA is ok the engine must be running bike in neutral and on sidestand, then go through the settings and when you see that the bike raises and goes down OK, this done when not on the bike, all should be fine

 

[UturnTony]

The front shock will only change when on the off road settings otherwise it's just the rear so, sit on the bike
and go from single rider to single rider with luggage; you should feel the rear rise. Then go to the two rider
setting and it should go again, just the rear changing both times. Carry on to the "mountain" settings and
you should notice the front rising too. This is all with the engine running. For the `damper setting, engine
stopped and in a quiet environment, change from one setting to another ie. soft to normal and listen close
to a shock and you should be able to hear a "buzz", this is the stepper motor working. Listen at both shocks
and the same sound should be emitted from both. Access to a GS911 diagnostic device is useful as it would
let you know if any ESA (and other systems) faults are present also, it can calibrate the ESA.

Best i can do for you

 

[Bikermike1411]

That’s fantastic - your ‘best’ is more than I hoped for, cheers Tony!


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[Pukmeister]

I never change ride height/preload whilst sitting on the bike, instead I put it on the sidestand and do it to ease the workload on the hydraulics.

It will sit doing nothing momentarily until the pressure rises enough to overcome stiction when you then see the bike rise a bit.

I cycle through each preload setting every few months to keep things free and lubricated, same goes for the comf/norm/sport damper adjustment which I do whilst riding.

 

[UturnTony]

I never change ride height/preload whilst sitting on the bike, instead I put it on the sidestand and do it to ease the workload on the hydraulics.

It will sit doing nothing momentarily until the pressure rises enough to overcome stiction when you then see the bike rise a bit.

I cycle through each preload setting every few months to keep things free and lubricated.

I say sit on the bike as it is a better way, imo of determining if it is changing, certainly for me, being a short arse as i can
go from a reasonable amount of foot on the floor to on tippy toes which tells me all is well. Tbh. i usually change the height
whilst sat on the bike (i do though, if poss. take some weight on my feet) and after 50k miles and many, many changes of ride
height it's all still functioning well but, that said i would not try to dissuade anyone from doing as you suggest.

 

[Pukmeister]

My logic is that the hydraulic pump is only a little 12 volt job somewhere inside the shock unit so it might live a bit longer if it isn't worked too hard.

My bike is a '58 plate MU GSA with 50k on it and has had a full shock rebuild front and rear by MCT (due to a leaking rear shock seal at about 38k) so any chance to prolong its life is a good thing.

When stripped, the ESA front shock also had a knackered internal bush that MCT made a replacement for whilst apart for an extra tenner. Great service from them and highly recommended.

 

[UturnTony]

My logic is that the hydraulic pump is only a little 12 volt job somewhere inside the shock unit so it might live a bit longer if it isn't worked too hard.

My bike is a '58 plate MU GSA with 50k on it and has had a full shock rebuild front and rear by MCT (due to a leaking rear shock seal at about 38k) so any chance to prolong its life is a good thing.

When stripped, the ESA front shock also had a knackered internal bush that MCT made a replacement for whilst apart for an extra tenner. Great service from them and highly recommended.

I agree, it's always going to be better to reduce the workload of the machanism but, i'm a lazy feck and
can't be arsed getting out of the seat many times, other times i'm off the bike when i change it.
I had my rear shock repaired by MCT, great service

On another note, i think i'm right in saying that the pre-load mechanism is all contained in the ESA unit and none in the shock itself.

 

[Slipperyeel]

Some interesting and useful info here. I'm relatively new to ESA but I love it. For the pre- load. Is it really done hydrauliclally? I thought it was done with gears - powered by the motor?




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[Bikermike1411]

Glad I asked the question! I’ll just go and grab my popcorn now....


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[Slipperyeel]

Glad I asked the question! I’ll just go and grab my popcorn now....


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Well yea, ok. But can you answer my question and save me googling

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[Pukmeister]

Some interesting and useful info here. I'm relatively new to ESA but I love it. For the pre- load. Is it really done hydrauliclally? I thought it was done with gears - powered by the motor?




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Maybe it is, but either way it is best to unload the mechanism if you can.

 

[UturnTony]

Some interesting and useful info here. I'm relatively new to ESA but I love it. For the pre- load. Is it really done hydrauliclally? I thought it was done with gears - powered by the motor?








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Yes, it is.

Go on, i'll Google it for you;












Ok, i'm back and i found this;

"The spring rate is changed using two springs connected in series. Here, the compression forces are absorbed by an elastomer element (Cellasto) combined with a conventional coil spring installed below. The outward radial expansion of the Cellasto element is permanently contained inside a steel sleeve. On the inside, an aluminium sleeve is moved through electrohydraulically. The position of this inner sleeve affects the inward expansion behaviour of the Cellasto element, and therefore its spring rate. This has the same effect as two springs with different degrees of tightness. If the inner sleeve rests against the steel spring, the Cellasto element loses its function and only the steel spring is affected. If the inner sleeve is moved further along, the steel spring base or "spring preload" can also be modified."

All clear now?

 

[Slipperyeel]

Yes, it is.

Go on, i'll Google it for you;












Ok, i'm back and i found this;

"The spring rate is changed using two springs connected in series. Here, the compression forces are absorbed by an elastomer element (Cellasto) combined with a conventional coil spring installed below. The outward radial expansion of the Cellasto element is permanently contained inside a steel sleeve. On the inside, an aluminium sleeve is moved through electrohydraulically. The position of this inner sleeve affects the inward expansion behaviour of the Cellasto element, and therefore its spring rate. This has the same effect as two springs with different degrees of tightness. If the inner sleeve rests against the steel spring, the Cellasto element loses its function and only the steel spring is affected. If the inner sleeve is moved further along, the steel spring base or "spring preload" can also be modified."

All clear now?

Yea. Of course. GFY

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[Bikermike1411]

Well yea, ok. But can you answer my question and save me googling

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I have no idea how ESA works!


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[Mr Anderson]

Errr did I kill mine sitting on it with fully loaded luggage & pillion?

I recall the suspension raising then as I rode I could "feel" it automatically lower and then raise again without touching any buttons?

 

[UturnTony]

Errr did I kill mine sitting on it with fully loaded luggage & pillion?

I recall the suspension raising then as I rode I could "feel" it automatically lower and then raise again without touching any buttons?

Not recommended of course but not guaranteed to be terminal. Your impression that it was operating
without touching the buttons is strange to say the least and not something i would say could happen but, hey.
Supposing you still have the bike, does it still work?

 

[Slipperyeel]

Seeing no one has spared me,I searched for myself...

I see no 'hydraulic pumps' in the ESA mechanism... (I'm ignoring the action of the piston inside the oil since that's not ESA).

I see stepper motors yes, and I see threaded rings / screws / rods.

Am I missing something?

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[UturnTony]

Seeing no one has spared me,I searched for myself...

I see no 'hydraulic pumps' in the ESA mechanism... (I'm ignoring the action of the piston inside the oil since that's not ESA).

I see stepper motors yes, and I see threaded rings / screws / rods.

Am I missing something?

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I did think i had provided an answer to your question but you obviously have your own thoughts, very well.

Can you put the pictures you have up here?

 

[Slipperyeel]

I did think i had provided an answer to your question but you obviously have your own thoughts, very well.

Can you put the pictures you have up here?

That was an answer? I thought you were just pulling my chain. That 'answer' read like an abstraction for a patent application - but I think that was your joke. No?. I think it also applies to the syphonic valve in my toilet

My ideas are based on knowing how a conventional shock works and how the adjustment might be mechanised... For example, I see no need for an oil filled preload mechanism if your're going to motorise it... same applies to the damping adjustment. Motors, worm gears and threaded rings will work

My question arose from the mention of a hydraulic pump... which I never thought was in there...so I began to question my own ideas...

ps. I'll show you mine if you show me yours

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