I've had loads of weird suspension related issues since November. Firm riding, awful shock behaviour over certain surfaces which only developed after about 3k miles. I've had it reset and it was OK for about a day then it reverted. The dealer has taken a look, reported nothing was wrong, BMW UK has reviewed the shock/suspension performance data and again have said nothing is wrong. I've given up really and resigned myself to riding it as it is. With weight it's OK, so full panniers etc. Fitting a new rear tyre has also seems to have cured the issue so I'm struggling in this battle where i just 'know' something is wrong and 'they' say there isn't. Maybe I'm going crazy, or maybe not, reading reports of the same issues on some forums makes me wonder if I should revisit this issue with BMW again. Ho hum.
ESA Really Firm Today
- Thread starter crotchrocket
- Start date
The ESA on my GSA went solid at around 1300 miles but after disconnecting & reconnecting the battery all went back to normal and has been fine ever since
With nothing to loose I did this on my 2014 GSA and it worked, it's back working like it should. I did this a couple weeks ago and it hasn't gone back harsh yet.
When I first got this bke the suspension was what impressed me the most and I'm just happy it's back to normal. I'd gone through two software flashes prior that didn't do anything. Give it a try. I disconnected both leads for about minutes.
PeterB4407
Registered user
Technology progresses and there will ever be problems surrounding this and folk who are eager to jump on the 'my carbide lamp is better than your new fangled electric thingy' wagon.
The thing is, we expect things to progress and technology sells. When I bought my RS I thought, do I get the basic model or go for the full fat option? I went for the full spec bike in the full knowledge that it might go wrong.
It has
Isolated ESA failure fault on startup.
The ESA failure mode is to maximum damping i.e. it makes the bike suspension go very harsh. Nothing to do with pre-load. When the ignition is off the system goes to it's 'failure mode' and when you start up it should reset to whatever it was set to prior. The RS setup is different in overall control to the GS but the components are similar.
I'm beginning to think that the problem lies with the batteries capacity and reliability. I'm looking at alternatives...
The thing is, we expect things to progress and technology sells. When I bought my RS I thought, do I get the basic model or go for the full fat option? I went for the full spec bike in the full knowledge that it might go wrong.
It has
Isolated ESA failure fault on startup. The ESA failure mode is to maximum damping i.e. it makes the bike suspension go very harsh. Nothing to do with pre-load. When the ignition is off the system goes to it's 'failure mode' and when you start up it should reset to whatever it was set to prior. The RS setup is different in overall control to the GS but the components are similar.
I'm beginning to think that the problem lies with the batteries capacity and reliability. I'm looking at alternatives...
Still not convinced. The suspension damping doesn't seem consistent and sometimes overly stiff again. Some mornings i drop the bike of the centre stand and the suspension is soggy. Other times its stiff. It that right? Also, if its soggy, it stiffens up when the engine is started. not sure thats normal either.
Its a bit frustrating to be honest. Feels perfect with a load of luggage and weight on the back though...
Its a bit frustrating to be honest. Feels perfect with a load of luggage and weight on the back though...
The preload on mine will occasionally reset itself when I start the engine. I feel it sink down, then rise up again.
As previously posted on this thread,mine has done the random sinking of the rear suspension, done it again last Friday evening on initial startup whilst leaving the ferry. Went down further than it has done before, to the point where I had both feet flat on the floor with a slight bend of my legs (Usually on the balls of my feet, one up setting). It did jack itself back up as we started moving. However.......... The bike felt very nervous on the way home, real hand full at walking pace, following road imperfections, just not confidence inspiring.Twice on the way back it felt like I was about to loose the front(tucking in)once when initially turning into a roundabout and then on a downhill turn into a junction off a roundabout (a right left flick, slow speed 2nd/3rd gear) it felt like it had no rebound damping in the front at all, proper heart in mouth moment. Phoned the local dealer the next day and spoke to the salesman who I purchased the bike through.Had a call back from the after sales manager within 10 minutes of putting the phone down, really helpful so far. All I have to do now is find the time to drop the bike in...Will keep you posted
Welcome to the club.
The problem is not mechanical, it is electrical/software related.
Have you noticed that it is worse when shutting the throttle off while making pace?
PeterB4407
Registered user
Hmm, if it stiffens when the engine is running does it also rise higher? Pre-load doesn't alter stiffness as the spring rate stays the same.
Getting spooky this thread , mine also did the random sinking down at a standstill about half a dozen times whilst away in Northern Germany , pulled up and suspension dropped to lower than solo level and then lifted itself again !
roamer
Registered user
I agree that the systems are great when working correctly,
The occasional rise and fall at start up is likeley a basic setting in the system,
The concerns are probably outweighed by the faults reported on forums,
But the stability of the bike being adverseley affected to the point of worrying the rider is weakening the trust in the system, add the cost in and the frustration , noted on here with mixed results, inevitably people lose faith in a feature that was part of the decision to buy,
I do hope the development irons out these glitches for those affected,
I have a standard gs and added ohlins, for me it has been a positive but without the benefits of Esa ,,but better component quality giving consistent performance, at a cost,
I work on cars with dynamic suspension which is networked into the vehicles system,
There have been similar issues to those on the bikes and similar customer perception,
There will be a resolution eventually, reducing issues, as the manufacturer can change the software, and possibly hardware if justfied in numbers, Bmw will just send failiures back to the manufacturer,
My thoughts are the hard working mechanical parts quality varies performance beyond the set parameters needed for benefit to ride control,
This possibly confuses the control unit causing the wierd glitches, and changes in ride quality as the system tries to adapt over time , which may explain the re setting working on some,
There is no doubt a cost balance in this stuff, but it shouldnt end up with customers facing durability issues and costs early in the life of the vehicle,
Just wondering if anyone has wilbers or ohlins esa and how it compares reliability wise,
Roamer
The occasional rise and fall at start up is likeley a basic setting in the system,
The concerns are probably outweighed by the faults reported on forums,
But the stability of the bike being adverseley affected to the point of worrying the rider is weakening the trust in the system, add the cost in and the frustration , noted on here with mixed results, inevitably people lose faith in a feature that was part of the decision to buy,
I do hope the development irons out these glitches for those affected,
I have a standard gs and added ohlins, for me it has been a positive but without the benefits of Esa ,,but better component quality giving consistent performance, at a cost,
I work on cars with dynamic suspension which is networked into the vehicles system,
There have been similar issues to those on the bikes and similar customer perception,
There will be a resolution eventually, reducing issues, as the manufacturer can change the software, and possibly hardware if justfied in numbers, Bmw will just send failiures back to the manufacturer,
My thoughts are the hard working mechanical parts quality varies performance beyond the set parameters needed for benefit to ride control,
This possibly confuses the control unit causing the wierd glitches, and changes in ride quality as the system tries to adapt over time , which may explain the re setting working on some,
There is no doubt a cost balance in this stuff, but it shouldnt end up with customers facing durability issues and costs early in the life of the vehicle,
Just wondering if anyone has wilbers or ohlins esa and how it compares reliability wise,
Roamer
I've been thinking about this riding all week and i'm coming to the conclusion that the bike suspension isn't being inconsistent. IT is however, much stiffer than before. The damping is harsher in each given mode. I have ridden a GS / GSA for 15 months and about 18k miles with the preload for Rider + Luggage and the damping set to normal. All of a sudden, since the new rear shock and software i am running it in the soft damping mode as it doesnt feel planted over road bumps and the suspension isn't rebounding correctly. Full of luggage its fine and in soft its ok too (although softer than i prefer)
I dont really understand it, but will pop into vines and see if there is any programming or software that can be altered to put it back how it's always been.
I dont really understand it, but will pop into vines and see if there is any programming or software that can be altered to put it back how it's always been.
I will be interested in Vines response. I and at least 2 others I know of have been told "first we heard of it guv". I hope you don't get this response...but if you do send me a PM and I will give you ammunition should you need it.
In Vines defence....when a they DID finally acknowledge a problem they stuck with it until resolved.
Thanks! i'll see how i get on.
Vines created a 'ticket' with BMW, so the bike now needs to go in and be hooked up to the system so the guys in Germany can have a look at it
Been there.... done that. Good luck with that one.
Ditto , mine was sending data back to Germany and suprise suprise it showed no faults (BUT on the QT I was made aware of it having had numerous suspension related ECU updates in the same period and prior to the datalogging equipment being fitted to make it work).
Initially when new the bike was fine and each set of suspension settings was noticably different from the others ie you could very easily tell the difference between the soft/normal/hard settings on solo/solo plus luggage or two up and similarly in different drive modes ie rain/dynamic etc the suspension performed very differently.
After it started misbehaving and going rigid whatever the settings it was on and it was 'fixed' there was and is subsequently very little if any difference between the normal/soft and hard settings , giving the impression that the ecu updates have basically dumbed down the suspension to make it behave to an acceptable standard.
Initially when new the bike was fine and each set of suspension settings was noticably different from the others ie you could very easily tell the difference between the soft/normal/hard settings on solo/solo plus luggage or two up and similarly in different drive modes ie rain/dynamic etc the suspension performed very differently.
After it started misbehaving and going rigid whatever the settings it was on and it was 'fixed' there was and is subsequently very little if any difference between the normal/soft and hard settings , giving the impression that the ecu updates have basically dumbed down the suspension to make it behave to an acceptable standard.
sven
Registered user
Just dropped mine off at Allan Jefferies as the suspension damping was solid yesterday, irrespective of whether it was on soft, normal or hard settings 
It's out of warranty too, although hopefully it's just software. I'm starting to wish I'd bought a non-ESA bike now
It's out of warranty too, although hopefully it's just software. I'm starting to wish I'd bought a non-ESA bike now
It might just be a case of resetting / recalibrating. Fingers crossed!
My bike was "fixed" but like others the ride was harsh, picked up every ripple in the road surface and became uncomfortable on long sweepers as it bounced all over the place....unlike whe it was new when was blown away by the ride quality and high speed stability.
Got shot of it and not been back to WCs since. I am now firmly of the opinion that manufacturers spending money on decent suspension would be better that spending it on this semi active stuff. It is simply not needed.
Got shot of it and not been back to WCs since. I am now firmly of the opinion that manufacturers spending money on decent suspension would be better that spending it on this semi active stuff. It is simply not needed.
TE spec is best, didn't the salesman tell you...............nobody will want a 'poverty' spec bike come trade-in time or the residual will be so much lower so the monthly PCP will be higher
We won't sell you a 'poverty' spec bike, it's not in your interest sir (real tale - it'll take us 8 weeks for a factory order, but we have a warehouse full of TE's that we need to shift
)
How we have been taken down a garden path.........
We won't sell you a 'poverty' spec bike, it's not in your interest sir (real tale - it'll take us 8 weeks for a factory order, but we have a warehouse full of TE's that we need to shift
)How we have been taken down a garden path.........
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