ESA setting with empty luggage

[2000DXP]

Hello, hope you are well.

I have a 09 R 1200 GS which I have fitted the full compliment of BMW Vario hard luggage, top box and panniers.

I use the ESA settings quite a lolt while solo and two up but one thing I am not sure on is what setting I should use for Solo use with empty panniers.

I leave the luggage on always and I usually set it as Solo without luggage. But could I do any damage to the suspension if not set correctly to cope with the weight. Should I be setting the suspension to solo with luggage instead, even if it is empty as the empty hard luggage adds up to a few Kg.

Thanks in advance

Dave

 

[Schtum]

What feels best....?

 

[Toad]

Put down the keys and step away from the motorcycle.

It will auto-self destruct if you get the ESA setting wrong.

**shakes head, and sighs slowly. Then sighs again**

 

[David Lee]

Think about how much you weigh.....

An average tosser is at least 100kgs,

Don't worry about this sort of thing, find a setting that feels comfy
and that gives you confidence and relax & enjoy

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Put down the keys and step away from the motorcycle.

It will auto-self destruct if you get the ESA setting wrong.

**shakes head, and sighs slowly. Then sighs again**

+1

FFS, I wonder how the OP coped before ESA, did you manually adjust your shocks before, if you added an extra pair of pants in your panniers

 

[Beemerman59]

I have to agree with the above - you just have to try it. Empty panniers weigh little in comparison to the weight variation of the rider. I doubt you will notice any difference on any setting, but if it pogo's around the bends you can increase the preload or if too harsh, reduce it. You won't break it whatever you do and you won't get thrown off at every corner.

 

[2000DXP]

Hello,

Well to be perfectly honest, I notice the changes with damping settings depending on the condition of the road surface but the preload just feels to me that it adjusts the bikes height.

I am 70 Kg and 5'10" but the bike feels comfy on all settings.

I don't know what an OP is. But I never manually adjusted the shocks before because like I said it has ESA.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Hello,

I don't know what an OP is. But I never manually adjusted the shocks before because like I said it has ESA.

OP = Original Poster

I was meaning on any bike you owned, before you had a bike with ESA - did you manually adjust the shocks everytime you went out?

 

[2000DXP]

OP = Original Poster, ok cool.

I had a VFR with a remote preload knob for the rear shock and some front fork adjustment, but I reset them back to default when I got the bike because they had been adjusted for the previous owner and left them at that.

But that bike never suited me to be honest so never experimented with it.

I also read loads of horror stories about really messing the ride and handling up if you screw around with it too much.

The ESA is fool proof for me because the symol that categorises the riding condition does all the adjustments for me.

 

[Toad]

OP = Original Poster, ok cool.

I had a VFR with a remote preload knob for the rear shock and some front fork adjustment, but I reset them back to default when I got the bike because they had been adjusted for the previous owner and left them at that.

But that bike never suited me to be honest so never experimented with it.

I also read loads of horror stories about really messing the ride and handling up if you screw around with it too much.

The ESA is fool proof for me because the symol that categorises the riding condition does all the adjustments for me.

Just play with it until you find something that works for you.

You won't break it unless you try to adjust it with a hammer rather than the button.

 

[Beemerman59]

Put the panniers and top box on and set the ESA to solo rider. May as well put it onto the "Normal" setting for rebound. Go for a ride. Chuck it around a few bends in your normal fashion. What do you think? If its OK then carry on riding. If its too wallowy or soft, stop the bike and adjust the preload to Solo plus luggage. Thats the next option up the menu. Repeat as necessary. For complete enjoyment of your motorcycle you can then play with the comfort and normal settings plus when you're really enyoying yourself, and have got to grips with the technology, the sports settings.

Enjoy the ride.

 

[Simon_h]

this is one of those threads where you read it and want to jump on it and take the piss....but are disappointed when everyone already has.

 

[2000DXP]

Ok, thanks all.

I think I will start testing different settings and pay a bit more attention to the feel and handling of the bike rather than concentrating too much on those funny four wheeled tin boxes that try to knock you off.

Cheers

Dave

 

[2000DXP]

Simon_h,

Why would you want to take the pi**.

Not sure where your going with that.

 

[Jonnybiscuit]

I think what Simon is saying is that you've asked a bit of a Noob question and maybe showing less experience and knowledge than he has. No shame in that. Take no notice. You'll find that a lot on this forum. Ask away ('cos that's how you learn), but expect some flack.
I think your question has been answered and you should now stop worrying that you'll inadvertently do some damage by trying different pre-sets before finding suspension Nirvana.

 

[Simon_h]

the suspension should be set to the riders requirements not the pre determined factory settings which only takes generic data into account. What suits one person might be horrible to another. The question you asked can only be answered by you.

 

[Beemerman59]

Ok, thanks all.

I think I will start testing different settings and pay a bit more attention to the feel and handling of the bike rather than concentrating too much on those funny four wheeled tin boxes that try to knock you off.

Cheers

Dave

You have to stop the bike before you can change the rider solo/luggage ESA settings so just make sure you stop in a safe position to do that away from all the 4x4's. Learn where the ESA setting button is so you don't have to look down to see where it is. That way you can flick through the options easily and you might not notice much of a difference anyway. Keep each setting on for a few miles to give yourself enough time to notice the difference on straights, bends, bumps etc. For fun, go back and do it all over again fully loaded because then you really will appreciate the differences between the settings.

 

[2000DXP]

I think what Simon is saying is that you've asked a bit of a Noob question and maybe showing less experience and knowledge than he has. No shame in that. Take no notice. You'll find that a lot on this forum. Ask away ('cos that's how you learn), but expect some flack.
I think your question has been answered and you should now stop worrying that you'll inadvertently do some damage by trying different pre-sets before finding suspension Nirvana.

Ah, pick on the noob thing. Ok, lol, well I have only posted a handful of posts so fair enough. I suppose it’s called initiation in some tribes. Fight the alpha male and all that nonsense.

I think the trouble is (which is not actually a problem) the bike feels great to me on lots of different settings and could probably ride fine on most settings without being troubled by it. But because I have this feature I was just a lot more interested in it and wondered if I could be missing the point of it.

I am a massive F1 and MotoGP fan and when listening to the drivers and riders say that they make tiny adjustments and the character of the car / bike is totally transformed for the better or worse, I think I am just not that in tune with the machine to notice any such difference so what is it that I am not paying attention to.

I think if someone was to have specifically said, "Set it to X and take notice of Y" I could put that in to practice, but I think based on feedback I am maybe missing the point of it.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Ah, pick on the noob thing. Ok, lol, well I have only posted a handful of posts so fair enough. I suppose it’s called initiation in some tribes. Fight the alpha male and all that nonsense.

I think the trouble is (which is not actually a problem) the bike feels great to me on lots of different settings and could probably ride fine on most settings without being troubled by it. But because I have this feature I was just a lot more interested in it and wondered if I could be missing the point of it.

I am a massive F1 and MotoGP fan and when listening to the drivers and riders say that they make tiny adjustments and the character of the car / bike is totally transformed for the better or worse, I think I am just not that in tune with the machine to notice any such difference so what is it that I am not paying attention to.

I think if someone was to have specifically said, "Set it to X and take notice of Y" I could put that in to practice, but I think based on feedback I am maybe missing the point of it.

Pick a smooth, twisty bit of road

Ride it loads of time in an hour......................stopping and making tiny adjustments, you'll see the difference

Don't be frightened of suspension adjustment

 

[Toad]

Ah, pick on the noob thing. Ok, lol, well I have only posted a handful of posts so fair enough. I suppose it’s called initiation in some tribes. Fight the alpha male and all that nonsense.

I think the trouble is (which is not actually a problem) the bike feels great to me on lots of different settings and could probably ride fine on most settings without being troubled by it. But because I have this feature I was just a lot more interested in it and wondered if I could be missing the point of it.

I am a massive F1 and MotoGP fan and when listening to the drivers and riders say that they make tiny adjustments and the character of the car / bike is totally transformed for the better or worse, I think I am just not that in tune with the machine to notice any such difference so what is it that I am not paying attention to.

I think if someone was to have specifically said, "Set it to X and take notice of Y" I could put that in to practice, but I think based on feedback I am maybe missing the point of it.

Remember that this is a GS and not a billion dollar super tuned racing machine.

The only time I think about it is when I am two up with loads of camping gear. I crank up the ESA then. I also need to drop it back down afterwards otherwise I'm on tiptoes.


BTW - It's not about being a noob, that's fine.