ESA settings.

[Schtum]

I had a great 300 mile ride yesterday. The first 80 or so on a fast flowing A road with the ESA set on 1 + luggage - Sport on the open road and Comfort through the one or two small towns en route. The next 150 was spent riding some of my favourite single track roads and twisty, bumpy B roads with Micky riding shotgun and a caravan of others GSers behind him.

As usual on B roads I had the ESA set 1 + luggage - Normal. The morning was mostly dry and the roads were grippy. However, the weather gradually deteriorated in the afternoon until conditions were pretty dismal as we came over the wonderful B7068 from Lockerbie to Langholm.

In retrospect, I'm thinking that it might be better to go fully soft, both spring preload and damping in really wet conditions.

Thoughts and observations.........?

 

[littleredrooster]

Yes. 1 + luggage keeps the rear preload up (but not the front), so makes it a bit more 'pointy' and turns in nicely under brakes.

And erm....no - I very rarely use 'Sport', preferring 'Normal' but softest everything is good in the wet. 'Speshally on the 7068 along past Grange Fell.

 

[Schtum]

Y'Speshally on the 7068 along past Grange Fell.

Thanks for that but are we talking about the same road? Grange Fell is in the Lakes, no...?

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[snerkler]

I very rarely take mine off sport, and I have preload set to 2up. I guess that's what you get for being a wideload recently coming from sportsbikes

 

[rjsmith26]

Interesting post. Comming from a VFR last summer to a GSA I ride all the time in sport to get the "pointy" feel to the bike - for me on normal and comfort I never seem to turn in early enough - especially 2ng gear T junctions. Like it on sport but will deffo give the 1+luggage a try using normal (as in the wet on sport - it does kinda focus the mind at times!

Any other ESA insights much appreciated.

 

[littleredrooster]

Thanks for that but are we talking about the same road? Grange Fell is in the Lakes, no...?

No - it's about two or three miles due East of that pointer on your map. Have a shufti on a good atlas.

BTW - We'll be in that area in two weeks time - got a cottage at Twynholm as a base......

 

[Schtum]

No - it's about two or three miles due East of that pointer on your map. Have a shufti on a good atlas.

I used to travel that road every day to go to school and I've never heard of Grange Fell.

BTW - We'll be in that area in two weeks time - got a cottage at Twynholm as a base......

Will you be on the bike?

 

[Hexme]

I had a great 300 mile ride yesterday. The first 80 or so on a fast flowing A road with the ESA set on 1 + luggage - Sport on the open road and Comfort through the one or two small towns en route. The next 150 was spent riding some of my favourite single track roads and twisty, bumpy B roads with Micky riding shotgun and a caravan of others GSers behind him.

As usual on B roads I had the ESA set 1 + luggage - Normal. The morning was mostly dry and the roads were grippy. However, the weather gradually deteriorated in the afternoon until conditions were pretty dismal as we came over the wonderful B7068 from Lockerbie to Langholm.

In retrospect, I'm thinking that it might be better to go fully soft, both spring preload and damping in really wet conditions.

Thoughts and observations.........?

Nice post Schtum, I've had my GSA for 10 months and have always got it set on comfort. Might be time for some experimentation

 

[littleredrooster]

I used to travel that road every day to go to school and I've never heard of Grange Fell.

I'll try to get a minute to scan my atlas. Ya gotta do everything for some people...

Will you be on the bike?

Unless the forecast is for seven days of torrential rain, yes.

 

[Schtum]

I'll try to get a minute to scan my atlas. Ya gotta do everything for some people...

I'd look on Garmin Topo UK if one of the previous updates of Mapsource hadn't decided to stop displaying it.....

Unless the forecast is for seven days of torrential rain, yes.

Maybe best to bring the car, then....

OTOH, maybe we could meet up somewhere and go for a wee ride.....

 

[Schtum]

However, since I have the UK Topo maps loaded onto an SD card in my nuvi, I've just had a look on that and have located Grange Burn and Grange Fell. Max spot height seems to be 310 m, although Grange Fell seems to be listed at 319 m....

 

[Schtum]

I think I may have found the limits of the standard suspension. An extended blast at 3 figure speeds in the company of a friend on a VFR VTec on fast, flowing, twisty roads, a couple of days ago, revealed that 1+luggage / Sport doesn't provide enough rebound damping to provide enough control to flick-flack the bike from right to left lean at those speeds.

The bike feels like it heaves itself up at the front in the middle of the transitions. I suspect it's a combination of a lack of rebound damping and aerodynamic lift. Anyone fitted the ESA compatible Wilbers shocks?

I'm also less than impressed by the performance of the Conti Trail Attacks on the same ride. The Dunlop D607s fitted to my previous '07 bike felt much better in the same sort of conditions.

 

[Big Nick]

I find 'Sport' pretty harsh for all but the smoothest A roads and stick with 'Norma'l most of the time whilst 1-up

For 2-up I go with 'Comfort' quite a lot as its a lot more pillion friendly and use 'Normal' for smoother roads

Always stick with preload settings as per ESA setting description.

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

I think I may have found the limits of the standard suspension. An extended blast at 3 figure speeds in the company of a friend on a VFR VTec on fast, flowing, twisty roads, a couple of days ago, revealed that 1+luggage / Sport doesn't provide enough rebound damping to provide enough control to flick-flack the bike from right to left lean at those speeds.

The bike feels like it heaves itself up at the front in the middle of the transitions. I suspect it's a combination of a lack of rebound damping and aerodynamic lift. Anyone fitted the ESA compatible Wilbers shocks?

I'm also less than impressed by the performance of the Conti Trail Attacks on the same ride. The Dunlop D607s fitted to my previous '07 bike felt much better in the same sort of conditions.

Remind me not to come out on the bike with you!

BTW are you going to MCE's open night this Friday?

Kai

 

[Schtum]

Remind me not to come out on the bike with you!

Now stop being so coy, Kai.....

BTW are you going to MCE's open night this Friday?

No, the buggers haven't invited me.

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

No, the buggers haven't invited me.

Can't you use your influence then? Or shall I write back to Alan to ask if I can bring a 'friend'?