ESA Suspension, can you help ?

[mrtee43]

Went for a run today after having my engine, swing arm and final drive changed and the suspension feels "wrong". It just does not seem to ride bumps and undulations like it did before. So just to sort of test it when I got home I tried to test the differing modes at a standstill, engine idling.

Ignition off, bounce on the bike and there is little give.

Ignition on and yes, there is a discernible difference. Soft, nice and bouncy, Normal, a little bit stiffer and Hard, harder still,but....

If I put into say soft mode and bounce it feels fine, but if I apply front brake at the same time, the back especially gets harder and less compliant and the movement of the bike is different.

At other times bouncing up and down and applying the front brake, I sometimes think I can hear a motor operating at the same time as the bounciness hardens.

Does yours do the same ?

I am convinced something is different but having checked for obvious things like the pushrod not connected or a cable plug not connected I can find nothing.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

.... the suspension feels "wrong". It just does not seem to ride bumps and undulations like it did before.

Ar you saying the suspension now feels harder when riding over bumps and undulations?

If I put into say soft mode and bounce it feels fine, but if I apply front brake at the same time, the back especially gets harder and less compliant and the movement of the bike is different.

Don't forget the brakes are linked, so by applying the front brake you will also be applying the back too, by essentially locking both wheels together this will effect the bounce at a standstill.

 

[mrtee43]

Difficult to describe, but it doesn't seem to soak up the bumps and it doesn't feel right accelerating over a "washboard" type of tarmac.
What does the traction control feel like in these situations ? Maybe it's that, this new engine does feel pokier than the old one !

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Why did it need "after having my engine, swing arm and final drive changed" ? sounds like something has been put back together wrong and binding when it should be moving free maybe a linkage

 

[mrtee43]

Why did it need "after having my engine, swing arm and final drive changed" ? sounds like something has been put back together wrong and binding when it should be moving free maybe a linkage

All changed under warranty for corrosion as per similar cases on here. Being my first GS and especially with ESA, I don't know what is normal and my perception is that it just does not feel right. I suppose I will mention it to the dealer when it goes back for its 2nd 600 mile service.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

.... it doesn't seem to soak up the bumps and it doesn't feel right accelerating over a "washboard" type of tarmac....

Are you now getting what could be described as a 'banging' sensation through the bars and seat when travelling over any bumps, cats eyes, pot holes or rumble strips?

 

[roundincircles]

Went for a run today after having my engine, swing arm and final drive changed and the suspension feels "wrong". It just does not seem to ride bumps and undulations like it did before. So just to sort of test it when I got home I tried to test the differing modes at a standstill, engine idling.

Ignition off, bounce on the bike and there is little give.

Ignition on and yes, there is a discernible difference. Soft, nice and bouncy, Normal, a little bit stiffer and Hard, harder still,but....

If I put into say soft mode and bounce it feels fine, but if I apply front brake at the same time, the back especially gets harder and less compliant and the movement of the bike is different.

At other times bouncing up and down and applying the front brake, I sometimes think I can hear a motor operating at the same time as the bounciness hardens.

Does yours do the same ?

I am convinced something is different but having checked for obvious things like the pushrod not connected or a cable plug not connected I can find nothing.

Why not try the same actions on the dealers demo and compare?

 

[mrtee43]

Are you now getting what could be described as a 'banging' sensation through the bars and seat when travelling over any bumps, cats eyes, pot holes or rumble strips?

Yes, noticed this when going over the wide, full width speed humps.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Yes, noticed this when going over the wide, full width speed humps.

What about cats eyes, pot holes or rumble strips etc?

Have a read of this.

Go to your dealers and tell them your concerns. Take a demo bike out and ride them back to back over the same roads to compare them.

I would be interested in knowing how this one develops so keep us posted.

 

[Yonkyo]

Why not try the same actions on the dealers demo and compare?

+1
Just do back to back test using a demo GS set the same as yours.