ESA ?

[Hammam]

I think the ESA with the ability to change the bike with a button push to suit what you're up to is fantastic. Sure, a well-sorted setup will be totally OK but any adjustments are much harder to do whilst blatting along at 50mph (my guess not a recommendation to try).

It also means two up and luggage then shifting to solo is a breeze with no faffing about. 80% of the bikes selling are TE spec so it looks like the customer base is mostly going with ESA as well. Warranty costs I can't see being a big difference is the vast majority of bikes are all ESA.

I totally agree. I think it's a brilliant idea. And the LC's Dynamic ESA suspension is a serious improvement on the previous system. Riding on Montreal's horrible street surfaces shows how much better it absorbs bumps, cracks and pot-holes, not only in Soft mode, but even in Normal. And it remains very stable in curves.

 

[Nutty]

I've just spent the day on the bike, on all sorts of roads surfaces, and tried all the DESA settings, and I can confirms that it is greatly improved over the previous version.

 

[Appman]

Unlike the old model, us shorties have no choice in the matter, the LC is only available with ESA.

How's that for marketing?

Personally I think it's Racist or at least Shortist and to add insult to injury they add a 100+ quid premium to have it shortened.

 

[Nutty]

Unlike the old model, us shorties have no choice in the matter, the LC is only available with ESA.

How's that for marketing?

Personally I think it's Racist or at least Shortist and to add insult to injury they add a 100+ quid premium to have it shortened.

Are you sure? I thought you could buy a basic model with manual suspension?

 

[REGS12]

Agree with just about all of that.

Dealers will always tell you that it is easier to sell with all the fancy goodies on because they make relatively more money on the sale of new high spec bikes - I don't blame them for pushing this line I'd do the same in their position and having all the toys is nice; but far from essential and do not make the bike dynamically better in my opinion.

My dealer told me that they would never be able to sell my basic bike[heated grips, handgaurds, cruise] if I were to back out, so they made me pay $5k rather than $1k deposit. I told them I didn't mind at all because I wouldn't have to pay so much later.

 

[Appman]

Are you sure? I thought you could buy a basic model with manual suspension?

Sorry I was talking about the Reduced Height chassis (Seat Height Reduction), you are forced to buy either the dynamic or Active Package, so they sort of have us by the nuts