Explain ESA to me on the 2013 TC model.

Cymru-Dave

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Ive purchased a 2013 GSA 90th TC model, it comes with ESA, Comfort, Sport, and Normal, should I be able to feel a definite change in ride between the modes? while I tell myself I can feel a difference im not sure if I actually can, maybe im not using it correctly, I try changing settings on the move but maybe it should be done stationary and unloaded (without me sitting on it), please enlighten me!

Thanks in advance!
 
comfort sport an normal can be changed on the move. Just press the ESA button to cycle thru the three.

one up, one up with luggage, two up, road an offroad can only be changed whilst still, I think engine running out of gear. Long press the ESA button to cycle thru these.

To feel the difference between sport, soft an normal, First select Soft Find a quiet piece of road, 3k rpm say third gear an crack the throttle open, then select sport and do the same again, See how it reacts.
 
...yup on the pre load, you need engine running out of gear and hold the ESA button to stat seeing the different options - scroll to the really bumpy off-road and stay seated to feel the bike adjust.

On the comf, norm, sport - for everyday bimbling you may not notice much between them but when you are pushing on sport does make a difference.
 
Same for me Dave, my 2013 90th Edition that I've had from new, can't feel much if any difference on the road to be honest. As said above, damping (Comfort, Normal, Sport) can be done on the move, but preload (rider, rider plus luggage, passenger, big and little mountains) can only be done stationary, engine running and best with no load on the bike to take the straing off the motors. You'll probably feel a noticeable difference stationary if you push down on the bike when you cycle through the comfort normal and sport modes, the bike is slower to rebound bac up, but not as easy to notice on the road.

Pre-load when stationary will raise the bike. Compared to the one helmet mode, rider plus luggage about 5mm rear, passenger about 10mm rear, little mountains 5mm front and rear, big mountains 10mm front and rear
 
The easiest way to tell the difference is to go to around 30mph in 3rd, then open the throttle. In sport, the rear of the bike should remain firm, in comfort it'll dip towards the road, and in normal it'll be somewhere between the two.
 
As with you Dave, I struggle to feel a significant difference in the damping modes in 'normal riding'.

However on a two up trip to the French Alps in September I discovered by mistake that running the damping in 'sport' made a definite (positive) difference to turn in and handling on twisty col roads (even though I was hard pressed to detect a real difference in suspension feel - perhaps a slightly harsher ride... )
 
Thanks all, that all makes sense, I suppose if I put some more miles in then I may notice the difference a little more when I change it. My next issue is the engine oil saga! It'll take some reading by looks of it.
 
I have never been able to feel any difference between 'Comfort/Normal/Sport on my 2010.

2 dealers checked it when I first bought it (pre owned) and assured me all was well and "They're all like that Sir"
 
The higher the mileage and the the older the shock is the less impact the rebound damping adjustments have. The shock oil breaks down and provides less damping.
 
The differences on the first versions of ESA were much more pronounced and it was easy to tell which settings you were on. The second ESA version settings are much more subtle and not as good IMO but they are quite distinct once you get used to them. Try riding the twisties on Comfort (not a very pleasant experience) and then switch to Sport. Or spend some time on really grotty road surfaces on Sport and, when you're bored being jolted up and down, switch to Normal.
 
I gave a 2013 GSA triple-black and don't feel much difference either. Asked the dealer and they say it's working as it should.
 
I have the older Showa version and the damping differences are easy to feel. I run most of the time in comfort because the bike never really wallows like a "normal" bike and the more supple setting soaks up rough roads a lot better than Sport or Normal. However, it will float about with a passenger so for carrying extra weight, use firmer damping setting.

Its also well worth using the bike on full mountains every few weeks. It fully exercises the ESA system and gives the driveshaft a longer radius to work around. That should help to spread the grease around the needle rollers. You will certainly notice the softer damping in mountains mode.
 
My first GS was a 2008, never experienced ESA before, the comfort/normal/sport settings seemed more evident, my ride to and from work is a complex mixture of dual carriageway, twisty roads and very bumpy roads, then bought a 2011 GSA seemed the same but over the last 4 years of touring (Norway/Italy/Alps etc) cant honestly say I notice a difference anymore, preloads alter height.
 
Rebound Needle Profile

The Mode Switch when switched from Comfort through Normal to Sport powers the stepper motor at the base of the ESA Shock. This then moves the rebound needle into the rebound valve. The steeper the shoulders of the rebound needle the more noticeable the changes are. It is much more noticeable on the Wilbers WESA Shocks.
I can post an image when I work out how to post an Image here :-)
Regards
Paul
 
MattW said:
However on a two up trip to the French Alps in September I discovered by mistake that running the damping in 'sport' made a definite (positive) difference to turn in and handling on twisty col roads (even though I was hard pressed to detect a real difference in suspension feel - perhaps a slightly harsher ride... )
Click to expand...

That's when the difference really showed it self for me. Ridding the RDGA back in June I'd been using sport but for some reason (the tank bag I think) i'd switched it back to comfort without knowing.

I could not get into the flow and the guys with me started ribbing me about the poor pace - when I found it was in comfort putting it back to sport brought it all back together for me.

Occasionally you'll see a kind soul follow one of my posts with 'Limp Mode' that's because he witnessed the before an after
 
It's a bit of an old chestnut on here.
I'm on my 3rd bike with ESA & have never been able to tell any difference between the settings.
 
I can tell the difference on my 2012 TC Triple Black. I can also tell the difference between speaker cables on my HiFi (same conversation on HiFi forums) and between Butter and Marge. Seems I am a sensitive sole :rob
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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