GS without ESA - better?

[Rockred]

I agree about the difference from 95 Ron 98 Ron , I can tell a difference . Also an extra bright head light is as much about being seen as well as seeing.

 

[Matty589]

Anybody with a bike without esa is going to say its brilliant having messed about with preload etc for months to get JUST RIGHT now adjust your front shock to compensate lol.....you dont need it lol its true but in my opinion I would rather have it. Most bmw lc have esa and in turn that makes getting a replacement shock so much easier to get just look on ebay at prices ESA shock £150 which is a brilliant price to say they are over a grand. Not seen a normal shock on ebay yet have you?
On my bike there is a lot of difference between soft and hard maybe being a fat bstard helps it work better

I've had 2 bikes with and now 1 without. If it had been better with - no thread. Have you tried both?

 

[Reggie P]

Next time; I'd definitely save the money and buy without. But there is a snag!

BMW have been so successful convincing us all that its fab, that i wouldn't want to try and sell a secondhand bike without ESA!

 

[roamer]

Not had an esa bmw, always been poverty spec including 2 gswc, plus heated grips, added aftermarket suspenders, currently on Ohlins ttx,
I prefer a supple ride with control that the standard shocks can't deliver, only ride solo with a bit of luggage,
Price wise and ease of selling my always very good condition bmws , have been no issue considering purchase cost, so its just the dealers pushing top spec,
Whether full esa is better or worse is a matter of opinion, it is a balance of cost to some, basic is less complicated but less all the same, it suits me and a few others,
roamer,

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

BMW have been so successful convincing us all that its fab, that i wouldn't want to try and sell a secondhand bike without ESA!

Tell them to go to fuck

 

[Engineer]

I have had both, the basic bike is very good but I have to say the dynamic suspension is 'dynamically' better, particularly two up with luggage - that's my two pennies worth.

 

[DING-DONG]

I recall a conversation I had with John @ revs racing regarding ESA and the fact BMW have brain washed buyers into thinking pressing a button will give you the desired setting that's suitable for everyone when it won't, so after 2 wc bikes that I found to be harsh with esa and with Myself only being a lightweight i opted to purchased a TC with manual shocks, it was night and day and so much better .

 

[sven]

The pre-LC GS was too softly sprung and under damped for me and buying the bike with ESA was essential to stiffen it up.

I haven't tried the LC with standard suspension, but niggling faults with the ESA on mine have got me worried now I'm approaching the end of the warranty period e.g. backing off the preload when parked up (done it about 5 or 6 times in 12k miles) or the damping becoming rock solid at low speeds (I understand there is a software fix )

When it's working properly it's a superb ride though, second only to an R1200RS with the Ohlins suspension upgrade in my experience

If/when I order an S1000XR I won't bother with ESA as my experience with K1200/1300's is that it's a bit pointless on bikes with stiff short travel suspension

 

[stever1]

No its bloody not !! Its really marked ! Sound , power, smoothness.

Its suspension they are talking about. Not engine modes.

 

[SKIPSTER]

Next time; I'd definitely save the money and buy without. But there is a snag!

BMW have been so successful convincing us all that its fab, that i wouldn't want to try and sell a secondhand bike without ESA!

...my 08 GSA with out ESA was simply brilliant amd I seriously regret selling it. , people in the know would opt for a bike with less to go wrong, well that was my rational at the time. While I like the performance of my LC ADV, no way does it offer the same feel or offer the same confidence as my old 08, especially in the wet. I may move back to old simple technology.

 

[een705]

I think you have forgotten what your 08 was like, and will have a shock going back to simple technology i do think a company as big as BMW with their research and development move forwards so the later the model are usually the better. Would I go back? no

 

[Engineer]

Isn't this thread about LC suspension?

 

[mikeyboy]

Imagine how good the bikes would be if they fitted decent shocks

 

[Nikonnigel]

Imagine how good the bikes would be if they fitted decent shocks

Most manufacturer's are guilty of this . my previous bike was a Triumph tiger 800 and the suspension was very basic on that

 

[patzx12]

There is a difference with the ESA on my 2010 GSA and the self levelling Dynamic ESA on the 15 GSA.
The 10 was great but caught me out a few times with the dip effect on certain road situations resulting in grinding of the undercarriage.

 

[Toddmeister]

I recall a conversation I had with John @ revs racing regarding ESA and the fact BMW have brain washed buyers into thinking pressing a button will give you the desired setting that's suitable for everyone when it won't, so after 2 wc bikes that I found to be harsh with esa and with Myself only being a lightweight i opted to purchased a TC with manual shocks, it was night and day and so much better .

I had a conversation with John at Revs too, then bought the Wilbers ESA compatible system matched to my weight. It's been blooming good! Probably as good as any of my previous road or track bikes equipped with Ohlins.

Having said that I'd quite happily go back to a decent manual system (Wilbers, Ohlins, Nitron etc.) just because I'm a sad old fecker who has a bit of knowledge on how to set things up properly and I like messing about to get it "just so"!

 

[Reggie P]

Its suspension they are talking about. Not engine modes.

yes Stever1, I know that.
I didn't make my point very clearly, apologies.

I, like others have observed, commented that the OP made sense.
Why? Because the differences between the three settings on the BMW ESA are, (IMHO) barely perceptible, evanescenct, imperceptible.

I then added; that I'm not totally incapable of detecting changes with my bike - because, when it comes to the engine, for example I can feel pretty notable changes when using different (RON) fuels.

 

[SKIPSTER]

I think you have forgotten what your 08 was like, and will have a shock going back to simple technology i do think a company as big as BMW with their research and development move forwards so the later the model are usually the better. Would I go back? no

I ride a regular twisty route with varied undulations etc. To say im making v good progress is a fair statement. Please give consideration that time does not always relate to progressive evolution. R ad D doesn't always get it right. I still consider my old 08's handling superior to my ADV LC.
I wish I was more direct like 'Att' but putting it politely my memory is fine thank you and I stand by my original opinion so

 

[sven]

I have a regular road I use when testing a bike (Burnsall to Barden Tower in the Dales) which generally ties suspension in knots. My 09 GS with ESA wasn't bad, especially compared to the non-ESA bike, but my GS LC just floats over the bumps. It's very impressive and is even more fun on some faster bumpy roads like the Buttertubs Pass which are very hard on the arms and wrists on a sportsbike, but a right laugh on my bike. Especially when you sit behind them watching them trying to shake off a two-up GS with top box OK, I know they may disappear on smooth roads with good forward visibility, but it's still fun.

 

[Nutty]

I ride a regular twisty route with varied undulations etc. To say im making v good progress is a fair statement. Please give consideration that time does not always relate to progressive evolution. R ad D doesn't always get it right. I still consider my old 08's handling superior to my ADV LC.
I wish I was more direct like 'Att' but putting it politely my memory is fine thank you and I stand by my original opinion so

You need to get more miles on the LC and get used to the handling on it. Once you're used to it, the handling is MUCH better than the previous GS. It's more direct, and less wallowy. I push my GSA much more than I pushed any of my standard twin cams round the twisty roads.

When the weather is more predictable, we'll have a weekend in Wales or over to France, and you can see what the bike is capable of.

You give up on things too easily!