How to improve suspension on my 1200 GS ESA?

[Hammam]

The streets of Montreal, where I live, and most of the roads of Quebec are in an outrageous state of disrepair. I mean, it's like it's been bombed here: wear and tear down to the old tramway tracks and bricks, pot holes, cracks, bumps and hollows, ... and no small ones. On my GS, through town I spend more time standing on the pegs than sitting in the saddle, it's that bad. I feel my regular ESA suspension on my GS (2009) is not up to the task. It's like I'm riding on wooden wheels, and the constant jolts are becoming unbearable. That's on one helmet pre-load and COMF. damping. I ride Tourance tyres (ancient model.)

How can I improve the suspension without losing ESA and without changing the whole shocks, which is an exensive proposition? Would changing for better springs be of any help? If yes, what brand would you recommend?

Thank you.

 

[Edventure]

I think you're going to have to change the whole shocks. Just changing the springs will just give you a change in pre-load when you actually need a change in damping by the sound of it.

Wilbers do an ESA conversion and it's excellent. Perhaps Ohlins do one as well. It isn't going to be cheap though!

 

[Rasher]

Not got an ESA bike myself, but switching to Wilburs improved bump handling a lot.

The bike now offers improved comfort and better handling with a "base setting" that is damn good compromise (much better than ESA demo bike I rode in the middle setting - more comfy than the ESA soft, yet better on handling as ESA Normal)

The front shock seemed the worst offender on OE kit as it really did jolt even on small bumps, the Wilburs front is far better.

I don't tend to touch the suspension now (except when the women hops on the back) as it works pretty well on 95% of roads, and if I do want to soften it up I can do so with a few clicks here and there in about 30 seconds.

 

[Yonkyo]

I have a 2009 GSA with ESA, and it handles rough roads just fine.
When the roads are bumpy, i find the comfort mode works great on any pre-load setting.

Are your tyres over inflated?
I run my Battlewings 36psi R / 34psi F

You could always try Offroad mode maybe.

 

[Giles]

Yonkyo beat me to it..... !!

Maybe your tyres are a tad over inflated (for the conditions..) ?

 

[cookie]

today i have a 2011 GS loaner as my 06GSA is being serviced.

while initially i was quite impressed with the ESA suspension (it didn't wallow), i soon realised it was total shite at fast compression bumps.

set on Comfort, it crashes over even minor road repairs to the extent that i need to weight the pegs to avoid doing my back in any more than i have already, having hit a particularly upsetting bit of road on the way back from the dealers.
this is a road i travel regularly, and the wilbers on my own bike are completely unfazed by the, admittedly uneven, road surface.

shockingly poor. if it was mine, i'd be binning the stock shocks immediately.

rest of the bike was fab though. poke everywhere

 

[Rasher]

while initially i was quite impressed with the ESA suspension (it didn't wallow), i soon realised it was total shite at fast compression bumps......

That is how I found both the 2010 ESA test bike I rode and the 2008 (Non ESA) bike I bought

the wilbers on my own bike are completely unfazed by the, admittedly uneven, road surface.

shockingly poor. if it was mine, i'd be binning the stock shocks immediately.

My sentiments exactly, I bought a non ESA bike so I could put the money saved towards better suspendies.