Is there a definitive esa fix.

[roamer]

To be fair to the guys who specced ESA , it should be more consistent and reliable,
It shows the quality variations which shouldn't be happening on a safety affecting element of the bike ,,
My non ESA choice as mentioned was avoiding the harsh ride I had on the ducati which has similar hardware to bmw,
The dealers push the full spec claiming basic is hard to sell,, at this rate it will be reversed,
Good luck ESA ers,,

 

[Neil W]

Tried to get a basic gsa but bmw couldn't give a build date and out of three dealers I spoke to non had actually seen one.
My 2011 gsa tc is a basic but with maxton suspension and its ride quality and handling puts the new bike to shame

 

[johnfoxllb]

Is there a definitive ESA fix ? ... yes, save yourself a grand and buy it in the first place !! Had ESA on an RT which went wrong, new GS coming with heated grips only. Why buy all the bits that just go wrong. Cant understand why anybody wants a bloody quickshifter on a GS !!

Wise words

 

[patzx12]

Wise words

This is the way to go, the only reason to go for a full spec is fashion. I have never seen a low spec GSA in Kearys Dublin, to my knowledge they only sell the full spec bikes.
I may play around with the suspension next year, there is a good Wilburs guy here in Ireland and I may get him to change the springs.
I wouldn't mind it 20mm lower as well (bit of a reach getting the knee down). I can then use the ESA height settings if i want to make it taller.

 

[roamer]

Tried to get a basic gsa but bmw couldn't give a build date and out of three dealers I spoke to non had actually seen one.
My 2011 gsa tc is a basic but with maxton suspension and its ride quality and handling puts the new bike to shame

I had a similar situation with the gs,, they just don't want to order the basic bikes, I sold a basic GSA tc, for £500 less than the full monty bike because it was mint,, I waited a month for the 15 my gs with heated grips and led indicators, from Allan jeffries miles away as my local dealer went on and on about all the negatives ( their opinion ) of buying non te spec,,,

 

[Bazzie]

I was also disappointed with the harsh ride quality on my March 2014 registered TE, although the dealer stated that it was acceptable. The significant improvement came when I changed the tyres from Michelin Anakees to Pilot road 4's. I know that this subject has been well documented previously- I would just like to confirm what a significant improvement this change is. I am now 100% satisfied with the suspension's performance.

 

[blues n twos]

I struggle to understand the wide and varying differences people find with these bike

Being a ten year GS rider starting off on a 2000 gs1150 then 1150adv, 1200adv then 2014 gsa, I have never had issues with suspension

In soft setting I bounce around like a big fat jelly to the point tonight when giving it some beans at 80 mph on the A40 westway coming out of town I noticed the bike wallowing a bit on the bends. Looked at settings and I was in soft put it into normal and the bike was again positive in the corners. In dynamic mode giving it beans in the twisters it was firm and fed back everything the rider wants to feel.

Maybe I'm lucky, but having been on dozens of bikes in the last 32 years I find the 2014 GSA a cracking bike.

Yes I had a rear ESA unit fail om my 2008 GSA but this was replaced under warranty with no hassle. On my recent trip to Austria and Slovenia I noticed a rumble at approx 40mph with setting as one up with luggage. When I stopped at Stuttgart motôrrad they suggested I put it back to one rider normal as my luggage was not that heavy and it resolved the rumble

Hope you get things sorted as with a properly working bike it is faultless.

Jon

 

[tecman]

On my 2013 GS TE soft suspension is really soft. If you try to jump on it while stationary you can feel how it bounces back (more than 1 bounce) and you can see it while looking at front forks travel. As for NORMAL and HARD, I don't feel that much of a difference really.

 

[yankeedoodledandy]

The 2014 I rented last month worked same as my 2013: Soft is wallowy soft, normal is still a bit soft, hard is firm and good for fast smooth roads. I'm about 80kg, btw.
I'd suggest riding a couple other examples, if your bike is as bad as you say, the difference with a properly working bike should be readily apparent to you and the dealer.
Sent from my nokia 1020.

 

[bikemad]

Why can't bmw offer springs specifically plus shocks setup via computer for riders weight,after all the money that you pay it should be an option ? as its adjustment is software based it wouldn't cost much if anything to do.

 

[Neil W]

There is so much electronic input into the esa I am amazed that when you pick the bike up the dealer hasn't got the ability to input your weight in full riding gear as the base setting for the esa for your bike and the rest is worked out by the bike from there.
Main gripe is the inconsistancy of the quality of suspension quality, one bike seems fine , the next is like mine ie very harsh and overdamped and oversprung.
Again it seems a problem with bmw' s suppliers or cost cutting ?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Why can't bmw offer springs specifically plus shocks setup via computer for riders weight,after all the money that you pay it should be an option ? as its adjustment is software based it wouldn't cost much if anything to do.

Because they would have to carry dozens of spring choices to cover all variables

Not cost effective for a manufacturer, I would guess

 

[Nutty]

There is so much electronic input into the esa I am amazed that when you pick the bike up the dealer hasn't got the ability to input your weight in full riding gear as the base setting for the esa for your bike and the rest is worked out by the bike from there.

That would make the most sense, and like you, I can't understand why this can't be done.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

There is so much electronic input into the esa I am amazed that when you pick the bike up the dealer hasn't got the ability to input your weight in full riding gear as the base setting for the esa for your bike and the rest is worked out by the bike from there.
Main gripe is the inconsistancy of the quality of suspension quality, one bike seems fine , the next is like mine ie very harsh and overdamped and oversprung.
Again it seems a problem with bmw' s suppliers or cost cutting ?

I would guess the ESA suspension is cheap to BMW

So I guess it's not the best quality & built to a price

How much do you think BMW pay for a rear ESA shock & a front one

Any guesses?

 

[Wrinkly]

I struggle to understand the wide and varying differences people find with these bike



In soft setting I bounce around like a big fat jelly to the point tonight when giving it some beans at 80 mph on the A40 westway coming out of town I noticed the bike wallowing a bit on the bends. Looked at settings and I was in soft put it into normal and the bike was again positive in the corners. In dynamic mode giving it beans in the twisters it was firm and fed back everything the rider wants to feel.

Maybe I'm lucky, but having been on dozens of bikes in the last 32 years I find the 2014 GSA a cracking bike.



Hope you get things sorted as with a properly working bike it is faultless.

Jon

If that's what your bikes doing,the ESA isn't working properly !!!

semi-active...it should recognise the bike is wallowing and firm it up.

suspension was one of several reasons I moved my wc on.

Steve

 

[RedRick Esq.]

My previous bike had non ESA Wilburs and was a huge improvement on the OEM shit but my new GSA with ESA is way better than the old one !
The suspension is compliant and comfortable with non of the harshness reported here. I rarely find the need to use anything but "road " and "normal" but do drop it to soft on motorways or dynamic for hard and fast riding on good sleepy roads roads when the mood takes me.

Its such a shame that on such a good bike BMW can't seem to get consistent suspension and it seems the dealers are floundering and can't find a "standard" or bench mark with which to compare the complained about bikes

 

[Neil W]

Amazes me though how I weigh nearly 15 stone with all my riding kit on and find the suspension very hard and harsh, the 'technician' who took it for a test ride after its service must weigh 10 stone wringing wet and reckoned the suspension was fine.....(on his 5 minute test ride).

 

[mcinlb]

Amazes me though how I weigh nearly 15 stone with all my riding kit on and find the suspension very hard and harsh, the 'technician' who took it for a test ride after its service must weigh 10 stone wringing wet and reckoned the suspension was fine.....(on his 5 minute test ride).

Hard to comment on this as a lot comes down to opinion, but as has been said on here, my bike esa is compliant and there is noticeable differences in the settings(I also am in the 15 stone area)
Have you always though the suspension was harsh? I only ask because I noticed (when I was considering esa Wilbers to lower my bike) that they ask for the units set to single rider, no luggage and set to soft when they fit the esa from the old units. i.e. is the damping / preload in the lowest setting on the suspension units to suit the esa modes????

 

[Bobbin-Man]

My 2013 WC suspend ion was sublime.
My 2014 GSA is on the slightly firm side but i can only use the softest ESA setting for all riding, Track day, 1 up, 2 up.
Its not a problem but I would like the softest setting to be soft and then use the adjustments to find the sweet spot.
I don't thing its a software issue the white springs look massive. The are Hypero spring for sale on ebay: 181567257156
Cheap as chips but may invalidate warranty.

Is it fine to use the Hyperpro lowering springs on the standard height ESA suspension, no issues bottoming out? I have Hyperpro springs on my current non-LC GS and they're fantastic, they transformed the handling and ride even using the standard shocks. I'm now looking at swapping to a new GS or GSA but having had a GSA demonstrator for a couple of hours I was a little surprised by the harshness of the suspension even on the softest settings, I'm only 12½ stone though, even after a good meal! I'm still mulling over swapping to a vanilla GS/A LC but adding a whole load of gismos, heated grips, nav 5 control etc just doesn't make financial sense compared with just getting the TE in the first place.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

.... the 'technician' who took it for a test ride after its service must weigh 10 stone wringing wet and reckoned the suspension was fine.....(on his 5 minute test ride).

Have you rode your dealers demo bike? Is it the same as yours? If not, get the technician to ride yours and their demo back to back.

When I took mine into my local dealer the technician said the same as yours, so I asked him to take their demo out. When he returned he said "ah yes I see what you mean, I'm noticing bumps where I didn't even know there were bumps".