Issue with 2017 self leveling suspension.

[fred_jb]

I refer people to page 117 of the Rider's Manual for BMW's words on the ESA "Next-Generation" Riding Position Equaliser's engineering details.

I guess if anyone thinks it should operate differently, you had best take it up with BMW's development engineering team and their lawyers.

Yes - that information (on page 116 in my copy of the manual) is probably vaguer than the info on page 69 which states:

"In AUTO loading mode, the spring preload is adjusted only once the motorcycle is driven off."

On page 116 it states:

"If the spring preload is set to AUTO, the rider does not have to change the load settings. When driving off and when riding, the system monitors the suspension on the rear wheel and corrects the spring preload in order to set the riding position correctly. The damping is also adjusted automatically to the load." I don't what the distinction between "driving off" and "riding" is and why it is described in that way- I would have thought that they both constitute riding.

So I guess I am to conclude from all this that if I ride it solo one day, and the next day load it up with pillion and luggage, then I am forced to ride it off with the riding position and associated damping settings set incorrectly, until such time as the system makes the necessary adjustments. Doesn't seem ideal to me, nor can I see why it is necessary when the adjustments could be made when stationary just like the MIN and MAX settings can be, and the older version's three load settings could.

 

[fred_jb]

I hate to admit it but I prefer the GS with the non ESA suspension.I ride with a pillion most of the time and once I had manually adjusted the suspension it coped with everything i needed it to,another twiddle with the knobs when loaded with luggage and it was fine.
ESA Is ok and I'm adjusting to it but don't really see the benefit, for me anyway,I have an exclusive so it came with it.Im also not sure what the point of "min" and what conditions you would use it as it bounces like a kangaroo when solo obviously not tried that setting with the wife ,and I'm not that heavy!

I agree - I also don't see what the point of the MIN setting is, and I have a suspicion that the bike does not just keep the settings from the last time you rode, but maybe initialises to something like the MIN setting, as it always feels awfully bouncy when I first get on it, but feels different when I have been riding for a while. Not sure why it would do this, if indeed it does, but if so it would make the scenario I described above even worse.

Don't get me wrong - I am a real fan of the AUTO mode as I think having the correct load settings tailored to the actual load, rather than one of three presets, contributes to the excellent handling, especially when loaded with a pillion and luggage. I just wish it worked a little differently at startup.