pikeydave
Registered user
We're lucky on this forum to have the help of a lot of these experts.
I think the only section under its expert quota at the moment is the Airhead section, West Country chapter.
My new '09 GSA....first impressions
- Thread starter WindyChuffer
- Start date
We're lucky on this forum to have the help of a lot of these experts.
I think the only section under its expert quota at the moment is the Airhead section, West Country chapter.
pikeydave
Registered user
Last edited by AlanAce1967 : Today at 17:01. Reason: didnt want to start a row !
You can't do that, I've just quoted you!
And that is not the spirit!
Deleted account LB
Registered user
So to answer the question, it won't "really makes bike nicer to ride esp if you press on a bit" at all.
If the suspension is well set up it will go equally well on either.
ESA will make life slightly easier to fanny around changing suspension settings for each road you travel tho.
But once a bike is set up for the weight it is carrying, why would I need to change the settings for different roads?
I haven't ever done it since I started riding, why would I want to now?
It's not a race bike where the small variations from one track to the next require small changes in suspension settings to find optimal settings.
A good base setting is pretty much all encompassing as far as tarmac road riding is concerned.
I can see the need for diffferent settings on and off road, but on smooth or bumpy roads?
The only reason I see to alter suspension is when weight is added or removed.
In which case two minutes turning a knob and a damping screw really aren't that much of a problem.
And thats without even getting to letting a computer decide what is the best susspension setting for you, and not what actually feels best.
ESA has some use, but is mainly just a gimmick for those with ATGNI.
The perfect bling for most GSs tbh.
None that I know of electronically. I believe a few of the shocks have failed tho, but that is nothing to do with the ESA gubbins.
COnfused now I am,
When I went to France last weekend with the Mrs I pressed my two helmet setting rode through france and arrived at destination - with this etting the bike jacks up somewhat and levels off when loaded up. Monday morning and the mrs goes shopping with a friend in the car leaving me to go and have a play - press for one helmet, bike drops and off I go, I then had the choice of three settings on the fly whilst solo.
So, I manage to adjust the suspension to suit the conditions and laden weight in 10 secs flat - I think your point of setting up before a trip and not touching it thereafter rather makes my point - not that I really care as I have it and you dont so horses for courses really - just that my horse has adjustable legs
I have ESA and find it excellent
I can feel the difference between the different modes and its simplicity itself to change settings on the go at the push of a button.
You normally find the riders who knock it haven't even tried it!
I can feel the difference between the different modes and its simplicity itself to change settings on the go at the push of a button.
You normally find the riders who knock it haven't even tried it!
igsy
Guest
I have had my 08 GSA with ESA for 7 months and 12000 miles and I too really rate the set up. First time I have ever had it, didn't really want it and saw it as gimmick, perhaps it is. But it is bloody brilliant for ALL the reasons mentioned above. I agree that if I were to go off around the world on it I would prefer not to have for the other reasons mentioned above.
So you need two settings. One for solo and one for carrying some weight over the rear. No real hardship on a non ESA bike.
It would do, had I made that point, which I did not.
I quite clearly stated it needs setting each time the weight it is carrying is changed. I simply see no need for changing it on ever change in road surface.
For starters on most roads you ESA switch would see more use than your gear lever, but it just isn't necessary in my opinion and experience.
Good. I'm genuinely pleased that you like it. I would hate to think you paid for a ridiculously expensive option and weren't overly impressed with it.- not that I really care as I have it and you dont so horses for courses really - just that my horse has adjustable legs
I wasn't, hence I got a bike without.
It works FOR YOU, it doesn't FOR ME.
We are allowed to disagree without getting narky about it. You think it's good. I don't. The main reason being I can't set it up how I want it, only how BMW have programmed it, and unfortunately the two don't match up. I find it underdamped in some settings, overdamped in others and not balanced front to rear, and there's not a dam thing I can do about it.
elefantmanshawn
Guest
I did not order esa when I bought mine,I like to keep things as straight forward as possible,as my old grandad used to say ''keep it simple stupid'',
Did get the enduro box though
Did get the enduro box though
ESA is like ABS ............... It's just an 'option' that you don't have to have if you don't want it 
Enduro Box?
Now that's worth having
Now that's worth having
IIRC Bike magazine did an ad hoc survey at the NEC Bike show a few years ago and found 80% of riders did not adjust their suspension, at all, ever. So it was base factory settings no matter what riding they did solo or with a pillion.
I watched someone wallow their way to the South of France once, two up, fully loaded with luggage with no adjustment made to the preload/damping at all - they were terrified to adjust it!
So at least BMW have found some way to encourage riders to set their bikes up correctly for the riding they'll be doing
I watched someone wallow their way to the South of France once, two up, fully loaded with luggage with no adjustment made to the preload/damping at all - they were terrified to adjust it!
So at least BMW have found some way to encourage riders to set their bikes up correctly for the riding they'll be doing
Quite.ESA is like ABS ............... It's just an 'option' that you don't have to have if you don't want it
So at least BMW have found some way to encourage riders to set their bikes up correctly for the riding they'll be doing
Whilst I think "better" would be more apt than "correctly", otherwise I agree entirely. I never said ESA was a bad thing, just that it was not for me, and does have it's cons as well as pros.
You'd think with the reaction from some when the subject is broached I had raped their first born tho.
A neighbour of mine (weekend summer biker
) and myself were chatting a couple of years ago and i mentioned that the previous weekend i had fitted an ohlins rear shocker to my VTEC, and what a difference it had made with the sag rate etc all properly done and set up.He looked at me a though i was talking an odd language. He too, even though he had been on bikes for years, didn't even realise you could alter settings. Weeks later he had been talking to his other R1 and Blade weekend user mates who also never touched the settings, they just used the bike as it came out of the shop or how the previous owner had set it up.
Deleted account LB
Registered user
ESA really is a godsend for dumb asses - I have been known to make fine handling bikes resemble a wheel barrow with a puncture with a deft movement of a spanner or screw driver.
Anyway I just love all the Fischer Price buttons I get to press
Anyway I just love all the Fischer Price buttons I get to press
adv_gs800
Guest
I think the ESA is brilliant, the way to make a real difference to the bikes handling from the bars is definately the way forward.
I had a 1200gs whilist my bike was getting serviced and I found the suspension really old fashioned....
I had a 1200gs whilist my bike was getting serviced and I found the suspension really old fashioned....
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