Aha! Great news. 
New owner
- Thread starter Rod
- Start date
kennyc
Registered user
Rod
Registered user
Up-date : the dealer phoned me back after speaking to BMW. Apparently BMW said it is a software issue & not a fault with the actual shock. So they have done something with the software & recalibrated the shock, & apparently now it's fine !! The tech asked to ride it home tonight to give it a thorough road test, which seemed a good idea. Will get an update in the morning. Fingers crossed.
Our Gee
Registered user
Just picked up on this thread can I add my twopence worth. I have had a few BMWs over the years and have run our current RT1200 for 28,000 miles. Compared to other bikes I have owned (with convential suspension) I have found that under certain conditions including those described by Rod, ie poor surfaces that the ride can be, as he describes very harsh. A good example, as experienced again just last week is riding over the 1" high steel ribs which cover the ferry loading ramp at Zeebrugge. The RT and other Telelever BMs I have owned just seem to crash over the ribs as though the suspension is too slow to react to the undulations. I have found that there is a similar reaction on poorly surfaced roads which unfortunately includes most of the UK roads. My own experience would suggest that the BMW suspension works well on good surfaces and is also well suited to heavily loaded touring bikes but is not so good on poor surfaces. After a couple of weeks and 2000 miles in France on everything from Autoroutes to D roads I never gave my suspension a thought as the ride was magic carpet. Half an hour after leaving the ferry at Hull it was a different story and the only difference was the crappy roads which in a couple of weeks I will have become used to again.
Finally I have found that tyre choice can be a big factor in ride comfort. I have found the Conti Road Attack 2 to be the best choice in this area. I currently run the standard Road Attack 2 C Front coupled with the Road Attack 2 GT Rear. These are not the longest lasting tyre available but for me they are the best for an RT.
Finally I have found that tyre choice can be a big factor in ride comfort. I have found the Conti Road Attack 2 to be the best choice in this area. I currently run the standard Road Attack 2 C Front coupled with the Road Attack 2 GT Rear. These are not the longest lasting tyre available but for me they are the best for an RT.
sven
Registered user
I've switched from BT-021 tyres to BT-023GT's and the handling is vastly improved two-up, but the ride quality is now extremely harsh one-up on bumpy back roads. I'm having to switch to comfort mode much more often.
I'm putting this down to the stiff side walls on the tyres as they're design for heavily loaded large touring bikes. This is great when two-up, but they don't flex enough in normal use.
It reminds me of my K1200S when fitted with Avon ST tyres after Michelin Pilot Sports. The Pilot's flexed far too much two-up when ridden hard, but were briliant one-up. Once the Avon's were fitted, they worked brilliantly two-up, but I kad to adjust the preload and damping one-up.
I'm putting this down to the stiff side walls on the tyres as they're design for heavily loaded large touring bikes. This is great when two-up, but they don't flex enough in normal use.
It reminds me of my K1200S when fitted with Avon ST tyres after Michelin Pilot Sports. The Pilot's flexed far too much two-up when ridden hard, but were briliant one-up. Once the Avon's were fitted, they worked brilliantly two-up, but I kad to adjust the preload and damping one-up.
Rod
Registered user
Well, I've just picked the bike up and ridden about 40 miles, admittedly only on A roads, but I would say the suspension is now much better. Riding over cats eyes & man hole covers that had the bike jarring before are now quite smooth.
Tyres: The lone RT was on BT21's and the steering was really slow compared to the Z8's. There was a big difference in feel between these tyres. With Z8's the steering is very direct and precise. They probably contribute to the firmer ride.
Tyres: The lone RT was on BT21's and the steering was really slow compared to the Z8's. There was a big difference in feel between these tyres. With Z8's the steering is very direct and precise. They probably contribute to the firmer ride.
Hmmm....just picked up this thread.
I've had my 09 RT since January and I've only done about 10,000 miles on it but I've come to really dislike the ESA. Perhaps mine is stuffed too. It's still under warranty so a trip down to CW's may yield some results.
My symptoms are the same as Rod's: Nice and smooth on the motorway which is where I spend most of my time. However, on rougher B roads the ride is harsh. Also, I have little confidence riding quickly through bumpy corners. My 1150 GS and 1150 RT corner much better and smooth out the bumps. I've found the best ESA setting for me (16 stone) is solo, no luggage, comfort. The bike came with Dunlop Roadsmarts and now has a pair of Michelin Pilot Road 3's and there is no difference to the ride.
I did a back to back comparison with a '12 GS with ESA on the same roads and it was exactly the same.
Getting back onto my less powerful and heavier 1150 GS I could ride the twisties much faster with more confidence than either of the ESA bikes.
For another comparison; I had a quick ride on a mates ST1300 Pan European a couple of weeks ago whilst he rode my RT. The Pan has normal shocks and was much smoother in bumpy corners.
If it turns out there is no ESA problem then I may see if I can swap out the electronic shocks for traditional ones - assuming this does not result in annoying warning lights on the dash.
I think I now have an excuse to go out riding for the day to test the various settings again
Regards
Rob C
I've had my 09 RT since January and I've only done about 10,000 miles on it but I've come to really dislike the ESA. Perhaps mine is stuffed too. It's still under warranty so a trip down to CW's may yield some results.
My symptoms are the same as Rod's: Nice and smooth on the motorway which is where I spend most of my time. However, on rougher B roads the ride is harsh. Also, I have little confidence riding quickly through bumpy corners. My 1150 GS and 1150 RT corner much better and smooth out the bumps. I've found the best ESA setting for me (16 stone) is solo, no luggage, comfort. The bike came with Dunlop Roadsmarts and now has a pair of Michelin Pilot Road 3's and there is no difference to the ride.
I did a back to back comparison with a '12 GS with ESA on the same roads and it was exactly the same.
Getting back onto my less powerful and heavier 1150 GS I could ride the twisties much faster with more confidence than either of the ESA bikes.
For another comparison; I had a quick ride on a mates ST1300 Pan European a couple of weeks ago whilst he rode my RT. The Pan has normal shocks and was much smoother in bumpy corners.
If it turns out there is no ESA problem then I may see if I can swap out the electronic shocks for traditional ones - assuming this does not result in annoying warning lights on the dash.
I think I now have an excuse to go out riding for the day to test the various settings again
Regards
Rob C
Just out of interest; how does one check that the ESA is working correctly? Is it just by changing the preload settings and making sure the rear shock moves accordingly? Or is it a trip to the dealers to get the diagnostics plugged in?
Regards
Rob C
Regards
Rob C
Our Gee
Registered user
To add something to my original post in this thread (having given a little more time and thought to Rod's problem) another good example of BMW suspension versus conventional would be the effect of riding over "cobbled" surfaces. We have visited Brugge many times both on BMW and conventional suspended bikes. Those who have been to Brugge will know that most of the streets are cobbled. Conventional suspension copes a lot better than the Telelever BMW bikes which just seem to crash along. Last week my screen shook so much I was concerned the mountings would break. Again, with my limited engineering knowledge it would seem to me that the Telelever set up isn't as "complient" as a normal Tele fork and can't react quick enough to rapid undulations in road surface. (notice the lack movement under breaking compared to normal Tele Forks) Out on the open super surfaces of France it's fine.
Thanks,
I stumbled upon that post after asking the question. It's been peeing down for the last 2 days so I've not had a chance to play. Today is dry (for the time being) and the Land Rover has blown a headlight bulb so there is an excuse to do a 50 mile round trip to Salisbury on the RT. Yes, I can get a bulb from 3/4 of a mile down the road but where is the fun in that?
Regards
Rob C
I stumbled upon that post after asking the question. It's been peeing down for the last 2 days so I've not had a chance to play. Today is dry (for the time being) and the Land Rover has blown a headlight bulb so there is an excuse to do a 50 mile round trip to Salisbury on the RT. Yes, I can get a bulb from 3/4 of a mile down the road but where is the fun in that?
Regards
Rob C
The rain went away yesterday so I went out for a play.
Sitting with the engine running and standing astride the bike; when changing between solo, solo with luggage and two up I can feel the preload adjusting.
So I went riding up and down the same piece of road for a couple of hours (must have looked like a right nut case to those road workers who saw me pass them a dozen times). The road had different sufrace textures and was smooth in places, bumpy in places and rippled in places.
No matter the setting (Comfort, Normal or Sport) the ride felt exactly the same regardless of speed and riding style. Looks like a trip to the dealers in on the cards. The bike in still in warranty which is good news.
Regards
Rob C
Sitting with the engine running and standing astride the bike; when changing between solo, solo with luggage and two up I can feel the preload adjusting.
So I went riding up and down the same piece of road for a couple of hours (must have looked like a right nut case to those road workers who saw me pass them a dozen times). The road had different sufrace textures and was smooth in places, bumpy in places and rippled in places.
No matter the setting (Comfort, Normal or Sport) the ride felt exactly the same regardless of speed and riding style. Looks like a trip to the dealers in on the cards. The bike in still in warranty which is good news.
Regards
Rob C
Rob,
I will be interested to hear how you get on, as I have exactly the same on mine.
Mine went back to 2 different dealers who both said all was well so there it was left.
I can feel no difference whatsoever between sport, normal, and comfort. This isn't how I recall 2011 demonstrators I have ridden (mine is a pre owned 2010) so should be the same.
I look forward to seeing how you do.
Ok, so I went to the dealers on Saturday.
Bike plugged into the computer. No errors.
Mechanic went on a test ride. No issues. Said it was ok.
Several mechanics took turns to sit on the bike and bounce the suspension switching between Sport and Comfort settings. All said it felt about right.
Conclusion. BMW say the shock is ok. However, since I bought the bike from them in January it is still under warranty so they are going to attempt to put in a warranty claim. I say "attempt" because the unlimited mileage warranty only covers the shock upto 30,000 miles. Mine has 32k.
Will wait and see what BMW say in the next few weeks.
Not sure if I will ever get to the end of this story as I might have to sell the RT soon.
Regards
Rob C
Bike plugged into the computer. No errors.
Mechanic went on a test ride. No issues. Said it was ok.
Several mechanics took turns to sit on the bike and bounce the suspension switching between Sport and Comfort settings. All said it felt about right.
Conclusion. BMW say the shock is ok. However, since I bought the bike from them in January it is still under warranty so they are going to attempt to put in a warranty claim. I say "attempt" because the unlimited mileage warranty only covers the shock upto 30,000 miles. Mine has 32k.
Will wait and see what BMW say in the next few weeks.
Not sure if I will ever get to the end of this story as I might have to sell the RT soon.
Regards
Rob C
Rob,
Same as mine apart from no claim for me.
Why don't you see if they will let you take out a demonstrator for a ride then you can do a back to back comparison........might give you more ammunition for the claim or put your mind at rest if it feels the same as yours.
Mine's a 2009 bike. Don't the 2010+ bikes have a modified ESA anyway? If so, BMW would just say I can feel the difference between the two bikes. The dealer told me a new shock is £1,100 so I am expecting BMW to say "computer says no".
If I do keep the bike and get fed up of the ride I'll be tempted to whip out the shock and replace it with a normal one.
Regards
Rob C
If I do keep the bike and get fed up of the ride I'll be tempted to whip out the shock and replace it with a normal one.
Regards
Rob C
Apologies....yes I believe you are correct 2009 and 2010/11/12 are different.
Good luck with the claim.
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