Rear ESA question

[pistolpete]

This my be classed as a stupid question and I'm pretty sure I've answered it myself but here goes

Motorcycle off and bounce the rear end and it bounces up very quickly, no dampening
Motorcycle switched on and it moves up and down at the rear as it should
The recently replaced front shock is tight and I can't feel any difference bouncing the front with the ignition on or off only when I'm riding the bike and cycling through the ESA modes, hope this makes sense

I assume the gas or oil that's in the shock dosnt work/enter the shock until the ignition is switched on?
Cheers

 

[mrtee43]

This my be classed as a stupid question and I'm pretty sure I've answered it myself but here goes

Motorcycle off and bounce the rear end and it bounces up very quickly, no dampening
Motorcycle switched on and it moves up and down at the rear as it should
The recently replaced front shock is tight and I can't feel any difference bouncing the front with the ignition on or off only when I'm riding the bike and cycling through the ESA modes, hope this makes sense

I assume the gas or oil that's in the shock dosnt work/enter the shock until the ignition is switched on?
Cheers

Mine does the opposite. Sat on the bike ignition off and the back end feels quite stiff, Ignition on, ESA in "soft" and it bounces up and down nicely. "Normal" a bit stiffer and "hard" stiffer still. These are when the bike is in one rider mode. Two rider mode and all settings from soft to hard are stiffer pro rata if you see what I mean.

 

[pistolpete]

Yes I see
If I sit on mine and bounce up and down with the ignition off it has no dampening whatsoever, ignition on and bounce up and down and operates exactly as you say, soft bouncy normal not so bouncy and hard is not bouncy at all so it seems to be working fine when the ignition is on but not with the ignition off

 

[Neil W]

Mine has no damping ignition switched off, no damping ignition on but the shocks work (in their own little way ) when the engine is running , go figure !

 

[CPJS]

The damping is adjusted continuously on the move by the dynamic ESA, so I guess that with the power off it goes back to a start point.
As I don't ride the bike with the ignition off it doesn't bother me.

 

[pistolpete]

Just back from the dealer, rear shock not keeping it's dampening properties, new one going in next week, 2014 less than 8000 miles and has needed 2 discs and front and rear shocks!! The previous owner must have been rough on it for both shocks to go with so little miles, the mechanic said there was loads of sand in and around the front when he replaced the front shock. Previous owner must have lived at the top of a sand dune! Thank God for the extended warranty

 

[crotchrocket]

mine has had a new rear shock and its not consistent. Sometimes coming off the centre stand with the ignition off its bouncy, other times its stiff...

 

[pistolpete]

That's what mine is like, I bounced 3 other gs's at the dealer and they all hold their dampening with the ignition off, therefore I knew for definite there was some sort of fault with mine

 

[zoltan]

Just back from the dealer, rear shock not keeping it's dampening properties, new one going in next week, 2014 less than 8000 miles and has needed 2 discs and front and rear shocks!! The previous owner must have been rough on it for both shocks to go with so little miles, the mechanic said there was loads of sand in and around the front when he replaced the front shock. Previous owner must have lived at the top of a sand dune! Thank God for the extended warranty

Ask him, you should have his details on the V5. It is an off road bike so its a piss poor excuse , my ESA went at around 17000 on the RT...never went off road and was well maintained, hence I have now a standard GS

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Ask him, you should have his details on the V5. It is an off road bike so its a piss poor excuse , my ESA went at around 17000 on the RT...never went off road and was well maintained, hence I have now a standard GS

Unstoppable GS

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[pistolpete]

I had thought of sending the previous owner a letter asking if he had any issues with the shocks, but it's not his problem, it's mine now, and if he says yes I jumped over ramps, rode through rivers etc etc then fair play to him, that's what it's designed for or not as the case may be, it's getting fixed under warranty so mustn't grumble to much, it's just a ball ache having to find it all out for yourself whenever I'm pretty sure the mechanic would have noticed at the PDI before the bike was delivered to me, having said all that I love it

 

[Neil W]

Ask at a dealer all warranty work will be recorded against the bike

I had thought of sending the previous owner a letter asking if he had any issues with the shocks, but it's not his problem, it's mine now, and if he says yes I jumped over ramps, rode through rivers etc etc then fair play to him, that's what it's designed for or not as the case may be, it's getting fixed under warranty so mustn't grumble to much, it's just a ball ache having to find it all out for yourself whenever I'm pretty sure the mechanic would have noticed at the PDI before the bike was delivered to me, having said all that I love it

 

[oldnfat]

Ask at a dealer all warranty work will be recorded against the bike

I had both from and rear shocks replaced at 5000 miles. Rear lost damping and they couldn't synch with the front so replaced that. Was never as good as I when I originally bought the bike. I really question the value of semi active suspension on a bike. I would rather spend the money on high quality manually adjusted shocks......problem is now trying to sell a GSA without ESA....every one wants the gadgets.

 

[Neil W]

When I change mine next year and if I go for another BMW GSA there is no way I am buying another bike with ESA, it will be a basic and then fitted with Maxton shocks

I had both from and rear shocks replaced at 5000 miles. Rear lost damping and they couldn't synch with the front so replaced that. Was never as good as I when I originally bought the bike. I really question the value of semi active suspension on a bike. I would rather spend the money on high quality manually adjusted shocks......problem is now trying to sell a GSA without ESA....every one wants the gadgets.

 

[GSBruce]

How much will a front and rear shock replacement cost after the warranty is gone?

i think that scenario will be quite painful.

 

[CPJS]

Very painful.
I was told that the rear shock was about £1200 without labour.
Mine was replaced at1200mls under warranty.

 

[pistolpete]

Yes I think it's £1200 ish for the rear and something similar for the front excluding labour, I wouldn't buy a GS that didn't have any warranty mine has the 2 year BMW used warranty and although I got it free I still would have paid the £350 or whatever it is, I've had my bike a month now, less than 8000 miles and just over 2 years old and has had the front brake reservoir, 2 front discs and both shocks replaced under warranty, well over £3000 in parts, all of these item the dealer I bought it from missed on their pre delivery inspection. I've had 3 GS's before this one but this is the first with ESA, my last one had Wilbers suspension fitted and felt fantastic. I'm looking forward to trying my bike with fully working ESA as I've only ridden it with faulty shocks, rear getting fitted on Tuesday, I'd say my bike along with a few others are an exception to the rule as there are thousands of bikes with ESA with much higher mileage still working perfectly, my bike will be changed in 2 years when the warranty is up