sick brand New GSA TB

[oldnfat]

After testing the new LC and all competitors I came to the conclusion that for two up touring plus buggering around the GSA is still the best bike out there.

Took the plunge and like others, got a good deal on trading in wonderful my single cam GSA.

Picked up from Bahnstormers Alton of Friday (great service) only to have two issues.

1) ESA seems to be no difference in any of the settings and is a rock hard ride compared to my 09 GSA with ESA....like it is stuck on Sport with pillion.

2) Stalling - more worryingly, bike has cut out on 3 occasions as I am decelerating to a halt at a junction. starter button was dead and needed to turn off/on the ignition to reset and start .

I have no doubt Bahnstormers will sort but has anybody else suffered the same and what was the issue. First brand new bike I have ever owned on 30 years of riding...have to say has taken the shine off.

Cheers

 

[ghost-rider]

You should notice a difrence with the esa, I do an mines 2011, without teaching you to suck eggs, can you feel the bike move up an down when you go through the diffrent settings when stood still? Ok, I can certainly tell the difrence in all the settings, dare say others will say they cant, as for the stalling, do a search an draw your own conclusion, I suspect the flap valve onthe exhaust, mine stalled once, I rrevvedit up on the drive an it just died, I then went on to fit de cat headers an removed the valve, and surprisingly enuf its never stalled since, like I say draw your own conclusion

 

[oldnfat]

You should notice a difrence with the esa, I do an mines 2011, without teaching you to suck eggs, can you feel the bike move up an down when you go through the diffrent settings when stood still? Ok, I can certainly tell the difrence in all the settings, dare say others will say they cant, as for the stalling, do a search an draw your own conclusion, I suspect the flap valve onthe exhaust, mine stalled once, I rrevvedit up on the drive an it just died, I then went on to fit de cat headers an removed the valve, and surprisingly enuf its never stalled since, like I say draw your own conclusion

Thanks Ghost Rider....Good to get the confirmation as the ESA on the MU has ESA2 I.e. an updated version over the 08-10 version.

Searched re stalling...couldn't find anything which I guess is an answer in itself.

Cheers, thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[ghost-rider]

no probs mate, search again regarding the "stalling", you'll find it, its been a common occurrence for some

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

The Stalling is probably down to the newness of the engine , mine did it a few times running it in but is fine now . I went for non ESA though and am glad as I never used it on my previous GSA's , just kept it in Comfort , rider plus luggage . Less to go wrong . Great deals at the moment , and you should feel a bit more power from the TC . Enjoy it

 

[GSTourer]

After testing the new LC and all competitors I came to the conclusion that for two up touring plus buggering around the GSA is still the best bike out there.

Took the plunge and like others, got a good deal on trading in wonderful my single cam GSA.

Picked up from Bahnstormers Alton of Friday (great service) only to have two issues.

1) ESA seems to be no difference in any of the settings and is a rock hard ride compared to my 09 GSA with ESA....like it is stuck on Sport with pillion.

2) Stalling - more worryingly, bike has cut out on 3 occasions as I am decelerating to a halt at a junction. starter button was dead and needed to turn off/on the ignition to reset and start .

I have no doubt Bahnstormers will sort but has anybody else suffered the same and what was the issue. First brand new bike I have ever owned on 30 years of riding...have to say has taken the shine off.

Cheers

I know it's a different bike (2010 RT) but cannot feel any difference in my comfort/normal/sport setting on the ESA2. I took it to 2 dealers who both checked it out and said it was OK. Like you I find it a very harsh ride in all settings, with no noticeable difference.

Just for what it's worth.

 

[oldnfat]

The Stalling is probably down to the newness of the engine , mine did it a few times running it in but is fine now . I went for non ESA though and am glad as I never used it on my previous GSA's , just kept it in Comfort , rider plus luggage . Less to go wrong . Great deals at the moment , and you should feel a bit more power from the TC . Enjoy it

Thanks Robbo......I actually wanted a non ESA version but there were none left, otherwise I agree that I would rather set up for myself....and cheaper to replace when it goes wrong....ah well.

 

[RUS25R]

My GSA did the stall/cutting out thing twice during the running in period, as you say on over run approaching junctions. Never happened since and I've now had 10000 faultless miles in 2 years. Can't comment on ESA hardness as being my first GS I don't know any different.

 

[Pukmeister]

I went for non ESA though and am glad as I never used it on my previous GSA's , just kept it in Comfort , rider plus luggage . Less to go wrong .

Probably better to cycle it through damping modes and ride heights/preloads every now and then just to keep it all free and moving.

 

[oldnfat]

Probably better to cycle it through damping modes and ride heights/preloads every now and then just to keep it all free and moving.

Through the power of search I have just seen an old post of yours about throttle reset which I am going to give a go to see if this cures the stalling problem...not sure it will as I would have expected the starter button to work without having to switch off the ignition,,,but will give it a go.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Esa 2

Mines a 2012 gsa. There is a difference, its small but noticeable......comfort is good for the motorways soaking up the bumps , i then switch to normal mode for the A roads as i can find comfort a bit wallowy depending on the road.....i dont tend to bother with sport.

 

[phillh]

If you think the spring is too harsh, try a lower setting. I leave mine on solo + luggage which suits my 100kg bulk. To alter it, bike has to be on centre stand but I cant remember if it needs to have just ignition on or engine running to scroll through the settings.

Would check my manual for you but its on the bike in the garage at the moment so I cant.

 

[oldnfat]

Mines a 2012 gsa. There is a difference, its small but noticeable......comfort is good for the motorways soaking up the bumps , i then switch to normal mode for the A roads as i can find comfort a bit wallowy depending on the road.....i dont tend to bother with sport.

Thanks, just been out to test it....there should be a ride height difference between single and pillion and there isn't....clearly something wrong with the ESA...back to the dealers it is.

 

[Greenman14]

I definitely notice the difference between comfort, normal and sport. After a long day the comfort setting is most welcome for the last hundred miles.

And the preload changes can easily be felt as the bike rises up noticeably, if yours doesn't it is almost certainly faulty.

 

[Roymondo]

If you think the spring is too harsh, try a lower setting. I leave mine on solo + luggage which suits my 100kg bulk. To alter it, bike has to be on centre stand but I cant remember if it needs to have just ignition on or engine running to scroll through the settings.

Would check my manual for you but its on the bike in the garage at the moment so I cant.

Bike doesn't need to be on the stand to change spring preload - just stationary and with the engine running. Although the manual does recommend "taking the weight off the motorcycle" and getting your passenger to dismount before changing the setting in very cold conditions (presumably to reduce the load on the ESA motors).

But changing the spring preload won't make the suspension any firmer or softer - all it will do is adjust the ride height (at the rear if you use "road" settings, at both ends if you choose "off road" settings).

 

[Bendy toy]

If you have "just long enough" legs be careful where you play with the ride height settings. I nearly dropped mine when It went up too far for me and I could not get to the side stand in time.

Assuming that's AOK try it on the off road settings the ride height should be high and damping very soft.

MY Audi diesel would stall when it was new. Its down to a tight engine with high compression. With the R1200 its drag from the hooge pistons. Run it in properly and it will get better. Dont thrash or slog it, but dont molly coddle it either. Treating it too gently will result in a tight engine that is always prone to stalling.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Had an interesting discussion with the Service manager at Rainbow yesterday when I went to pick up my new GSA, having read an article in MCN about running in a bike.
Steve (?) was very, very clear. You must not mollycoddle the engine when running it in. Up & down the revs, up & down hills, avoid long stretches of straight roads with a stationery throttle position, go on the twisties & enjoy yourself. Don't let the engine labour, don't thrash it (obviously). I was surprised to hear how badly a 'gentle running in regime' would badly affect the long term health of the engine.

Regarding the ESA I had this on both of my previous RT's & wasn't able to determine any difference in any setting on either of those bikes. Nor can I tell any difference in any setting on my GSA so far in the limited miles I've done - but I don't expect to notice any difference in the future either.

And finally, as a post script to my earlier question about using the side stand for getting on/off the bike once again it was made very clear to me - don't. Never ever use the sidestand to support your weight when you're on the bike.

Good luck with the new bike & don't let any minor 'bedding in" problems affect your enjoyment of it.

 

[ianran]

I bought a Triple Black GSA TC with ESA 13 plate and find a great deal of difference on seat height between solo and two up and not quite so much with solo and solo with luggage. Personally I find a difference in the harshness of the ride between sports, comfort and normal when riding around Lincolnshire but not so much on the motorways.

As to the previous "running in" comments, I was told the same thing by both Steve and at the previous dealer I'd bought a new GS from. Round Lincolnshire and across the wolds round Cadwell seems to fit the bill

 

[Bendy toy]

And finally, as a post script to my earlier question about using the side stand for getting on/off the bike once again it was made very clear to me - don't. Never ever use the sidestand to support your weight when you're on the bike.

I have always agreed with this until I got my GSA (2008 with 44K miles).

(1) unless I could climb aboard as if it were a horse I would not have bought it. And probably not a standard GS either. I stand on the LH footrest and swing my leg over and use my weight transfer to the right to pull the bike upright. With a side stand puck this last step isnt needed.

(2) the previous owner is over 6ft tall (Im 5' 8") & he did the same method.

(3) The seat has no boot scuffs and the side stand has not moved a millimetre from where it should be.

On less solidly built bike the method might be questionable but my GSA has certainly not suffered in any way. As said if this method was not an option, I would not be able to use the bike.

HOWEVER. climbing on the bike while on its centre stand is I personally believe asking for trouble. The side stand actually sees minimal bending because the forces go straight down through it. The centre stand stops are however only about 25mm from the pivot so will see much higher forces. Slamming the bike onto the stand is bad enough climbing aboard is even more load. Heaven forbid the loads caused by rolling it off the stand while sitting on the bike.

 

[oldnfat]

Had an interesting discussion with the Service manager at Rainbow yesterday when I went to pick up my new GSA, having read an article in MCN about running in a bike.
Steve (?) was very, very clear. You must not mollycoddle the engine when running it in. Up & down the revs, up & down hills, avoid long stretches of straight roads with a stationery throttle position, go on the twisties & enjoy yourself. Don't let the engine labour, don't thrash it (obviously). I was surprised to hear how badly a 'gentle running in regime' would badly affect the long term health of the engine.

Regarding the ESA I had this on both of my previous RT's & wasn't able to determine any difference in any setting on either of those bikes. Nor can I tell any difference in any setting on my GSA so far in the limited miles I've done - but I don't expect to notice any difference in the future either.

And finally, as a post script to my earlier question about using the side stand for getting on/off the bike once again it was made very clear to me - don't. Never ever use the sidestand to support your weight when you're on the bike.

Good luck with the new bike & don't let any minor 'bedding in" problems affect your enjoyment of it.

Thanks for this, I was told the same thing about running in. Don't be too gentle, occasional foray over 5k rpm but don' red line, don't strain with low revs...give it some we'll.

On ride, the height doesn't change regardless of setting whereas my old GSA did so I do beleive a valve is sticking somewhere giving a very harsh ride....something none of my other 3 GSs did. Pretty relaxed about it as I have confidence Bahnstormers will sort.....other than that the bike looks fab.

Cheers