Suspension gone soggy

[bonio]

I think this might have been posted before...

I've got a two and half year old R1200GS WC TE. Done 26k road miles. I'm only 9st 7lb, and I tend to ride with the suspension on hard, as it allows the bike to be pushed a tad harder.

And now - well in fact, over the last 3 or 4k miles, the suspension has become soggy. It's the rear that seems particularly bad: the wallows more in corners and recently it's started to bottom out when going over a bad pothole. The forks have become a bit softer too, but tbh I don't notice it much. But the rear is seriously underperforming. I've started riding with the ESA set to 1 up + luggage to stiffen the bike up a bit more.

Occasionally the missus comes with me on the back, and yesterday we went out for a spin and she commented on how the suspension had changed since she last went out a few months ago, and this has brought me to my senses and made me realise I need to get something done.

But the question is - what?

From reading what I have found online, it sounds like either a suspension rebuild (probably MCT at Stowmarket) or replace with Ohlins for a longer-lasting wallet-busting solution. Are there any other options? And any advice? I'm a complete numpty with a wrench and reckon myself out of my depth for any Haynes task rated at more than two spanners.

 

[Stujw70]

Maybe go and speak to BMW, see if you can get anything done with a bit of goodwill as its only 2 1/2 years old.

If not yes maybe a rebuild, could well be cheaper that new OE units. Have a search as I think only Ohlins or Wilbers will do ESA builds using the parts from your shocks.

 

[CPJS]

At 12,000 I have just had the exact same thing happen to mine, fortunately it was still in warranty by 3 weeks, BMW authorised a new shock. The dealer told me the they only warranty shock up to 30,000 mls. As your bike has nearly that mileage and is out of warranty I think it unlikely that BMW will help you out, but it's worth a try.

 

[Stujw70]

Reading another recent post about ESA issues on the WC. It was suggested disconnecting the battery completely for a period of time seemed to resolve the issue. Might be worth a try, nowt to loose anyway.

 

[bonio]

Thanks for the advice.
Can't bring myself to talk the dealer. Every dealing with them makes wish I'd bought a Honda.
Yes, I think it Ohlins and Wilbers for replacements, or a specialist shop for a rebuild.

 

[patzx12]

You will need a dealer to check if the software is working properly.
There are plenty of BMW dealers, pick a friendly one to look at it.

 

[CPJS]

I think the problem is more a software issue so a rebuild might not help as software is part of the shock not the ecu.
Try a breaker for a replacement.

 

[crotchrocket]

There are often a few ESA rear shocks on eBay, you'll just need BMW to code it in and reset the height sensors. Or replace with a non ESA?

 

[PeterB4407]

MCT would be my 1st call. Really good people and you'll probably get better advice than from some on here

 

[bonio]

Thanks for the tips! All very helpful.
At first sight, I'd think it's unlikely to be a software problem though: a) the software is still adjusting the suspension - hard, soft, up, down and so on - as you'd expect, and b) the problem has come on gradually over the last 6 months, and software doesn't degrade in this way.
MCT are booked up to September which is sad.
However new tyres yesterday have completely sorted the unpredictable wobbly feedback I was getting and bike is now smooth and gorgeous again. Phew. The old tyres had done about 10k miles. They hadn't gone very square, but I wonder if they'd lost a bit of rigidity as they had got thinner. Anyhow, a new pair of Pilot Road 4s now. Happy days.
The suspension is a still more soggy than it used to be, and it will need a rebuild at some point, but the good news is that I've got a bit more time to explore different options.

 

[phillh]

The damping on my 2014 GSA went a bit haywire for a few seconds on a ride out a couple of weeks ago.

I took it back to SBW at Welwyn, there were no fault codes so they refreshed it and reset the ride height
and told me to monitor it and bring it back if it re occurs.

Bike is fine now, rear feels slightly firmer even though its on the same road setting.

 

[CPJS]

Thanks for the tips! All very helpful.
At first sight, I'd think it's unlikely to be a software problem though: a) the software is still adjusting the suspension - hard, soft, up, down and so on - as you'd expect, and b) the problem has come on gradually over the last 6 months, and software doesn't degrade in this way.

Mine went the same way, instead of having level 1,2 and 3 for preload it became 0,1 and 2. The software deciced on a new base level of it's own, effectively one down from solo no luggage. I also had to put the preload on level 2 ti bring it back up to where level 1 should be. The damping followed the same pattern as the preload. I still had all the different settings but at -1, set on solo soft you would get seasick. The bike was lower and softer than previous and i started grinding the stand on the road, also i was almost flat footing on the bike, which as i am only 5' 6" is most noticable.
The dealer reset the suspension which fixed it for a day then it went back down again, it was put down to a software issue and the shock was changed.