Touratech ESA Replacement Suspension 1250 GS (or Ohlins)
- Thread starter roundincircles
- Start date
Thats what Wilbers ESA is....
The damping on the std shock is too soft for the spring it comes with let alone a stronger one, if someone can alter the damping to suit then maybe.
Thanks for the offer. I have decided to fit the Touratech and ignore the cost as I want the improvement. Plus I ride 10,000 miles on Tour per year so I can justify it with man maths. But I will probably have some questions on adjustments.
Stick,
Does your front TT shock have the same weight spring as the origional shock or is it a stronger one?
Does your front TT shock have the same weight spring as the origional shock or is it a stronger one?
Would need to check as I don’t know the original , only info I have is the post at 55 nm .
I will try to look but just out onsite as have a furnace in the shit .
Surely TT would adjust the spring rate when you provide your weight plus kit?
Yes they do , you fill in a questionnaire on all sorts .
You can do it that way or if you know what you want specify what spring you have fitted.
I would hesitate on that as Tractive would be the best to suggest the correct spring rate based on the information you give . They advise based on there design , damping and compression electronics etc the standard shock all have the same spring rates , it’s the electronic part that allows the standard to work with all weights , that why the best way is allow them to decide the best spring rate based on your input.
The whole design is different from the standard units . Bigger for one , and with more adjustments from standard
I specified the spring weight i wanted as the recomended spring would have been fine for fully loaded two up but not solo, as I only weigh 11 1/4 st with kit and I am only 5'6" and sit forward on the bike the recomended spring weight would have been far too hard. My weight would not compress the origional shock enough to activate the auto preload even with an aquapack on the back.
After 3000mls on the new shock I can safely say that I made the right choice, much better than the std shock fully loaded yet still compliant enough solo, an excellent compromise.
When I ordered mine they asked me what I wished the bike for , ie solo , solo and occasional pillion , 50/50 solo pillion etc etc also style of riding and what I wanted from the new system . I requested occasional pillion as one trip a year fully loaded and solo only minimal luggage 15 kilos max touring but 80% of the time solo no luggage.
They then set the system up with spring rate , pre spring pre load and damping settings. . They advised the spring rate as per the above. I did have the full set as to balance the bike out and as you say its a great upgrade and glad yours has made the difference you wanted and the results expected.
Would you have the TT set up they emailed you as the ones I posted along with Roundincircles as this may be useful for others to compare settings , rates etc as the cost is high so all the info we cans hare is helpful.
TOURATECH GmbH | Postfach 1082 | 78074 Niedereschach
Mr.
Dave Porter
We quote you as follows: If you send us an order, please notice our quotation number.
Please notice our general conditions.
customer: Dave Porter
bike: BMW R1250GS 2018
rider: 98kg, passenegr: 65kg, luggage: 0-35kg
no offroad use
mostly solo drive with no or minimum luggage,
occasionally with passenger and luggage for travelling onroad.
sporty riding style
Setup: Touratech Suspension DDA / Plug&Travel Set
Front:
springrate: 50N/mm
free length of spring: 205mm
spring preload: 9mm
compression HS: 12 clicks open
compression LS: 12 clicks open
rebound: DDA
Rear:
springrate: 160N/mm
free length of spring: 205mm
spring preload: 14mm
ref PA+: DDA (auto levelling)
ref PA-: DDA (auto levelling)
compression HS: 10 clicks open
compression LS: 10 clicks open
rebound: DDA
I recieved the Touratech units yesterday. They are certainly bigger and, seemingly, more complex than the OEM units. The engineering and materials are top notch and kinda supports the price. Fitment next week
As an aside my car track buddies all say that better/faster acting suspension costs £1500 per corner. So this is in step with that.....justifying my man maths here.
As an aside my car track buddies all say that better/faster acting suspension costs £1500 per corner. So this is in step with that.....justifying my man maths here.
No doubt that it will be an improvement over standard. But I do think there are significantly variable cost benefits - depending mostly on how much the rider's weight varies from 'standard'. Full set of TT suspension is the best part of 25% cost of the bike, and I suspect there is marginal cost-benefit for a rider 75-90kg. If a solo rider is 100+ kg, then no doubt the cost-benefit ratio improves.
Better suspension is worth a lot
Most overlook it - in favour of flash exhausts & headers and a Hilltop remap instead
Suspension once sorted will make the bike faster
Stick,
Your weight difference between solo and two up as a ratio is very different to mine. your pillion and luggage weigh roughly the same as you, almost a 1:1, my ratio is 1.45:1.
This would be the same as you having a pillion and luggage of 142kg if you sprung your bike for that weight you would be over sprung for solo.
I did go through the questions with the TT team and were very helpfull but I knew from experience of having after market suspension on 4 previous bike what to expect, the stock shock D-ESA is a good idea, not until you replace it do you realise how much better it can be.
Your weight difference between solo and two up as a ratio is very different to mine. your pillion and luggage weigh roughly the same as you, almost a 1:1, my ratio is 1.45:1.
This would be the same as you having a pillion and luggage of 142kg if you sprung your bike for that weight you would be over sprung for solo.
I did go through the questions with the TT team and were very helpfull but I knew from experience of having after market suspension on 4 previous bike what to expect, the stock shock D-ESA is a good idea, not until you replace it do you realise how much better it can be.
Don't forget that you can move the TT shocks to the next bike or sold for probably 1/2 price. If you do two up riding it is a no brainer, the improvements are hugh.
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