R1200GSA upgrade to Ohlins or Wlbers ESA

CPJS said:
The touratech shocks are not suitable for '17 onwards bikes with auto preload.
From their site.
INFO: Does not fit BMW ESA Next Generation “Autolevelling” from (2018)
Click to expand...

I've not got the auto-levelling, it came out after my March 2017 Euro4 model.

I really liked the ESA setup, just a real pity the shocks are not good quality.

I was out on a fast rideout into Wales recently. One of the roads was very bumpy and the suspension was working very hard. Before long the damping had almost gone completely due to cavitation and heat buildup. Bike starting bucking and wallowing into corners. So I had to back off and stop for a break, let it all cool down for 40 minutes and then it was ok again.

Stuff that.

So I decided to upgrade to decent suspension (Ohlins) that can handle a fast rideout over bumpy roads without quality of ride falling apart.
 
Thanks for the info Warlord, much appreciated
 
skid06 said:
Thanks for the info Warlord, much appreciated
Click to expand...

No worries,

I think Ohlins do an ESA blanking kit as well, but its way more expensive than FTR's version so I dismissed it.
 
Warlord said:
Nice, have you set the Sag Levels yet? Or done nothing at all?
Click to expand...

My dealer set the suspension up and I asked them to raise the front ride height to make up for the reduction in front wheel diameter.

Haven’t checked it yet but will do once I’ve sorted the other stuff that has to be transferred from my last GS.
 
I can recommend Revs Racing if any of you aren't familiar with them.I had a Fazer thousand that I had used for 40k miles and thought that the suspension could use a bit of tlc. After a bit of measuring and poking about and asking about my not inconsiderable weight the owner did a few adjustments and sent me on my way. He refused payment as in his words,I didn't need to replace anything,its all in good order,just needed setting up properly.Obviously I made a decent contribution to their charity tin.There isn't enough of these independent specialist traders about now and its refreshing to deal with folk like these. the mirror opposite of my Honda experience!
 
Yep, I've had stuff off Jon and Nick at Revs Racing. Very nice guys.
 
Bloody good thread this; very informative. My 13 plate LC TE is now up to 32,000 miles and if the suspension dies soon (it will now i've jinxed it) I will look closely at the Ohlins route.
Cheers guys for all the info.
 
r1happy said:
My dealer set the suspension up and I asked them to raise the front ride height to make up for the reduction in front wheel diameter.

Haven’t checked it yet but will do once I’ve sorted the other stuff that has to be transferred from my last GS.
Click to expand...

if they've set the ride height up by giving it loads of preload they would have affected the stroke length of the shock plus you might struggle to set the correct sag, i left mine and it handles amazing, if you've raised it another inch it will make the front wheel look even smaller and look like a 16" wheel
 
Just another useful bit of information regarding the R1200GS Adventure Ohlins TTX Shocks.

They can be refitted to the new BMW R1250 GS Adventure as well, but the new bike is 6mm LOWER than the old R1200 version.

FTR Suspension said if I wanted to transfer the shocks from a R1200 to a R1250 they could change the internal shim stack on the shocks to accomodate the new lower stance. Can be done from new, or during a service interval ready for swapover.
 
Smogbob said:
Touratech now doing their stuff for the new bikes, hmm very interesting, and steering damper looks quite good.

https://shop.touratech.de/touratech...set-for-bmw-r1200gs-lc-r1250gs-from-2013.html

https://shop.touratech.de/touratech...adventure-2014-onwards-with-mounting-kit.html
Click to expand...

Can't see that web page and getting a 404 error, but this looks like probably the same thing:

https://shop.touratech.co.uk/tourat...-bmw-r-1200gs-1250gs-adventure-from-2014.html


At £2805 + fitting costs if you don't DIY, it seems like an expensive repair to an out of warranty ESA equipped bike, and even less justified as a replacement for working OEM ESA shocks as from what I can gather the TT items work pretty much the same, as their working characteristics are ultimately controlled by the bike's electronics.

If I keep my ESA equipped 1250 until the 3 yr warranty is about to expire and then replace it, £2805 goes a long way towards the cost to change. Of course if I kept the bike the OEM shocks might never fail, so might not need an expensive repair, but I believe the BMW extended warranty only covers suspension up to 30k miles, so it's a risk.
 
fred_jb said:
Can't see that web page and getting a 404 error, but this looks like probably the same thing:

https://shop.touratech.co.uk/tourat...-bmw-r-1200gs-1250gs-adventure-from-2014.html


At £2805 + fitting costs if you don't DIY, it seems like an expensive repair to an out of warranty ESA equipped bike, and even less justified as a replacement for working OEM ESA shocks as from what I can gather the TT items work pretty much the same, as their working characteristics are ultimately controlled by the bike's electronics.

If I keep my ESA equipped 1250 until the 3 yr warranty is about to expire and then replace it, £2805 goes a long way towards the cost to change. Of course if I kept the bike the OEM shocks might never fail, so might not need an expensive repair, but I believe the BMW extended warranty only covers suspension up to 30k miles, so it's a risk.
Click to expand...

It just gives other options Fred, I have the extended warranty, and have quite a few rides left to get to 30k miles.............;)
 
Smogbob said:
I have the extended warranty, and have quite a few rides left to get to 30k miles.............;)
Click to expand...

I've just bought the extended warranty as the bike's original 2 year warranty has expired. But I've only 5500 miles before my shocks aren't covered... :blast
 
ChazzyB said:
I've just bought the extended warranty as the bike's original 2 year warranty has expired. But I've only 5500 miles before my shocks aren't covered... :blast
Click to expand...

Solution, leave the bike at home................:D think you will be fine, in all honesty out of all the bikes that where sold, how many had suspension failure, without counting the MF as he may have faked it for a video......:D
 
Lads before I go for the renewable warranty, is it definitely 30k miles and not 30k km?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
NomadLad said:
Lads before I go for the renewable warranty, is it definitely 30k miles and not 30k km?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

From their book page 13 for the UK, and over here in Germany the extended warranty does not cover the ESA, they are considered like brake pads, you have to hope on BMW goodwill.

Suspension Failure of the following parts: Telelever ball joints, telescopic forks (excluding pitting) and seals. Front and rear shock absorber units (up to 30,000 miles only

https://www.allianz-assistance.co.uk/images/4094BMW Motorrad Warranty 0616.pdf
 
Smogbob said:
Solution, leave the bike at home................:D think you will be fine, in all honesty out of all the bikes that where sold, how many had suspension failure, without counting the MF as he may have faked it for a video......:D
Click to expand...

As one of lifes victims, I always get the fauty ones. I have had 3 new rear shocks, 1 on on a '14 GS and 2 on a '17 GS. Both bike were factory lowered chassis.
1 shock lost the preload and the other 2 lost damping, all replaced under warranty.
 
CPJS said:
As one of lifes victims, I always get the fauty ones. I have had 3 new rear shocks, 1 on on a '14 GS and 2 on a '17 GS. Both bike were factory lowered chassis.
1 shock lost the preload and the other 2 lost damping, all replaced under warranty.
Click to expand...

Wow that is damn unlucky, do the bikes go offroad a lot, and maybe it is because of the lowered chassis, less travel for the shocks, but that is just a wild guess....:hippy
 
CPJS said:
road riding only.
Click to expand...

Well this is only my opinion, the sachs shocks are set for 80kg that is rider and gear on, so being lowered would certainly affect that ratio, having less travel, surely less travel means it can bottom out easier, and just maybe this is why they fail, heavy load and not enough travel, I reckon the should upgrade the springs to at least 100kg on the lowered chassis bikes, I am thinking of doing the spring change.

http://catalog.touratech.com/english2019/epaper/Touratech_Catalog_19-20.pdf

 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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