Tell Me About This ESA

[swfraley]

In the distance, a motorcycle is growling my name. From here, I can't tell if it's an RT or a GS. . . .

 

All of the RTs at the local dealer have ESA and some other gizmos that run the list price up to almost $20,000. I rode one a few weeks ago and liked it, but I'm not sure about this whole ESA thing. Is it worth what it costs ($1500 or more, IIRC)? It seems like one more thing (a) to break and (b) to pay the dealer to adjust.

[russell_bynum]

In a nutshell: ESA is a very expensive system that allows you to easily and quickly adjust the shitty stock non-rebuildable suspension.

 

If it were my money, I'd skip ESA and buy some good aftermarket suspension to replace the stock stuff.

 

If you want ESA AND good suspension, buy the bike with ESA and then send the stock ESA shocks to Works Performance...they'll build a set of good shocks and transfer the ESA gizmos over.

[T__]

In the distance, a motorcycle is growling my name. From here, I can't tell if it's an RT or a GS. . . .

 

All of the RTs at the local dealer have ESA and some other gizmos that run the list price up to almost $20,000. I rode one a few weeks ago and liked it, but I'm not sure about this whole ESA thing. Is it worth what it costs ($1500 or more, IIRC)? It seems like one more thing (a) to break and (b) to pay the dealer to adjust.

 

 

Stuart, the ESA system does work.. I guess it depends on whether or not you have a need for it & want to pay for it..

 

In my case I use it pretty often as I do a lot of motorcycle camping so can easily adjust the suspension preload & dampening to handle camp gear loads then quickly switch back to standard load & dampening when operating after setting up camp or during the non loaded part of the week.. Also kind of nice to just push the button & have the dampening loosen up when you hit a rough section of road.. On the comfort setting it takes a lot of the harshness out of the square edged bumps & raised tar strips..

 

A couple of things that could influence your decision..

 

-First it is darn difficult to find a decently loaded RT or GS in the US without ESA so you might have to wait quite a while to take delivery on a bike without ESA.. On the same note a lot of dealers won’t deal as good on ordered bikes as the ones that they already have in stock so the price difference might not be as much as the ESA cost..

 

-Secondly it will probably be more difficult to sell a used GS or RT as a lot of other for sale bikes will probably have it.. (might hurt your resale to not have it)..

 

I felt the same way when I bought my 09 RT & really didn’t want to spend the money on the ESA system but there were no non ESA RT’s in the United States & I didn’t want to wait the long wait period for one to be ordered.. Now that I have had the ESA system for a while I kind of like it..

 

I guess on a $20,000.00 motorcycle you might as well get it the way you want to begin with so if you think you will use the ESA system why not..

 

 

Twisty

 

[Penforhire]

Put me in the "love my ESA" camp. I ride 2-up but not all the time. I love being able to adjust preload from (one+luggage, I'm a big boy) to (two-up) with a button. I can also feel the difference from Comfort to Sport and the damping seems to work well for a rider of my limited talent and large size.

 

Put it this way, I spent some effort dialing in my FJR's suspension but my RT beat it right off the showroom floor. Down the road? Who knows how long it'll ride well before needing repair. if I keep it that long maybe I'll pony up for an upgraded shock system.

[Twisties]

Well one of our RTs, mine, had it, one, Sharon's, did not. Now they both don't.

 

I don't think the stock ESA shocks are as bad as Russell may think, but the fact of the matter is with ESA you can not set them how you want. You are stuck with BMW's secret mappings. Sharon was simply outside of BMWs design load range... on the light side, and we could not get the proper amount of sag for her with the stock non-ESA shocks. We both rode the stock shocks out until we started to feel there was some noticeable degradation in the stock shock performance, around 18,000 - 20,000 miles. Then we got Works Performance non-ESA replacements.

 

For me it was simply a matter of the following:

 

 

• 3 weeks nominal down time to send my shocks into Works to get the Works ESA version,
   
  
• I don't really feel the need for ESA since I don't switch from one-up to two-up,
   
  
• There does seem to be some reliability issue with the ESA systems, and
   
  
• I wanted to be able to dial the shocks in and have control over their settings.

 

I think on our '07's ESA was $800. Maybe it's gone up. In any event I guess my overall feeling was that for me, I found it to be more of a liability than an asset. YMMV.

 

Jan

[T__]

 

I think on our '07's ESA was $800. Maybe it's gone up. In any event I guess my overall feeling was that for me, I found it to be more of a liability than an asset. YMMV.

 

 

Jan, the ESA was $800.00 (list price) on my 09 RT.. Probably worked out to somewhat less as I got a very good price below suggested retail on the whole bike package..

 

As you noted,, a person can have issues with both the base suspension or up-level ESA suspension not being ideal for their weight or riding style..

 

Twisty

 

[cali_beemer]

Personally I wouldnt buy it. I have an 05 RT without ESA. I was after one without it as I have read too much negative on it. I plan to put a set of Ohlins on the bike wehn I can. 1500 for ESA would cover the cost of Ohlins. Personally, if I were buying a new bike I would not go for it. Now, the new ESA 2 coming out on the new GT might be worthwile but thats an unknown right now. Personally, when I go to plunck down big money on suspension i want choices but right now theres only 1 option if you have ESA.

[Huzband]

I like the ESA.

 

Sure, I keep it in 2-up with bags mode pretty much all the time seein' as I tend to ride aggressi...umm...fas...errr....uhhh...nevermind.

 

Anyway, when I did my 50CC, it was nice to reset on the fly to a cushier setting for the long haul on I-10.

 

At 14k now, I'll be looking to send them to Works Performance for a re-build pretty soon.

[Exploreinman]

I'm in the camp of loving the ESA, but at 178 lbs. I'm probably in the right target group weight wise that BMW had in mind.

 

I love being able to change the set up with the push of a button and I can definitely feel the change in handling using the ESA. 27,000+ on the odometer and still loving it.

[russell_bynum]

I like the ESA.

 

Sure, I keep it in 2-up with bags mode pretty much all the time seein' as I tend to ride aggressi...umm...fas...errr....uhhh...nevermind.

 

Anyway, when I did my 50CC, it was nice to reset on the fly to a cushier setting for the long haul on I-10.

 

This is exactly what I was talking about when I called the stock suspension shitty.

 

Either you're too heavy for the stock shocks, or the stock shock's crappy damping can't deal with your aggressive riding.

 

In my case, both were true. So...I'd crank up the preload to keep it from bottoming out, and then crank up the damping to keep it from pogoing around.

 

Then I'd get to the freeway and the ride would just be brutally stiff...so I'd have to back off the preload and the damping until the bike wallowed down the road like I was riding a waterbed.

 

With my aftermarket shocks, the only reason I ever adjust them is when I change loads (like...going from solo to 2-up, etc). Once I was set for the load, there was no need to adjust to make it acceptable in the corners and comfortable on the slab.

 

[wellcraft]

some guys swear by esa and some curse it for it's limitations. my personal opinion is it's worthwhile if you use it. i played with esa when i first purchased my 2006 KS but after the novalty wore off i seldom to never adjust the settings. i use my bike as a commuter to/from work with day trips on weekends. another liability with the esa is the shocks are not rebuildable and replacement of the stock esa shocks is 3K+ not including labor. WP claims to rebuild esa shocks but i have yet to hear of anyone actually getting it done and it's my understanding you have to ship your shocks overseas.

 

my recommendation is to do without the esa unless you're into gadgetry. esa shocks perform OK for the average rider and no better or worse than non-esa OEM shocks. my next bike will not have esa unless bmw makes them re-buildable.

[sardineone]

Put me in the happy with the ESA system camp as well. I'm around 240 lbs and with the Mrs. on board a very comfortable system. The suspension sure hasn't slowed me down in the twisties either. Maybe the ESA settings favor us heavy weights? Not sure the ESA shock is a standard shock with the ESA added. They are made by White Power and to my knowledge that is a quality brand. I know the Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport I have ridden with the White Power shock had good suspension on the rear. So in the end from what I have ascertained by discussions on this board is the ESA is a step up from the standard shocks. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

[Mister Tee]

I was apprehensive of ESA at first, but not now. "Normal" mode works for almost all riding conditions, and I don't switch to "Sport" unless I'm really planning on carving some canyons. I rarely use "Comfort" but it's nice to be able to put the bike in to GS mode for really crappy roads. I can't push this bike hard enough for suspension to be a limiting factor. I run out of lean angle first.

[russell_bynum]

Put me in the happy with the ESA system camp as well. I'm around 240 lbs and with the Mrs. on board a very comfortable system. The suspension sure hasn't slowed me down in the twisties either. Maybe the ESA settings favor us heavy weights?

 

Have you measured sag with rider/passenger/load to see where it falls?

 

I haven't with the new bikes, but my R1100RT was a good bit too soft for my 215lbs. By the time we added passenger and luggage, it wasn't even close.

 

Not sure the ESA shock is a standard shock with the ESA added.

 

My understanding is it isn't exactly the same shock as stock..it has some additional damping adjustments (I forget the details there, but I'm sure someone who has the system can fill in where my memory left off.) It is apparently similar quality, but not exactly the same shock.

 

They are made by White Power and to my knowledge that is a quality brand.

 

WP makes some great shocks and they make some crappy shocks. My R1100RT had Showa shocks. Showa makes some really good stuff, some middle of the road stuff, and some crap.

 

 

So in the end from what I have ascertained by discussions on this board is the ESA is a step up from the standard shocks. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

 

I would agree with that. As I said...I do believe you get some additional damping adjustment that you don't get on the standard shocks. And if you've got stock-quality shocks, you're going to have to be mucking with the adjustment all the time to get a tolerable ride on the freeway and a controllable ride in the twisties. ESA makes it easier and faster to make that adjustment. If you have decent aftermarket shocks, you don't need to do that and you get a better ride in both situations. ESA also makes it easier to adjust for different loads (solo/2-up/etc)....which you would need to do even with the best aftermarket suspension.

 

I guess the bottom line is...I would not order ESA on a bike. If I found "the" bike, and it had ESA, I'd buy it and start saving to have Works Performance build me a set of good shocks with the ESA adjusters from my stock ESA shocks.

[dhanson]

ESA works on the K12GT, mostly for going from 1up to 2up. Never need the sport setting on dampening unless I am trying to follow Huzband, or Twisties.

 

I hardly ever use comfort setting either, too mushy.

[swfraley]

... replacement of the stock esa shocks is 3K+ not including labor.

 

 

 

[Silver Surfer/AKAButters]

While the ESA is not perfect, it does offer some options which make a difference in comfort and handling depending on road conditions, load etc.

I like it, but certainly would not mind a Works upgrade when the time comes for a rebuild.

[Huzband]

Hmmm, just a quick thought here.

 

What about putting a set of 12GSA shocks on a 12RT? Have Works Perf. rebuild them, & we're set. With what, 12, different settings, I would think we could cover the gamut of needs for an RT rider, no matter how aggressive the rider, or the conditions. Only question is, what kind of wiring changes would be required?

[Whip]

I ride 50% of the time 2 up.....40% commuting......10% hoonin.

 

 

ESA is an awful waste of money.

 

 

They may have improved it in 09......I don't know.

 

 

I replaced the ESA in my K bike as soon as I could.

 

 

The springs are okay I guess, but there is no damping.

 

 

Aftermarket or Death

 

 

 

My experience with Ohlins is better than my time with Works.

 

 

You Make The Call.

 

 

 

 

[Limecreek]

I had ESA on my RT for 5,000 miles and I tired every combination of adjustments to dial it in, but to no avail. Ohlins transformed the RT into the bike I was looking for and they were half of the ESA replacement cost. I am 175 pounds, ride one up and push the bike from time to time.

 

Now I have a KGT with ESA and I have found a combination of settings that that falls somewhere between slightly below average to average in terms of the handling/comfort combination. I am surprised at how much better the ESA system is on the KGT vs. the RRT, but then again my expectations were pretty low going in.

 

WP Suspension, the maker of the ESA is now rebuilding ESA for the KGT, but not the RT. So as I start shopping for ESA replacements, I will contact them and ask about a custom set up to fit me and my requirements.

 

Ohlins does not make a shock for the KGT, so it looks like I may be fitting a set of Wilbers to the GT.

[Magilla]

I'm new to all this and have only had my 2008 RT for a year. I have switched through the ESA several times, read the manual, and still can't figure the ESA out.

 

I'm 6'1", 225 pounds, and have no one to ride 2 up with.

 

Can you guys that are happy with the ESA give me a quick "ESA for Dummies class". I'm not discounting the "not happy with ESA guys" but I have it on my bike and want to use it.

[sardineone]

One last additional footnote on my bike's ESA. I really never use the Sport setting (my reckoning for sustained Autobahn speeds and maybe race tracks). I have found that the Normal setting works best for my preference for supple suspension in the twisties. My ESA set on solo/with luggage allowed me to strafe the curves at Deals Gap with 50lbs of luggage and only dragged my toe of my boot once. I use comfort for just that on my way to to the local 'A' roads about 75 miles from my house and when the Mrs. is on board.

Have you measured sag with rider/passenger/load to see where it falls?

 

Something I usually would measure and setup on normal suspension. Since to my knowledge there isn't any adjustment of the factory preload settings I haven't checked preload on my ESA equipped bike. For me all the preload settings seem to be in the ballpark. When I get the time, I'll try to get some sag settings for reference.

[T__]

I'm new to all this and have only had my 2008 RT for a year. I have switched through the ESA several times, read the manual, and still can't figure the ESA out.

 

I'm 6'1", 225 pounds, and have no one to ride 2 up with.

 

Can you guys that are happy with the ESA give me a quick "ESA for Dummies class". I'm not discounting the "not happy with ESA guys" but I have it on my bike and want to use it.

 

 

Magilla, first off does your 08 RT have the on-board computer? As that changes what you see a little bit..

 

In any case there is a nice write up on the ESA operation in your owners manual.. You can set the shock dampening (comfort,, normal,, sport) at any time the key is on even while riding but to set the spring load the bike must be sitting still with the engine running..

 

Read your owners manual first then post back here with any questions you have on using or understanding the system..

 

One other ESA thing to think about.. If you think your system isn’t operating correctly have your local dealer check it out for you as there were a number of RT’s that the ESA system didn’t operate correctly even as new..

 

 

Twisty

 

[Magilla]

I do have the on board computer and have switched it on the fly to see if I noticed anything. When I am traveling and have the trunk on and saddle bags I do switch it to the 1 up with the luggage.

 

Ithink I will have the dealer look at it (once all this NASTY SNOW goes away!!!!). I really couln't notice any difference when I would switch between the 3 settings I see on the display. But, then again I am new to all this and maybe have no clue what I should be "feeling".....

[Twisties]

When changing settings there are very distinct and unmistakable changes in the bike. If you are not getting those yours is not working. If you change from 1-up to 1-up +luggage the bike goes up about an inch. You will feel this.

 

If you change from comfort to sport while riding, you will feel this change in damping even on a straight smooth road.

[T__]

I do have the on board computer and have switched it on the fly to see if I noticed anything. When I am traveling and have the trunk on and saddle bags I do switch it to the 1 up with the luggage.

 

Ithink I will have the dealer look at it (once all this NASTY SNOW goes away!!!!). I really couln't notice any difference when I would switch between the 3 settings I see on the display. But, then again I am new to all this and maybe have no clue what I should be "feeling".....

 

 

 

Magilla, to get the one up with luggage to switch to other settings you can’t do that while moving.. Must be setting still with engine running (I think also in neutral)..

 

You should be able to get the comfort,, normal,, sport,, to switch modes while moving though..

 

Twisty

 

[Magilla]

Ok, I know mine is not working, I am able to go through the three modes while moveing and DO NOT notice any difference at all.

 

I do have to be stopped and in nuetral to go from one up w/o baggage to 1 up w/ baggage. I nevr felt the bike do anyuthing and was just out in the garage and tried it with no change. Looks like she's got a date with the tech's in the Spring....

 

THNAKS for the input....

[bimmers]

Love ESA, as I am not an expert rider the mapping is fine for me. Comfort on the Interstate, sport in the twisties and normal on the highways and in town.

[Scriber]

I have an 07 K12S that came with ESA. In the "Sport" setting it was way under-damped on the front end. In none of the settings was the damping good on both ends at the same time.

 

I switched to Ohlins. Gave up the ESA, but have never missed it. And I carry camping gear with me. Nice plush ride. Much more confidence on rougher pavement.

 

No matter what you choose to do, learn more about your suspension. Managing your suspension effectively with proper settings and riding technique will make your riding more fun as well as safer.