Wilbers Suspension: ESA or Standard?

[Exploreinman]

My '05RT has 43,000 miles on it and my shocks need replacing. Wilbers now has replacement shocks that will keep the ESA operational. I'm trying to decide whether to go to standard WIlbers shocks or keep the ESA operational. The price for both are approximately the same, $1300. What are your thoughts?

[Grumpy-ol-Fart]

Seriously dude...should I drink Miller Lite, or Bud Light?

[dirtrider]

Morning Exploreinman

 

Do you use the ESA a lot now? If so then you probably answered your own question. If you seldom change the settings now then you are probably better off without it as that is one less EXPENSIVE thing to go wrong as the bike gets older.

 

Personally I seldom change my settings so for me it would be without ESA. Now for my friend that regularly carries 3 different sized (weight) passengers he would probably opt for the ESA.

 

[Rob L]

I had Ohlins on my previous RT and loved them! It took about a minute to adjust the rear preload when I road with a passenger. The shocks were wonderful.

 

I replaced the shocks on my current RT with Hyperpro ESA shocks. I am less than satisfied with the shocks overall. They do not work near as well as the Ohlins did. I am not sure if they have a problem or not, but will be pulling the rear soon to see if there is something wrong.

 

The ESA function is useful, but I will never purchase another ESA shock. Future bikes will get the Ohlins treatment instead. Maybe I have a bad shock, not sure. The point is, ESA can be a PITA, especially on the 2005-07 bikes because they use a potentiometer to sense shock settings. The computer may have a hard time sensing the change (mine did) and you may need dealer computer assistance to sort the problem out. This ended up costing me an extra $180 on top of the price of the shocks.

 

My opinion.....no more ESA

[Penforhire]

To me the biggest benefit of my ESA is going from one-up to two-up and back with no grabbing a wrench or moving a lever (other bikes I've owned). I was a one-up-only rider I'd avoid the ESA as "one more thing to fail."

[Rob L]

No wrenches needed with non-ESA BMWs....just crank a knob a few turns

[Boxtop]

I ditched the ESA for standard Ohlins and don't regret it.

 

The only ESA adjustment that I actually used was the preload, and having to occasionally crank the Ohlins preload knob in return for dumping all that weight and complexity seemed like a good trade to me.

 

After I got over the novelty of the ESA, I just left the damping in "Sport" all the time, so I don't really miss that feature at all.

[tallman]

Wilbers only need a turn of the easily accessible knob.

[Guest Kakugo]

Keep the ESA, you won't regret it.

I've heard good things about Wilbers (read: best bang for the buck). That's probably the route I will go to when my WP's will need replacing. I intend to keep everything in working orde on this bike!

 

Ohlins has ESA shocks out for the R1200GS now. Price is a monster 2700€ for the full set ($3800). I've haven't heard anything about a similar product for the RT but if Ohlins invested money into it I see no reason they shouldn't do it. I'll inquire about it in the next weeks.

[ScottT]

Wilbers

[Paul In Australia]

I changed to Wilbers non ESA 1 k miles ago. Had the ESA and used it quite a bit, but don't miss it. With the infinite amount of set up possibilities of the standard shocks, the ESA is not a big sacrifice. ESA adjustment on the run is nice but doesn't make up for great after market shocks.

best regards

Paul

[RoSPA_man]

+1

 

 

Morning Exploreinman

 

Do you use the ESA a lot now? If so then you probably answered your own question. If you seldom change the settings now then you are probably better off without it as that is one less EXPENSIVE thing to go wrong as the bike gets older.

 

Personally I seldom change my settings so for me it would be without ESA. Now for my friend that regularly carries 3 different sized (weight) passengers he would probably opt for the ESA.

[Hall Vince]

+2

\v/

[AZgman]

I have Wilbers and if set up correctly, only a preload adjustment has been required to go from 1 up to 2 up. I really don't see a need for me to have ESA, as I am completely satisfied with the standard Wilbers shocks

[Gene#3]

I faced the same dilema with my 2006 R1200RT. Happily, I spoke with Herman USA in FL and went with the new Wilbers ESA and couldn't be happier. He even gave me a "loaner" GS to use while he did the install. Great guy to work with, I heartily recommend both him and the shocks! (If I didn't have ESA to begin with I wouldn't buy it, but since its there already and the price is really comperable at this point I see it as a "no brainer!"