Is my ESA working??

[Griffis]

Got my 07 GT couple weeks ago -- I can't tell if my ESA is working. I thought you could change the dampening on the fly, but my owner's manual says that neither the spring tension nor the dampening can be changed while riding (comfort to normal to sport). However, even if I change the settings while not moving, I still don't notice any difference in ride... How can you tell if the ESA is working??

I already have my Russell seat with backrest, Cee Bailey W/S, pegs lowered, bar backs, 2730 GPS, Valentine 1, cup holder, trunk .... still the ergos are not as good as my 1200RT. But the GT is so smooth and fast....

[Ted Shred]

Got my 07 GT couple weeks ago -- I can't tell if my ESA is working. I thought you could change the dampening on the fly, but my owner's manual says that neither the spring tension nor the dampening can be changed while riding (comfort to normal to sport). However, even if I change the settings while not moving, I still don't notice any difference in ride... How can you tell if the ESA is working??

I already have my Russell seat with backrest, Cee Bailey W/S, pegs lowered, bar backs, 2730 GPS, Valentine 1, cup holder, trunk .... still the ergos are not as good as my 1200RT. But the GT is so smooth and fast....

The comfort/normal/sport settings can be changed on the fly. The one up/two settings must be done at a stop with the engine running.

There should be a noticeable difference between comfort and sport. When I for get to change it and hit a freeway on ramp for example in comfort mode the bike wallows in the corner...

Try this. Start the bike in your garage/drive way and set it at one up/com fort. Bounce up and down on the seat for a minute to get the feel. Then switch to sport and bounce it up and down some more. You should really notice the suspension being much stiffer. I do this for customers to demonstrate the ESA before a test ride. Be sure the motor is on...

[Griffis]

I don't think anything is happening when my ESA settings change -- I can't feel any difference, also I can't hear any sounds near the rear shock when the setting changes, even though my dash says the ESA setting is changed.

[slowflyn]

Easy way to tell if the preload is working, just straddle the bike and go from 1 helmet to 2 helmets. You will feel the bike rise up under you or drop away if you go the other way around.

Damper setting can be felt on different road conditions. Find some nice wash board freeway surface and set the damper to sport. You should really feel the ripples, then go to comfort, it should smooth out. If you are a corner critter, again start with the comfort and the bike likely will feel a bit loose or sloppy. Hit the sport and you will feel it tighten up and stay stuck to the road, also a more firm ride.

When all else fails, take it to the dealer.

[meese]

Tony,

Do you have a pic of the Russell seat & backrest on your GT?

As for the ESA, sounds like a trip to your dealer is in order.

[Griffis]

I'll try to get some pictures up soon -- the GT seat is not as comfortable as my GSA (Russell) seat, but it's still breaking in. The GT seat is tilted forwarded and the backrest makes you slide too much towards the tank. But the more I ride it the more it seems to settle down. If the seat pan was bigger then the seat would probably work better. Other mfr's (like Corbin or prehaps Sargent) could use a bigger pan -- but Russell uses the stock one. If the seat doesn't break in, I'm sure the good folks at Russell will make it right.
ps- I have bad knees, so I have to move about a lot. Without highway pegs on the GT, I have to lay my legs up on the tank for comfort -- that's really why I wanted the backrest. Most riders would be better off without the backrest because it does restrict movement on the already too small GT seat.

[Griffis]

I've tried everything to determine if my ESA is working. Even though the display shows the change in settings, nothing happens with the suspension. I have also ridden 06 GT's and S's with ESA and the ESA dampening (normal-sport-comfort) did work on the fly. However, my owner's manual says that neither spring nor dampening can be changed on the fly -- is this a change on the 07's??

Looks like I need a trip (250 miles) to my dealer, just as soon as the rain quits.

[Griffis]

Attached is a copy of pages 71-72 of my owner's manual which clearly states the neither damping nor spring preload can be adjusted while the motorcycle is being ridden. Is this a change for 07?

[messenger13]

There is a magnificent difference between Comfort and Sport mode. In Sport mode, I can feel every little bump in the highway. In Comfort mode, they all disappear. It takes about 2 seconds to change from mode to mode...from what I can tell.


I already have my Russell seat with backrest, Cee Bailey W/S, pegs lowered, bar backs, 2730 GPS, Valentine 1, cup holder, trunk .... still the ergos are not as good as my 1200RT. But the GT is so smooth and fast....

Well crap! You've already ruined the GT, so what's the difference?! http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/violent/nutkick.gif

[Tom_K]

P64 of the manual for my '06 R1200RT also says that neither the damping or preload can be adjusted while moving. But while the bike must be stationary to adjust the preload, the damping is easily adjusted on the fly from comfort to normal to sport - in spite of the misprinted manual. If it weren't, the ESA would be far less useful.

[Griffis]

There is a magnificent difference between Comfort and Sport mode. In Sport mode, I can feel every little bump in the highway. In Comfort mode, they all disappear. It takes about 2 seconds to change from mode to mode...from what I can tell.




Well crap! You've already ruined the GT, so what's the difference?! http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/violent/nutkick.gif

Yes I probably ruined the GT but at least now I can ride for distance in more comfort.. I still have an 06 FJR in basically stock trim (except for Cee Baileys), but even with my GT mods I think it's quicker/sportier than the FJR. Anybody want an almost new 06 FJR?