08' GS with ASC and ESA?

[gfspencer]

I know that Automatic Stability Control and Electronic Suspension Adjustment has been around for a while on some of the Luxury Touring BMWs. It is relatively new to the GS. I just got an 08' GS and I am lost. Do any of you have ASC and ESA and can you tell me how to use it? The manual is as clear as mud. For example it says that you cannot adjust your ride between Soft, Normal and Sport while you are riding but I did coming back from the dealership. :confused: I'm still trying to figure out how one button operates both ASC and ABS. :confused:

If motorcycles get any more complicated I'm sunk. :o

[jzeiler]

:confused: I'm still trying to figure out how one button operates both ASC and ABS. :confused:

If motorcycles get any more complicated I'm sunk. :o

This system uses the same sensors to detect a differential in wheel speed. If you are braking it applies the ABS to reduce brake force on the slower wheel. If you are accelerating it modifies the spark or injectors to reduce power out of the engine to reduce the speed of the spinning rear wheel. Now doesn't sound more simple?

From what I have seen on the GTs the setting you cannot do while moving is the pre-load, ie one up - 2 up. You can change from hard to soft on the fly.

[XMagnaRider]

I have a 2007 K1200GT with ABS, ESA, and ASC, and can only speak to what my bike has and does:

ABS: This cannot be disabled on my KGT. It prevents wheel lock up when braking. I have tested it in riding classes, and it is very impressive. (Does the GS have a switch to disable ABS for special off-road uses?)

ASC: It is enabled by default and automatically re-enabled whenever you start the engine. Press and hold the ASC button for five seconds to disable it or to re-enable it. When disabled, there is an ASC warning indicator on the panel. The ASC feature watches the comparative rotation rates of the two wheels. If they differ significantly, it will retard the engine and may also reduce fuel flow to help you keep your balance in reduced traction situations. It more-or-less prevents wheelies, too.

ESA: This is a wonderful feature. A quick press of the button toggles your suspension (on the fly, at any speed) between Comfort, Normal, and Sport. There is a significant difference in how much "road feel" is transmitted between the settings, but also in how the bike handles, especially in quick turns.

ESA Preload: You also use the ESA button to change the preload. To change the preload, you must be completely stopped. Press the ESA button once quickly to bring up the ESA display, then press it again and hold it down for a few seconds each time to toggle between rider only, rider with luggage, and rider with passenger (and luggage). When you let go, the new preload setting will flash and you will feel the bike raise up or lower down while a motor makes the adjustment, which takes several seconds. When it's done adjusting the preload, the display stops flashing.

There has been a lot of discussion on various forums about the ESA settings, such as "how much extra weight did BMW engineers expect for the 'with luggage' setting" and so forth, but I suggest you try out the different settings until you find what works best for you.

[Ted Shred]

I know that Automatic Stability Control and Electronic Suspension Adjustment has been around for a while on some of the Luxury Touring BMWs. It is relatively new to the GS. I just got an 08' GS and I am lost. Do any of you have ASC and ESA and can you tell me how to use it? The manual is as clear as mud. For example it says that you cannot adjust your ride between Soft, Normal and Sport while you are riding but I did coming back from the dealership. :confused: I'm still trying to figure out how one button operates both ASC and ABS. :confused:

If motorcycles get any more complicated I'm sunk. :o

I delivered our 1st one yesterday and I thought the manual was pretty clear.

ESA -
The preload (one up, two up) can only be adjusted while the bike is stopped with the motor running.

The damping (comfort, normal, sport) can be adjusted while riding. Just tap the button and it changes.

ABS/ASC is controlled by one button. Bike must be stopped but the motor doesn't have to be running.

To adjust ASC (automatic stability control) you hold the button until the display changes to the desired setting (off-road or inactive)

To turn off ABS. Hold the button down until the ASC lights cycle and the red brake light goes solid. Then your ABS is inactive.

I'm surprised your salesman didn't review all of this with you...

[Ted Shred]

I have a 2007 K1200GT with ABS, ESA, and ASC, and can only speak to what my bike has and does:

ABS: This cannot be disabled on my KGT. It prevents wheel lock up when braking. I have tested it in riding classes, and it is very impressive. (Does the GS have a switch to disable ABS for special off-road uses?)

ASC: It is enabled by default and automatically re-enabled whenever you start the engine. Press and hold the ASC button for five seconds to disable it or to re-enable it. When disabled, there is an ASC warning indicator on the panel. The ASC feature watches the comparative rotation rates of the two wheels. If they differ significantly, it will retard the engine and may also reduce fuel flow to help you keep your balance in reduced traction situations. It more-or-less prevents wheelies, too.

ESA: This is a wonderful feature. A quick press of the button toggles your suspension (on the fly, at any speed) between Comfort, Normal, and Sport. There is a significant difference in how much "road feel" is transmitted between the settings, but also in how the bike handles, especially in quick turns.

ESA Preload: You also use the ESA button to change the preload. To change the preload, you must be completely stopped. Press the ESA button once quickly to bring up the ESA display, then press it again and hold it down for a few seconds each time to toggle between rider only, rider with luggage, and rider with passenger (and luggage). When you let go, the new preload setting will flash and you will feel the bike raise up or lower down while a motor makes the adjustment, which takes several seconds. When it's done adjusting the preload, the display stops flashing.

There has been a lot of discussion on various forums about the ESA settings, such as "how much extra weight did BMW engineers expect for the 'with luggage' setting" and so forth, but I suggest you try out the different settings until you find what works best for you.

The new GS's have more settings for ASC and ESA and the methods to change them are a little different than the GS or RT...

[DavidTaylor]

I'm surprised your salesman didn't review all of this with you...

Well, Ted, I hear you set the bar pretty high for other sales guys to be measured against. :D

[Ted Shred]

Well, Ted, I hear you set the bar pretty high for other sales guys to be measured against. :D

I didn't know how the new system was going to work until we got the bike and the OWNER'S manual yesterday. The customer and I spent a couple extra minutes with the book to make sure we BOTH under stood it...

[gfspencer]

I'm surprised your salesman didn't review all of this with you...
He did . . . but this is my sixth BMW and my second R1200GS so I thought I knew it all :rolleyes: . . . . and I wanted to get on the road. You know how that goes. :(

I still can't feel a heck of a lot of difference between comfort, normal and sport. Maybe if I change the preload I will feel something. It's on helmet + bags now and although I am running bags they are essentially empty. Maybe I'll let a little air out of the tires as well.

[Ted Shred]

He did . . . but this is my sixth BMW and my second R1200GS so I thought I knew it all :rolleyes: . . . . and I wanted to get on the road. You know how that goes. :(

I still can't feel a heck of a lot of difference between comfort, normal and sport. Maybe if I change the preload I will feel something. It's on helmet + bags now and although I am running bags they are essentially empty. Maybe I'll let a little air out of the tires as well.

I notice quite a bit of difference between comfort and sport. If I'm in comfort on the freeway and take the off ramp circle fast the back end wallows...

Another big difference is on real bumpy paved roads. Cycling thru the modes gives a very different ride.

I'm interested in hearing from someone once they've ridden the GS off road and tried the smooth terrain vs rough terrain settings on the ESA...

[RAPaoff]

Does anyone know if the ESA shocks are rebuildable? Who makes them for BMW? After 10,000 miles of rough riding how much will it cost to replace? It's an inquiring mind kind of thing.

[Ted Shred]

Does anyone know if the ESA shocks are rebuildable? Who makes them for BMW? After 10,000 miles of rough riding how much will it cost to replace? It's an inquiring mind kind of thing.

Good question. Don't think there's an answer yet. We have Works Performance "re-build" RT shocks with ESA to make them lower. So I suppose it's possible. I think they use the electronic/motor parts on their shocks. It's about $1100 a pair...