How Useful is ESA on GS?

[Nebish]

The Chanceloress of the Exchequer has given me the green light to acquire a GS. (At 5'8", I can't flat foot the GSA and refuse to ride anything that I won't let me touch terra firma.)

I am considering buying a second hand GS, primarily to get the benefit of someone else having bought and installed all of the wonderful farkles that one absolutely has to have on this bike. Since ESA is new to the '08 model, my question is how useful is this feature? I tend to ride pretty conservatively although my recent trip through the Blue Ridge and a the resulting Performance Award proves that I can and do push the envelope.

From what I have read here, the consensus seems to be that ESA on the RT (and the GT?) makes a huge difference. Can the same thing be said for it's usefulness on the GS?

I have never done any off road riding and the motivation behind acquisition of a GS is to adventure to Alaska and to start taking advantage of the wealth of off road riding that I have never previously explored. I'd rather give up my eye teeth than part with the LT. No sireee, I'm building a stable.

I know that I can save thousands by going for a late model GS over a new '08. That said, I would rather go for an ESA equipped bike, if it will make that much of a difference that seems to be the case with other similarly featured beemers.

[grifscoots]

Hey Paul, speaking on the street side (GT), I never want to have another bike without it. Being able to change the way the bike rides with a push of a button is simply amazing.

I've proven to myself that it works and it's not just another high tech toy. I was riding a back road that was so washboarded it chattered the teeth. So, I set the bike to "comfort" and that took care of that. Forgot it was in comfort mode and laid into a long S curve. The bike wallowed so bad I thought I was gonna go down. Put the bike into sport mode before the second half of the S curve (once you get used to it you can do it without looking) it firmed right up and laid into the curve sweet.

There are probably off road uses for it, too.

[hschisler]

and when you do decide to go off-road with the GS you can turn the ESA off! Those BMW engineers think of everything.

OK, almost everything.

[Randy]

My GS doesn't have ESA, but I spent some time on a new one that does. For street riding the ESA on the GS is every bit as nice as on the other bikes. It is really useful to be able to choose valving and rear spring preload with the press of a button. On the GS you have an additional range of settings for off-road. In addition to valving that is more appropriate for rough roads, the ride height seems to increase as well. If I was to get a new GS, I would definitely opt for ESA.

The Chanceloress of the Exchequer has given me the green light to acquire a GS. (At 5'8", I can't flat foot the GSA and refuse to ride anything that I won't let me touch terra firma.)

I am considering buying a second hand GS, primarily to get the benefit of someone else having bought and installed all of the wonderful farkles that one absolutely has to have on this bike. Since ESA is new to the '08 model, my question is how useful is this feature? I tend to ride pretty conservatively although my recent trip through the Blue Ridge and a the resulting Performance Award proves that I can and do push the envelope.

From what I have read here, the consensus seems to be that ESA on the RT (and the GT?) makes a huge difference. Can the same thing be said for it's usefulness on the GS?

I have never done any off road riding and the motivation behind acquisition of a GS is to adventure to Alaska and to start taking advantage of the wealth of off road riding that I have never previously explored. I'd rather give up my eye teeth than part with the LT. No sireee, I'm building a stable.

I know that I can save thousands by going for a late model GS over a new '08. That said, I would rather go for an ESA equipped bike, if it will make that much of a difference that seems to be the case with other similarly featured beemers.

[grifscoots]

and when you do decide to go off-road with the GS you can turn the ESA off! Those BMW engineers think of everything.

OK, almost everything.Ya lost me, Howard. Why would you turn the ESA off? I think you mean ABS. Of course, with all these acronyms, some having many meanings, things go FUBAR ASAP.

[Randy]

ABS, ASC, ESA

EIEIO ;)

Ya lost me, Howard. Why would you turn the ESA off? I think you mean ABS. Of course, with all these acronyms, some having many meanings, things go FUBAR ASAP.

[hschisler]

Ya lost me, Howard. Why would you turn the ESA off? I think you mean ABS. Of course, with all these acronyms, some having many meanings, things go FUBAR ASAP.Yup, you are correct. I was thinking ABS. Thanks for catching that. :o

[jrat2002]

Paul...I recently traded in an 07 GS for an 08 RT. I love both bikes. My GS did not have ESA, my RT does. I use the ESA often on my RT...since I have the option...and I think the feature befits a sport tourer. However, I would only change the suspension on the GS if I was riding 2up. On the GS, I never really messed with the front suspension since it is sorta a pain in the butt to adjust (requires a tool). All that being said, I do not feel that I ever needed the ESA on the GS (partly cus I never had it), but I like having it on the RT. I hope that makes your decision harder...just kidding...IMHO, I think the look, style, and feel of the new 08 GS is awesome. If you have the option to get ESA...get it...you won't regret it...plus you will have a brand new, shiny 08 GS. Yes, you will save money on an earlier GS and you will absolutely love the bike. However, you will proudly own your older model GS and always wonder how it would feel with the ESA.

[jrat2002]

Paul...I forgot to mension that I am 5'9" and flat footing on my 07 GS was difficult without the low seat option. When shopping for my current ride, I test rode an 08 GS with the low seat option...it made a world of difference and I could flat foot it quite easily. I almost got the 08 GS but had my heart set on the RT. The GSA also has a low seat option...that may be worth checking out since it has a very large gas tank and you are planning an Alaska trip........just a thought for you to ponder I suppose....regardless, enjoy your new ride :)

[ironbuttwannabe]

Did you ever think about a 800GS? I would much rather have that over the 1200. I think that they are in Canada already! I'm not sure about seat height, but it is probably high. I went the cheap route and got a KLR. Plus you can't get the 800 yet.

[ATDRS]

O.K. I have to go the other way.
I have had an RT with ESA and one w/o that I put Ohlins shocks on. The Ohlins were sprung to my weight.
I had an 06 GS w/ standard suspension that I changed to Ohlins w/ the corrected spring rate.
I much preferred the Ohlin equipped ride.
The ESA can only adjust the pre-load and the damping. I weigh outside (above) the rating of the stock springs both standard and ESA.
If you back off of the spring pre-load on an ESA GS in an attempt to lower the bike's ride height then you are using up some of the suspension's travel . This could be important off-road.
I just p/u an 08 GS yesterday, w/o ESA with the intent of ordering a pair of aftermarket shocks.
I guess that all of my rambling is to say that remember, backing off of the preload so that your load's weight compresses the springs is not the same as buying the shortened shocks.

[Nebish]

I appreciate all of the input.

The 800GS is not yet available in Canada. Sniff. Local BMW dealers are saying possibly October, which I understand is the same as the USA.

I am considering the 800GS but I also had a chance to sit on a factory lowered 1200GS and it works for me. The salesman said that ESA cannot be added to the lowered 1200GS since the factory uses shorter shocks to start with.

Since I do not plan to travel to Alaska until next summer, i was hoping to buy a GS this year and learn how to ride off road at my own pace. I do not want to set out on a long journey with a new (to me) bike and I also want to improve my gravel/hard pack/off road skills as soon as possible.

I believe that the 800GS will be available in a lowered version from the factory. That may be the best compromise for me --- and my wallet.

I'll be riding a lowered 800ST this weekend at the local BMW dealer's open house.

So many bikes...so little time