Dynamic ESA.
For a whole new feeling of safety while riding.
The optional Dynamic ESA by BMW Motorrad is an electronic suspension that opens up entirely new possibilities while providing maximum driving safety and performance. This semi-active suspension, which is used for the first time on the new R 1200 GS, detects vertical movement of wheel alignment in each case in terms of distance of speed via one front spring travel sensor and using several rear parameters, thereby adjusting damping automatically to the conditions determined regardless of road conditions and the rider's manoeuvring. The damping action of spring struts is thus adapted at the front and rear via electrically actuated control valves. With the significantly better contact between road and tyres, Dynamic ESA communicates a whole new feeling of safety while riding.
Rather than functioning as a self-sufficient system, Dynamic ESA can communicate using the other control systems – BMW Motorrad ABS and Automatic Stability Control ASC. The basic settings of Dynamic ESA are also linked with the driving modes "Rain", "Road", "Dynamic", "Enduro" and "Enduro Pro", which can be simply selected by the rider at the push of a button. In every driving mode, the rider is assigned a damper setting as recommended by experts at BMW Motorrad. The rider can adapt coordination between Dynamic ESA, engine control (characteristics), ABS and ASC to the driving situation accordingly by selecting the preferred modes and hence settings. In addition the damping setting can be personalised in all modes according to the rider's wishes, from "Soft" to "Normal" or "Hard". Depending on the rider's requirements, the load is set for one person, one person with luggage or two persons.
In "Rain" mode, the spring elements operate with a soft basic setting. ASC is set in "Rain" mode for particularly early control intervention to ensure the maximum possible safety. ABS is configured to road use.
If the rider selects the "Road" mode, Dynamic ESA will have a more rigid set-up. ASC ensures optimal traction on dry roads and ABS is also configured for road use here.
In "Dynamic" mode, BMW Dynamic ESA provides an even more rigid shock absorber setting, which is entirely tailored to sporty riding during road use. With this usage profile, ASC has even more rigid characteristics and even allows for slight oversteering for experienced riders. The ABS setting is also tailored to road use here and greater dynamic throttle response from the engine at the same time.
"Enduro" has been created for off-road driving with a shock absorber setting designed for high traction. With this ASC allows more rear wheel slip so that slight oversteering is possible on rough terrain. The ABS setting is designed for riding on loose sub-surfaces such as gravel with road tyres and an accordingly high slip level. ABS operates using the partial integral function just like on roads i.e. when the front wheel brake is applied, a part of the braking force is conducted to the rear brake here too. The control strategy is designed so that blocking of the wheels is prevented yet a good level of deceleration is still attained.
Riders can access "Enduro Pro" mode designed for demanding off-road use via an additional coding plug. This enables a setting with significantly higher power reserves. In this mode, which is designed for off-road use with lugged tyres only, skilled riders can deliberately skid the rear wheel due to ASC interventions that are coordinated to professional use of Enduro. This is a special version of ABS characteristics since control is specially coordinated to riding over loose sub-surfaces with lugged tyres. Beyond this, ABS control is deactivated on the rear wheel when the rear wheel brake is applied, which also enables braking drifts before hairpin bends for instance.
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