Electronic suspension?

[fadkar]

Do you have experience with the new Ohlins EC2.0 suspension? How good are they at maintaining comfort/plushness on a wide variety of surface conditions?

I'm asking because my 2017 MT10 with stock suspension was happy in SoCal where the roads were consistently smooth. Not so much in the Bay Area as I'm bouncing around on roads like Skyline.

I'm also wondering if tweaking/replacing my rear shock would give me what I'm looking for without dishing out $20k for a new bike with e-suspension. Can standard suspension be plush on rough roads and planted on smooth ones?

I know that it's always a tradeoff between performance and comfort but surely people have been able to find a good compromise before the advent of electronic suspension?

 

[somesuch]

"standard" suspension can be great ....planted and plush...I have forks and a Penske shock set up by Lindeman Engineering.
I have never ridden a better suspended bike

 

[glooey]

'17 FZ-10 has fully adjustable front & rear KYB (shock has both high and low speed compression adjustments). That seems like a decent foundation for these roads.

Recommend starting by getting your current suspension tuned to you and how / where you expect to ride here in the bay area. Price can be as low as $60. There are some world-class suspension tuners who are familiar to BARF.

 

[bikeama]

No question that a properly set up nonelectric suspension may be the best. My last two bikes have has electric suspension. 2016 Multistrata and non a 2020 S1000XR. I love being able to change on the fly to a stiffer or softer setup. I felt the Ducati was the best with the Skyhook. On a spirited ride down Del Porto Canyon, I hit a section of rough pavement in the turns. Got that uncomfortable feeling that I might be in a little too fast. And just a quick suspension changed and everything felt normal. This was the only time in 4 years that I actually felt the Skyhook change the setting.

 

[moto-rama]

No experience with the Ohlins ESA, but... the BMW ESA is kind of amazing.

I've had 2 bikes with that system, and if Ohlins' is as good those, then, Yes, worth it.

Even so. I would start by having your bike professionally setup, and if it doesn't meet your needs, then consider a manually adjusted aftermarket suspension. If you Still don't like it, I doubt that an ESA would work for you.

In that case, I'd consider buying a bike that's got a highly-regarded suspension system, maybe equipped with an ESA or similar.

 

[Gary856]

I don't feel electronically adjustable suspension's any better than a good mechanical suspension. I tend to pick one mode and stay with it.

When I rented a R1250GS with ESA, the dynamic mode felt pretty good, like a good mechanical suspension. I tried the Road mode on some rough roads but it felt floaty, so I used the dynamic mode on all surfaces.

I just got back from riding a KTM 1290 SuperAdventure S for over a hundred miles on Page Mill, Stage, Pecadero creek, Alpine, Skyline, Old Santa Cruz, with a good variety of road surfaces. I left the throttle and suspension in Sport mode. I tried the softer Road model briefly but went back to Sport mode.

 

[nakedape]

'17 FZ-10 has fully adjustable front & rear KYB (shock has both high and low speed compression adjustments). That seems like a decent foundation for these roads.

Recommend starting by getting your current suspension tuned to you and how / where you expect to ride here in the bay area. Price can be as low as $60. There are some world-class suspension tuners who are familiar to BARF.

This is good starting advice. Especially if your spring rate out back is close to ideal for your geared up weight. That said, Wilbers USA will make you a custom rebuildable shock for around $600.

The independent shop that sold me my shock said “these are really good for the money” and he was right. It’s good to hear later models got adjustable KYBs. There may be hope yet. The harshness of short-travel sport bike suspension drove me to get adv/dual sport bikes and I’m never going back.