Might want to check out the Tractive ESA options at Ted Porter. Custom set up for your and your bike by them. Blew my oil cooled GSA front shock off roading and I'm quite happy with the setup I got from them. Much better behavior than the stock unit and keeps all the ESA functionality.

ESA Shocks for BMW R Series R1200GSA-LC| BeemerShop

Looking for Shocks for your BMW R Series? We carry ESA Motorcycle Shocks for your BMW R1200GSA-LC.

www.beemershop.com

 

Thanks for the reply. I've been hearing that name a lot on here and will check them out. Cheers!

 

Ted told me don’t waste my money on reworking my wp factory suspension, it has the name but built to a price point and while rebuildable not worth it. Touratech is built by tractive, likely some differences though. He has a great section on his site on the different tech and designs of suspension I’m down tractive or Touratech. I think the decision will come down to a few hundred dollars difference on a sale special. I don’t see either outperforming the other in any objective fashion in the long term.

 

WP factory suspension? Factory suspension is typically reserved for pro level riders and unavailable to the the masses. No expense spared. You may want to get another opinion.

 

Where are you based?

 

I'm in Phoenix, AZ.

 

Had my OEM shock rebuilt by a motocross suspension specialist. Way cheaper than a new third party or OEM. AFAIK BMW won't have them rebuilt, so you have to do that yourself.
That was 3 years and 50K km ago. And I ride about 40% dirt.
What I got was the equivalent to a new OEM. If you chose a third party you may get a better shock but then I don't know too many riders who can tell the difference.

 

I also went with the Tractive from Ted Porters Beemer Shop. Give them a call and educate yourself. You might want to replace both front and back at the same time as it just upgrades the bike by a lot.
Don't just look at the web page. Call them.

 

Go see Jeremy at Motoghost.

 

Just blew my front shock @ 40K miles on a 2017 GSA. Shop appears to have two primary option which is a new OEM or new Touratech shock which is actually cheaper.

Checking in to see if anyone has any negatives to say about the cheaper Touratech option after picking myself up off the floor on the sticker shock of either option. While I'd love to save some money, having my bike reliable, safe and capable are more important right now. Pretty well set on going with new vs. rebuilt.

I do about 20% of my riding on dirt and about 15% in 2-up and about 10% loaded with gear heading camping etc.

Appreciate any thoughts as I am still a pretty new GS owner (1.5 years) and have a lot to learn.

Thanks

If you live anywhere near Ft Worth TX, I've got a guy that can rebuild the stock shock. Going on 40K on my rebuild and no issues. Significantly cheaper also.

 

I have the ESA Tractive shocks on my 2015 1200GS They're way better than stock, but initially the high speed damping was to harsh for my local potholed road. I pulled the front shock several times and the rear a couple times to have the high speed damping backed off. The high damping is lots better but still on the stiff side.

 

Ted Porter’s Bimmer shop did the suspension on my K1600 and my R1200GS several years ago. I couldn’t be happier. I had the local shop send them(I don’t have a lift to support a bike with the suspension removed) and install the new ones(Tractive and Wilburs). Great service and really set up the bikes for me.