After 8 years is the electronic suspension still worth the money?

Knowing what we know now about bike electronics and how far technology has come do you think it's worth buying an early model 1199S over the base model? The technology isn't new anymore as a matter of fact it's old. Has anyone had issues with the electronic suspension after 15 or 20k miles?

My 1199s still does what it's supposed to do. No issues. It isn't dynamically changing though like newer electronic suspension does. I do like to change modes if the tires are cold and the road is rough. Once warm and smooth i go back to race mode.

After 8 years the wiring harness's are still a disaster from the factory so with the DES its more .... to fail and its why everyone that knows anything about these bikes stay away from that mess.

Electronic suspension is trash and a sales gimmick. Expensive, heavy and less serviceable.


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Whoa did expect these comments when i read OP. Glad i have the base....

JAG

You don't see race teams running it.

Does anyone think the DES fights you? I turned it off and seem to have better luck with fixed settings. I'm beginning to think I should have bought the standard SFV4 and just upgraded the suspension.

someone pooped a beemer r1200r in my yard with EAS. there is no 'just right' but plenty of 'this is what you are getting'.

it's awful.

i pack a flat head and allens.

Mine has been removed and replaced with a static system track bike set up and forget running quite a stiff set up .

My experience with the DES, when I first started riding the 1299 I though, WTF.

So then I went into 'Fix Mode' and applied some settings after performing sag settings, 30f25r. And I fell in love with the 1299.

Then I thought what the point of the electronic suspension was? So I looked at it from a different angle. The suspension is ‘Event Based’. With the sag settings done, I switch back to Dynamic Mode and tuned the DES to where I thought the 'Fixed Mode' settings were. The following few rides I did on the 1299 I paid close attention to what the suspension was doing in relation to where the bike was when applying brakes, entering the corner, middle of the corner and exiting the corner. And the following was what I had observed.

• When braking the forks compression dampers will stiffen.
• When leaning into the corner, both front and rear dampers will soften.
• When throttling out of the corner, the rear damper will stiffen.

The 1299 had a particular attribute which I was not fond of, it would wallow in the middle of the corner. So I learnt to open the throttle as soon as I was done leaning the 1299 and wallow went away while giving excellent corner exits.

I left the 1299 on ‘Dynamic Mode’ for the rest of the time that I had it. The feeling of the suspension in relation to the position and lean angle of the 1299 felt quite apparent to me.

On the V4S, the DES is far more seamless in relation to the bikes corner position and lean angle. It is far more difficult to feel the suspension change. I have not tried the ‘Fixed Mode’ on the V4S.

Most of the riding has been street, with two track days on each bike in ‘Dynamic Mode’.

WSB and other series do not allow active suspensions, cause if they did it would get pricey and you’d have to use a standard ECU for it and other parts. I sort of liked the all out parts wars of WSB from the 80’s and 90’s. Special cranks, heads, cams, valve train and other bits, that you were supposed to be able to buy...but it was never in stock or got delivered. They really were super bikes back then.

I enjoy both my 1299SA and my V4 Speciale in dynamic mode on the street but if your really going to rip or be on the track it’s got to be tuned and set on the fixed position, its a fantastic change. I spent a lot of time on my sag and fixed settings and on the track it’s great. Dont get me wrong I do think non electronic Ohlins would be better for only the track but overall for both the street n track the electronic seems better...

Mick1976 said:

After 8 years the wiring harness's are still a disaster from the factory so with the DES its more .... to fail and its why everyone that knows anything about these bikes stay away from that mess.

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Just had my DES fail me, the steering dampener decided to ....... let go and get soft when I had throttle pinned on top gear going 190Mph+ Bike bucked me the .... off flew 70 yards onto the other side of I10 freeway, with oncoming traffic, ....... do not trust electronic suspension for .... now.

perhaps going 190+ mph on the freeway is not a good idea.

He was in mexico

Pics?\ of this wreck? 190mph highside and you are alive? i got hucked this June at 80-90 and didnt fair well.
I agree with Dan, why would you ever do 190 on a highway?

Vicati said:

Just had my DES fail me, the steering dampener decided to ....... let go and get soft when I had throttle pinned on top gear going 190Mph+ Bike bucked me the .... off flew 70 yards onto the other side of I10 freeway, with oncoming traffic, ....... do not trust electronic suspension for .... now.

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Hmmmm yea Let’s see some pics of the bike. Im sure there isn’t much left.on Oct 7 you posted about replacing the e damper as yours had failed but there was no mention of this crash. Is this another damper failure? You also responded to a multi media thread equipment thread today, I’m guessing the new bike is on the way. If I just got dumped on a public hwy at 190, I think a multi media system for my bike would be a bit far down the road on the list of “priorities”. Guess you were suited up pretty well.

Hmmm. yeah, if he said he did it he probably did. Check out Jac bequic on youtube

Mechanical steering dampers never ever fail. Never. Ever.

CSV4 said:

Hmmm. yeah, if he said he did it he probably did. Check out Jac bequic on youtube

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Just checked it out. Saw a bunch of guys drag racing on public hwy. outstanding, this is exactly why LE and the public in general can’t stand sport bikes. Next time you see some jack wagon doing a wheelie Down the interstate in traffic, thank him for the stigma and insurance rates.