BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Last week I was lucky enough to pick up a VERY reasonably priced 2011 red Twin Cam 1200R.
It's done only 5500 miles and has most of the bells and whistles including ESA.
I'm very pleased with it as you can imagine, and the engine and gearbox are outstanding.
I've had many Bee-ems over the years, from the R69S to the R1200GS.
Anyway, the issue I have is with the suspension.
Much as I expected if I am honest, I find the suspension fine on smooth surfaced roads, but very harsh on any other surface.
Even with the ESA set at "comfort" and one helmet preload, the bike kicks and bucks.
I say "much as I expected" because I'd read many of the road tests on this bike where some had criticised the ride quality, and I anticipated spending some money on some aftermarket suspension like Wilbers.
With my weight of around 70Kg I have the idea that the bike is oversprung.
I confess I'm getting on a bit, and prefer bikes with compliant suspension, and maybe a bit more padding in the "comfort" seat.
I'm no suspension expert, but I wondered what other more knowledgeable owners think?
I'm determined to sort this out, so any advice would be welcome.
Thanks.

Welcome and congratulations on your new-to-you Roadster! We love pics...

Suspension is a common topic around here and has been discussed at length on numerous occassions. A board search for "suspension" will yield plenty of results. If you're looking for information on aftermarket solutions, you can seach the board for "Hyperpro" or "Ohlins" and find several worthwhile discussions.

You may also wish to check out Don Eilenberger's suspension set-up guide, lots of great info there:

http://www.eilenberger.net/Suspension/suspension.htm

Seats are a whole different beast. For every person that says theirs is unbearable, you'll find one that thinks it's all-day comfortable. A board search for "seats" will yield a wide range of discussions, including the various BMW OEM seats, and aftermarket solutions.

Congratulations again on your purchase, and welcome to the board!

I don't have ESA, and my bike is an 07, but I have had similar observations with the stock suspension. Consider talking to a few shops, local or online, to get recommendations for your personal needs and style. There are a variety of brands and models of shocks available. Mostly, it seems people gravitate towards Ohlins, Wilbers, Hyperpro.

Thanks for the very helpful responses.