ESA I & ESA II on the R1200RT 2010-on

Identifying the visual differences between the BMW ESA I and ESA II shocks before ordering Wilbers WESA shocks for your 2010 R1200RT:

This is just a quick video showing the difference between the ESA1 and ESA2 shock absorbers for the R1200RT. They are both made by WP, but there was a change in the shock absorber in 2010. You will need to know which one you have if you are ordering a Wilbur's suspension upgrade for your ESA-equipped RT.

This is the ESA1 shock. Probably the biggest difference that I see right off the bat is that the ESA1 has a very rounded lower eyelet, where the motor is for the rebound damping. This area is round. This is more square, of course, but this area is round. When we move over to the ESA2 shock, you'll see that this bottom eyelet is very square. A very distinctive difference. Also, on the ESA1 and ESA2, another big difference is the controller for the preload adjuster. This cover is completely flat for the ESA2 shock absorber, and for the ESA1 shock, this area has a very pronounced raised area.

Also on ESA1, the spring just sits right in the hydraulic preloader, whereas on the ESA2 model, there's a plastic cup here that the spring sits down inside. So that's ESA2. Front shocks are pretty similar between the ESA1 and ESA2, aside from the eyelet. ESA2, again, very square eyelet, which I think you can see there, that's for the ESA2. Whereas on the front shock at the bottom for the ESA1, it's a little bit more round in shape.

So hopefully, that makes it a little easier to determine which version of the ESA you have, either ESA1 or ESA2. You will need to know the difference before you order if you have a 2010 model. Hope that helps. BeemerShop can be reached either online; our website is BeemerShop.com, or you can always give us a call Tuesday through Saturday.