I'll come back in a day or two and beg for help. I can't take it right now!
Ready to beg for help yet, moto-rama? I’ll throw you a bone anyway.
The first thing to understand is that the ESA is independent of the Riding modes, despite some common terminology (Road and Dynamic)
Riding modes link throttle response with ASC/DTC intervention levels. Rain has the softest throttle response, matched with the greatest ASC/DTC intervention and so on, with Dynamic Riding mode having the least ASC/DTC intervention (theoretically allowing a modicum of rear wheel drift under hard acceleration while the bike is cranked over). Road is in between.
User riding mode simply allows you to select a different combination of the preset throttle responses and the preset ASC/DTC intervention levels (they have the same identifying term). For example, my User mode setting is Road throttle response with Dynamic ASC/DTC - so the throttle isn’t too sensitive, but the ASC/DTC doesn’t intervene too early for my taste. Setting up User mode is the only setting you need to go into the menus for. I suspect the default for User mode is Road throttle response and Road ASC/DTC. Dynamic and User Riding modes are only available with the Pro riding modes option.
You can toggle through the Riding modes while riding by tapping the Mode button on the RH controls - once you set the mode you want, close the throttle momentarily to save the setting.
ASC/DTC and ABS can be fully disabled via the labelled rocker switch on the LH control - holding it down until the ABS warning light appears, then release. This can be done on the move. Same action for switching the ASC/DTC. Same again to switch them back on. They’ll return to default ‘on’ at next ignition cycle.
On the 1200 the ESA is independent of the Riding modes, and adjustments must be made with the engine running (and stationary to change load setting). (On the 1250, though, the ASC/DTC is linked to the Riding Mode, Dynamic with Dynamic, and Road with Road/Rain, although can be toggled with a double tap of the suspension rocker switch.)
There are two ESA modes that can be set on-the-fly by double tapping the shock absorber marked rocker switch on the left. Road is softer damped while Dynamic stiffens the damping both ends and also raises the preload at the rear a little to sharpen the steering response. Unless the road is choppy, my default is to ride with the ESA set to Dynamic - the rear is a bit wallowy under stress when on Road, and cornering clearance is reduced. These two settings overlay whatever rear spring preload load setting you have selected.
Adjusting the load setting requires the bike to be stationary with the engine running (and preferably without rider/passenger aboard, to reduce stress on the ESA drive, in particular when cold) - then press and hold the shock absorber rocker switch until the display blinks, release then tap until you reach your desired load. The base setting is rider only (one helmet), then an additional luggage symbol for rider with luggage, then two helmets for two-up
with luggage. Damping is also adjusted automatically according to the load setting.
I find the preload for two-up to be too great for my lithe pillion, preferring rider plus luggage, combined with Dynamic ESA.
Of course if you upgraded to a 1250 when I wasn’t looking, it’s a whole new ball game. As noted above, setting the Ride Mode also sets the ESA mode, but you can readily toggle to the other ESA mode with a double tap of the suspension rocker switch.
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