You are correct, the oil tank needs to be loosened and put to the side, total removal not needed. The rear frame needs to be lifted up and supported either by tying it up to the bars. There are a couple of fasteners that hold the oil tank to the rear frame. Be careful. They are easy to cross thread and destroy (read spin in place) the nut cert in the square tube. I would use some neversieze when replacing and be really careful. It is a multi hour job so just go slow. The pdf should help.

 

Thanks for the insight and pdf. Sounds like it is about the same as K1300GT.

 

Will the front shock ESA still work with the rear disconnected? Seems I read somewhere that unpluging both is not a problem when converting to non ESA shocks. Probably does not matter as I have doubts weather or not it works now. What, if anything needs to be done to the open conectors for the ESA wiring? Should they be covered?

 

K1300GT here but my front ESA still works after replacing the rear with a WIlbers. I removed my oil tank and a bunch more stuff just to get to it. The ESA shock then comes easily out the top. After installing the Wilbers rear i realize just how inadequate the front shock is. It will be replaced soon but for now it works. Some of us don't have an unlimited supply of money.

 

I got the rear replaced. The ESA shock I removed had no oil left in it. The worst part of the job is getting the electric connectors apart. You can not touch two of them with you hands, they are buried. I had to use picks and screwdrivers to get them apart and broke both of the tabs on the connectors. There is no way you could get them pluged back in with out removing more stuff. I could not even get to them to cover them so they are laying down in there loose. No contacts are exposed so they shoud be fine. The good used shock I replaced it with works very well. Can't imagine what a good aftermarket shock would be like. Next year I will replace both with aftermarket.

 

I have a suspension service at my shop and can / have rebuilt the ESA shocks on the K12/13. They are WP shocks and pretty good units. If you like the ESA function, then they are worth rebuilding. If you like really good manual shocks, I'm a Wilbers Importer and can fix you up with custom replacements.
Dallas, TX Keith@GGQuad.com

 

This is a job that is in my foreseeable future, I`ve enquired with my mechanic about getting the shocks out, the problem then is leaving the bike in bits until the work is done in a working garage, He`s a good bloke and I`m sure we can work something out.
Then: Shock Absorber Rebuilds – Firefox Racing
When I first found them they were claiming 48 hour turn around, which I cant seem to find anymore.

Good Luck

 

Just about to tackle rear ESA shock removal on my K1300S and looking for any advice. I just finished the front shock change without problem.
Main query is the movement of the oil tank enough to allow removal of the ESA shock.
What needs to be undone, released or removed to get the oil tank far enough out of the way and by how much?
I appreciate the trick to separating the connectors presumably same as front shock connector.
In which direction does the shock come out? From below? From left side with rear foot peg frame assembly removed?
Finally (hoping a negative) does swing arm need removing!!!
All suggestions appreciated including applying for a small mortgage and getting the local emporium to do it.

 

this may help. Watch out for the bolts on the underside of the rear sub frame. They are into rivet nuts in the box tube and are famous for spinning. I would put a drop of penetrating oil on the bolt head seam if possible.

 

Thanks for the advice - very useful

 

If replacing with non-ESA, will that throw and ESA errors/warnings? I'm in the middle of bringing a 2007 K1200S back to life (in Malaysia) and the ESA doesn't seem to be functioning, so considering the non-ESA Wilbers.

 

Dai, no warning will come up on your dash board. It will show a fault if you can your bike computer with a GS911 or Motoscan. Use some electrical tape to seal the connectors on the bike in case someone wants to put esa back on the bike to help keep them clean. Don't throw out your ESA shock for now, you never know and even not functioning they are valuable as the can now be rebuild by a couple of companies. I changed to wilbers years back just before rebuilding became possible. I have two other bikes with ESA and I enjoy being able to adjust the suspension because some of the roads I ride are really rough. (Washington State is 5th from the bottom in the country as far as road quality. )

 

Cheers Bud!

I have the option to get it serviced in the UK, hopefully they can test the ESA component. If all else fails, will get the non-ESA. Thanks for confirming.

 

I have a fully rebuilt non-ESA shock for sale. New oil, gas, seals. Never put it on the bike. Was rebuilt this passed March.