cheapest rear shocks 79 gs850g ?

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  • seanarthurmachado
    • Feb 2026

    #1

    cheapest rear shocks 79 gs850g ?

    Are there alternatives to $200.00 + rear shocks ?


    All my searches find real expensive shocks, however I constantly see Harley Davidson shocks for like 50.00 on eBay. Is there a way to get replacement shocks without breaking the bank ?

    Thanks

    Sean
  • Nessism
    Forum LongTimer
    GSResource Superstar
    Past Site Supporter
    Super Site Supporter
    • Mar 2006
    • 35793
    • Torrance, CA

    #2
    If you are a big guy the Emgo's will work. Springs and damping are heavy. About $100 at various places. Upper rubber bushing is reputed to be crap, but that's easy enough to fix (Basscliff has a tutorial).
    Ed

    To measure is to know.

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    Comment

    • Guest

      #3
      you want cheap?, how about $69 US? try here.... http://www.mutazu.com/products.html ... under accessories, because that's what shocks are.
      I have no experience with these shocks, but I did get a pair of Hard sSaddlebags for a the little virago here, worth every penny of the $108 that they cost. ( no mounting hardware, but they worked out ok)
      careful what you wish for...

      Comment

      • Steve
        GS Whisperer
        • Jun 2005
        • 35925
        • southwest oHIo

        #4
        If you don't "break the bank", you are likely going to break your BACK.

        Hagon and Progressive are two brands that will run you about $200, users of either one wil tell you it's about the best thing that has happened to their bike.

        We have the cheap $99 EMGO shocks on my sons 1000G. Fortunately, my son is "dimensionally-enhanced", and is young enough to tolerate the stiff ride. When he is carrying a passenger, he said the ride finally starts to get better, but we are talking about 425 pounds or so in human cargo occupying the seat.

        .
        sigpic
        mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
        hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
        #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
        #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
        Family Portrait
        Siblings and Spouses
        Mom's first ride
        Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
        (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

        Comment

        • seanarthurmachado

          #5
          To be honest I don't even know if the current shocks are bad.... My main thought on replacing the shocks is because the bike stands too upright on the kickstand and I am afraid it will fall over on someone if parked. In another thread it was suggested to get new shocks.

          Comment

          • Brendan W
            Forum Sage
            Past Site Supporter
            • Jul 2013
            • 4929
            • Wexford, Ireland

            #6
            How long are the shocks and how long is the sidestand ?
            My bike had OXON shocks, look like EMGO clones. The bushes were awful rubbish and they started to leak. Replaced them with Hagons which improved the handling enormously.
            97 R1100R
            Previous
            80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

            Comment

            • Steve
              GS Whisperer
              • Jun 2005
              • 35925
              • southwest oHIo

              #7
              Originally posted by seanarthurmachado
              To be honest I don't even know if the current shocks are bad.... My main thought on replacing the shocks is because the bike stands too upright on the kickstand and I am afraid it will fall over on someone if parked. In another thread it was suggested to get new shocks.
              Could be because the springs are weak or could be because the shocks are short.

              Your shocks should be 13 inches, center-to-center.

              .
              sigpic
              mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
              hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
              #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
              #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
              Family Portrait
              Siblings and Spouses
              Mom's first ride
              Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
              (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

              Comment

              • Guest

                #8
                Wow. I thought $200 shocks WERE cheap.


                Mark

                Comment

                • Guest

                  #9
                  Will 2nd gen Bandit 1200 shock work for you they are 12.5" I have two of them in good shape I will let go cheep.
                  Attached Files

                  Comment

                  • Guest

                    #10
                    Originally posted by mmattockx
                    Wow. I thought $200 shocks WERE cheap.


                    Mark
                    It is but in these times even $200 is to much for some. I have more money in shocks than most have in there bike.
                    I don't mess around with cheep shocks. Just not worth it to me.
                    Last edited by Guest; 08-11-2014, 12:00 PM.

                    Comment

                    • Steve
                      GS Whisperer
                      • Jun 2005
                      • 35925
                      • southwest oHIo

                      #11
                      Originally posted by stetracer
                      Will 2nd gen Bandit 1200 shock work for you they are 12.5" I have two of them in good shape I will let go cheep.
                      Won't work. The 850 uses eye-to-eye shocks, the ones in your picture are eye-to-clevis.

                      .
                      sigpic
                      mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                      hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                      #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                      #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                      Family Portrait
                      Siblings and Spouses
                      Mom's first ride
                      Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                      (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                      Comment

                      • lurch12_2000

                        #12
                        Originally posted by stetracer
                        Will 2nd gen Bandit 1200 shock work for you they are 12.5" I have two of them in good shape I will let go cheep.
                        The Bandit is a monoshock setup so I'm not sure that would be a good match for an 850G, besides the fact that it's not eye to eye.

                        Comment

                        • Guest

                          #13
                          Originally posted by lurch12_2000
                          The Bandit is a monoshock setup so I'm not sure that would be a good match for an 850G, besides the fact that it's not eye to eye.
                          Yea Steve already stated that the mounts are different.

                          Comment

                          • seanarthurmachado

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Steve
                            Could be because the springs are weak or could be because the shocks are short.

                            Your shocks should be 13 inches, center-to-center.

                            .
                            I measured the shocks at 12 inches center to center (while shocks supporting the bike)

                            Comment

                            • subforry

                              #15
                              I have Emgos, don't like them and I am big guy. They are better than the originals that had no dampening because most of the oil had leaked out. If you are thinking of getting Emgos PM me because I might be interested in selling mine.

                              Comment

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