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Hagon Shocks

  • Thread starter Thread starter jona
  • Start date Start date
J

jona

Guest
Just got off the phone with Dave Quinn, seams like a good guy. I ordered the shocks with the 10-way adjustable damping. Dave stated this is the first request he has had for this on the clevis type shock. It would have to come from England, and take approx. 6 more weeks. I'll report here after some serious road testing:dancing:
 
I didn't. I told him my; weight, riding style, luggage weight/frequency. Concerns?
 
They sold me some with really hard springs. Way overdamped too, but that will be better with the adjustable damping.
 
Its so easy to end up with aftermarket springs that are too stiff. Let us know how you like them. Supposedly Progressive are based upon S&W, and Hagon were based upon Girling. I know that when the Girlings wore out on my Norton at about 20,000 miles, the S&Ws I put on it were a giant improvement over the Girlings, which were better than anything that came on a Japanese bike at the time. I like the Hagons on my RD400, and on my red GS1000G. I liked the Progressives that came on one of the 850 Gs I bought for my brother maybe better than the Hagons. The last two sets of Progressives I bought, I selected too stiff of springs. I never tried Icons, but I have had blown seal problems on Konis in my Cortina and on my Atlas, 2 wheels and 4, (the only vehicles I ever bought them for). I don't care to buy more.

I did get the Koni struts re-valved, rebuilt, and made externally adjustable, but I haven't reinstalled them yet. Waiting to do a coil-over kit install first.
 
Wow, I like the clear way that Z1 is selling them on the web site. I may try some over length ones for the sporty Skunk I'm planning for the bike I bought from Phaseman. I was happy with over length on the Commando to help keep from dragging parts, and quicken the steering.
 
No prob with the Y.S.S. it was delivered in a week and perfectly damped, I didn't even have to adjust them.
 
jona said:
Just got off the phone with Dave Quinn, seams like a good guy. I ordered the shocks with the 10-way adjustable damping. Dave stated this is the first request he has had for this on the clevis type shock. It would have to come from England, and take approx. 6 more weeks. I'll report here after some serious road testing:dancing:[/QUOTE

Maybe it will warm up some by the time you get them lol.

I took off a pair of old S&W shocks with the, at the time they called the heavy duty springs. When I got them off the bike I was a bit surprise how stiff the shocks still were after 30 years. I could probably use the shocks again if I were to replace the rubber bushings in the top mount. I put new Progressive on with their heavy duty springs lol. They feel fine.
Click to expand...
 
I dealt with the distributor near me in San Marcos. Everything they asked was relevant as to my riding style and requirements. The shocks are set up very well for me.
 
The thing about Quinn that didn't impress me, was before the sale they were all helpful, nice, super interested in getting me the right shocks. After I told them about the problem, not so much. They never even mentioned the fact that there were four different damping rates to choose from.
Seriously it rode hard as rocks.
 
After I bought the Y.S.S. shocks for the GS, they followed up with a phone call by the designer/builder to check that the spring rate specs, and the other pre-order information (weight of the machine, rider with gear, and riding style) that I provided was correct.

Then he told me to call anytime if I need anything.
(Even gave me a coupon for a decent discount on my next suspension purchase.)

There are a number of decent rear shocks available, but I do like the the product and service I've had so far.
 
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gsgeezer said:
After I bought the Y.S.S. shocks for the GS, they followed up with a phone call by the designer/builder to check that the spring rate specs, and the other pre-order information (weight of the machine, rider with gear, and riding style) that I provided was correct.

Then he told me to call anytime if I need anything.
(Even gave me a coupon for a decent discount on my next suspension purchase.)

There are a number of decent rear shocks available, but I do like the the product and service I've had so far.
Click to expand...

Which ones did you buy?
 
tkent02 said:
The thing about Quinn that didn't impress me, was before the sale they were all helpful, nice, super interested in getting me the right shocks. After I told them about the problem, not so much. They never even mentioned the fact that there were four different damping rates to choose from.
Seriously it rode hard as rocks.
Click to expand...

When I get bad post sales service like that, I usually ask them how well their business reputation would survive the front page test.. In other words, if I tell everyone I could about how negative of customer service I received after the sale, how well would their sales do? This usually gets their attention. The motorcycle world is small and the grapevine news travels quickly..

Just reading your comment about your experience with them makes me want to go look elsewhere and give them a pass.. and I'll soon be in the market for shocks.. Looks like they failed the front page test.. One lost sale because they didn't follow up or follow through with a post sale issue.

People make mistakes, and so do sellers.. but it's how they deal with that mistake is what sets them apart from others.. In these tight economic times, customer service might be the only difference between sinking and floating..
 
I bought the ten-way adjustable damping 2810s I think they are called. Progressive heavy springs.
 
850 Combat said:
Which ones did you buy?
Click to expand...

I went with the e302 twin model:

http://www.yssusa.com/series-eco.html

Price: $299.00 per Pair
Available Lengths: 280 mm, 300 mm, 310 mm, 320 mm, 330 mm, 340 mm, 350 mm, 360 mm
Type: Self Adjusting Gas Emulsion Shock
Features: Pre-Load Adjustment ? Fork Fittings for Honda, Suzuki and all Scooters ? Eyelets and Springrates Model specific or customised ?
Application: ON and OFFROAD ? for MOTORBIKES and SCOOTERS
 
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KKBS said:
Bought a set of YSS shocks. Garbage. Bought a set of Hagons. Stiff and jarring as hell.

The 2810 series. Dave Quinn gave me a set of numbers regarding spring rate and body type (damping) and the folks at Hagon USA in San Marcos CA gave another set of numbers on springs and damper bodies. Who is right? Don't know. Not about to leap in be a tester I guess.

The information above, as written, is not useful to anybody. YSS and initial Hagon Shocks not identified. And with no information about me or from anyone perhaps attempting to get a decent set of shocks and not break the bank, the bike, or one's back, etc. Just thinking that input from members about the model of shock, GS, weight of rider, bike etc. Spring rate selected, riding style, maybe road conditions would make it so that we could be of service to each other here. And end up with shocks that work for us.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Bought a set of progressives with thier 'HD' spring for the '81 1100e. The spring rate and damping of the shocks match the Racetech fork springs and emulators pretty well.

I'm about 6'1", don't carry a passenger too often and ride at the harder end of reasonable.

If I were smaller, didn't carry a passenger and wanted a plusher ride I'd say the 'normal' progressive spring would have been fine.

That's a lot of variables but hope its one more data point for your decision process.
 
KKBS said:
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Maybe this will help. It gives you most of the info you might want.

When I upgrade the suspension on bikes, especially old bikes that I've removed forty pounds of gee-gaws on, I take the bike to a scale and weigh it.

I know my weight, plus gear. And you have to decide how much time you spend slabbing at 55 mph, or going fast through the twisties.
Also, how much time you will have a passenger (pillion) or more gear and bags.

If your front and rear aren't balanced or you have chassis related problems that is going to make it hard to judge whether the rear shocks are working with you instead of against you. I have good tires that are the right size for the bike, and that seems to improve the feedback from the suspension, as well.

Most people, in the past, when I've asked about replacing the rear shocks on old bikes just tell me to get Ohlins, otherwise anything else will be a compromise.

http://www.suspensionshop.org/tech_suspension_setup.php
 
I wish I could post about my personal experience with Hagon, but the only "aftermarket" suspension setpups I've had are from Progressive, Y.S.S., Works Performance, and Race-Tech.

I'm also lucky to have a company called Reactive-Suspension not too far away.
They help with anything, and don't try to sell you only one brand.
In fact, if you have a newer model bike he would just be re-valving.

He mainly does race setups, off and on road, but also orders parts or installs them and sets up your bike, if you want him too. He spends the summer at the track helping the racers. You could probably send him your shocks, if you need them modded.

If you want the most professional and unbiased, detailed suspension info, he is at: http://www.reactive-suspension.com/

(He is very up on the technical specs of Hagon and the other maker's shocks.)
 
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