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I will say: get Ikons

  • Thread starter Thread starter ArtByScars
  • Start date Start date
A

ArtByScars

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the ride was 10000000 times better. So smooth, cush.
I rode MDI, and progressives and these were noticeably better. by a lot.
i'm glad a payed the extra, even though I didn't want to. (who does :confused: )

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also put progressives in the front:

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Not a bone jarring ride? What spring rate, what model shock? Who did you get them from?
The ones Ikon sold me were crazy painful on any road less than glass smooth.
 
This shock form Z1:
http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=3700
with the 100-185 springs.

I gave them my bike model and what accessories i ride with, my weight, riding style, how often I have a passenger, everything I could think of.
They put it together.
I have the preload on the lowest setting and the dampening on 1..
I think I'm going to ride the dampening on 2 next time out.
the rear feels so floaty and smooth. I was pleased- especially only weighing 135lbs, I was concerned of getting a crappy, jolty ride.

If the 750e is 13" eye to eye, they should work.. arent the 750's eye to clevis?
Also- not sure how much heavier the 850's are compared to 750's.
Either way the guys at Z1 I'm sure can help you out.
I like the way my bike rode after putting them on last night- went for a 40 min cruise on a few roads that weren't exactly perfect.
They worked great for me!
 
I think a lot of people like to have too much spring/preload. I ride one click of preload on a 95/140 spring on the progressives... (165lb nekid)

Soon to be swapped for some works performance shocks... that should be good! :)

Tom - you're the only person I've heard on here with a complaint about the Ikon's - I know you've owned more bikes than perhaps anyone on here so I'm interested in your experience... What springs do you have on it? Have you tried switching springs out for something else? Wanna swap them for my progressives (if eye to clevis?) :D
 
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New suspenders really help out these old heavy pigs. ;)
Good the hear of the wonderful results.

Daniel
 
salty_monk said:
I think a lot of people like to have too much spring/preload. I ride one click of preload on a 95/140 spring on the progressives... (165lb nekid)

Soon to be swapped for some works performance shocks... that should be good! :)

Tom - you're the only person I've heard on here with a complaint about the Ikon's - I know you've owned more bikes than perhaps anyone on here so I'm interested in your experience... What springs do you have on it? Have you tried switching springs out for something else? Wanna swap them for my progressives (if eye to clevis?) :D
Click to expand...

I bought the Ikons for a two valve 750 about four years ago, it rode very hard. Sent them back to Australia for different springs, it was better but still very uncomfortable. I sold the bike to a guy who didn't mind the harsh ride.

Same story though, I have bought a Hagon for a K100LT, very hard ride. Hagons for my 650G, very hard ride. Too much compression damping on these I think, as the springs sag the correct amount. Bought some used Ohlins for the 1100E I had, too much spring, but I think these will be OK once I swap the springs out.

I have ridden other bikes which rode beautifully, so I know it's possible.
 
Can you get the Hagons apart? Swapping to a lighter weight oil or enlarging the compression holes (if you didn't want to affect rebound) might be possible... :)
 
Also- I dont have the most experienced opinion- I've only rode the MDI's on Daniels(7981GS) GS850G, the Progressives on his 7/11 swap (granted he is taller and weighs a bit more than me, thus rides with more preload), and the old sacked ones (probably stock) on my bike.
The Ikons definitely rode the best out of the 4.

man was that 7-11 fun :D:D:D
 
OK, tried out the new Ikons on the 1100G today, very nice ride.
I got upsized springs as it will be used for mostly two up long distance riding, with just me on the bike it is firm, yet still comfortable. I'll try it out two up tomorrow.
A completely different experience from the bone jarring ride with the last pair of Ikons I bought.
 
Dammit, talk like this is bound to cost me a bundle one of these days soon... :rolleyes:



One thing to add to all the shock talk: up front, consider using Sonic straight-rate springs instead of Progressive's progressive-rate springs. http://sonicsprings.com (Sonic is a great company to deal with -- the owner rides a GS1000!)

If you're of average mass and velocity, the Progressive's "one size fits all" springs are fine. They're also a bit more comfy for the sightseers.

But if you are larger and/or faster than average, you owe it to yourself to try a set of straight-rate springs properly matched to your weight and riding style. The difference is remarkable. Even in moderate everyday riding, there's a dramatic improvement in dive under braking.
 
I should be entering the Ikon owners group in the next couple of months, I expect that will be the next major expense after the exhaust.

I'm gonna do the Ikon progressive fork springs as well as I'm not too spirited in the twisties and it's only a 450... pretty sure they should be fine for what I need and will definitely leave the stock saggy pieces of crap for dead!
 
Brian I hate to tell you this but I just "stole" a pair of Koni NOS that the guy listed for a Ducati , on fleabay for 160.00 shipped:D

I also took your advice and ordered some sonic 1.1kg fork springs.
I weigh about what you do I think so this should be a great ride!
 
Last year, I picked up a pair of Koni shocks that were taken off of a nearly new BMW (the owner put Works shocks on it) and put on a shelf, where they sat for about 15 years. They are 1/2" longer than stock on my 1000G, and I have no idea what the springs are on them. For me on this bike (220 lbs wearing my boots and gear), they are perfect.

On the lightest preload and damping settings, the ride is really smooth for general solo riding, without being too soft. With a (lightweight) passenger, I put the preload on 2 and the damping on 3, and it's perfect again. Hard twisty riding gets the preload on 2, and the damping on 2.

They are much better than Progressives, IMO.
 
I've been "schooling" myself on the art of suspension tuning. It's not a black art, but requires learning a lot of stuff that you and I don't already know, and forgetting just about everything we do. Many of us make the mistake of blaming one thing or another on too much or lack of damping when in reality we don't have our sag set correctly. Also alot of us (myself especially) make the mistake of having too much rebound damping..
The neatest thing I've been learning about is reading your tire wear patterns to aid in adjusting your suspension damping. But the most important thing is learning how to CORRECTLY set your sag. If that's not right, you're stabbing in the dark when you make adjustment.
The one thing I DO know is that the stock stuff is junk, undersprung, and downright dangerous. Before I would ever spend any money on more power, I'd spend it in suspension first.
 
TheCafeKid said:
I've been "schooling" myself on the art of suspension tuning. It's not a black art, but requires learning a lot of stuff that you and I don't already know, and forgetting just about everything we do. Many of us make the mistake of blaming one thing or another on too much or lack of damping when in reality we don't have our sag set correctly. Also alot of us (myself especially) make the mistake of having too much rebound damping..
The neatest thing I've been learning about is reading your tire wear patterns to aid in adjusting your suspension damping. But the most important thing is learning how to CORRECTLY set your sag. If that's not right, you're stabbing in the dark when you make adjustment.
The one thing I DO know is that the stock stuff is junk, undersprung, and downright dangerous. Before I would ever spend any money on more power, I'd spend it in suspension first.
Click to expand...

Lee Park's book has an excellent chapter on suspension setup...
And if you ever get the chance to take his Total Control class, they show you the proper way to set your sag and how to adjust your suspension...(on a modern bike with full adjustment).

The one thing I love about my Triumph is the suspension. Unlike most of the Japanese bikes, Triumph did not skimp on the suspension components.
 
I don't think the Japanese necessarily skimped on suspension components "back in the day", at least not on the fully adjustable suspensions you see on the GS1000E, the 1100E, the big G models, and the monoshock GSes. I do think they set them up for their test riders, who on average weighed about 150 lbs I would guess.

Larger American riders could get by with setting the stock suspensions to the higher settings when new, but after 25-30 years of wear and tear, the stock shocks and fork springs just don't get it done anymore.
 
Baatfam said:
Lee Park's book has an excellent chapter on suspension setup...
And if you ever get the chance to take his Total Control class, they show you the proper way to set your sag and how to adjust your suspension...(on a modern bike with full adjustment).

The one thing I love about my Triumph is the suspension. Unlike most of the Japanese bikes, Triumph did not skimp on the suspension components.
Click to expand...

Yeah the book is on it's way. Plus I've been talking to an instructor about doing some of the exercises on my own. Can't afford the class at te moment but I am hoping to take it next season. The one thing having a more modern bike with modern cartridge forks and better shocks has shown me is alot of things I need to work on. Plus the frame is Soooo stiff the suspension being set up right is so much more important, and apparent when it's not. But besides trying to get better at that, I've been working through a lot of head issues. That crash last year was more damaging to my confidence than anything. Getting better but it has also shown me stuff I both need to sharpen and stuff I need to learn/relearn.
Rule number one of life in motorcycling: if you think you know all there is to know, you're lying to yourself.
 
TCK, Your post got me thinking since I need to buy new springs and shocks for my little ole thing. Can you post up any links to stuff you found? I read one article from the car bibles guy (he wrote up a post on motorcycle suspension) that was okay and I think I follow but I'm interested in more. Yet, the terms I'm using are just bringing up the vendor sites who will tell me why their product is better not what you should know about how they work.

Thanks.
 
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