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Ikon vs Progressive... How much better are Ikon really?

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The question here is are Ikons $AU180 better than Progressive?

I can get Ikon progressive fork springs and rear shocks with springs for $AU630 including shipping locally here in Aus direct from Ikon.

I can get Progressive fork springs and series 12 shocks with springs for about $US450 shipped direct from Progressive.

So, are Ikons that much better or am I better off getting the Progressives?

My only comparison is stock stuff, so I have no idea... front forks have always been way too soft and rear were ok but stiff and are now like struts.

I've done lots of searches here, and Ikon is always reported as better than Progressive, so it's just a matter of how much better.

Oh, '82 450E by the way...
 
pete said:
The question here is are Ikons $AU180 better than Progressive?

I can get Ikon progressive fork springs and rear shocks with springs for $AU630 including shipping locally here in Aus direct from Ikon.

I can get Progressive fork springs and series 12 shocks with springs for about $US450 shipped direct from Progressive.

So, are Ikons that much better or am I better off getting the Progressives?

My only comparison is stock stuff, so I have no idea... front forks have always been way too soft and rear were ok but stiff and are now like struts.

I've done lots of searches here, and Ikon is always reported as better than Progressive, so it's just a matter of how much better.

Oh, '82 450E by the way...
Click to expand...

From my research into that a while back (disclosure I never got either as I was able to get Ohlins) was that the Ikons are rebuild able and more adjustable (damping which progressive doesn't have). Also you can get them setup from the factory as far as springs and so that is a big plus. Of course you are talking a few more bucks.
If it was me I would do Ikon even though the progressives would probably be fine as well.
 
Thanks Pos, that definitely makes some sense.

For some reason I thought Progressives were rebuildable... I missed that the Ikons have damping adjustment but I just revisited their website and yep there it is...
 
Because Ikons, or in their former life Konis, are rebuildable they can be a really good buy secondhand. As long as the damper rods aren't pitted the rebuild parts are cheap and it's an easy job - shocks as good as new in no time.
 
hampshirehog said:
Because Ikons, or in their former life Konis, are rebuildable they can be a really good buy secondhand. As long as the damper rods aren't pitted the rebuild parts are cheap and it's an easy job - shocks as good as new in no time.
Click to expand...

Good point! I haven't seen any around the traps in my occassional searching but I will definitely keep my eyes open... thanks for the reminder :)
 
I have it on good authority (Joe Nardy) that the difference between Ikons and Progressives is almost as dramatic as the difference between Progressives and the crappy stockers. Maybe he was just trying to shame me into spending more money... :D

With that said, I seem to get down the road OK with Progressive shocks, especially when I installed the proper extra-heavy-duty spring for my, uh, mass. They are getting just a wee tid bouncy after 80,000 miles, so at some point it'll be time to toss them and pony up for new ones.

In case you're wondering, I'm using Sonic straight rate fork springs up front, in the proper rate. These were a HUGE improvement over the badly overwhelmed Progressive springs I used to have in there.
 
bwringer said:
I have it on good authority (Joe Nardy) that the difference between Ikons and Progressives is almost as dramatic as the difference between Progressives and the crappy stockers. Maybe he was just trying to shame me into spending more money... :D

With that said, I seem to get down the road OK with Progressive shocks, especially when I installed the proper extra-heavy-duty spring for my, uh, mass. They are getting just a wee tid bouncy after 80,000 miles, so at some point it'll be time to toss them and pony up for new ones.

In case you're wondering, I'm using Sonic straight rate fork springs up front, in the proper rate. These were a HUGE improvement over the badly overwhelmed Progressive springs I used to have in there.
Click to expand...

The Ikons are wonderful on my '83 1100E. That having been said, I wanted damping adjustment because I ride the bike anywhere from 1-up with no luggage to 2-up with fully loaded saddlebags and tank bag, probably close to a 200 pound difference in load weight. If I always rode 1-up I would probably go with Progressives with appropriate springs.

Thanks,
Joe
 
Thanks heaps guys! I'm probably somewhere near 100kg with gear is my guess, put a bit on when I quit smoking.

My wife's only small, probably 60kg or less with gear, and I'm hoping I can lure her on the back, so I'm definitely looking for some adjustment other than just preload if I can get it.

I also have wanted a set of Koni's ever since I started riding... of course now I can only get Ikon's :rolleyes:
 
Joe Nardy said:
The Ikons are wonderful on my '83 1100E. That having been said, I wanted damping adjustment because I ride the bike anywhere from 1-up with no luggage to 2-up with fully loaded saddlebags and tank bag, probably close to a 200 pound difference in load weight. If I always rode 1-up I would probably go with Progressives with appropriate springs.

Thanks,
Joe
Click to expand...

I am trying to decide between these Ikons and some air shocks made by Progressive that the guy at Z1 is trying to sell me. Do you get enough difference in the adjustments to go between one up and fully loaded, or are they very stiff when you ride solo? How is the ride, both two up and by yourself? What spring rate did you go with, and do you think you got the right one?
I am trying to set up a GS1100G for long distance stuff. Shocks are the last big piece of the puzzle.
Thanks!
 
tkent02 said:
I am trying to decide between these Ikons and some air shocks made by Progressive that the guy at Z1 is trying to sell me. Do you get enough difference in the adjustments to go between one up and fully loaded, or are they very stiff when you ride solo? How is the ride, both two up and by yourself? What spring rate did you go with, and do you think you got the right one?
I am trying to set up a GS1100G for long distance stuff. Shocks are the last big piece of the puzzle.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, the damping adjustments make a noticeable difference as do the preload adjustments. Between the two you can make the ride good for 1-up or 2-up riding. I prefer a stiffer setup so I run it that way but I can also make it reasonably plush if I care to. For a comparison, I am running Race Tech cartridge emulators and Progressive springs up front and the forks do not perform as well as the rear shocks. I am not sure of the spring rates. When I ordered the shocks they asked me for my weight and my passenger's weight and the type of riding I do. I think the spring rate is perfect but, again, I prefer a firmer setup. I'm sure you can specify a softer setup if you like.

Thanks,
Joe
 
Last edited:
Pete ,old mate .
Buy Australian made and get a set of Ikon springs and shocks .
I think they're made in Albury/Wodonga and definitely used to be Koni .
In Aus , "progressive" refers to the way the springs are made , rather than a "Brand".
Give them a ring and tell them what you've got and what you want . Real good , helpful blokes .
Trust me , you don't want anything more exotic and Ikons will blow your socks off .

Cheers , Simon . :)
 
simon kuether said:
Pete ,old mate .
Buy Australian made and get a set of Ikon springs and shocks .
I think they're made in Albury/Wodonga and definitely used to be Koni .
In Aus , "progressive" refers to the way the springs are made , rather than a "Brand".
Give them a ring and tell them what you've got and what you want . Real good , helpful blokes .
Trust me , you don't want anything more exotic and Ikons will blow your socks off .

Cheers , Simon . :)
Click to expand...

I think that's now confirmed as the plan Simon :D

So far I emailed them enquiring about a dealer in Brissie, and they came back the next day with a price including freight to my door and everything is in stock too.

I'll have to wait til my exhaust is done (booked in 24th June) and once that's done, next pay should hopefully see me getting some new suspenders... then the pay after that will hopefully be tyres...

I'm starting to feel it... :dancing:

Thanks for all the replies guys, really appreciate it, and I hope some others get some tidbits from this as well...
 
I just bought Ikons, they are in the mail somewhere to me...

After much thought I decided that I wanted something I could rebuild if needed and for an extra $100/150 it was worth it in the long run. The Progressives and Hagons however are very nice from what I've heard from GSers.

I got to run firstimer's Ikons on my bike at a track day and they were amazing.

I went through http://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/servlet/StoreFront and ordered them over the phone.
 
Went with the progressive's fork springs and rear shocks with 105/150 springs and hate them. the shocks set on lightest preload will try to break my back at the slightest hint of a bump and rear wheel will leave ground. My weight is 220lb. and naked bike. Seems no better with wife aboard. Plan on calling and see what can be done as the shocks only have 130 mi. on them. Maybe the lightest spring rate as the 105/150 is not the heavy duty.
 
80gs1000e said:
I just bought Ikons, they are in the mail somewhere to me...

After much thought I decided that I wanted something I could rebuild if needed and for an extra $100/150 it was worth it in the long run. The Progressives and Hagons however are very nice from what I've heard from GSers.

I got to run firstimer's Ikons on my bike at a track day and they were amazing.

I went through http://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/servlet/StoreFront and ordered them over the phone.
Click to expand...

Did you get them yet? Wondering how they are, and which spring did you choose?
 
tkent02 said:
Did you get them yet? Wondering how they are, and which spring did you choose?
Click to expand...

I got them installed over the weekend. Set up for a solo 250 lb rider, 1/2 inch longer than stock. I just did a quick test run but the rear end feels very planted and no more pogo stick so that was pretty nice. :cool:
 
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