New to GS world, need some advice on shocks!

[kschippe]

Morning all! New to this forum but not bikes. Just picked up an 82 GS650G for a wife commuter. The first ride has me surprisingly enamored with the bike! It's a great little machine!

BUT both shocks are completely blown: oil down the bodies, and NO damping.
I'm looking for a serviceable replacement as it doesn't look remotely rebuildable...but I want to keep costs to a minimum.

Suggestions on where to look?

 

[Steve]

For the absolute minimum, there are EMGO and other cheap Chinese crap shocks for about $100. You will NOT be happy with them.

Much better shock would be Hagon, available from Dave Quinn Motorcycles for $214. Call Dave for damping and spring rate selection.

The next step would be Progressive Suspension shocks. They are $300 and up, direct from Progressive Suspension or about $270, depending on shock body and spring rate, from Z1 Enterprises.

.

 

[82tiburon]

Be sure to take into account shock length if your wife is a shorter person.

I recently purchased a 1980 GS750E with original-length shocks & I couldn't stand at stop lights unless I was doing the tippy-toe dance.
Having one another '80 GS750E waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in '81, I couldn't understand why this was happening --- then I remembered that bike had shorter shocks installed by it's original owner, who was Hobbish in build.

So I lowered my shocks a few notches, which didn't affect the rideability one iota, and I no longer look like a ballerina prodigy when stopped.

 

[Steve]

You have to be careful with shorter shocks on a shaftie, though. The u-joint does not like constant running at increased angles.

That said, we have installed one inch shorter shocks on my wife's 850L. Hasn't been run enough for a longevity report, but it seems to be doing OK.

.

 

[kschippe]

Thanks for the intel, guys. I'll probably let her ride these for a while and she might get some progressives for christmas!

Any thoughts on the different models? 14 series vs 12 series?

 

[BigD_83]

I inadvertently put 1" shorter Hagons on my 650G, and it seems to be handling it just fine. If I had the option, I'd like to go back to the stock length, but the shorter shocks do seem to make it easier for the wife to get on and off.

It feels odd having my entire foot on the ground with a bent knee at stops, though it helps around town when I am carrying a passenger.

 

[Guest]

ikon's are also an option in the price range of progressives, and you get adjustable damping and rebuildability to boot.

 

[82tiburon]

Don't overlook used shocks available from parted-out bikes at any motorcycle scrap yard to save yourself some serious ca$h.

Most wrecked bikes tend to be ones that rear-ended another vehicle --- so while sanitary front ends & swoopy crotch-rocket fairings are hard to find in decent shape, almost everything from the midpoint on back is usually in mint condition.

So long as they're clean & not beaten-to-hell --- something you'll recognize from your previous experience --- you'll do just fine with used shocks.
I'm not Kenny Roberts or Wes Cooley, so I couldn't begin to appreciate spending $200-300 on a set of shocks.
Quite frankly, I'd much rather be ridden during an afternoon's worth of lap dances from one of the A-team sweeties at the local brass-pole joint.

I'm very familiar with that odd visual of seeing the tops of my kneecaps whenever I pull up to a stop while riding one of my H-Ds. :smile-new::smile-new::smile-new:

 

[Guest]

Much better shock would be Hagon, available from Dave Quinn Motorcycles for $214. Call Dave for damping and spring rate selection.

The next step would be Progressive Suspension shocks. They are $300 and up, direct from Progressive Suspension or about $270, depending on shock body and spring rate, from Z1 Enterprises.

I would put Hagons above PS for performance and for $334 you can get the Hagon 2810's with adjustable damping. In that price range they would be my choice. I think IKON's are a bit more than that and they also offer adjustable damping and decent performance. I have a set of IKON's on my 1100E and they are pretty good. Not Ohlin's level, but I would do a track day on them without worry.

I'm not Kenny Roberts or Wes Cooley, so I couldn't begin to appreciate spending $200-300 on a set of shocks.

I bet you could. If you've never tried better suspension you have no idea how good it can get. Even brand new OEM shocks are total crap compared to midrange aftermarket shocks and the OEM's are worn out in 10,000 miles or less. Just because they aren't leaking doesn't mean they aren't worn out in terms of performance, so your junkyard shocks are at best a pig in a poke.


Mark

 

[kschippe]

None of the used shocks look any better than the ones I have now: leaking oil, rust on the shafts, or worse.

I'll look into the IKONS, I like the idea of rebuildable/revalveable.
Keep in mind that this is cheap commuter. I've barely got $1300 into it now, and that includes all the little parts it was missing as well as new tires. Not looking to drain the bank account, just want it serviceable for commuting duty. Keep 'em coming!

Idea: has anyone rebuild any of the cheap chineese piggy backs to have appropriate valving? is it worth entertaining the idea?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Shock-...ash=item43baea9901:g:DD4AAMXQAx9RXQbW&vxp=mtr

 

[TxGSrider]

None of the used shocks look any better than the ones I have now: leaking oil, rust on the shafts, or worse.

I'll look into the IKONS, I like the idea of rebuildable/revalveable.
Keep in mind that this is cheap commuter. I've barely got $1300 into it now, and that includes all the little parts it was missing as well as new tires. Not looking to drain the bank account, just want it serviceable for commuting duty. Keep 'em coming!

Idea: has anyone rebuild any of the cheap chineese piggy backs to have appropriate valving? is it worth entertaining the idea?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Shock-...ash=item43baea9901:g:DD4AAMXQAx9RXQbW&vxp=mtr

There are some out there called "RFY" that some of the other websites have discussed and some guys actually like them. The price is a little more than the no name Chinese (and they are rebuildable). They seem to look decent and may be worth a shot on a real shoestring budget.

 

[Guest]

Keep in mind that this is cheap commuter. I've barely got $1300 into it now, and that includes all the little parts it was missing as well as new tires. Not looking to drain the bank account, just want it serviceable for commuting duty. Keep 'em coming!

In that case buy a set of the basic Hagons for $214 from Dave Quinn and never look back. He will set you up with the proper spring rate for your uses and they will work problem free for years.


Mark

 

[JJ]

None of the used shocks look any better than the ones I have now: leaking oil, rust on the shafts, or worse.

I'll look into the IKONS, I like the idea of rebuildable/revalveable.
Keep in mind that this is cheap commuter. I've barely got $1300 into it now, and that includes all the little parts it was missing as well as new tires. Not looking to drain the bank account, just want it serviceable for commuting duty. Keep 'em coming!

Idea: has anyone rebuild any of the cheap chineese piggy backs to have appropriate valving? is it worth entertaining the idea?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Shock-...ash=item43baea9901:g:DD4AAMXQAx9RXQbW&vxp=mtr

I have never understood the "logic" of people saying that they have only spent $500 or whatever on the bike, so they hate dumping more money into it, especially with safety items such as tires, shocks, fork springs, etc... My reasoning is that by keeping the initial purchase price low, it gives me more money to spend on those items. Do it RIGHT!

Guys, please value your life over everything else!

 

[Steve]

I'm not Kenny Roberts or Wes Cooley, so I couldn't begin to appreciate spending $200-300 on a set of shocks.

Trust me, we are not KR or WC, either, but the difference between worn-out stock shocks and the $200 Hagons we put on my wife's bike were IMMEDIATELY noticed and appreciated.

I have never understood the "logic" of people saying that they have only spent $500 or whatever on the bike, so they hate dumping more money into it, especially with safety items such as tires, shocks, fork springs, etc... My reasoning is that by keeping the initial purchase price low, it gives me more money to spend on those items. Do it RIGHT!

My phiolosophy, exactly. :encouragement: :clap: :clap:

By saving on the initial purchase, you can more-easily afford the repairs. :-\\\

.

 

[82tiburon]

"Trust me, we are not KR or WC, either, but the difference between worn-out stock shocks and the $200 Hagons we put on my wife's bike were IMMEDIATELY noticed and appreciated."

I never advocated using worn-out shocks, nor would I --- I simply stated that there are good, used shocks out there & that one need not break the bank on a pair of shocks. Over the past 30-plus years I've run used shocks ( in decent shape) that got the job done on motorcycles much heavier & with worse handling characteristics than a GS with ZERO issues.
As far as longevity goes, 10,000 miles is just about what I put on each of my bikes every year... and I'm not running out replacing the shocks.
The tires?
Yes.
The shocks?
Get the f*** outta here.

My '74 Sportster, which is my daily rider, still sports the very same used 11" Electra-Glide shocks I slapped onto it in '96.
The '77 FXS, which I mostly use on weekend road trips when my wife is riding the Sportster (the XL sits lower) has used 12-inchers from way back in '92.
Both sets came off of wrecked bikes & are in EXCELLENT condition

No bottoming out, no wiggles or shakes, no speed wobbles.
I would never place my family or myself in danger...but I'm also astute & realistic enough to realize I'm not running the Paris-to-Dakkar, either.

 

[storm 64]

I'm thinking of buying Ikon shocks for my motorcycle. I talked to Ikon sales representative last weekend at Mid-Ohio. He ships out of Bedford Pennsylvania. What appeals to me is they come in chrome bodies and springs. They look the most like factory shocks for my motorcycle. There're a little over $400 for the set.

 

[kschippe]

Lol, write me a check then...

Point of that statement, is this: it's a 35 year old bike that isn't worth much, and will be used as basic daily transportation, so spending $850 on performance shocks for a bike that is low performance and low value isn't a smart proposition. Hence the recommendation for a 'low bar' option that will get me from pogo/wallowyness back into safe/comfortable. Without overspending. Not everything is going to be the star of the show, apple of my eye, spend all the moeny on bike.

 

[Guest]

not sure you can compare the performance of a 70's harley to even the most clapped out gs....do they even get to modern highway speeds? lulz... and if 200 for hagons is too spendy, mebbe you should look for a newer bike that will need less? not being a prick, just saying...

 

[Guest]

My '74 Sportster, which is my daily rider, still sports the very same used 11" Electra-Glide shocks I slapped onto it in '96.
The '77 FXS, which I mostly use on weekend road trips when my wife is riding the Sportster (the XL sits lower) has used 12-inchers from way back in '92.
Both sets came off of wrecked bikes & are in EXCELLENT condition

No they aren't, they are most certainly worn out. If you put those on a shock dyno you would find that they offer maybe 10% of the damping of a new set, if that. For sedate riding that may be fine, but I assure you they are way, way past their best before date. The reason why shocks are rebuildable is so that you simply open them up, change the oil and whatever bits are worn and then put them back on. You don't have to replace shocks every year, just like you don't replace forks when they need maintenance. Since you seem to think shocks are good forever, have you ever changed the fork oil in either of those bikes?


Mark

 

[82tiburon]

No they aren't, they are most certainly worn out. If you put those on a shock dyno you would find that they offer maybe 10% of the damping of a new set, if that. For sedate riding that may be fine, but I assure you they are way, way past their best before date. The reason why shocks are rebuildable is so that you simply open them up, change the oil and whatever bits are worn and then put them back on. You don't have to replace shocks every year, just like you don't replace forks when they need maintenance. Since you seem to think shocks are good forever, have you ever changed the fork oil in either of those bikes?


Mark

That's quite the presumptuous, if not laughable, assumption on your part --- considering that you've never seen my shocks & know absolutely NOTHING about them or the condition that they're in.
Yet, you "assure" me that they are shot.
Apparently, Mandrake the Magician is still alive & well, divining what mere mortal men cannot see.

Listen, hotshot --- I've spent over 28 years working on motorcycles at various Florida performance shops, where I not only learned to rebuild shocks & forks early on (while still wet behind the ears), but I also fabricated & have my own compression tool at home.
I've disassembled all of my shocks, thoroughly inspected them & they are all in EXCELLENT condition.

So you're preaching to the choir & you're talking the very same pure, unadulterated nonsense that I've been hearing from customers for years who are looking to justify buying themselves the latest toy or gizmo.
Knock yourself out & lay out the bucks for over-priced rear suspension if you wish (hell, it's your money) --- just don't go p***ing down my leg while trying to convince me that it's raining.