Rear Shock Absorber Musings....

[Griffin]

I'm in need of a set of shocks as well. Can someone explain why the progressive ones will not fit a shaft drive. Also my bike came with a set of Marzocci<sp> shocks. Someone told me they were rebuildable, but I can't seem to find any info anywhere about them. Is anyone familiar with them?

And lastly, just like the previos posted why are bike shocks so damned expensive??

Those shocks on ebay are eye to clevis mount, you need eye to eye for the GS650, 850, 100, and 1100G models.

Depending upon your exact model, you may also need a length greater than 13".

 

[BassCliff]

You're a contributor!

You're a contributor!

Hey Mr. Griffin,

That's a nice bit of research and compilation. If you don't mind, I'm going to add this information to my mega-welcome page. Thanks!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

The front end is pretty simple, Progressive brand springs and fresh 15W fork oil. The rear end isn't so simple.

Most of these brands are also available in eye to eye configuration in different lengths for other twin shock GS models as well. The options are arranged in order of price, low to high.

1. $65-$90 Emgo/MDI: Found all over ebay, and at about every vendor on the internet. General consensus of users seems to be that they are ok quality, but very stiffly sprung. Essentially the bare minimum option from stock.

2. $120 Redwing: Evidently no longer made, they are still available at www.loudfastugly.com . I've not been able to find anyone who's actually used them, but they appear to be of halfway decent quality.

3. $210-$230 Progressive 12 Series: Lots of information here and all over the web about them. Most people seem happy with them, several different spring weights available. Available at most online retailers. www.denniskirk.com is a vendor I have had great luck with over the years.

4. $218-$270 Hagon Type A: Seem very similar to Progressive 12 series as far as owner satisfaction, quality of construction, and price. Available in the USA at www.davequinnmotorcycles.com

5. $320-$400+ Ikon 76 Series: Generally pretty highly regarded, lots of options available. From what I've read on the internet, they do seem to be more highly regarded than Progressive. Can be found at http://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/servlet/StoreFront

6. $419-$589 Works Performance Steel Tracker: Very highly regarded, lots of positive reviews around the internet of Works Performance in general. Customer service (including rebuilding any brand of shock) is very highly rated. More info at http://www.worksperformance.com/html/home.html

There are other options available that are more expensive, including offerings from Works, Ikon, Ohlins, White Brothers, etc.

 

[Griffin]

Hey Mr. Griffin,

That's a nice bit of research and compilation. If you don't mind, I'm going to add this information to my mega-welcome page. Thanks!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Ooh boy, I get to be a contributor!

'Bout time I came up with something useful, I suppose.....

 

[AirCooledHeaven]

Well, since I've decided to keep the 750E for the foreseeable future, suspension upgrades are urgently needed. The front end is pretty simple, Progressive brand springs and fresh 15W fork oil. The rear end isn't so simple.

I've done a lot of searching here over the past couple of days, and consulted one of the local site techies about my mission. I've decided a couple things for my particular situation:

- Total cost for a pair of shocks and springs must be under $500 (preferably considerably under).

- Shocks must be rebuildable.

I've found lots of threads with bits of advice here and there, but it took a long time. I thought I'd condense much of the information into one thread.

These options are for 13" eye to clevis shocks that will fit the following GS models:

'78-'82 GS750/750E
'78-'80 GS1000C/N/E/S
'80-'83 GS1100E/S/ES

Most of these brands are also available in eye to eye configuration in different lengths for other twin shock GS models as well. The options are arranged in order of price, low to high.

1. $65-$90 Emgo/MDI: Found all over ebay, and at about every vendor on the internet. General consensus of users seems to be that they are ok quality, but very stiffly sprung. Essentially the bare minimum option from stock.

2. $120 Redwing: Evidently no longer made, they are still available at www.loudfastugly.com . I've not been able to find anyone who's actually used them, but they appear to be of halfway decent quality.

3. $210-$230 Progressive 12 Series: Lots of information here and all over the web about them. Most people seem happy with them, several different spring weights available. Available at most online retailers. www.denniskirk.com is a vendor I have had great luck with over the years.

4. $218-$270 Hagon Type A: Seem very similar to Progressive 12 series as far as owner satisfaction, quality of construction, and price. Available in the USA at www.davequinnmotorcycles.com

5. $320-$400+ Ikon 76 Series: Generally pretty highly regarded, lots of options available. From what I've read on the internet, they do seem to be more highly regarded than Progressive. Can be found at http://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/servlet/StoreFront

6. $419-$589 Works Performance Steel Tracker: Very highly regarded, lots of positive reviews around the internet of Works Performance in general. Customer service (including rebuilding any brand of shock) is very highly rated. More info at http://www.worksperformance.com/html/home.html

There are other options available that are more expensive, including offerings from Works, Ikon, Ohlins, White Brothers, etc.... Unfortunately, these are out of my budget.



I hope this helps some folks who are looking to replace their shocks. If I've missed something in my price range, please, by all means, post the info so that we can all learn more.

Thanks.

I can personally recommend the hagons, they will will supply them with custom spring rates according to your weight or if you want to optimise for pillion use. But they don't have adjustable damping, although probably an unnecessary luxury.

The ikons are a direct copy of the highly regarded but no longer made Koni shocks that came with the 'dial-a-ride' adjustable damping. I believe Ikon bought the manufacturing rights but weren't allowed to use the name, hence the anagram.

The generic ebay shocks (oxon, hogon, ikan, pergressive ) should be avoided. The spring rates are fine, they look nice, but the damping is pants, particularly the compression damping which is unbelieveably stiff and makes for a very uncomfortable ride.

I think anything more expensive than the ikons would be a waste of money on a standard road going GS.

 

[bwringer]

Those shocks on ebay are eye to clevis mount, you need eye to eye for the GS650, 850, 100, and 1100G models.

Depending upon your exact model, you may also need a length greater than 13".

The 850G/GL, 1000G/GL, and 1100G/GL all take 13" (330mm) eye-to-eye shocks. The mounting studs or bolts on the frame and swingarm are 12mm.

The 650G/GL models vary a bit in length, but they're also easily available.

I'm contemplating slightly longer shock bodies on my 850G just so the furshlugginger axle will clear the farshimelt exhaust when it's time for new tires. Aaaaarrrgggghhh... I hate taking the shocks loose just to get the axle out. Didn't anyone at Suzuki think of this when they designed the bikes?

 

[jknappsax]

Interesting your expletives about shocks for Japanese bikes are in German.

 

[AOD]

I'll put my vote in that the Progressive's are a nice bump up over the worn stock shocks and allow you to select the right spring rate for your body weight and riding (1-up or 2-up) pattern.

I wonder how IndyBob is doing with my ultra heavy-duty springs? He weighed a good 100lbs less than me.

~Adam

 

[bwringer]

Interesting your expletives about shocks for Japanese bikes are in German.

Mangled Yiddish, actually. Borrowed from old issues of Mad Magazine. I had no idea what Yiddish was or why it was in Mad Magazine until I was a grown-up, but how can you forget a word like furshlugginger?

 

[salty_monk]

Get a V&H pipe.. it's short enough that you can get it out fine. Still access the drain plug & filter too.

Dan

 

[Buffalo Bill]

How about Cheng Shin?

How about Cheng Shin?

This is a way low price, more compatible with my budget. :clap:
Cheng Shin Adjustable Shocks at jcwhitney.com, only $95.
Does anybody have these on their bike?
Let us know.
Bill

 

[scrapper]

I was wondering how much play in length you have when putting on new shocks? I have a 82 gs650L what lengths could I put on and be safe. I guess I mean not change the steering to much? I was wondering if they was a way to check what shocks from different bikes might fit each other ?

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Finding info, not so hard

Finding info, not so hard

I was wondering how much play in length you have when putting on new shocks? I have a 82 gs650L what lengths could I put on and be safe. I guess I mean not change the steering to much? I was wondering if they was a way to check what shocks from different bikes might fit each other ?

There is some play room, 1 inch may be getting excessive. As for comparing parts, I go to bikebandit.com and look up my bike and part, then look up another bike to compare the part numbers.
Bill

 

[Guest]

This is a way low price, more compatible with my budget. :clap:
Cheng Shin Adjustable Shocks at jcwhitney.com, only $95.
Does anybody have these on their bike?
Let us know.
Bill

Going by the pic., those appear to be the same shocks that are also sold under the MDI, Emgo etc. names. If they are indeed re-badged Emgo items, they can be had for less than the JC Whitney advertised Cheng Shin price, in their other 'incarnations'.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/4-WAY-ADJUSTABLE-SHOCK-ABSORBERS/GP_2007058_N_111+10211+600014338_10111.jcw

Tony.

 

[82Shafty]

Well, since I've decided to keep the 750E for the foreseeable future, suspension upgrades are urgently needed. The front end is pretty simple, Progressive brand springs and fresh 15W fork oil. The rear end isn't so simple.

I've done a lot of searching here over the past couple of days, and consulted one of the local site techies about my mission. I've decided a couple things for my particular situation:

- Total cost for a pair of shocks and springs must be under $500 (preferably considerably under).

- Shocks must be rebuildable.

I've found lots of threads with bits of advice here and there, but it took a long time. I thought I'd condense much of the information into one thread.

These options are for 13" eye to clevis shocks that will fit the following GS models:

'78-'82 GS750/750E
'78-'80 GS1000C/N/E/S
'80-'83 GS1100E/S/ES

Most of these brands are also available in eye to eye configuration in different lengths for other twin shock GS models as well. The options are arranged in order of price, low to high.

1. $65-$90 Emgo/MDI: Found all over ebay, and at about every vendor on the internet. General consensus of users seems to be that they are ok quality, but very stiffly sprung. Essentially the bare minimum option from stock.

2. $120 Redwing: Evidently no longer made, they are still available at www.loudfastugly.com . I've not been able to find anyone who's actually used them, but they appear to be of halfway decent quality.

3. $210-$230 Progressive 12 Series: Lots of information here and all over the web about them. Most people seem happy with them, several different spring weights available. Available at most online retailers. www.denniskirk.com is a vendor I have had great luck with over the years.

4. $218-$270 Hagon Type A: Seem very similar to Progressive 12 series as far as owner satisfaction, quality of construction, and price. Available in the USA at www.davequinnmotorcycles.com

5. $320-$400+ Ikon 76 Series: Generally pretty highly regarded, lots of options available. From what I've read on the internet, they do seem to be more highly regarded than Progressive. Can be found at http://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/servlet/StoreFront

6. $419-$589 Works Performance Steel Tracker: Very highly regarded, lots of positive reviews around the internet of Works Performance in general. Customer service (including rebuilding any brand of shock) is very highly rated. More info at http://www.worksperformance.com/html/home.html

There are other options available that are more expensive, including offerings from Works, Ikon, Ohlins, White Brothers, etc.... Unfortunately, these are out of my budget.



I hope this helps some folks who are looking to replace their shocks. If I've missed something in my price range, please, by all means, post the info so that we can all learn more.

Thanks.

Brett,

This was from over a year ago, did you ever upgrade the rears and what did you go with?

 

[bwringer]

Brett,

This was from over a year ago, did you ever upgrade the rears and what did you go with?

I know the answer, but I'll let Brett fill you in himself. It's pretty interesting, actually...

 

[850 Combat]

I'm afraid of Ikons. The new Konis I bought for my Atlas rusted on the shafts, and blew out. The Koni strut inserts I put in my Cortina GT blew and pumped out all the oil.

Paid a premium for what turned out to be junk

My RD and one of the GS1000G's have Hagons, and they are OK so far. Less harsh than Girlings

I sure miss S&W

The ones on my '75 Commando have been on there for more than 30 years

 

[Mike Derrett]

Ikon and Koni Shocks

Ikon and Koni Shocks

Dear Mr 850,

Ikons and Koni's are different beasts, sort of.

A company called Proven Products in Australia bought the design to the KONI bike stuff (ONLY the bike stuff) in 2000 when Koni decided to stop making them. They kept the design so closely that when I started overhauling my 25year old Koni's (7610-1394) the current production orings and seals are still the ones to use.
But, in doing my rebuild I went to the local suspension guru who rebuilds them and had the parts available over the counter, and looked at a set of new (Ikon) ones and the new Australian made ones are a total class above what Koni made, the finish is good enough to stick in a glass case as a trophy.

As for the car stuff, probably made in China, totally different kettle of fish.

Check out http://www.ikonsuspension.com/ for the full story.

Best Regards

Mike

 

[Guest]

Yeah i got a set of Koni's 2nd hand on ebay about a year or so ago. They were definitely older than the six month's which was advertised (probably ten times that) I still paid a premium - $250 AUD from memory for used shocks but almost half what I got quoted by Ikon for the equivalent.

They still look and ride like new (except for slightly deteriorated rubber dampers), and the difference in handling over old stock shocks is remarkable.

 

[dpep]

I am looking for good ways to improve the handling on my 1100E so I am bumping this thread back to the top. It would interesting to hear Brett's followup on what he got and how they worked out.

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

I had some leaking Works shocks on my 850 when I got it. Took them in to get rebuilt at Works Factory. Was told they had internal cracks & were not repairable!!!