Rear shock shopping

[Admiral Beez]

Loving my new Hagons. They’re made of stainless steel, unlike most of the other chrome or painted shocks.

 

[Boriqua]

Not sure if its helpful information but I have been riding with my Hagon Shocks over a year now. When I bought them I was about 200lbs and ballooned up to 230lbs before going back down. My wife rides with me about 1/3- 1/2 of the time and weighs about 125lbs. We have them set in the second position out of three spring preloads and it just glides over bumps and inconsistency and never once have we bottomed them out or gotten close.

Between the hagon shocks and the Sonic springs up front some roads that were torture to ride on before now feel like a magic carpet ride.

This was the description I got From Quinn but I understand he is no longer in business.

"Hagon Type A twin shocks feature three position spring preload and quadrate
progressive springs. They are not adjustable for damping, and are not
rebuildable."

They were about $200 if memory serves. Everywhere I looked at the progressive shocks the springs were sold separately and you had to build the final product. I had progressive shocks on two other bikes and while every bike is different I found them to be to harsh on the two I used them on.

 

[johnod]

Loving my new Hagons. They’re made of stainless steel, unlike most of the other chrome or painted shocks.

Which ones?

 

[Admiral Beez]

Which ones?

see them here

https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...tions-needed-for-GS650G&p=2519850#post2519850

 

[johnod]

Very nice, those look like the ones I was thinking of getting, nice to hear you like them.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Sixth pic down the list

http://www.hagonshocksusa.com/HagShocks.htm

 

[decotriumph]

I can vouch for British Cycle Supply. I've dealt with them in the past for British bike parts and have always had good service.

 

[Guest]

Not sure if its helpful information but I have been riding with my Hagon Shocks over a year now. When I bought them I was about 200lbs and ballooned up to 230lbs before going back down. My wife rides with me about 1/3- 1/2 of the time and weighs about 125lbs. We have them set in the second position out of three spring preloads and it just glides over bumps and inconsistency and never once have we bottomed them out or gotten close.

Between the hagon shocks and the Sonic springs up front some roads that were torture to ride on before now feel like a magic carpet ride.

This was the description I got From Quinn but I understand he is no longer in business.

"Hagon Type A twin shocks feature three position spring preload and quadrate
progressive springs. They are not adjustable for damping, and are not
rebuildable."

They were about $200 if memory serves. Everywhere I looked at the progressive shocks the springs were sold separately and you had to build the final product. I had progressive shocks on two other bikes and while every bike is different I found them to be to harsh on the two I used them on.

Thanks for the feedback, Boriqua! I'm definitely considering the Hagons as a top choice, both due to the many recommendations here, and to your "panther" post some time back

Any chance you might happen to know what damping rate Dave Quinn recommended? Even though they're not adjustable for damping (which I think is fine in most cases), just like our Sonic springs they come in a range of fixed rates.

Options on the Hagon site for the 330mm:

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD]SOFT
DAMPING
#3
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
10,12,14,16
KG/CM
[/TD]
[TD]MEDIUM
DAMPING
#5
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
18 OR 20
KG/CM
[/TD]
[TD]HARD
DAMPING
#6
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
23 OR 26
KG/CM
[/TD]
[TD]EXTRA HARD
DAMPING
#7
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
30 OR 35
KG/CM
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I'm guessing that, being rather large guy, probably exclusively riding 1-up with some bags/trunk, I'm looking at either a "medium" or "hard". But I actually haven't found much info here or elsewhere about what those rates translate to in terms of real-world weights (or driving impressions).

 

[Boriqua]

Thanks for the feedback, Boriqua! I'm definitely considering the Hagons as a top choice, both due to the many recommendations here, and to your "panther" post some time back

Any chance you might happen to know what damping rate Dave Quinn recommended? Even though they're not adjustable for damping (which I think is fine in most cases), just like our Sonic springs they come in a range of fixed rates.

Options on the Hagon site for the 330mm:

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD]SOFT
DAMPING
#3
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
10,12,14,16
KG/CM[/TD]
[TD]MEDIUM
DAMPING
#5
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
18 OR 20
KG/CM[/TD]
[TD]HARD
DAMPING
#6
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
23 OR 26
KG/CM[/TD]
[TD]EXTRA HARD
DAMPING
#7
AVAILABLE
SPRING RATES
30 OR 35
KG/CM[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I'm guessing that, being rather large guy, probably exclusively riding 1-up with some bags/trunk, I'm looking at either a "medium" or "hard". But I actually haven't found much info here or elsewhere about what those rates translate to in terms of real-world weights (or driving impressions).

Damn I am sorry Chris but .. I dont know that I chose. I bought from a couple of sets he had in stock so there has to be some stock configuration that I am unaware of and never came up. Wish I could be more helpful.

 

[Guest]

No problem! Thanks for the feedback anyway, I think I just need to give Hagon and/or BCS a call and see what they say. Will report back...

 

[grcamna2]

I just purchased a pair of Hagon rear shocks and enjoy them,have used them before on other bikes and I'm pleased with there performance.
I tried reaching Dave Quiin as before but found he went out of business, I miss his website and helpful tech experience. I called Hagon in the UK and they recommended British Cycle Supply,Mark helped me with some tech and I did recieve the shocks after they made an order,it took about a month.

 

[Chuck78]

Loving my new Hagons. They’re made of stainless steel, unlike most of the other chrome or painted shocks.

These are I believe the Hagon Nitro shocks, and they are not available in clevis mount lowers used on many GS models, however they will fit all shaft drive GS models - which use eye-to-eye configurations, and the GS 550, 450, 425, and 400. All other GS models, 750, 1000 chain drive, 1100E use a clevis lower mount. Therefore you cannot get the stainless body shocks for those models unless something has changed in recent years with the Hagon lineup.

I believe the rare GS650E chain drive model likely uses the eye to eye configuration also?

 

[Burque73]

These are I believe the Hagon Nitro shocks, and they are not available in clevis mount lowers used on many GS models, however they will fit all shaft drive GS models - which use eye-to-eye configurations, and the GS 550, 450, 425, and 400. All other GS models, 750, 1000 chain drive, 1100E use a clevis lower mount. Therefore you cannot get the stainless body shocks for those models unless something has changed in recent years with the Hagon lineup.

I believe the rare GS650E chain drive model likely uses the eye to eye configuration also?

Didn't one of the talented machinists here fabricate an adapter for the clevis to eye conversion? Maybe it was a spacer or something, but I'd swear I saw something like an adapter recently.

 

[850 Combat]

What spring rates are we generally going on the Gs? I've only had bad luck with Koni, I hope Icon is better. I have Hagons on wo bikes. I've had progressives. Some I've liked,some I haven't. Usually the problem was too high of a spring rate, which was something the vendor kind of talked me into. The Z series I'm having trouble deciphering the order form. I don't hatr the stock shocks, but on the bike I'm on, they are past it.

I just sold a GS850G, and may invest in some Racetech shocks with the proceeds. Their form is a PITA.

 

[steve murdoch]

I would talk to the guys at Restocycle. https://www.restocycle.com/
They are an authorized Ikon dealer. I have received good advice from them on a couple proceedures.

 

[steve murdoch]

I would talk to the guys at Restocycle. https://www.restocycle.com/
They are an authorized Ikon dealer. I have received good advice from them on a couple proceedures.
https://www.ikonshocksusa.com/

 

[Steve]

For those that might still be following this thread, Z1 Enterprises carries Hagon shocks now.

They have always had decent customer service, might give them a call to see if they can re-spring them for you.

https://www.z1enterprises.com/hagon-rs-shocks-slim-330mm-xs650-74-83.html

.

 

[850 Combat]

Just put forks with Racetech springs and emulators on the 1000G here yesterday. I don't hate the original shocks, but these are wearing out, and don't damp like they should. The bike has become unbalanced feeling with a soggy rear end and a much improved front. I can't afford $900 for a set of Racetech shocks.

 

[Dogma]

Just put forks with Racetech springs and emulators on the 1000G here yesterday. I don't hate the original shocks, but these are wearing out, and don't damp like they should. The bike has become unbalanced feeling with a soggy rear end and a much improved front. I can't afford $900 for a set of Racetech shocks.

A Racetech front end definitely highlights the rear end problems. $900 at YSS will get you shocks with the same features as about $2000 at Racetech. At least, that was the case when I got mine. Hagons or YSS, should be able to get you set up with the correct damping and springs after you tell them some things about your bike and yourself. With emulators up front, the Hagons' damping will feel crude. They're the equivalent of a damper rod fork.

 

[850 Combat]

Well, the YSS shocks have a piggyback, which is cool, but will interfere with my Samsonite luggage rack, I'm pretty certain. The luggage rack stays.

That leaves Ikon, which is supposed like a Koni, Progressive, which is the remnants of S&W, and Hagon,which is supposedly the ashes from Girling. I've had lots of Girlings. I'bought Hagons and I've bought Koni and S&W, and Progressive. Looks like I'm stuck currently with the usual suspects. I've liked and disliked both Hagons and Girlings, and it all came down to the spring rate and damping options. PO put Hagons on my other 1000G, and my 1000E has them too. Leaning toward Progressive just for ease of purchase. Wish I knew which spring rate I should use. IKONS are $420.