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| wazza267 | | Set |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 18/06/2014 | | Posts | : | 54 | | Location | : | New Zealand |
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| | Posted : 24 Jan 2015 - 23:29 Post title : Rear Shocks - again | | | This is probably is a subject that has been covered quite a few times on this forum, so I apologise for bringing it up again - but ... I need to replace the standard shocks on the bird and although it would be really nice to be able to buy 'top shelf' shocks that cost $1300 to $1700, but I don't think I can justify that kind of expense.
So what do I get that is more a kind of middle of the road type shock that will actually make an improvement to the handling without breaking the bank?
I've seen the Hagons around but not sure just how good they really because they seem a bit budget priced but they might just be very good shocks at good prices.
My Thunderbird is a bit heavier than most at around 380 kgs (837lbs) so I need a shock that isn't afraid to carry a bit of weight.
Any advise appreciated.
Cheers 
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| surfing72 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 20/03/2012 | | Posts | : | 483 | | Location | : | Nth, New South Wales, Australia |
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| | Posted : 25 Jan 2015 - 05:10 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: wazza267) | | | Mate I had Hagon Nitros. They felt great. Loved them.  None of that pogo crap any more. But I purchased 300mm and lowered the bike to much so had to give them away and am back to standard shocks  . If you carry a bit of weight I think they make a size slightly higher then stock. I tried to get progressives prior to the Hagons because I thought they were cosmetically a better looking shock but had no luck with stock at the time. Good luck 
| Dan
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| wazza267 | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/06/2014 | | Posts | : | 54 | | Location | : | New Zealand |
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| | Posted : 25 Jan 2015 - 05:40 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: surfing72) | | | Thanks for that Dan, do you know what the std shock length is?
Warren
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| surfing72 | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 20/03/2012 | | Posts | : | 483 | | Location | : | Nth, New South Wales, Australia |
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| | Posted : 25 Jan 2015 - 06:03 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: wazza267) | | | Not sure mate but I'm thinking 340mm but I'm sure someone here will correct me if I'm wrong
| Dan
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| Smitty | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/10/2012 | | Posts | : | 996 | | Location | : | Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 25 Jan 2015 - 06:34 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: surfing72) | | | Apparently 330mm is stock.....
I went 10mm higher and got 340mm Hagon Nitro's and love them. The height feels similar to stock height with my feet on the ground at lights etc, so the 10mm is not noticeable.
The Nitro's really fixed the rear end up. I still have clearance issues with the foot pegs scraping and reckon another 10mm would have helped more.
However, it also depends on how you ride. If you haven't any scraping issues now then the stock 330mm length should be ok, or another 10mm won't be noticeable, but I've always found the higher you go the better the bike tips into corners as well. So consider your riding style...
| Cheers Smitty
2013 Matt Graphite Storm, Foran Razorbacks, Hagon shocks & springs.
I don't get angry, I get even 
| | Post edited by Smitty on 25 Jan 2015 - 06:39 |
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| Leethal | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,529 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 25 Jan 2015 - 07:55 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: wazza267) | | | Ikons are a good choice also, plenty of different spring sizes, the company is good to deal with (Aussie) , they are adjustable both ways.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| wazza267 | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/06/2014 | | Posts | : | 54 | | Location | : | New Zealand |
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| | Posted : 26 Jan 2015 - 00:44 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: Smitty) | | | Hi Smitty,
Thanks for the info, that really helps with deciding my height. Think I'll go for the 340, I'm a bit lanky so don't think I would have much problem either.
I don't have any clearance issues at all, especially since I fitted the spacers to my front forks. If you are having an ongoing issue with ground clearance you might like to check these out. Link
Cheers
Warren
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| n3zat | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 18/09/2013 | | Posts | : | 171 | | Location | : | Coatesville, pa, United States |
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| | Posted : 26 Jan 2015 - 01:47 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: Leethal) | | |
Leethal wrote:
Ikons are a good choice also, plenty of different spring sizes, the company is good to deal with (Aussie) , they are adjustable both ways. |
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I don't see how changing rear shocks is going to help with peg scraping I lean it over and scrap all the time .nature of the bike.
| Charlie
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| Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,529 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 26 Jan 2015 - 02:56 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: n3zat) | | | I didn't say they did.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| wazza267 | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/06/2014 | | Posts | : | 54 | | Location | : | New Zealand |
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| | Posted : 26 Jan 2015 - 03:03 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: n3zat) | | | Charlie,
If your shocks aren't doing their job properly then they can compress more than they should during cornering due to centrifical force thereby decreasing the distance between the pegs and the ground, good shocks will minimise this.
If you click on the link I have posted further back in this thread you will find the fork end caps that I have fitted to my bike that are the reason why I don't have clearance issues with my bike and I'm not afraid to lean my bike either, I use all but the last 4 or 5mm of the tread on my front tyre and have never scrapped since I fitted the caps.
The reason I want to change the shocks is because I am sometimes bottoming out and I also don't feel the originals are giving me the corner control that they should.
In my opinion, because of the weight of my bike anything less than 100% performance in my shocks will have an impact on the handling and I think she's just starting to go off the boil a bit.
Cheers
Warren
| | Post edited by wazza267 on 26 Jan 2015 - 03:04 |
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| AZCactus | | Taranis | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,512 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 26 Jan 2015 - 03:52 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: wazza267) | | | There are many good shock manufacturers out there...I'll plan to go with ikons because of reputation, performance and aesthetics. Cost is about $630 otd (unless someone knows a better price :)
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| Ozian | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 25/01/2013 | | Posts | : | 199 | | Location | : | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
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| | Posted : 27 Jan 2015 - 04:04 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: wazza267) | | | Hey Wazaa,
I have the 340mm Hagon Nitros on my bike, and they are fantastic. They aren't much taller than stock, but the ride and adjustability of these units are top notch. When you go to order you should specify the type of riding you do, weight, how much 2-up riding is done, and they will be able to advise on spring rate and valving form the factory. I got mine second hand from a local member here, and he and I are very similar in weight (around 90kg) and the shocks have 26kg springs. I also got a set of 23 kg springs in the deal, but I'm really happy with the 26ers, especially after playing around with the preload and damping adjustments a bit.
I also have the Thunderbike preload caps, and have gone to a 55 series rear tyre, and the peg scraping has reduced significantly over stock. Absolutely love the bike, and have no issues keeping up with friends on much "sportier" bikes in the twisties.
| Cheers,
Ian
2010 Blue/white stripe 1600, drilled baffle long pipes, Meerkat cross-over, 320mm Nitron R1 shocks, Hardstreet panniers and ALL the chrome
SOLD: 2011 Blue/white stripe 1600, short TORS + tune, Meerkat cross-over, Thunderbike fork caps, Hagon Nitros, tail tidy
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| PapaSmurfMC | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 03/10/2013 | | Posts | : | 871 | | Location | : | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 27 Jan 2015 - 04:28 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: AZCactus) | | | AZCactus wrote:
There are many good shock manufacturers out there...I'll plan to go with ikons because of reputation, performance and aesthetics. Cost is about $630 otd (unless someone knows a better price :) |
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I recently bought Hagon Nitros instead of Ikons because no one at Ikon could answer my basic question. The OEM shocks spec 3.7" of travel but the Ikons spec (and was confirmed by Ikon to be) 2.2" of travel. That's a really big difference. While doubtful that the full 3.7" of travel are needed, I wanted to know what the travel needed to be to fully track the TBird swingarm. I expected Ikon to know. They didn't.
So I took a few measurements and dredged up my high-school geometry and calculated the shock travel needed if the swingarm traveled (vertically) 3.7" and that came out to 2.9". Now, I still don't know what distance the swingarm can actually travel vertically but I do know that the Ikons can't keep up if the swingarm travels even as far as the OEM shocks are spec'ed. That was enough to plant a seed of doubt about their being the best choice for all riding situations.
I haven't installed the Nitros, yet, but they are beauties. Really solid and handsomely built and for the most part, get great reviews. I'm really looking forward to taking them for a spin.
| 2013 Blue Marble Haze Thunderbird 1600 ABS
2009 Black Bonneville A1 ("Mag")
Buncha farkles
| | Post edited by PapaSmurfMC on 27 Jan 2015 - 04:45 |
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| Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,529 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 27 Jan 2015 - 05:49 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: PapaSmurfMC) | | | 
I would be sceptical that the stocks have 3.7 inches of travel. Perhaps the swingarm has that travel from some point?
Edit:- I had a look at the SM and it lists rear wheel travel at 95mm, which is 3.7 inches.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
| | Post edited by Leethal on 27 Jan 2015 - 06:51 |
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| peteronkarra | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 830 | | Location | : | Karragarra Island, Queensland, Australia |
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| | Posted : 27 Jan 2015 - 11:16 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: Leethal) | | | The nitros have 80mm of spring compression according to a spec sheet i found some time back. I guess that means the shock has about the same. I have 320s .
| I sometimes wonder what I"ll do when I grow up.... but not very often
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| edmontonstorm | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/09/2014 | | Posts | : | 1,054 | | Location | : | Alberta, Canada |
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| | Posted : 27 Jan 2015 - 15:44 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: peteronkarra) | | | i thought OEM was 340mm ? i will have to check my book again. I had a set of the hagon 2810 which is below the Nitros on my Speedmaster and they were lowered and i loved them over oem, the multiple preload and dampner control on the shocks were great and i could dial the shocks in pretty much for all road conditions when i chose too. I have not heard anything truely negative about the Hagons and their cusatomer service is really good. Hagon claims that they do not like going below 330 mm with the t-birds for anyone that wants to carry passengers etc, and thats with the nitro's. I added the mustang seat which raises you up a tad and i onoy have 30" inseem so not 100% flat foot anymore so was hoping to go down a step.
| Gloss Black 2013 Storm ABS - K&N (seal removed) - Mustang Seat - Hogslayer pipes - PCV-AT300
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| AZCactus | | Taranis | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,512 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 28 Jan 2015 - 07:00 Post title : Re: Rear Shocks - again (Re: PapaSmurfMC) | | | Ahh, travel! Thanks for mentioning it.
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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