Topic: HAGON Slimline or Regular with Pictures Cb750 1978

[briancwynn]

All I cant figure out which Hagons rear shocks to go with, the slime line version or the regular size.  Does anyone have a picture of them on their bike as a reference?  Thanks wonderful wealth of information forum.

[jamesbekman]

Go with the slimline.  I have the regular size on my cb500 and the diameter of them is a very tight squeeze with the frame.

[Mr Freeze]

The regular widelines are great on a '78. Call Dave Quinn and have him make you a set.

[flybox1]

regular in black

[Nic]

Does anyone else think the Hagons are stiff n hard? I'm 15 stone and if I don't want the shocks bottoming out I need to put them on the 3rd setting which is hard as a rock on bumpy roads. Mine have #20 springs on, I spoke to the Hagon rep in Oz and he said I needed #26 springs so I forked out for them, sure, now I can have them set on the 1st setting and they don't bottom out but now they are even harder. I have since gone back to the #20 springs and have them set on the middle setting. Back in the day when I was only a measly 10 stone I had no such problems. I'm getting good at standing on the pegs when I see bumps coming.

[flybox1]

Yes.  Mine feel a little stiff.  Dave Quinn set them up per my specs, but I think it could be better...

[Nic]

What's to set up? there are 3 spring tension settings
When you think about it, there is only 85mm of travel, so if you are bottoming out you only have one course of action n that's to increase spring tension, for me at 15 stone, to have them not bottoming out they are really stiff.
There really is nothing you can do except increase the travel which of course you can't do, but, when you take the spring off there is a rubber cushion around the shaft about 20mm tall, this is the cushion for when the shocks bottom out, seeing as I don't feel any cushion effect at all, ie, when the shocks bottom out the feeling is akin to being bucked by a horse, zilch cushion, so, with nothing to lose I cut 10mm off my cushions so I get an extra 10mm of travel, this is not a fix but it does eliminate "some" bottoming out.
The heavier the rider the worse the situation. What's needed is more travel, I dunno if you can get shocks with more travel at the height required but 85mm is just nothing and although I haven't actually measured the travel, 85mm is what the Hagon guy said was stock for these bikes, either way, it's not enough n I don't remember having this drama when I was a 10 stone monster.

[briancwynn]

Are progressives better at feel?

[Nic]

IMO it's the damping that gives you the feel. My Hagons are better than the stock looking ones I took off, I removed the springs from the stock ones and there was virtually no resistance pulling on the upper post, pushing there was none at all, with the Hagons you get resistance both ways so I'd have to give that a tick but none of that matters when you are bottoming out, on a smooth surface I could probably get away with the crappy old ones, so as far as I'm concerned the old technology is really quite inadequate compared to modern tech. Having said that, I'd rather have the Hagons than the old stockers. I dunno if that answers your question though. I don't reckon prog rear springs are anything special myself, it's the damping you want n that's why you buy better shocks. If you're a lightweight you'll probably be very happy with the Hagons.
Hopefully someone else can chime in with more positive info, I'm totally underwhelmed by the fact that to get a NOT HARD feel you have to set them so they bottom out on decent bumps. I haven't found a way around that.

[Retro Rocket]

IMO it's the damping that gives you the feel. My Hagons are better than the stock looking ones I took off, I removed the springs from the stock ones and there was virtually no resistance pulling on the upper post, pushing there was none at all, with the Hagons you get resistance both ways so I'd have to give that a tick but none of that matters when you are bottoming out, on a smooth surface I could probably get away with the crappy old ones, so as far as I'm concerned the old technology is really quite inadequate compared to modern tech. Having said that, I'd rather have the Hagons than the old stockers. I dunno if that answers your question though. I don't reckon prog rear springs are anything special myself, it's the damping you want n that's why you buy better shocks. If you're a lightweight you'll probably be very happy with the Hagons.
Hopefully someone else can chime in with more positive info, I'm totally underwhelmed by the fact that to get a NOT HARD feel you have to set them so they bottom out on decent bumps. I haven't found a way around that.

Sounds like a softer spring setting and a slightly thicker oil would fix this... Whats the rebound damping like..?

[Nic]

When I had the springs off the damping was pretty good. I don't think you can change the oil though, non serviceable?
I have the spring setting on the middle and the feel is ok but they bottom out on decent bumps, seems impossible to have a good feel that isn't too hard and doesn't bottom out.

[grcamna2]

I have the Hagon's also and I've experienced what you've described about it being difficult to make'em comfy w/o bottoming out too easily.Dave Quinn said the springs have a progressive rate to them,I don't want to mis-qoute him but I thought he said "quad rate" or maybe 'triple rate' possibly...    So they may get stiffer quickly as they compress as opposed to a single rate spring.. Can anyone comment on this ?

[Nic]

Progressive proshcmeshish, if they bottom out what good are they and as I've said a few times above, the only way to not bottom out is to have the springs harder and harder. I think I have stumbled on the solution though, ride on smooth roads brfff.

[Retro Rocket]

When I had the springs off the damping was pretty good. I don't think you can change the oil though, non serviceable?
I have the spring setting on the middle and the feel is ok but they bottom out on decent bumps, seems impossible to have a good feel that isn't too hard and doesn't bottom out.

I thought the Hagons were rebuildable, if thats the case you can change the oil, maybe talk to Hagon about your concerns..?

[Nic]

When I spoke to the Hagon guy and he recommended the even rockarder #26 springs he made no mention of them being serviceable nor did he even mention oil or that he could change oil. When I pulled the springs off 3 times now I have not seen any thing that would indicate you could change the oil. I could always ring him again though I spose but these are the cheapest Hagons goin.

[trueblue]

FWIW, I have Ikons and have never once had an issue with them bottoming out, even when riding two up. 

[Nic]

Before I bought the Hagons I emailed Ikon n got no reply, typical Australian business approach IMO.

[trueblue]

I just ordered mine through the local bike shop, they were in within two days.  The only time I've ever had an issue with them is when I forget to back the dampers off after having the missus on the back and it get a little bouncy in the arse end.

[grcamna2]

FWIW, I have Ikons and have never once had an issue with them bottoming out, even when riding two up. 

How many $'s did your Ikon's run you ?

[seanbarney41]

I don't think I have ever bottomed even the "mushy stockers" on any honda, ever, even two up, and I am no light weight...are you guys jumping these things or what?

[grcamna2]

I don't think I have ever bottomed even the "mushy stockers" on any honda, ever, even two up, and I am no light weight...are you guys jumping these things or what?

We just need to put more weight on our pegs to balance the load Sean

[bjbuchanan]

I don't think I have ever bottomed even the "mushy stockers" on any honda, ever, even two up, and I am no light weight...are you guys jumping these things or what?

Depends on where you live Sean, I'm in the northeast. We have bumps that make you almost know what it would feel like to get it from a rhino haha

[PeWe]

Other alternatives?
All links I have found here talking about Hagons ends up in too hard shocks. Avoid bumpy roads....
I have Marzocchi AG Strada I purchased 1984 and have only 30.000km's mostly touring with 2 slim persons + luggage (150kg)
Still OK. I'll repair tem when oi have a repair kit.

But what about IKON? Exeperiences here?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB-750-Four-K0-K1-K2-K6-IKON-KONI-Chrom-Stosdampfer-Chrome-Rear-Shocks-/161012018910?pt=DE_Motorradteile&hash=item257d106ede&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB-750-Four-K0-K1-K2-K6-IKON-Stosdampfersatz-Ikon-Rear-Shock-Set-7610-1296-/291068950535?pt=DE_Motorradteile&hash=item43c50fb807&vxp=mtr

Yes, cost more than Hagons, but too hard shocks is wasted money.

[seanbarney41]

I don't think I have ever bottomed even the "mushy stockers" on any honda, ever, even two up, and I am no light weight...are you guys jumping these things or what?

Depends on where you live Sean, I'm in the northeast. We have bumps that make you almost know what it would feel like to get it from a rhino haha

yeah, pretty sure Michigan has roads as bad as anywhere.  Detroit may be the worst in the country.  I have bottomed the front bad enough for the brake light switch to ding my front fender but I don't recall the rear bottoming.

[strynboen]

i just use old koni"s..the old alu types can be polished nice..and the newer crome metal type are  just as good..have no problem adjust it