Topic: I'm looking for a pair of very good aftermarket shocks for a Suzuki

[grcamna2]

I've got an 81' Suzuki GS450E which needs a pair of new rear shocks.
I want some that I can rebuild 'on down the road' that will have parts available;you know,like the old Koni's use to be able to do.
I want a very good pair which have adjustable damping and set-up for my weight(230lbs)and use,good street commuting/riding:Sport and sport touring w/ luggage and sometimes two-up.
I don't mind spending $800-$1000+ for a new pair that will let me enjoy the full handling of this little 450. I use this bike as my 'do everything' daily driver and would rather not drive my car.
No doubt,I would purchase a slightly used(I can put new seals/oil in them,if needed)pair for less$ if I could find them..
I also want Straight Rate springs,not progressive type;this allows the shocks to use it's full travel to absorb the bumps,rather than stiffening-up half-way through it's stroke,which puts more forward dive on the front forks.
I imagine many real good ones are foreign made? so I'm hoping they have customer service people who also speak English.
I read that Mike Rieck bought himself a pr. of YSS great quality shocks and I was hoping to speak with him how he likes them.

edit:I just noticed the Race Tech model G3-S and they look $$ nice.

[Terry in Australia]

Ikons are great Bill, made here in Oz and can be built with your preferred spring rate. Adjustable damping is standard. Better than YSS IMHO (I have YSS on both my big Kawasaki’s and they’re good, but I’d prefer Ikons) but YSS are made in Asia, so probably a little more difficult to talk to them. Ikons aren’t cheap, but  not Ohlins prices.

[grcamna2]

Ikons are great Bill, made here in Oz and can be built with your preferred spring rate. Adjustable damping is standard. Better than YSS IMHO (I have YSS on both my big Kawasaki’s and they’re good, but I’d prefer Ikons) but YSS are made in Asia, so probably a little more difficult to talk to them. Ikons aren’t cheap, but  not Ohlins prices.

I can have a look;have you owned both Ikon's along w/ YSS and compared?
Do you know their site address Terry.

[Terry in Australia]

Yes Bill, I’ve got Ikons on my Sportster (their gas shocks with adjustable damping) and just took the Ikon rear shock off my BMW K100RS because it’s a custom shorter shock to lower the bike and I don’t need it because I’m tall) and I’ve had Ikons on several other bikes. The YSS shocks on the Z1-B and Z1000.

I had some “Cheap” YSS non adjustable damping “Bravo” shocks on a CB750 a few years ago and removed the springs, and was disappointed that the standard damping was much different on either shock, just by pushing/pulling on the damper shafts. I don’t know if they still sell them, but they were crap and no better than Chinese Ebay cheapies. The ones on the two “Z’s” are much nicer, and look good too, but don’t have adjustable damping.

[grcamna2]

Yes Bill, I’ve got Ikons on my Sportster (their gas shocks with adjustable damping) and just took the Ikon rear shock off my BMW K100RS because it’s a custom shorter shock to lower the bike and I don’t need it because I’m tall) and I’ve had Ikons on several other bikes. The YSS shocks on the Z1-B and Z1000.

I had some “Cheap” YSS non adjustable damping “Bravo” shocks on a CB750 a few years ago and removed the springs, and was disappointed that the standard damping was much different on either shock, just by pushing/pulling on the damper shafts. I don’t know if they still sell them, but they were crap and no better than Chinese Ebay cheapies. The ones on the two “Z’s” are much nicer, and look good too, but don’t have adjustable damping.

I see.
Do you know Ikon's website ?

[Terry in Australia]

https://www.ikonsuspension.com/

[Terry in Australia]

I forgot to mention that Ikon has distributors in the US, and for some unknown reason the shocks are usually cheaper in the US than here. Well, before the tariffs start in January, anyway.

[PeWe]

Both my CB750 had Ikons.
My K6 with progressive springs. Very comfortable with good handling.

My K2 had Ikons with linear springs. Too hard, not comfortable or too soft with bad handling.
I replaced them with my old not restored Marzocchi AG Strada (I bought new 1984) last summer. Way better, comfortable and OK handling in higher speeds.

I have a repair kit with seals, bladders etc. One shock does not keep air that long, but still better than the Ikons it had.
Maybe those Ikons have wrong springs. Highest spring setting of 3  caused horrible handling, only 2nd to use with different dampening settings.

[grcamna2]

Ok,I'm getting a better understanding.
PeWe,does Marzocchi still sell repair/seal kits for their AG Strada shocks ?
I would like to find a pair of those shocks 320-330mm.
I had a pair of them on a 350 years ago,loaded it up to the Top with luggage and rode from CT. out to the West coast & it was very comfortable and handled great.

[PeWe]

I ordered my set 2013, Marzocchi UK.

My shocks have 12mm "rods".
Ducati and Laverda forums have also info.

https://www.mdinaitalia.co.uk/50-54.01.1.html

One of all copies of rebuild info. Some sell the free info.
https://ducatimeccanica.com/marzocchi1.html

Marzocchi different models with lenghts and bikes.

I have seen many that sell CB750 DOHC shocks as  for CB750 SOHC

[grcamna2]

I forgot to mention that Ikon has distributors in the US, and for some unknown reason the shocks are usually cheaper in the US than here. Well, before the tariffs start in January, anyway.

Terry, I called Ikon Suspension in Bedford,PA. today and spoke w/ Rodger and he gave me information about shocks that will fit my application;he clearly answered my questions.
I told me the linear/single-rate springs are only for a rider of 150lb. max.
He mentioned the 'Triple Rate' springs and I said I had hoped they would not be too stiff,as I mentioned to him about Hagon shocks I had purchased from Dave Quiin in Danbury,Ct. with Hagon's Quad-Rate springs which Always felt too stiff,no matter how many times I swapped them out.

The price he quoted me was very good. 

[Oddjob]

There was a site in Italy called Suspensionzana that did rebuild kits for the AG Strada shocks, I bought a kit from them in April this year but the site doesn't seem to be working at the moment.

I finally finished rebuilding my really worn out and for some reason really worn body in places Marzocchis in July this year. I decided to go black with chrome look springs instead of how they came, with red bodies and black springs. The bodies were ceramic coated in satin black and the springs in Cermakrome, which is a chrome looking ceramic finish, came out like this. All the alloy pieces like the adjuster and the top eye, damper nut etc were mirror polished to resemble chrome.



The kit contained all the seals, rubber bits etc and they also sold new damper rods as well quite reasonably.

Maybe try and find a worn out set on Ebay and refurbish them if you really want them.

[PeWe]

Which oil did you use?
I read the instruction that the  shock should be tilted a certain angle and refill...

I must do mine soon. I have planned silver metallic instead of the red. Same as I''ll use on my car, Audi A4. Plus 2k clear.
Black springs as is.
I have new decals, top one with pressure and Marzocchi.

I have photo of top decal before power wash when it finally disappeared. Pressure is different depending on shock/bike

[grcamna2]

Those Marzocchi's look good.

I hope to order a pair of Ikon 7610 after speaking with them on the phone.
I'm also looking for some new fork tubes;does 'Forking by Franks' still exist as a business ?

[Kelly E]

I talked to Frank when I was getting the 77' KZ 1000 LTD back on the road.

[Oddjob]

I used Motul 5w fork oil, couldn't find any specific 5w shock oil only stuff at 2.5w which I thought too light and the stuff Marzocchi used is no longer available.

[grcamna2]

I used Motul 5w fork oil, couldn't find any specific 5w shock oil only stuff at 2.5w which I thought too light and the stuff Marzocchi used is no longer available.

I rebuilt my Marzocchis back in 87' and I called:they recommend 5wt. fork oil or hydraulic oil.
I went to a hydraulic shop and they sold me 5wt. hydraulic fluid and I used that.

[PeWe]

I used Motul 5w fork oil, couldn't find any specific 5w shock oil only stuff at 2.5w which I thought too light and the stuff Marzocchi used is no longer available.

I rebuilt my Marzocchis back in 87' and I called:they recommend 5wt. fork oil or hydraulic oil.
I went to a hydraulic shop and they sold me 5wt. hydraulic fluid and I used that.

Good to know, thanks.
I hope I finally can get my thumbs out and restore the shocks.

[Oddjob]

Don't know if it's the same for you guys but my Marzocchi Stradas are odd, they both appear to be from the same side, in that the threaded part for the lower bolt is on the same side, meaning one will have to be bolted from the inside out. Oh and according to Marzocchi the air reservoir fits facing forward not backward but I've always fitted them facing back as I think they look better that way, what do you think?

[Stev-o]

...does 'Forking by Franks' still exist as a business ?

Yes, but call them. I've heard they are not very responsive to email.

https://franksforks.com/contact.html

[PeWe]

Don't know if it's the same for you guys but my Marzocchi Stradas are odd, they both appear to be from the same side, in that the threaded part for the lower bolt is on the same side, meaning one will have to be bolted from the inside out. Oh and according to Marzocchi the air reservoir fits facing forward not backward but I've always fitted them facing back as I think they look better that way, what do you think?

My Stradas are 1 left, 1 right.
Bolts from outside. The loose nuts goes in at the inside. Some fiddling to keep nuts in place when I mounted them last summer. First time with 4-4. 4-1 in the 80's,  no pipes  make it tight when get the bolt on and in

I have always had the air reservoir facing backward. Forward looks strange for me.

[grcamna2]

Well, I called and spoke w/ Rodger at Ikon Suspension USA a couple days ago and he sent me the invoice for rear shocks and fork springs to my email;he answered my rear shock questions but I had another question about their fork springs.
I called him 5 times in two days w/ no response from his end;the fellow refuses to pick up my call.
I'm considering 'throwing in the towel' w/ Ikon Suspension USA.

[Terry in Australia]

Hey Bill, I’ve just messaged you the Australian phone number.

[grcamna2]

Hey Bill, I’ve just messaged you the Australian phone number.

Thanks Terry. 
I just sent a PM.

Still looking for a new set of shocks.

[Terry in Australia]

No worries, well there’s still Progressive and Hagon shocks Bill, and they’re probably cheaper than Ikons. Not sure whether they have adjustable damping though, I bought my Progressive shocks for the Rocket III at the advice of the R3 forum members, and they were a waste of money, probably no different than the OEM Triumph shocks, so swore I’d never buy them again.