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Hmmm - my stock Girlings had spring preload adjustment and a tool in the toolkit to adjust them. '72

Hi

Run Hagon, good but hard springs, Run NJB, cheap, better than the Hagons. Norman is a great guy & is really helpful with set up & will build them to suit you & your bike. I have run Koni, again very good & now parts are available, rebuildable. I have Falcons, again a stand up guy quality build & very light. However have a look at these.
http://www.daviesmotorsport.com/hondasuspension.html
They are getting good reviews & again John will build them to suit. Good price as well.

all the best Chris

batrider wrote:Hmmm - my stock Girlings had spring preload adjustment and a tool in the toolkit to adjust them. '72

You are correct. My stock original shocks' spring-preload adjustments are just essentially locked up from mild corrosion and disuse. The stepped portion is covered by a short sleeve and the notches for the tool are there, but I could never get it to turn. I just had a good look at them off the bike and, yes, the cam type adjustment is there.

My mistake.

Added to steps of preload for solo and it was pretty good. I would call this "comfortable" damping with decent control, and the springing feels about right overall.

My wife and I took a spin also. I left the spring as above, and we bottomed a few times on a bumpy, winding road. After dinner, I put the preload to max and we road back. It was really nice. The chassis attitude felt great, it was reasonably compliant and we didn't bottom.

I like NJB for the money. I wish I could try them all and do a test.

Snorton74 wrote:I really like progressive suspension. Have them on a Santa Cruz downhill mountain bike . Starting to have 2nd thoughts on the Works Performance shocks, as I've just read a couple bad reviews. Both reviewers noted poor customer service and leaking issues.? Waiting to hear back from Wilber's. Where did you get your Progressive shocks?

I believe they are 14 Series, 13". I got them from dearly departed Art Xanders of Xanders' Btit Bikes a few years ago.

Thanks for all of the help everyone. I'm going to get some Falcons as soon as I have the cake for them.

Snorton74 wrote:... Both reviewers noted poor customer service and leaking issues.? ...

Interesting comment. I bought a Works Performance shock for one of my BMW's some years ago. It started weeping and leaking within 6 months. Haven't considered them since.

I got some 2nd hand Konis years ago and they are still going well .
I would rebuild them or buy new when the time comes .

I don't think any ohlins will fit a commando without modification.
Not surprised at the works performance leaking, but most do even ohlins.

That's right. Ohlins don't make a shock that bolts right up. The Works Performance look real good, but too many bad reviews. Shocks leak sometimes, but not in the first 6 months. And then to not be able to get someone on the phone!? I heard that story several times. I really like the Falcons. Just need them with chrome springs. Might take an act of god though, since sales rep told me they would have to strip their black springs and then re-chrome them.?? I said why not get a set of the springs before they are painted. Duh.. Still haven't heard back.

Snorton74 wrote:I really like the Works Performance shocks. Waiting to see if they have them with a wider stainless steel spring.? Anybody get a tank made by Evan Wilcox? 8- 10 month lead time, and 1,600.00 bucks!! I don't want to spend that kind of money but I already bought one of the Indian ones and it leaked.

Evan's craftsmanship and quality is worth the wait. You will not be disappointed! I spent a couple of weekends with Evan to learn the craft. He showed us a couple of tanks he made. One was a for a Moto Guzzi that needed minor dent repair and the other tank was for a Ducati that was going to race at Davtona.

Both were absolutely stunning! He wasn't done with the work on either.