Maxton or Falcon... ?

Gents,

I've used both Maxton and Falcon products before (more so Maxton) and both firms have both delighted and very much disappointed at different times, especially with regards to lead times.

So, has anyone any very recent experience of either firm? I'm just trying to understand which firm would be least likely to dissapoint if I bought shocks from them now.

I ordered some shocks from Falcon around a year ago, and they took about a month - they bettered their estimate of 6 weeks.

Pretty good turnaround for a one-off, IMHO

B+Bogus said:

I ordered some shocks from Falcon around a year ago, and they took about a month - they bettered their estimate of 6 weeks.

Pretty good turnaround for a one-off, IMHO

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That's good feedback Andy! What were the shocks for, a Commando?

Fast Eddie said:

That's good feedback Andy! What were the shocks for, a Commando?

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Yes, for my Proddy Racer, but please don't ask how they perform - I still haven't finished the bike :roll:

Really friendly service too - I should have mentioned this earlier!

B+Bogus said:

Fast Eddie said:

That's good feedback Andy! What were the shocks for, a Commando?

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Yes, for my Proddy Racer, but please don't ask how they perform - I still haven't finished the bike :roll:

Really friendly service too - I should have mentioned this earlier!

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In that case I won't ask!

But, I can't suppress the urge to ask you for some photos of them fitted... Especially the LHS swinging arm area, I'm interested in chain guard clearance...

Did you go for standard length?

The length of the shocks and the spring rate change the way the bike steers. How do you know what length suits your riding style before you actually buy and use them ?

Fast Eddie said:

I can't suppress the urge to ask you for some photos of them fitted... Especially the LHS swinging arm area, I'm interested in chain guard clearance...

Did you go for standard length?

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Here you go - there's more clearance than with standard shocks. It's all a bit out of skew because the chainguard needs relieving to clear the fat tyre.

Standard length, springs rated for a 220lb fat bloke - preload adjustable via circlip, so fine tuning possible, but a bit of a faff.
It came with spare stickers, so I can put them on the right way up...

Perhaps I should finish this off some day?

I would go insane making an exhaust pipe bracket like that.

B+Bogus said:

Fast Eddie said:

I can't suppress the urge to ask you for some photos of them fitted... Especially the LHS swinging arm area, I'm interested in chain guard clearance...

Did you go for standard length?

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Click to expand...

Here you go - there's more clearance than with standard shocks. It's all a bit out of skew because the chainguard needs relieving to clear the fat tyre.

Standard length, springs rated for a 220lb fat bloke - preload adjustable via circlip, so fine tuning possible, but a bit of a faff.
It came with spare stickers, so I can put them on the right way up...

Perhaps I should finish this off some day?

Thanks for the pics Andy. I was under the impression that Falcons had a more easily adjustable pre-load these days, is it only on the alloy bodied shocks perhaps? I do like to be able to adjust pre-load for different tracks and especially from track to road (mines a road bike that will be used on track days too) and don't want to faff around with circlips each time.

And yes... me thinks you should finish it one day... one day soon... !

It is only the alloy bodied Falcons with the threaded adjuster. I've got a pair, excellent condition, with 110lb/in springs for a Commando, also a pair of 1/2" extensions to increase the ride height. If you're interested send me a PM.

Regarding chainguard/shock clearance, ever since I carried out the frame alignment which included having to move the complete iso assembly approx. 1/4" toward the timing side, my big, fat 76 series Koni's have plenty of clearance. Rear wheel/tyre is also central within the rear seat loop.

I was a bit disappointed with Falcon who recently didn't even acknowledge my enquiry sent via ther web site......lost sale fellas....

Nothing wrongg with their shocks.....but I have a set of Maxtons, I seemed to get a better delivery than most on those, made to measure.....for a Rickman, but a lot longer than standard at 14"....Alan (acotrel), I judged that on the fact that I can cope with the turn in of a Maxton suspensioned GSXR750SRAD, so I will cope with a sharper turn in than the characteristics of a '70s Rickman which was fitted with 12" shccks and always sat down at the rear! Actually I would welcome it....and I did fit 1" longer shocks to the same frame in the '70s!

Also following the vague advice....'the longer the better'...which was the comment from the late Pat French of MRD to Al Foster, who has long shocks (13.75") on his Rickman and seems to prefer that....(MRD took on the jigs etc. from Rickman in the '90s)

I suspect a Commando should remain fairly close to standard length, but a little extra weight over the front should help.

The other shock house to look at here:

http://www.shock-factory.co.uk/2winshocks.html

http://www.shock-factory.co.uk/mikecapon.html

The twin shock construction looks as good as Maxton/Falcon and they are priced a lot better than Maxton, probably similar to Falcon (but how would I know?) for what looks like similar performance. From the item pictured you would need to specifify a longer lower body to get the clearance you want. But it looks like you can have them how you want.

Al-otment said:

It is only the alloy bodied Falcons with the threaded adjuster. I've got a pair, excellent condition, with 110lb/in springs for a Commando, also a pair of 1/2" extensions to increase the ride height. If you're interested send me a PM.

Regarding chainguard/shock clearance, ever since I carried out the frame alignment which included having to move the complete iso assembly approx. 1/4" toward the timing side, my big, fat 76 series Koni's have plenty of clearance. Rear wheel/tyre is also central within the rear seat loop.

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I checked with Falcon and you're quite right, the alloy bodied shocks do have screw thread adjustment of the pre load. And whilst I was on the phone with them, I ordered a pair!

So falcon only respond to the phone :? .....how much for a pair of shocks? since they don't advertise any prices on their website.

SteveA said:

So falcon only respond to the phone :? .....how much for a pair of shocks? since they don't advertise any prices on their website.

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The chap there, Robin, was very polite and very helpful Steve. I only rang to enquire, but ordered there and then! The shocks are shown at £359.40 inc vat and delivery in UK on their web site!
Are you sure you've got the right web site mate? It looked to me as though it might be new-ish, perhaps your request got lost in the ether?!?

Fast Eddie said:

SteveA said:

So falcon only respond to the phone :? .....how much for a pair of shocks? since they don't advertise any prices on their website.

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The chap there, Robin, was very polite and very helpful Steve. I only rang to enquire, but ordered there and then! The shocks are shown at £359.40 inc vat and delivery in UK on their web site!
Are you sure you've got the right web site mate? It looked to me as though it might be new-ish, perhaps your request got lost in the ether?!?

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Something odd about the site, which is apparently still under construction, but it is the same one I went to....

I did just find the page with pricing, but couldn't navigate back to it!.....

As I said before, all feedback I have from others on the shocks is good...., but if I get serious it looks like dog and bone....my application is not listed.....nor is my weight requirement ;-)

Fast Eddie said:

SteveA said:

So falcon only respond to the phone :? .....how much for a pair of shocks? since they don't advertise any prices on their website.

Click to expand...

The chap there, Robin, was very polite and very helpful Steve. I only rang to enquire, but ordered there and then! The shocks are shown at £359.40 inc vat and delivery in UK on their web site!
Are you sure you've got the right web site mate? It looked to me as though it might be new-ish, perhaps your request got lost in the ether?!?

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You could have had the pair I've got for £200.

Al-otment said:

Fast Eddie said:

SteveA said:

So falcon only respond to the phone :? .....how much for a pair of shocks? since they don't advertise any prices on their website.

Click to expand...

The chap there, Robin, was very polite and very helpful Steve. I only rang to enquire, but ordered there and then! The shocks are shown at £359.40 inc vat and delivery in UK on their web site!
Are you sure you've got the right web site mate? It looked to me as though it might be new-ish, perhaps your request got lost in the ether?!?

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You could have had the pair I've got for £200.

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Hmmm, that's not much help to me after the event now is it?!

Gotta ask tho... why don't you use them?

Eddie,

I did mention in my previous post for you to send a PM if you were interested hence the excellent condition description etc. but no worries.

They only get used occasionally because my riding is a mix of solo, loaded up touring and occasional two-up so the Koni's cope with all of this without having to swap shocks. The advantage of the Falcons is the 110lb/in spring rate which suits my weight whereas the Koni's are tri-rate - a compromise but then again I can adjust the damping where on the Falcon's I can't. I also prefer the bush arrangement on the Koni's top and bottom mounts - a steel tube within a steel bush - effectively a roller bearing where as the Falcon's have only an aluminium tube within a rubber bush. The Falcon's are lighter but I really don't notice the weight difference. Both good shocks and if I only rode solo I'd probably use the Falcon's but the Koni's are a top quality item - they've done approx. 100,000 miles with out a rebuild.

Al-otment said:

Eddie,

I did mention in my previous post for you to send a PM if you were interested hence the excellent condition description etc. but no worries.

They only get used occasionally because my riding is a mix of solo, loaded up touring and occasional two-up so the Koni's cope with all of this without having to swap shocks. The advantage of the Falcons is the 110lb/in spring rate which suits my weight whereas the Koni's are tri-rate - a compromise but then again I can adjust the damping where on the Falcon's I can't. I also prefer the bush arrangement on the Koni's top and bottom mounts - a steel tube within a steel bush - effectively a roller bearing where as the Falcon's have only an aluminium tube within a rubber bush. The Falcon's are lighter but I really don't notice the weight difference. Both good shocks and if I only rode solo I'd probably use the Falcon's but the Koni's are a top quality item - they've done approx. 100,000 miles with out a rebuild.

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But I'd already placed my order before I read your post!
Now, without getting too personal re weight, I'm interested in how you find those springs for solo use and what would be best for my 14st, Falcon are advising 90lbs springs...

I'm a relatively light weight 11 and half stone and on a bit lighter than standard Mk3 Commando. Falcon advised on the 110lb/in springs for fast ish use (90mph) on bumpy (Shropshire) roads. They work very well on the really bumpy bits. I'm surprised they've recommended 90lb/in for your, er......size. Could be something to do with the recession.