Which shock absorbers?

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I have Progressive shocks on my 850 that I bought years ago from Xanders Brit Bikes (Art Xanders, now RIP). They can fit a wide range of springs to their dampers. They work very well for a typical street bike. I don't particularly like the current models styling, but they are an option for Commandos if anyone cares to look for them. Just throwing out another option here.
 
Has anyone ever used the air type S&Ws ?
Probably won't fit a commando not with the standard chain guard anyway
I mean for adjustability to suit different conditions?
A mate had a pair on a goldwing he rated them
 
Kommando

No rumour has it the new Girling classic range is a complete new development Bear in mind ZF who own the Girling brand also own Sachs / Boge / and TRW who are some of the largest producers of OEM and aftermarket shocks for automotive applications
 
Frankie17 said:
Kommando

No rumour has it the new Girling classic range is a complete new development Bear in mind ZF who own the Girling brand also own Sachs / Boge / and TRW who are some of the largest producers of OEM and aftermarket shocks for automotive applications
Click to expand...

I hope it is, but until I see them I will assume its a Wassell type use of Brand to extract a higher price for cheapest sourced product.
 
In my opinion the Hagons have too much compression damping. Has anyone made a comparison?
 
jseng1 said:
In my opinion the Hagons have too much compression damping. Has anyone made a comparison?
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By that you are referring to the run of the mill sealed for life shocks?
Hagon do pairs of racing shocks tha have 10 point adjustment on their 2810 type. The old pre Hagon can be dismantled just like the Girling racing shocks of old.
 
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Bernhard said:
By that you are referring to the run of the mill sealed for life shocks?
Hagon do pairs of racing shocks tha have 10 point adjustment on their 2810 type. The old pre Hagon can be dismantled just like the Girling racing shocks of old.
Click to expand...

And their damping adjustment features “automatic compression / rebound balance” which, although I’ve no idea how well it functions, does seem like a very good idea to me.
 
maylar said:
I have Progressive shocks on my 850 that I bought years ago from Xanders Brit Bikes (Art Xanders, now RIP). They can fit a wide range of springs to their dampers. They work very well for a typical street bike. I don't particularly like the current models styling, but they are an option for Commandos if anyone cares to look for them. Just throwing out another option here.
Click to expand...
I also fitted them in 2002, when they looked similar to most others.Worked fine.Bought them from the Les Williams company in UK.
 
baz said:
Has anyone ever used the air type S&Ws ?
Probably won't fit a commando not with the standard chain guard anyway
I mean for adjustability to suit different conditions?
A mate had a pair on a goldwing he rated them
Click to expand...
I fitted some to my Commando in the 70's - yes the chain guard was in the way but they worked very well for my far from expert riding. The left hand exhaust pipe used to hit the road on turn in on a sharp corner over a bridge and they eliminated that.
 
Fast Eddie said:
And their damping adjustment features “automatic compression / rebound balance” which, although I’ve no idea how well it functions, does seem like a very good idea to me.
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IMO about, give or take, 95% of riders wouldn't know how to adjust the compression and rebound damping for optimum performance, I suspect if these were a feature, a lot of people would be tiring themselves in knots.
 
Bernhard said:
IMO about, give or take, 95% of riders wouldn't know how to adjust the compression and rebound damping for optimum performance, I suspect if these were a feature, a lot of people would be tiring themselves in knots.
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I've heard that in the past
Suspension experts say the more adjustment the bike has
The more chance the owner has of getting it wrong!
I'd have no chance!!!
 
Bernhard said:
IMO about, give or take, 95% of riders wouldn't know how to adjust the compression and rebound damping for optimum performance, I suspect if these were a feature, a lot of people would be tiring themselves in knots.
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You’re joking right?

More like 99% !

Me included. I turned a perfectly good GSXR 750 into a tank slapping death trap in my yoof !!
 
Bernhard said:
By that you are referring to the run of the mill sealed for life shocks?
Hagon do pairs of racing shocks tha have 10 point adjustment on their 2810 type. The old pre Hagon can be dismantled just like the Girling racing shocks of old.
Click to expand...

Hagon made me a pair of 2810s last year for my BSA Fury/Triumph Bandit framed bike. They have the new design of shock ends and damping adjustment and asked for feedback...but sadly they won't be getting any this year! Excellent price for a custom built shock in terms of length, shock fittings and springing, exactly the same as the off the shelf units!
 
Fast Eddie said:
You’re joking right?

More like 99% !

Me included. I turned a perfectly good GSXR 750 into a tank slapping death trap in my yoof !!
Click to expand...

Been riding since I was 16.... now at 62 I still can't get to grips with compression & rebound damping... I know what both are and what is happening, but never managed to dial it in sucseccesfully
The closest I have got there was on a 1200GS and my current 1200 Explorer which has electronic control to front & rear on the handlebars
 
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Both my Italian bikes have 3way adjustable suspension at both ends , I have fooled with it on rainy days , but truth is once I got the sag set , I quit fooling put everything back to factory settings except front compression on Duke , plus when I have panniers loaded on that bike I turn up pre-load .... beyond that I keep the adjusters clean .....
 
Bernhard said:
By that you are referring to the run of the mill sealed for life shocks?....
Click to expand...

Yes - the seal for life Hagons are probably the most popular but the compression damping seems to be about as high as the rebound dampening - giving you a kick in the ass every time you hit a bump.
 
Compression damping works with the springs and rebound against, so the compression damping has to be less than the rebound or you get a harsh ride and feel the bumps.
 
It is a complicated art , understanding suspension and learning how to properly tune , that why so few actually do it and good ones hard to find ...
 
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