Which shock absorbers?

jimbo · Apr 26, 2020

Craig said:
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 ...

to add, race setups do not cross over to the street well IMHO

(however your street might be very different than mine!)

Bernhard · Apr 26, 2020

kommando said:
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.

With the spring removed, there should be no resistance when damper is pushed inwards, but there should be resistance when pulled out. This is what controls the spring. Any deviation from the last remark the damper is knacked. If there is resistance on pushing, you probably have a cheap far east copy.
I've thrown a few dampers away because they were shot.

gortnipper · Apr 27, 2020

I copied part of these out of the Ducati owners manual, and part somewhere else. I find they are a good help.

NPeteN · Apr 28, 2020

These are IKON Albions, mounted yesterday. Much better match for Lansdowne front. Wanted to keep things stock looking and simple, I would recommend these to family and friends.

EstuaryBoy · Apr 28, 2020

Are they new? Old? Google Ikon Albion and all you get are comfy shoes!!

NPeteN · Apr 28, 2020

Brand new. Add "shocks" to that Google search my friend!

https://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/classic/

Fast Eddie · Apr 28, 2020

I think the Albions are USA only? Or at least they are not shown in the U.K.

Ikon have done this before. Perhaps they launch in the USA first?

olympus · Apr 29, 2020

NPeteN said:
These are IKON Albions, mounted yesterday. Much better match for Lansdowne front. Wanted to keep things stock looking and simple, I would recommend these to family and friends.

And my favourite colour to boot....
What is the reservoir with a drain attached to the right Z plate for.. ....engine breather??

EstuaryBoy · Apr 29, 2020

Mind you, is $350 'modest' ? That's £280 in real money.... Gotta be special at that price.

Fast Eddie · Apr 29, 2020

They do look very ‘classic’ though, so if they offer genuinely good performance with classic looks then I’d say they’re onto a winner.

NPeteN please do give ‘em a good test and let us know your thoughts...

olympus · Apr 29, 2020

I have e-mailed Ikon US asking for UK availability

baz · Apr 29, 2020

Bernhard said:
With the spring removed, there should be no resistance when damper is pushed inwards, but there should be resistance when pulled out. This is what controls the spring. Any deviation from the last remark the damper is knacked. If there is resistance on pushing, you probably have a cheap far east copy.
I've thrown a few dampers away because they were shot.

I never knew this I always thought that shocks had "some" compression damping?

kommando · Apr 29, 2020

Ikon US are just a distributor, you will get better info from the makers Ikon Australia.

https://www.ikonsuspension.com/international-distributors

UK:
MotoMecca
Unit 6 Souths Farm Yard
Noade Street
Ashmore, Salisbury Wiltshire SP5 5AA
P: +44 (0) 1747 812136

UKenquiries@motomeccaspares.com
W: www.motomeccaspares.com

UK:
Performance Parts Ltd
Units 3 & 4 Broad March
Daventry, Northamptonshire
NN11 4HE, United Kingdom
P: 01327 706 139
F: 01327 651 810
E: sales@ikonshocks.co.uk

kommando · Apr 29, 2020

baz said:
I never knew this I always thought that shocks had "some" compression damping?

My original statement still stands as confirmed by Ducati's suspension tuning

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.

If I am wrong them I have 8 sets of rebuilt Koni shocks, 1 set of NJB's and 1 set of Progressive shocks that all have compression resistance ie damping ready to go in the bin.

Fast Eddie · Apr 29, 2020

Yes, shock absorbers have compression damping too. Take the spring off and you can feel it.

ludwig · Apr 29, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
Yes, shock absorbers have compression damping too. Take the spring off and you can feel it.

mm..open doors kicking in, we are ?

Going over this thread, I should feel like an idiot to have spent almost 1000 Euro on shocks.
And the springs aren't even chrome plated..

Fast Eddie · Apr 29, 2020

ludwig said:
Going over this thread, I should feel like an idiot to have spent almost 1000 Euro on shocks.
And my springs aren't even chrome plated..

Well, I’m not far behind you and neither my springs, or bodies, are chrome plated!

Personally, I do of course agree that not everyone wants or needs fancy shocks. However, you don’t need to be Rossy, or ride a super fast bike in order to be able to benefit from quality shocks.

I recently fitted Maxton shocks to my almost stock T140 and they TRANSFORMED the ride on that bike. To be honest, at the time I was looking around at Hagons and Ikons and other less expensive options and only fitted the Maxton’s because I took them off of another bike. But I am SO glad I did !

I think it was a journalist in Performance Bikes some years ago who wrote ‘spend your money on brakes, tyres and suspension. Sod the rest.’

A bit of an exaggeration perhaps, but I can see what he was getting at.

maylar · Apr 29, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
I recently fitted Maxton shocks to my almost stock T140 and they TRANSFORMED the ride on that bike. To be honest, at the time I was looking around at Hagons and Ikons and other less expensive options and only fitted the Maxton’s because I took them off of another bike. But I am SO glad I did !

What exactly was the difference that you noticed, and were the shocks that you replaced old and worn?

I ask because I have no real experience in determining if shocks are in need of replacement. What I have installed are Progressive from about 2005 and maybe 15000 miles. I replaced my old Koni's with them because they were leaking. I like the looks of these Albions and I'm willing to spend the 'modest' $350 if I'd experience an improvement. I just don't know what "improvement" means.

TIA

NPeteN · Apr 29, 2020

olympus said:
And my favourite colour to boot....
What is the reservoir with a drain attached to the right Z plate for.. ....engine breather??

Yeah, little catch can.

Fast Eddie · Apr 29, 2020

maylar said:
What exactly was the difference that you noticed, and were the shocks that you replaced old and worn?

I ask because I have no real experience in determining if shocks are in need of replacement. What I have installed are Progressive from about 2005 and maybe 15000 miles. I replaced my old Koni's with them because they were leaking. I like the looks of these Albions and I'm willing to spend the 'modest' $350 if I'd experience an improvement. I just don't know what "improvement" means.

TIA

Greater ability to absorb bumps without a jolting bottoming out. Lots of potholes where I live, the difference is very obvious. More stable, precise feel around corners in general. Handles bumpy bends at speed without wallowing, weaving, etc. There’s a fast uphill left hander near me, it’s easy for bikes to generally start to feel quite lively at 70mph + but the T140 feels rock solid as fast as it will go!

The shocks fitted previously were brand new Far Eastern Girling lookalikes.

Which shock absorbers?

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