Hagon shocks

[Dead Boy]

I just purchased a set of Hagon rear shocks for my 1975 GT550 and figured since I couldn't find any recent reviews of their twin shocks I would put my .02 on the internet to possibly help others out in their suspension decisions.

Short list:
1975 Suzuki GT550
I weigh 148 LBS (MDI's killed me on every bump)
Hagon type B black slimline springs 16KG spring rate 12.6" eye to eye
Paid $207.58 shipped
Overall I'm happy with them for the price.


I got them from http://www.davequinnmotorcycles.com/ I called Monday afternoon to purchase them and Dave was very helpful and attentive. Went through all the things on the site about tailoring the shocks to me and my bike. I felt all necessary variables were discussed and clearly understood. I ended up going with 12.6" shocks over the stock 11.5" because I'm planning on putting a GS750 front end on it and will get about a .5" higher front end that way. He recommended 12", but that's what were on the bike already and I wanted to keep the same clearance and turn in characteristics. Shocks were shipped Tuesday and they arrived on Thursday.

First impression out of the box is that they are good looking shocks aside from the hideous Hagon logo at the bottom. Thankfully, that is a sticker and removable. Rubber bushings with steel inserts instead of plastic.

Got them installed and took a short ride today( about 20 miles) on some pretty bumpy roads. I'm happy with them. Not exuberant, but content. They are much improved over the stock 35 year old shocks that they replaced. They are a bit stiff, but not painfully so and don't give the hardtail effect the MDI shocks do. I tend to prefer a stiffer shock than stock anyway. I felt more confident going into and through corners than previously. They are more solid feeling than the old ones were. I plan on getting in a longer ride next weekend on the great roads West of Madison to get a better impression of how I like them, but for now they are plenty good for the price.

As far as being perfect, they're not. I was considering getting the Nitro shocks, but they start at $494 a set. These do the job nicely for less than half the price. I'm not tearing up turns on the GT, it's a fun bike, but not my carver. I have a 2000 ZX6R for that.

[mnellis]

Thanks for the review. I'm thinking about getting a set of Hagons for my '76 GL1000.

Do you have a picture of them installed on your '75?

[H2RICK]

I assume those are the Hagon entry level shocks you bought.
If so, they'll be very similar to the Progressive type 12's which are THEIR entry level shocks and are an adequate shock.
The MDI shocks are a joke. You have to weigh AT LEAST 200+ pounds
or you'll have your teeth rattled out of your head in no time. They are waaayyyyy oversprung, the theory being that most North American riders buying such shocks are cheap AND overweight, I guess.
The original stockers were noted in tests back in the day for being oversprung and underdamped......but at least there is no hinge-in-the-
middle feeling from the frame for most guys during most riding situations.
If I was going to replace my stockers, I'd plunge and buy IKONS.
They are closest to the originals in looks and are faaarrrr superior in handling, having the adjustable damping feature as standard. Pricey...but worth it, IMO.

[Dead Boy]

Sorry for the delayed reply. It's been a busy week.

Got out Saturday for a longer ride even though it was overcast, a bit windy, and in the lower 60's. Put just under 200 miles on them and I have to say that I am very happy with them for the money. Are there better shocks out there? Sure, for more money. I agree with H2Rick on the Ikons, but they're nearly double the price and I'm trying to keep the budget reasonable for this build. As I said, for the money, they are very competent and I have no complaints about them whatsoever. One thing I will say is that I wouldn't recommend the 12.6" length because of clearance issues with the stock exhaust. I love the height and turn in characteristics of the bike now, but the lower shock mount nuts come into contact with the exhaust when the suspension is fully extended. Not horribly so, but a little love tap now and then.

The rear end is firmly planted in the corners and straights. No more wallowing I was experiencing with the stockers. Damping is at a good rate. Stiffer than stock, but nowhere near painful or a jolting when riding bumpy roads.

Pics of them mounted:

[uzidzit]

You really have not run in the hagons yet, put about 1k on them and then re-visit the review. They will be harsh for a while but at about 1k they will have settled in well. I have been running a set +1 3/8" tall on the gt750 for about 3500mi now and they are very nice even being aggresive with it. the Ikons may be a bit better out of the box but I have problems with them leaking in pretty short order and wear in the body preventing a long lasting re-build (but I may have gotten un-lucky with the last 3 sets). The Nitros are good shocks. I used a set on a new bonneville cafe bike. They allow you to alter their damping if you are crafty during the rebuild. (ps IKONs are poorly represented in the US and have a very limited selection of spring rates) on the other hand David Quinn has been excellent to me and has delivered customer service in spades (he will do 1 spring swap for free for rate if you are not happy with your inital choice). (pps the hagon high end shocks for modern monoshock bikes are a very good deal for the cash, they are not Wilbers(my current builder of choice!!!), penske, or ohlins but they are 1/3 the price and re-valve and build well)

Just adding this because hagon make a good shock at a reasonable price(they bought out Girling and have just updated them a bit) they also can make a very stock looking shock that actually works.

[H2RICK]

Thank you for the feedback, uzidzit. It's always great to hear from an actual user with some broad experience of brands of this particular item. Plenty of food for thought in your post.