Rear shocks

[MotoMike]

The rear shocks on my 450 are not original and are quite tired.

I read on the DOCC site recommendations of lengths not less than 12.5 inches and fairly compliant. I don't want something with yellow or red springs or big splashy logos on the spring caps.

what are you guys using?

[JimF]

I think that not less than 12.5" is not meant to be too much longer than that either. I think 12.5" is the "nominal" length.

I thing the Ikon makes a set for the BMW /2 series, like the R50/2 and R60/2 that fits the bill. Maybe 7610 series...

The coil springs are black and the attachment lugs are silver-colored but not polished or chromed. While they don't have any kind of retro look they don't give off any visual cues that they are modern either.

You can adjust the spring pre-load by rotating a sleeve on the shock to different presets, and there is also a thumb-wheel adjustment for dampening force which when combined may allow you to alter the shock performance to suit the bike and your weight where other shocks may not.

It might be worth calling or emailing them to find out which units have about a 12" eye-to-eye length.

[MotoMike]

Thanks Jim

any other thoughts out there?

[Pete]

I have an old catalog from Syd's ( 2006 or 2007 ??? ). They list some replica shocks. Maybe check with them?

Pete

[MotoMike]

Pete
thanks for that input. I have a new Syds catalog and find them in there too. I was wondering how good a shock they are. Also was wondering if Italian replica shocks meant "made in Italy to replicate Ducati shocks" or Made somewhere to replicate Italian shocks" Anyone have experience with these. somewhere it mentions they are rebuildable.

[LaceyDucati]

Mike

We use Hagon shocks on all our bikes either road or race. I have tried other more fancy shocks & keep coming back to Hagons. They are cheap & very classic looking, if you peel off the hagon stickers they they look like period Girlings which they were developed from. They come as 300mm long for Ducati singles with black bodies & chrome springs. They can be supplied in any length in 10mm steps, with chrome (or I think stainless now) bodies & black springs or any combination. There are also standard shaped springs or narrow straight classic springs, shrouds if required & adjustable dampers. You name it you can have it!! Mind you we find the basic units are fine usually 300mm for the narrowcase & 310mm for the widecase (though a lot will depend on the forks used if non-standard). I run them upside down as I find they work better & it reduces the unsprung mass.

I would agree the Ikon shocks are good and work well, but they are quite a bit more expensive and when compared with the standard Hagon shocks they are not quite as classic looking.

Nigel

[Jon Pegler]

I would agree with Nigel Lacey regarding Hagon shocks.
The only thing I would say about them is that Hagons list them as standard with a 14 kg spring (kg/cm deflection).
This is approximately the same rate spring as originally supplied by Marzocchi.
This may be fine for racing and particularly heavy riders, or riding with a pillion. I think it is too stiff for solo riding.
I always get them to fit a 12kg spring and find it a much better ride. Mind you, I never take pillion passengers.
Hagons will always build a pair of shocks to whatever specification you ask for.
I did once try 10kg springs but that was way too soft.

Jon

[LaceyDucati]

Jon
I mostly use 14kg for race & road (on minimum pre load). Have tried 12kg for racing but were too soft for me, not tried them on the road. The 14kg springs seem ok on my road bike so maybe I like a firm ride or ................. I do like my food

[Eldert]

here some info on the Koni /Ikon shocks
Koni lists the 7610 -1330 for the Ducati singles . this shock is 307 mm long (12.08 inch )
they supply this shock with a progressive spring 15 /28 kilo . this spring is way to hard
to make things even worse in the lowest springheight setting this spring allready has 15 mm preload

i had a spring mfg make me some 14 kilo (78 Lbs ) springs slightly shorter to
they work fine on the racers and roadbikes

Eldert

[MotoMike]

this is all some great information. hagon does seem less expensive, butif you get the versions with the dampening adjustment, they are about the same as the Ikon's. Both of which are on the high side of my price tolerence. I guess the Works Suspension shocks that Syds recommends are more pricey still.

exchanged emails with both Ikon and Hagon. they both will custom fit the springs or custom shock length you want or their engineers will put them on based on bike and rider weight and intended use. Ikon does this for the price of the stock shock and hagon charges $20 bucks.

I had some Progressive shocks on two previous bikes and thought they were harsh.

Decisions decisions...