The racing season is coming to an end, lots of things getting done and the T100 will be back in the spotlight soon. Looking around, the TEC rear units seem to be a lot cheaper than the Hagons. I have quite a bit of experience of Hagons on various machines, they certainly tamed the handling on my '92 Sportster. So, what's the trade-off with the TEC units? To put it another way, do people find the TEC units to be worthwhile, or are the Hagons better value?
This was covered a couple of weeks ago with some interesting differences of opinion posted. My personal choice was Hagon, the TEC shocks with their modular screwed together components looked a bit 'spindly' to me which this was confirmed by other members who had fitted them. Some swear by TEC as good value for money. For such an important part of the bikes handling, I'm not that interested in saving a few quid if it jeopardises safety and handling.
I've had good gear from Hagons in the past; and you're right, £200 isn't a big sum of money, in context. I'm leaning towards Hagons as a satisfied past customer, but I thought I'd ask the question..
I bought the Hagon bog standard 3 settings shocks in black and chrome for my Bonnie. £145 inc. P&P Made a big difference to comfort and handling.
Mick, replacement shocks are on my list of things to change. When you say the hagon shocks improved comfort in what way? My reason for asking is that I'd like a more comfortable long distance ride on my T100. It's fine for an hour or so then it's starts to get a bit arse numbing.
Copy below of a message I sent another inmate the other day, me having asked the GM at our dealership for an opinion. He turned his nose up at Tecs when I brought them in a while back, showed me how they flexed under very little load, and explained they were built from various cheap imported Chinese parts. Ikons and Hagons are recommended as reliable and well built. "Just spoke with Paul, who builds race bikes. He recommends YSS as great quality and value, not their budget budget though. YSS have been building shocks for main brands such as Ohlins for 40 years, with licence agreement that after a period of time they can then build the same shock under the YSS name. Paul reckons he used to buy high quality components from the US and now buys YSS for quarter the price but same quality."
The comfort came from the Hagon shocks actually doing what they are intended to do rather than using your spine as a shock absorber. What it highlighted then was the poorly cushioned seating. One benefit of the 17" cast wheels and the thin sculpted seat is the low seating position for short arses like myself, but the seat is hard and uncomfortable on longer rides. Talk with Hagon, they will recommend exactly the right shock/springs for you. Rich Bryce comments re. YSS is perfectly valid, but I went Hagon because the technical support and customer service was second to none. Look at upgrading to progressive springs up front as well.
I've had the tec gas shocks in for about a year and they've made a load of difference. Used the tec progressive front springs as well this year and again major improvements over stock. I guess Hagon's would also improve and both are better over stock.
As mentioned in another thread work on my Bonnie T100 is ongoing and yesterday I went into my local shop to pick up some bits. I bought a Motone tail tidy with Lucas style LED rear light and a set of four Motone smaller, less obtrusive indicators. I also picked up a pair of one inch bar risers to adjust my back position slightly. While we were having a cuppa I mentioned that the current purchases had moved replacing the rear shocks to the top of the list. I told him about exchanges on here regarding Tec, Hagon & YSS. His shock of choice is YSS at which point he pointed to three pairs of Tec gas shocks he has in the shop and says 'If you want a pair of those you can have them for free'! He said they seem to be the shock of choice for most people and as well as the three pairs in the shop he'd got several more pairs in the back and I was welcome to them. He doesn't like the look of gas shocks on a classic bike so every bike that comes in with them he takes them off and replaces them with YSS non gas shocks. Mine are off a 2015 Bonnie and have done a couple of thousand miles tops. As you can see in my pic I've removed the extender from the left one and am about to do the right, they were off scrambler. This bike in fact. You can see the YSS shocks he's using. https://monia-motorcycles.myshopify.com/pages/2015-triumph-scrambler I have to agree with him that I prefer the classic look, however, I'm more than happy with a freebie and want to see what difference they make to the ride and handling. At some point I will be swapping them for a pair of Hagon or more likely YSS shocks. Yesterday was a good day....
Well that is a result Mr Toad. Definitely try them, I totally agree taking the extender out, providing the overall height is not adversely affected. My preference is for the classic look over gas on the Bonnies. Your post will certainly get TEC shock users thinking!
Removing the extender brings the ride height to the standard 340mm, same as the originals, the extender is included for the scrambler which has a higher ride height. Just got them on the bike to find that my thread lock is empty, so off out to get some before putting the bolts back in. One thing I have to confess is that I have no idea how to set them up properly! Yes I know how to make the adjustments but I have no idea how best to set them up for me and I suspect random changes to the pre-load at the top and the damping at the bottom is not the way way to achieve the best setting. I need to do some reading up.
Yes I was thinking a long time ago as I've 'tec's on mine and sick of 'lucky bag' tac, time for yss !!
My new to me 2013 se has basic tec shocks fitted. If these are an improvement over oe shocks I'd be amazed. They crash into the slightest pot hole or depression jarring the spine and teeth !! Had the occasional pogoing too with certain " rippled " stretches of tarmac. As I say new bike to me so I don't know the history with the shocks. The bike has only done about 2.5 k miles so I would assume the same for the shocks, unless they were used when fitted. So I shall be in the market for shocks myself soon. Definitely won't be basic tecs though. Any one got the adjustable tecs ? Any better ? JJ
Right, just got back after four hours on the bike. The new shocks have transformed the whole bike! I did a two hour ride before stopping for a cuppa and normally after an hour or so my arse is numb and my spine feels like it's been trampled on but today I was totally fine. After a 30 minute break I got back on the bike and did the two hour ride home and I was comfortable the whole way. No aches, pains or anything. One of the roads I travel regularly and it's a roller coaster due to badly filled roadworks to lay utility pipes. Some sections were like riding over a cattle grid. With the replacement shocks it's more like a magic carpet ride than the ride from hell. Tec shocks may not be the best available but compared to the Triumph originals they are better by an order of magnitude! I might not like the look of the gas filled type shocks on a classic bike but I can't deny they work like a dream. When I get the YSS non gas shocks on they had better be at least as good or the Tec ones going back on as I'm definitely not going back to sitting on a granite slab.
