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Discussion in 'Newbies Hangout' started by Bonnyblack, Oct 22, 2016.

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  1. Bonnyblack

    Bonnyblack Member

    Oct 20, 2016
    14
    8
    Felpham
    Hello PompeyMark thanks for the welcome, I love the T100 but would like the suspension to be more comfortable for the pillion do you know anyone who has used Ohlins or K-tech?
    Eddie
     
  2. MickEng

    MickEng Noble Member

    Sep 29, 2016
    1,805
    450
    West Yorkshire
    C
    Check the Hagons out, mine were £146.50 and what a difference.
    Alternatively you can look at TEC, similar sort of thing and a bit cheaper than Hagon
    Speak with them, they will ask the questions and get you what you want.
    You can spend into the £1000s but are you really going to get the benefits, remind yourself it's a Bonneville
     
    • Like Like x 1
  3. Bonnyblack

    Bonnyblack Member

    Oct 20, 2016
    14
    8
    Felpham
    Hi thanks, I did speak to a guy at Kais or Kias up country late this afternoon and for rear shocks slightly longer at 360mm and new springs and caps with valves for the forks it was about £900! Do I need to do the forks too or do rear shocks make enough of a difference?
     
  4. MickEng

    MickEng Noble Member

    Sep 29, 2016
    1,805
    450
    West Yorkshire
    Returning back to biking after approx 30 years without riding one, I tried for 6 months to convince myself that it was me and that I would get used to the OEM shocks.
    Bottom line is for an average weight rider at 12 stone they are way too hard and I wish I had changed them earlier rather than use my vertebrae as a shock absorber.
    I am delighted with the Hagons and they are British manufactured which means a lot to me.
    Speak with Hagon, I was going to buy a more expensive model from them but heeding their advice I opted for the £146.50 shocks with 3 simple settings.
    I am going to fit Hagon progressive springs up front, but I wanted to action one change at a time to monitor the difference.
    Personally I would not splash out anything like £900, other enthusiasts may disagree.
     
  5. MickEng

    MickEng Noble Member

    Sep 29, 2016
    1,805
    450
    West Yorkshire
    Just be cautious putting the longer shocks on unless you are really intending to raise the riding position.
    My Bonnie is the cast wheel version and the shock length between centres is 330mm
    Saddle height is perfect for me and the bike handles great, I am changing the front springs to progressive just to help smooth out the crap bumpy roads in West Yorks. and I am sure they will.
    I believe the spoked wheel version is 340mm, so 360mm sounds a big jump up to me.
    If you are wanting something a bit different take a look at Riccor Intiminators
     
  6. Bonnyblack

    Bonnyblack Member

    Oct 20, 2016
    14
    8
    Felpham
    Ok thanks that sounds a lot better than splashing out £900 it's just difficult to decide what to go for without being able to compare bikes with different set ups but if £150 makes a noticeable improvement then I guess it's the way to go, and more money left over for go juice ;-) thanks for your reply
     
  7. PompeyMark

    PompeyMark Senior Member

    Sep 12, 2016
    280
    113
    Portsmouth
    I have had my T100 from new 2013 and I am still riding on the OEM shocks. Shock gasp I hear some cry out,lol, I have fitted a K&Q seat which is worth it`s weight in gold for comfort. I only ride for fun and just potter about town, I do take a pillion now and then, mainly giving her a lift to bingo,lol, I think that the bike handles really well,but in all fairness I haven`t ridden a bike with the upgraded shocks fitted so it is difficult to make a comparison, not helpful for you, but as others have mentioned, TEC and Hagon seem to be the preferred fit. Ohlins in my opinion do appear to be somewhat expensive.
     
  8. steve lovatt

    steve lovatt Something else

    May 12, 2014
    9,218
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    Hi and welcome to the forum. I had a T100 as a new rider and didn't really appreciate whether the shocks were good or bad - I was just glad to have it! I now have the SE and having done a few more miles on a Trident and the Tiger in between Bonnevilles I can confirm that the stock shocks are pretty bad! - the bike handles fine but they are too harsh over bumps - either it is more noticeable on this model or I've become more fussy.
    TEC are the cheap way to go at £59.99 a pair or £99.99 for the more adjustable gas filled ones. Hagon seem to be the next choice for a bit more cash. I'm not sure it's worth going beyond that on a Bonneville.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. Havit

    Havit Admin
    Staff Member Subscriber

    Jul 17, 2015
    9,662
    1,000
    Kent
    You have good hair in that pic!!:D Welcome Eddie, Nice Bike.
     
  10. Bonnyblack

    Bonnyblack Member

    Oct 20, 2016
    14
    8
    Felpham
    #30 Bonnyblack, Oct 25, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2016
    I try my best and it was the weekend! :rolleyes:
     
  11. Bonzo

    Bonzo Well-Known Member

    Apr 29, 2016
    172
    93
    IoM
    Greetings Eddie.
     
  12. Bonnyblack

    Bonnyblack Member

    Oct 20, 2016
    14
    8
    Felpham
    Just to say I have ordered some Haygon rear shocks to replace the originals and will post my thoughts on them after I have had a chance to try them out :)
     
    • Like Like x 3
  13. MickEng

    MickEng Noble Member

    Sep 29, 2016
    1,805
    450
    West Yorkshire
    Good on yer!
    You probably know this, but fit them one at a time to stop the back end dropping.
    Definitely use threadlock and torque the fixing bolts up to 28Nm
    Don't overtighten as it is clamping on the rubber bushes which doesn't feel like it is tight enough, but it is.
    Which model did you get ?
     
  14. MickEng

    MickEng Noble Member

    Sep 29, 2016
    1,805
    450
    West Yorkshire
    Oops! just remembered you were talking about changing the size to 360mm
    If you have and they are different to the original length you will have to take them both off.
    Watch Delboy YouTube clips there are some good tips.
    Don't get pissed off though when you see that he has fitted TEC
     
  15. Bonnyblack

    Bonnyblack Member

    Oct 20, 2016
    14
    8
    Felpham
    I have ordered the 34045Sa1 but with the polished steel body and polished short cap and black spring to keep it looking as close to original as possible, £231 in that configuration, I did consider the 2801type with extra damping /rebound control but he said they would not look quite right as those one's work the other way up and the cap would be too low on the body as I wanted it to look never mind they must be better hopefully and I stuck with 340mm
     
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