22lyons Posted March 13, 2013 #1 Posted March 13, 2013 Well, I finally pulled the trigger on a new hagon shock. Very nice customer service person! I think I need to try some leveling links too. Anyone have some out there they want to get rid of? Larry
ragtop69gs Posted March 13, 2013 #2 Posted March 13, 2013 Pretty sure I was a How-to, to make your own links. There was a member here that had a few sets for sale not long ago. Do a search and you'll find it.
kevin-vic-b.c. Posted March 13, 2013 #3 Posted March 13, 2013 Pretty sure I was a How-to, to make your own links. There was a member here that had a few sets for sale not long ago. Do a search and you'll find it. I will post it if I find it.... if you find it please post it.... I may need it soon
RSTDdog Posted March 13, 2013 #4 Posted March 13, 2013 Well, I finally pulled the trigger on a new hagon shock. Very nice customer service person! I think I need to try some leveling links too. Anyone have some out there they want to get rid of? Larry You may find that with the Hagon Shock, you won't need leveling links depending on your objective for them. I have the Hagon with HD spring option and it sits up higher than the stock shock although I can't quantify how much since I didn't do before and after measurements. I have an HD tour pack installed and my bike looks level to me. Leveling links would be easy enough to add afterward if you feel you still need more height.
Jactana Posted March 13, 2013 #5 Posted March 13, 2013 I will post it if I find it.... if you find it please post it.... I may need it soon Hi Kevin, a member named Slowrollvw used to make the links as well. His name is Chuck. I've puchased a Driving lamp extension(so you can split the fairing without removing the lamps), the links, and muffler brackets for Harley mufflers from him. All his stuff is great quality, and he ships very reasonably to Canada. Awesome guy! Ron
dacheedah Posted March 13, 2013 #6 Posted March 13, 2013 The links are not hard to make if you have some clamps and a drill press, Clamp them together when drilling make the holes 1/4 " shorter and you raise the rear about 1".
SilvrT Posted March 13, 2013 #7 Posted March 13, 2013 I will post it if I find it.... if you find it please post it.... I may need it soon Kevin, I can make a set for you. Very easy to do.
Freebird Posted March 13, 2013 #8 Posted March 13, 2013 Here is the link to making them. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=492
22lyons Posted March 13, 2013 Author #9 Posted March 13, 2013 Well, maybe i should wait and see. I would not mind raising the rear a bit to see if it improves slow speed handle. I ended up staying with the normal spring setup. Thanks for the info! Larry You may find that with the Hagon Shock, you won't need leveling links depending on your objective for them. I have the Hagon with HD spring option and it sits up higher than the stock shock although I can't quantify how much since I didn't do before and after measurements. I have an HD tour pack installed and my bike looks level to me. Leveling links would be easy enough to add afterward if you feel you still need more height.
farm1810 Posted April 30, 2013 #10 Posted April 30, 2013 I assume that I need to remove the rear wheel to do the leveling links. Is that correct or can I access without removing?
Gary N. Posted April 30, 2013 #11 Posted April 30, 2013 Pumping the rear shock up to the max 55 lbs. will raise the rear somewhat. Maybe 3/4" to 1". You could do that for an experiment. I run mine there all the time but I'm usually two up and loaded.
spike13 Posted April 30, 2013 #12 Posted April 30, 2013 i changed my links without removing the wheel
playboy Posted April 30, 2013 #13 Posted April 30, 2013 i changed my links without removing the wheel Just put it up on a jack
Rick Butler Posted April 30, 2013 #14 Posted April 30, 2013 Rich, You can do this with the rear wheel removed, but you can also install them with the wheel on. You just need to raise the bike enough to take the pressure off the link bolts to where they will just slide out. I've attached the Diamond R instuctions which suggest that you do it when you remove the rear wheel which will give you plenty of room to work and allow you to easily move the swing arm to remove the pressure off the link bolts. Hope this helps, Rick I assume that I need to remove the rear wheel to do the leveling links. Is that correct or can I access without removing?
Rick Butler Posted May 1, 2013 #15 Posted May 1, 2013 Hey folks, This appears to be a good segway to something that's been on my mind for a while? A while back I had a brief conversation with Deepforkriver who made up a few sets for himself and he was wanting to sell the remaining sets. Since I developed these links I was telling him how they came about and why Diamond R was selling them. James told me that Allen was selling them for $90 which he thought was too much. He also told me that if I would make them he would be more than happy to buy them from me....which I found very interesting. But it made me think that even though I gave my design and specs to Allen to manufacture, there is no patent involved so anyone is free to build them. It also took me back to when I was discussing a retail price with Allen where I felt that $50 or $60 was probably a good price. But he chose to have his made from stainless (which was not necessary) which is probably the reason for his price. Before I got Allen talked into making these links, I had 30 sets made up by a machinist friend of mine on a cnc machine just to get them in the hands of you guys so we could get some feedback. And we chose to use mild steel (like oem) and have them zinc plated and I sold them for my cost plus shipping which was around $35. So, here is the question. If I started making these for just VentureRider members and sold them for $55 or $60 a set (which would include Priority Mail shipping) would there be an interest from you guys. I would still have them cnc produced with chamfered edges and zinc plated. This would also might give Allen a little competition and maybe he might rethink his manufacturing process and retail price. But like I said, I would only sell these to you guys. So, what do you all think, Rick Here is the link to making them. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=492
rickardracing Posted May 1, 2013 #16 Posted May 1, 2013 Well, I finally pulled the trigger on a new hagon shock. Very nice customer service person! I think I need to try some leveling links too. Anyone have some out there they want to get rid of? Larry I got a set you can have!! I live a hop skip and a jump from you in Hamburg. Come on over and get them!
VentureFar Posted June 4, 2013 #17 Posted June 4, 2013 I just put Diamond R leveling links on. Didn't remove the tire, just took out the set bolt for the hose clamp in the way of the upper to get my torque wrench on. I pointed the nose in the corner of the garage, strapped the kickstand forward attached to the front wheel. Broke the nuts loose and jacked the rear tire up off the ground with a single point ( car hydraulic jack) on the opposite side of the kickstand. Slid out the bolts - use BelRey grease inside and reassembled. With 5 phone calls that I answered and cleaning the grease off my hands 4 times and getting licked by my dogs because I was laying down at licking level, it took me 1/2 hour total- would have been a 10 minute continuous job. As soon as the LA traffic dies down a little later I will take it out and report back. I could have lived with the heavy feel of the handlebars in a turn but hoped not to. We will see shortly. VentureFar...
VentureFar Posted June 4, 2013 #18 Posted June 4, 2013 Ok I am really impressed. I would say the handlebar in put pressure is 1/2. It just makes it nicer to make a tight turn. Haven't done any twisties, just did rights and lefts in my neighborhood and then full circles in front of my house. My street is about 36 feet across and although I easily turned both ways before, this just felt so much more comfortable. I still have the narrower tire in my garage waiting to put on after my Iron Butt this Saturday. Dont want to waste a brand new Metz 888 front tire on all freeway day ride ( of 1040 miles ) I highly recommend the leveling links and although I am not inseam challenged, I did not notice a difference putting my feet down. I have a 31 inseam. VentureFar...
VentureFar Posted June 10, 2013 #19 Posted June 10, 2013 (edited) Just did my Iron Butt so got plenty of chance to try out the change in steering geometry. Bike was just as stable going straight at all speeds hands on or hands off ( shhh don't tell my wife). High speed twisties - ie 40-65 mph - easier to enter and easier to exit. Slow speed twisties 20-40 mph tight road turns- easier to enter and easier to exit. Parking lot - gas station turns very comfortable now. The only difference I feel is the requirement for less input pressures which makes riding much more comfortable. I originally felt trying to do an S turn on this bike was like guiding a hippo. Now it is responsive and I have MORE ground clearance. VentureFar.... Edited June 10, 2013 by VentureFar
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