New Hagon Rear Shock Installed - Results

[Zzyzx]

As some of you know the rear shock on my 99-RSV started marking its territory in the middle of nowhere Kansas along HWY-50 while heading to the International. Still had air but no fluid so it was like riding a mad bull at times. To counter act the bucking motion I put 75-80 lbs of air in it filling it as much as possible to keep the shock rod extended and locking it somewhat into place until I could get to where I could find a replacement. The other options would have been using a tie down strap and that just didn't seem very wise to do.

 

I got to St Charles, MO ok but didn't want to replace the shock with another stock unit so I called the guy at Hagon on Monday around 10am California time to inquire about maybe getting one of theirs. He asked me about my riding style, 1 or 2 up, do I pull a trailer, my weight, etc and suggested, because of my riding style, and my size too, ordering the more HD unit, ($516.00 w/shipping) as opposed to getting their mid-range unit for $440.00, I opted for the HD unit. He said he would preset the new shock for my style and that I could make adjustments to both the load and recovery of the shock later on to fit my exact needs if needed. He said he could get the new shock shipped out that same day but didn't think it would arrive at the hotel until possibly late Friday. Since I was headed to a friend's home in Knoxville TN right after the rally I had him ship the shock there. It shipped out of San Diego, CA and got to Knoxville in 4 days arriving Friday afternoon.

 

Anyway after the rally I road from St Chuck to Knox with my bad shock pumped up and over the max so it was now like riding a hard tail but, all went well and made it there just fine.

Got to my friends house Saturday afternoon and after the bike cooled off we pressure washed the underside of the RSV to get the oil and road grime off before working on it. We jacked the bike up to where the rear tire was just touching the floor then followed Mike's (EUSA-1) advise and took off the side passenger foot rests and covers for better access to the upper shock bolt. 20 minutes later the new shock was installed and the bike was off the jack...EASY Install.

 

The Initial Results:

 

The new shock got a good workout and some great real time road testing over the next 3 weeks. I left Knoxville with trailer in tow riding highways and side roads up to Michigan, then over to Sturgis. Our group rode around parts of the Blackhills area without the trailer. After Sturgis we rode up to Cody then over the Chief Joseph Hwy, up and over the Beartooth and back, thru Yellowstone, over the Teaton summit, up to Evanston, WY. From there I headed toward home riding across Utah and Nevada. This test ride was around 4500 miles and the shock worked great! Once I got home I did a little solo riding around the area (Sierra Mtn's) to get a better feel for more 1-up, no trailer riding. I must say the preset Hagon did for me is perfect for all of my riding. I would not change anything right now.

The shock gives me a much better overall ride with improved handling at higher highway speeds and city speeds, better cornering, and great bump recovery. It did take a few hundred miles to get used to the difference in the ride, especially after riding a bucking bronco for nearly 700 miles, but I would highly recommend the Hagon when considering replacing your rear shock.

[cowpuc]

OUTSTANDING ZZZZZ!!!! :thumbsup:

 

Great write up and glad you had such a FANTASTIC "test" ride:clap2:

 

In an effort to protect you from the Post Picture Police ,, if you had any 's from the whole endeavor you might wanna stick em up here real quickly before those lop eared flat foots come a knockin:missingtooth:...

Edited August 23, 2015 by cowpuc
forgot how to spell "quickly"

[XV1100SE]

Good write up. Glad your happy with your choice!

[todd493]

The dealer I bought my "05 from, put a Hagon on mine as part of the purchase. It's a night and day difference.

Very nice unit.

[dave_wells]

I just replaced my OEM with a Hagon last Tuesday.

Got out for around 400 miles this weekend 150 of it pulling the camper.

I wish I had replaced it sooner . What a difference.

 

I think I need some front end woork now

[Condor]

[ragtop69gs]

Perfect timing with this post, my shock puked it's guts up while I was in Montana earlier this month. I've been on the fence over weather to buy Hagon or works shock. Your review has me leaning to the Hagon.

 

[Ace]

I installed a Hagon last spring on my RSV. Just so you know, you have to remove the shock from the bike when and if you want to increase/decrease preload. I found this year now that I have some miles on it that I need to increase preload when I going to pull my trailer. I decrease it for normal riding as it is too stiff if I want to ride solo (which isn't very often). My shock is the heavy duty model and one thing to be aware of is when turning the nut to increase preload, the top mount will tend to start threading off the shock, mainly because you need to hold that end in a vice or in a jig to adjust preload. This happens when the adjustment nut is maybe 1/3 up its adjustment range, I would like to be able to go more but the shock eyelet starts to unthread. There is no way to get any more preload than 1/3 up the threads without the shock wanting to come apart, I have tried everything to hold it, I made jigs, etc, nothing works. Just a poor design.

I did unthread the top mounting eyelet and this is how you would change the oil, just dump it out, top up with fresh oil and screw the eyelet back on. Also since first installing it I have had to add about 8 turns in various increments to the dampening screw as it starts to get like a pogo-stick after a while, maybe its time to change that oil.

 

This is only my opinion, but I would never buy another one for an RSV. 24,000 miles on mine so far.

[BratmanXj]

Perfect timing with this post, my shock puked it's guts up while I was in Montana earlier this month. I've been on the fence over weather to buy Hagon or works shock. Your review has me leaning to the Hagon.

 

 

I purchased a Heavy Duty Hagon last spring for the $520-ish that's regularly quoted on this forum. After the fact someone mentioned that Works has lowered their prices from the $700+ to almost the same price as the Hagon, I have not verified this but you might want to look into it. The only real difference I've found between the Hagon & Works is IF you need to rebuild; Hagon has to be sent in where Works will sell you a rebuild kit.

[ragtop69gs]

And back the pendulum swings.

 

Thanks guys

[todd493]

I purchased a Heavy Duty Hagon last spring for the $520-ish that's regularly quoted on this forum. After the fact someone mentioned that Works has lowered their prices from the $700+ to almost the same price as the Hagon, I have not verified this but you might want to look into it. The only real difference I've found between the Hagon & Works is IF you need to rebuild; Hagon has to be sent in where Works will sell you a rebuild kit.

 

Just Checked their website, The Works MSRP is $919. http://www.worksperformance.com/pdf/app_guide/street.pdf