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I recently bought a pair of Hagon shocks from Dave Quinn Motorcycles (great company to deal with: dqmcs@earthlink.net) for my 1978 GS1000. Price: $180.
I unbolted the stock units. Then I observed that removing the bottom bolt from the shock (which passes through a clevis attachment that straddles the lower shock mount on the swingarm) is hindered by the mufflers (mine are stock). I unbolted the rear muffler brackets and by pulling the muffler away from the frame was able to slide the lower shock bolts out of their holes.
A little light tapping with a rubber mallet and a small block of wood was required to get the clevis free of its mount. No surprise there--these shocks have been on the bike since at least 1978.
For the hell of it I weighed the stock units on a bathroom scale: 8.5 pounds. Then I put the Hagon shocks on the scale. No reading. The scale needs at least five pounds to register, so it's a reasonable guess the Hagons are half the weight. Not to mention noticeably more slender. And being black, rather than chrome, much cooler.
The installation was simpler than I expected. I slid the first shock onto the top stud, sprayed a little WD-40 on the inside of the clevis, then tapped the clevis into place on the lower shock mount. The holes in the clevis and the hole in the lower shock mount did not line up exactly, so I took a brick and a two-foot length of two-by-four and using the brick as a fulcrum, the length of wood for the lever and my foot as downward pressure on the lever was able to raise the rear tire to where the holes lined up. Keeping my foot on the lever I pried the muffler away from the frame and slid the bolt home. Then I repeated the one-man-band act on the other side.
The new shocks made a huge difference. No more wallowing and vague meandering from the rear end. The bike sits up slightly taller and feels solidly planted when leaned over. The difference is most apparent in low-speed cornering and in sweeping curves at highway speed.
Send your stock shocks to the recycler, or use them as paperweights, or keep them near the front door to hurl at intruders. But get them off your bike as soon as possible; you'll be glad you did.
I unbolted the stock units. Then I observed that removing the bottom bolt from the shock (which passes through a clevis attachment that straddles the lower shock mount on the swingarm) is hindered by the mufflers (mine are stock). I unbolted the rear muffler brackets and by pulling the muffler away from the frame was able to slide the lower shock bolts out of their holes.
A little light tapping with a rubber mallet and a small block of wood was required to get the clevis free of its mount. No surprise there--these shocks have been on the bike since at least 1978.
For the hell of it I weighed the stock units on a bathroom scale: 8.5 pounds. Then I put the Hagon shocks on the scale. No reading. The scale needs at least five pounds to register, so it's a reasonable guess the Hagons are half the weight. Not to mention noticeably more slender. And being black, rather than chrome, much cooler.
The installation was simpler than I expected. I slid the first shock onto the top stud, sprayed a little WD-40 on the inside of the clevis, then tapped the clevis into place on the lower shock mount. The holes in the clevis and the hole in the lower shock mount did not line up exactly, so I took a brick and a two-foot length of two-by-four and using the brick as a fulcrum, the length of wood for the lever and my foot as downward pressure on the lever was able to raise the rear tire to where the holes lined up. Keeping my foot on the lever I pried the muffler away from the frame and slid the bolt home. Then I repeated the one-man-band act on the other side.
The new shocks made a huge difference. No more wallowing and vague meandering from the rear end. The bike sits up slightly taller and feels solidly planted when leaned over. The difference is most apparent in low-speed cornering and in sweeping curves at highway speed.
Send your stock shocks to the recycler, or use them as paperweights, or keep them near the front door to hurl at intruders. But get them off your bike as soon as possible; you'll be glad you did.