Hagon Shocks

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Big_AL · #1 Post by **Big_AL** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:33 pm

Anyone tried a Hagon shock on a Falco? Any better than the standard shock, assuming the standard shock is in good condition? I had a Hagon shock on my old Fazer and it transformed the handling, largly because the standard shock had seen better days.

So what do you guys reckon would the hagon be an improvement over stock or should I hold out for either a white spring mille shock (which i'd have to get rebuilt) or a newer mille shock plus mille linkage?

k1w1boy · #2 Post by **k1w1boy** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:42 pm

...ah, you saw that one on ebay advertised with the Silver Falco too? Good question ... then I race ya for it!

Big_AL · #3 Post by **Big_AL** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:28 pm

Yeah I did, probably won't go for it as i've no idea how many of the 18k miles the hagon was on for. I imaging it's probably going to go for about £100 and then factor in a rebuild £80 then i may as well get a new one at £260?

k1w1boy · #4 Post by **k1w1boy** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:40 pm

... I'll prolly go the 'expert set up' of the stock shock route, as mentioned in another thread. I'm a bit of an ignoramus when it comes to performance truthfully. Kinda worry that I'd be shelling out for something I'd not detect a difference from. Like you, I'm a 15-16 stone rider though and have never fiddled with suspension in 12 years of riding and it might be worth investigating since the Falco is my sportiest ride ever.

hornetrider · #5 Post by **hornetrider** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:33 am

One way or another fellas I'd recommend doing the rear shock. I'm also a bit of an ignoramous when it comes to suspension, but when I got mine last year I found the original shock very harsh and bouncy.

Did some research and found it was a common complaint so set about getting a new one. In the end I paid just over 200 on ebay for my mint, clearly barely used, Falco specific Ohlins. The transformation in the ride is astounding.

Big_AL · #6 Post by **Big_AL** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:57 am

Well the Hagon is almost up to £100 already and it's still got a while to run so I shant bother with that.

k1w1boy, I had a fiddle with the suspension settings and set them back to the factory default and it is better than what the previous owner had, i guess he was a bit lighter than me. I do however agree with hornet rider that the stock setup seems a little bouncy (perhaps i should increase the damping a bit), it takes a while for the bike to settle down after breaking before a corner or after hitting a bump in the road. I can certainly live with this but will have an eye out for a high quality replacement shock. A Falco specific ohlins? bet they don't come up very often?

hornetrider · #7 Post by **hornetrider** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:09 am

Big_AL wrote:A Falco specific ohlins? bet they don't come up very often?

No, its the only one I've ever seen (and I search ebay regularly!) so I made sure I got it! I couldn't be bothered with faffing with linkages and getting a Mille shock so when I saw it I had to have it.

It's got a vertical reservoir instead of horizontal as found on the Mille ones.

HowardQ · #8 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:51 am

hornetrider wrote:
Big_AL wrote:A Falco specific ohlins? bet they don't come up very often?
No, its the only one I've ever seen (and I search ebay regularly!) so I made sure I got it! I couldn't be bothered with faffing with linkages and getting a Mille shock so when I saw it I had to have it.

It's got a vertical reservoir instead of horizontal as found on the Mille ones.

Have no experience with Hagon Monoshocks, but just having the separate vertical reservoir will make a difference as the Falco shock has the gas in the body itself and the shock is right next to the exhaust.
Hagon twin shocks have always been a decent value for money alternative, not top notch but decent value.
Trouble with any second hand unit is you never really know, can look good and be knackered and visa versa.
I was lucky I got a pristine White Spring unit, for £30 odd, off eBay, came all nicely wrapped up and in an Ohlins box. The owner had bought the bike and planned to do lots of track days so just decided to upgrade to Ohlins back and front straight away, as per original RSV-R, had never really used the standard shock. I just modified the Schrader valve with a junior hacksaw and a Dremel !!!! and fitted it to see if it was as good as it looked, it was.
The ride is much better with a decent Mille shock, early or late, and the separate reservoir helps a lot as well as the extra adjustment. The standard Falco shock, if set up anything like right, was never wallowy or anything, just too hard for me, (again 15st +), but I lived with it for a while.
I wouldn't think the Hagon shock would be any better than a Mille shock if both in good nick, but obviously the Ohlins will be better than either of 'em, at a price.

Thumper · #9 Post by **Thumper** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:25 pm

The Hagan shock is a good basic shock but I doubt u will like it much. go for a mille shock it will be a better job altogether, just my opinion mind.

FalcoHeadbanger · #10 Post by **FalcoHeadbanger** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:12 pm

I got my 2nd hand Ohlins from Taz Motorcycles in Peterborough, they break a lot of bikes as well as sell main dealer
I would highly recommend them, think mine came off a binned RSV

An Ohlins TRANSFORMS the handling, no wallows on big bumps and ride quality of a rolls royce ...

Crispy · #11 Post by **Crispy** » Sat May 10, 2008 7:20 am

I've not tried a Hagon shock on the Falco but I have got one on my GSX750. It works OK but the design means I have to take the shock off to adjust the pre-load - not very convenient and you need a lot of spare time on your hands to get the right set up. Might not be the same for a Falco unit but something to watch out for.