Rear shock

[97tiger885]

My rear shock is dead.  A stock replacement runs $750US.  I looked thru the past posts on the subject and didn't find much there.  Anybody have experience with replacements?  I am doing 80/20 paved/unpaved, nothing too technical-mostly gravel.  The stock unit was fine.  All I need is a decent product at a decent price.  Preferably, plug and play.  Any suggestions?

The unit is ready to come out, but I am having trouble with both bolts.  The top has a torx and a 17mm.  And the bottom has two nuts, both 18mm.   Any suggestions other than more force?  Also,  how does the unit come out once it is free-thru the space where the battery was or does it go down?

[Mustang]

been so long since I had one out I forget ............... :x

[Geoff W]

Hello there,
I changed my stock rear for a Hagon unit after the original started to go at 30 odd thousand miles. It has been very good, now has 49,000 miles and just needs a small adjustment with the c spanner.
I also have their variable compression springs in the front. They are an excellent company to deal with. Although I don't know about postage to the USA, they are based in Essex in the UK. Google them and give them a ring , they are very knowledgable.
                                             Geoff.

[Nick Calne]

Here's one on ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIUMPH-900-Tiger-93-98-Hagon-Mono-Shock-Unit-/140420208256?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20b1b25680

That'll be USD 450 to you, which is a considerable saving.

[JetdocX]

On getting the fasteners loose, try harder, then try some heat, then some Aerokroil or PBlaster, then more heat then more try harder.

Sasquatch can build your stock shock to match your weight and riding style.  He's here and he's one of us.  

I got an aftermarket Penske racing shock but it wasn't cheap.  Definitely worth it, though.  Mine came from Traxxion Dynamics, but I'd guess availability through almost any suspension provider.

[97tiger885]

Hello there,
I changed my stock rear for a Hagon unit after the original started to go at 30 odd thousand miles. It has been very good, now has 49,000 miles and just needs a small adjustment with the c spanner.
I also have their variable compression springs in the front. They are an excellent company to deal with. Although I don't know about postage to the USA, they are based in Essex in the UK. Google them and give them a ring , they are very knowledgable.
                                             Geoff.

Thanks for the info.  I have found two companies which had shocks for the steamers.  One was Hagon and the the other Hyperpro.  I have emailed to see if either still has the units in stock.  

I have the bolts out of the unit.  Now I need to figure out how to remove the shock.  Do I need to detach the mud shield or mess around with the linkage to get the shock out?

[Sasquatch]

Thanks for the info.  I have found two companies which had shocks for the steamers.  One was Hagon and the the other Hyperpro.  I have emailed to see if either still has the units in stock.  

I have the bolts out of the unit.  Now I need to figure out how to remove the shock.  Do I need to detach the mud shield or mess around with the linkage to get the shock out?

I can build that shock without a problem.  I can turn it into anything you want performance wise for a lot less than an aftermarket unit.  Email me if you are interested.

[rf9rider]

The shock comes out through the bottom, you have to raise the rear wheel so the shock will clear the linkage, so the bike needs supporting, if you don`t have a centrestand you`ll need some axle stands or something similar.
If you haven`t already, you need to remove the battery and battery box to get the remote reservoir through, which means removing the seat panels and air chambers, you might also need to remove the rear tank bracket depending how the reservoir pipe is routed.
You also need to remove the bottom bolts that hold the mudshield in place.
Good luck!  :)

[Colonel Nikolai]

Somewhere on the steamer forum are photos of my rear shock removal. I used an engine hoist to lift the whole bike in the air. It wasn't hard to loosen, but I used a breaker bar with a pipe :shock: - while it was still on the ground - which made it a little easier. I did have to disconnect the dogbones to put the new shock back, though! That was annoying. I think there is even a picture of my crouching tiger without the rear end in it sitting lonely in the garage.

I then sent my shock to Sasquatch who rebuilt it for me for considerably less than the stock replacement you mention. I even had him put the gold valve in it too and it's still cheaper than you quote. I think it took a week for me to get it.

I will say the new rear end is considerably more stable than the original. Like a new bike. I think it might even be better than the new 1050 tiger's rear end because I was not impressed with the one I rented in SF by comparison.

[97tiger885]

The shock comes out through the bottom, you have to raise the rear wheel so the shock will clear the linkage, so the bike needs supporting, if you don`t have a centrestand you`ll need some axle stands or something similar.
If you haven`t already, you need to remove the battery and battery box to get the remote reservoir through, which means removing the seat panels and air chambers, you might also need to remove the rear tank bracket depending how the reservoir pipe is routed.
You also need to remove the bottom bolts that hold the mudshield in place.
Good luck!  :)

You are correct sir.   My mistake was failing to remove the bolts to the mudshield even tho the manual clearly states to do this.   The difference in movement this allows the swing arm is minimal but decisive.  The unit is out, cleaned and to be shipped to ID tomorrow.  

Hyperpro no longer carries the unit for the Steamer.   Hagon does have two units.  The basic unit is $399 and the advanced unit is $588.  The folks at Thunderbike tell me they like the Hagons.

[nightrunner]

I've been on this list for many years and I can tell you Sasquatch has rebuilt many steamer shocks for folks on this list and I don't recall any complaints.   Rave reviews in fact.  My steamer is no where near needing one though.  

At the other end of the price spectrum is Wilbers.   It will cost you at least $700 and way more with all the adjustment options and hydraulic remote preload, etc.  But its damn fine quality.  I have one on my Transalp with every option and paid like $1100 and that was a few years ago.  They build shocks for everything.    

Let us know what you do and how you like it.

[rybes]

Hyperpro no longer carries the unit for the Steamer.

but they do still have the spring kit. i rebuilt my shock n forks n put their springs in forks n on shock. used 15wt oil in forks n 2.5 in rear shock.

[Sasquatch]

My steamer is no where near needing one though.  

I hate to bring this to you, but it is.  Even if your bike rested peacefully in temperature controlled storage with no miles on it, the shock after this many years is dead.  I have rebuilt many very low mileage steamer shocks and not a single one of them had a single psi of nitrogen remaining in the reservoir.  So, without hesitation I can say that every stock Steamer shock out there is dead now and needs at minimum a basic rebuild.

Sorry for the bad news.

[BruKen]

Hi. Not to confuse custom building or suspension tuning done by a guru like Sasquatch and co with basic maintenance, I found that servicing / rebuilding my existing Showa shock to be really a rather simple affair and am pleased with the results. My understanding is that  shock oil is best replaced on a seasonal basis- Mustang put the How to pdf I nicked in the stickies.

The various seals were easy enough to get from a hydraulic supplier (for me a first stop 1-stop unlike the fork seals which I had to go to source for). For about £20 I completed a job that a local specialist wanted to charge me +- £160.