Progressive vs. Hagon shocks!

[Tony/CT]

Hi everyone! It's been quite a while since I've posted on the site, but now my new laptop computer makes checking in very easy. No more competing with the teenagers for computer time. So, here is my question. I put a pair of Hagon shocks on my 02 Cali. Special Sport and am pleased with their performance. I now need a set of shocks for my 02 Cali. EV. I'm considering another set of Hagons or a set of Progressive shocks. Hagon does make nitrogen gas shocks but I don't feel like spending $500.00 on a 12 year old motorcycle, as much as I do enjoy riding this bike. This is the one I load up with gear when I take longer trips either alone or with my wife. The standard Hagons are $200.00. I've never used the Progressive shocks but know a lot of riders like them. They're also about $200.00. I also looked at Ikons, but thought they were a bit too expensive. I have two other older bikes that could also use new shocks also, so I am looking for shocks that do the job at a reasonable cost. You know....old Guzzi guys about to retire and ride, ride, ride don't like to spend too much money!! Thanks for any input! On a side note I visited a multi brand motorcycle shop in New Haven CT. yesterday to have a Shinko tire...also saving money.... put on my EV rim and the salesman told me that the Guzzi's outsold the Aprilia's last year. Imagine that!! Anthony

[jagwillie]

Tony,
If it were me, I'd go with the Hagons. Dave Quinn is very knowledgeable and sells a good product. I have been using them for about 10 years on a variety of bikes with no failures.
Bill Bassett

[Tony/CT]

Oh...forgot to mention. The U. S. distributor for Hagon shocks, Dave Quinn Motorcycles is 8 miles down the road from my house, so it is very easy to walk in there with my old shock in hand, see what's available, match them up and bring them back if there are any issues with the new shocks. It's also nice to support local business. However, buying the Progressives from Harper would be supporting our brand..also a good thing!!

[NC Steve]

Dave Quinn with Hagons would be my choice, having used them on 5 bikes now. He personally designs ever shock he sell to fit the riders style, weight, luggage capacity, etc. Helluva nice guy to speak with too.

If he's just down the road and you can walk in with your old shocks in hand, that would have to be the best of all possible solutions.

[barenekd]

I had Hagons on my RE. Loved them. I had Progressives on a GB500 20 years ago, No complaints there either, but today I'd go with Hagons again.
Bare

[Vagrant]

I did the progressives on my 98 EV and they were ok. hagons on my 2001 are much better because he will spring them for you. better adjustment too.

[Turin]

I've tried progressives before and did not like them. Hagons are as good as it gets for their price point, and the fact that Dave Quinn will set them up for you by weight and use makes the Hagon shocks a no brainer. For a cheap sport style shock I like Ikon products (same as Koni but made in Australia?)

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have the Progressive gas shocks on the Lario because I could get them wholesale. Cheep. (Guzzi content)  ;) They work well, no complaints.

[Arizona Wayne]

I've been happy with different sets of Progressives on Guzzis and have never had them fail on me for 20+ years.  Guess you could say I like them.  Like you I don't want to spend any more $ than I have to.

All my Italian steeds from `04 to `09(Guzzi, Piaggio, Aprilia) came with nitrogen charged shocks.  All still work like new.

The newest Progressive shocks I got were for the `91 VX800 were air shocks made for 1500 Honda Gold Wings.  I couldn't find any conventional shock that had strong enough springs to handle the load I needed.  The air Progressives were the BEST shocks I ever had, no matter what the load.   8)  You couldn't ever tell what was going on back there.  It was like having pillows for suspension!  After I sold the Convert. I sold them to a Cali. III rider.  Progressives can be rebuilt too.   :BEER:

[Joliet Jim]

just curious is there anything about your current hagons that concerned you which is why you're looking at options? I've got a dead hd air shock on my stone and was torn between the ikons and the std hagons. nitros they recommended in an email, but too pricey for illinois roads.

[Orange Guzzi]

I bought the Hagon Nitro's last week.  My Aluminium has Progessive 418 aluminum body shocks with rebound dampening right now.  The Progressive spring rate is 90/130 pounds.  The 90 pound part of the spring works for my 160 pound body, but the 130 pound part is to hard.  I bought the Nitro because they have a straight rate spring and I wanted a shock that was consistent through the complete travel.  I bought the longest shock, 370mm/14.5 inch long.
 
The shocks are quite expensive compared to shocks for other vehicles.  The china shocks for sale on ebay are nice and I have used them on smaller bikes.  The problem with the china shocks is you don't know what the spring rate is and they are all progressive springs.  I found an web post where someone disassembled several china shocks and found that the gas reservoir was fake and had no bladder in one model.  He said he took several shocks apart and only one brand was that way.  He also said that the shocks were good build quality and were comparable to shocks that were several times more expensive.

In doing my homework on shocks, I could not find a reason to use a variable rate spring.  One person said it gave a more "supple" ride. I don't see how the word supple can describe a shock that gets harder the more it is compressed.   One of the Hagon reps I spoke with did confirm what I believed to be true and that is, get your spring rate softer then you need and then adjust them harder if needed.  You can't make a spring softer, but you can make it harder.

[Arizona Wayne]

On the Progressive air shocks there is a little spring but your ride is mainly how much air you put in it.  I ran 10 psi 2up & loaded.   Like I said, the ride was like there was nothing back there, meaning it was excellent.  You couldn't tell if the shocks were  going up or down.  ;-T

[Tony/CT]

Jim, I like the Hagan shocks and have had no issues with them since installation in 2008. I'm considering putting progressive shocks on another bike, my EV, as an alternative, so asked the board what their experiences have been with both brands. I will most likely buy another pair of Hagons. The U.S. distributor, Dave Quinn is just down the road from my house and it easy to ride over there, talk to Dave and see what's available.

[Joliet Jim]

well i ordered a set of Hagon Type A's for the back of the 1100 Stone. 1 up on the spring, I'll give a ride report when it gets here. A required new set of 4 car tires for the wife, trumped the Ikons or Nitros. Plus they just hide behind the Hepco Beckers.

[T in NC]

So basically the difference between the 2810s and the A shocks is adjustable rebound? And if I have to ask save my money and get the A's, right.

[Rich M]

Good thread...since I'm in the market for shocks as well..

[Dilliw]

The knock on progressive springs for "short shocks" is that with as little travel as there is the progressive feature is minimal at best.