Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB350/400 => Topic started by: Oggers on March 09, 2020, 02:12:11 PM

Title: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Oggers on March 09, 2020, 02:12:11 PM: Greetings all

Found this UK forum after being on the US site - Many thanks to Nurse!

Currently restoring a 75 400/4 US import and thinking about replacing the standard shocks. Current thinking is the Ikons are the dogs, but at 350 odd notes, they are not exactly cheap. Nurse pointed me in the direction of TECs. They look original, and seem OK from various write ups.

Your opinion or any alternatives would be most welcome.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Nurse Julie on March 09, 2020, 02:16:54 PM: Hi Oggers. Welcome to the Forum, I'm pleased you found us. Nothing wrong with the USA forum at all but thought you would like to join us here.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Oggers on March 09, 2020, 02:18:34 PM: Aye - often found far more sense on UK sites! ;D Thanks again....
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Bryanj on March 09, 2020, 02:58:02 PM: Not more sense just correct use of english(and spelling!)
The TEC shocks look original but work better, the Ikons are the dogs dodads
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Johnwebley on March 09, 2020, 03:13:07 PM: I have TEC on my 500.

Very good.

Welcome to the fun forum

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: PatM on March 09, 2020, 03:17:17 PM: For what its worth- mine came to me with HAGON copy-shocks, they were a lot heavier in size and had an unsightly sticker on them. Anyway, my brother rode my bike and said it was a horrible harsh ride and sold me his old ones- he had replaced his with OEMs some years back- I was pleased he did as there was little wrong with his ones that a bit of elbow grease didnt solve and the ride is and has been for the last 7 years, soft and confortable and not frame/bone jarring!

The HAGON shocks were a bit of a thing when the OEM onse started to show age (1980's?)and racers wanted that harder feel. I didnt and dont.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Nurse Julie on March 09, 2020, 04:00:51 PM: Hagons were fitted to my 400/4 when I got her.... They were lethal. The back end of the bike jumped and skipped all over the place, with no absorbtion ability to them at all. I fitted a set of TEC's and swapped the Hagons for a 550/4 engine which is in my Mongrel, Millie, to which I fitted TEC's too as well. Both bikes handle fantastically.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Bryanj on March 09, 2020, 04:45:36 PM: Way back when the only non original shocks were Girling and they speced the same length for all the fours and mostly the same springs so harsh for 400 and soft for 750.
You will never guess who took over the Girling shock business-------yup Hagon
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: PatM on March 09, 2020, 05:23:35 PM: Brian- The Bike when I first put it back on the road- You can see the HAGON stickers- far too harsh!
(hopefully the snap uploaded)
Title: Re: Shock absorbers etc
Post by: Bryanj on March 09, 2020, 05:48:55 PM: Just look at the gap from tyre to mudguard, they were way too long so probably oversprung as well.