Rear shock for 400 that will clear the chain guard

[sjb]

As it says in the title really, read all of the last thread on rear shocks and am still unclear which ones will fut without butchering the chain guard.

Mine, I'm pretty sure, are originals and the damping left the chat a while back. Tyres are new BT46s and tyre pressures are stock so not sure that is a factor.

Just tried fitting YSS (320 long) allegedly for the CB400F but foul the guard.

Do the Hagon's fit? DSS remains an option, but sem to have very mixed reviews (that's being nice)

Anything else out there that you have experience of? Ikon/koni's are an option but the price is a little salty...

Thank you for your time and experience

[Laverda Dave]

I have fitted Hagons in the past (without shrouds) and they were fine. I only had them fitted for a couple of months and probably less than 200 miles because I found a NOS new pair and replaced them. I think I still have them tucked away. I remember taking the Hagon decals off because they looked terrible being a cheap silver/blue sticker badly applied 🫤

[sjb]

Thanks for that. Do you remember if they were OK? Agree about the tacky stickers...

[Laverda Dave]

Yep, they fitted without any issues. I tried to fit a YSS shock to my NC30, the remote damper fouled the tyre!
You know the likes of Hagon, IKON etc were making these shocks for the 400/4 and other SOHC's when they were still curren. However, the likes of the Chinese and Taiwanese brands say their shocks fit a huge number of bikes when in fact they don't and especially the old clunkers we ride.
Hagon might be expensive but at least you know they are tried and tested and British made. TEC used to make decent shocks for the 400/4 that looked OEM (but were 5mm shorter in length). They ran out of stock last year but I was told they were going to get some more manufactured. Give them a call, they are based in the north east of England. They tend to concentrate on the new RE's, BSA and modern Triumph's these days.

[sjb]

Thanks, I'll try direct contact with the TEC guys, been on the 'notify me when back in stock' list for a long long time.

[Athame57]

Just tried fitting YSS (320 long) allegedly for the CB400F but foul the guard.

Any chance it is the guard rather than the shocks?

[sjb]

It could be but I don't think so as the original fits fine. I think it's likely that as Dave suggested it's a multi purposed shock(s). The list of bikes it fits is quite large (and the coilover is more chunky than the original, I guess to look more 'modern'?)

The cost difference between the Hagon and shipping an Ikon from Aus isn't miles apart. I've sent an email to TEC to try and find out if they have any plans to import more, although previous posts suggest that unlikely.

The bike is still rideable so I'll have a ponder.

Anyone had any experience of the shocks advertised by Legend? Seem too cheap to be good although there doesn't seem too much correlation between price and quality in classic bike land.