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.

[Mikep328]

I installed the DSS shocks on my 400F and they fit perfectly and I'm happy with the ride/response.  Sure, there are better performing shocks around but the DSS's seem OK to me.  Typical riding is twisty back roads and I do not take it easy on the bike. 

Last year I bought some fairly expensive remote reservoir shocks which required the chain guard to be notched.  I picked up a chain guard on EBay (aftermarket that looked exactly like the original BUT with much thinner gauge metal) and cut appropriate notches. I really couldn't tell enough difference to really matter so I put the DSS's and original chain guard back on. 

I tried to post a pic of my bike with the reservoir shocks but it wouldn't upload for some reason...

[sjb]

I installed the DSS shocks on my 400F and they fit perfectly and I'm happy with the ride/response.  Sure, there are better performing shocks aren't around but the DSS's seem OK to me.  Typical riding is twisty back roads and I do not take it easy on the bike. 

Last year I bought some fairly expensive remote reservoir shocks which required the chain guard to be notched.  I picked up a chain guard on EBay (aftermarket that looked exactly like the original BUT with much thinner gauge metal) and cut appropriate notches. I really couldn't tell enough difference to really matter so I put the DSS's and original chain guard back on. 

I tried to post a pic of my bike with the reservoir shocks but it wouldn't upload for some reason...

That's good to know the DSS one's are OK. Thank you, don't want to faff about with another chain guard and have no intention of butchering the original.

DSS back on the list...

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[Bryanj]

I will make one comment, when Hagons were Girling shocks in the dim and distance past all the four cylinder shockes were the same length with different rate springs, i do not know what Hagon do

[Skoti]

Had DSS shocks on my CB750F1, they looked good and fitted fine.
But the springs were lighter and the damping poor, started leaking oil after 3 years.
In hindsight I should have bought Ikons at the outset rather than waste cash on the DSS ones.

The chrome Ikons are adjustable for spring preload and damping, they have the offset lower forked mounting to clear the chain guard just like the original Honda shocks.

Also fully re-buildable, with all spares available.


Transformed the handling but bruised my wallet...

Ikon series 7610
Model  SP1296 SP8

Good luck

[taysidedragon]

I will make one comment, when Hagons were Girling shocks in the dim and distance past all the four cylinder shockes were the same length with different rate springs, i do not know what Hagon do

Hagon build the shocks to order and use spring rates for your weight. I don't know if the lengths are different for the different sohc models.
Their shocks are fully rebuildable.

[Skoti]

I will make one comment, when Hagons were Girling shocks in the dim and distance past all the four cylinder shockes were the same length with different rate springs, i do not know what Hagon do

Hagon build the shocks to order and use spring rates for your weight. I don't know if the lengths are different for the different sohc models.
Their shocks are fully rebuildable.

Ikon do the same, plus you can choose black or chrome springs with or without upper covers.

Hope that helps.

[sjb]

Thank you to everyone. Being a born ditherer, am just trying to weigh up the differences between Ikons and Hagon. DSS seems, much like other items they carry, a bit of a lottery (IMO).

Hagons come in at £329.25 and for me at least are an unknown quantity so am leaning more towards the Koni/Ikons at £407, which is a lot (at least for me) and that's without the 'will I/ won't I get hit for VAT), but I know what they're like as I've got them on my Laverda (even allowing for the weight and performance difference).

Insane man-maths as had the YSSs had fitted probably would have been happy with them...

Had absolute confirmation by email that TEC are no longer in the game.

Thank you all again, I appreciate your time in answering.

Stephen

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