Well, you probably have the standard spring when you need the light one.

 

I asked Brent when I ordered the shock for the light one (SP1?) and he decided the regular spring was appropriate. I guess I'll stay put and talk to him when I get the opportunity.


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Now that you mention it ... I have the Ikon 7610s, for quite a while now, but I don't have a good sense of how the suspension should feel.

I'm happy with my Intiminators and stock springs in front, but the Ikons in back also seem stiff to me, and my butt and spine are whacked when I go over frost heaves and the like on high-speed roads. I'm tired of it, because I've ridden bikes that can handle that with ease.

I've checked the suspension travel on the Ikons, and in my normal riding, they use their full range, probably from the whacks described above. I'm about 90kg or 200 pounds with gear, so the "regular" springs on them should be right.

I'm not sure where to proceed next to improve the ride. I'm more interested in the comfort side of the performance spectrum, as long as performance is good enough for the occasional frisky, twisty road.

 

Actually, I weigh around 200 lbs with equipment. Dave strongly advised using the SP1 spring based on both my weight AND my riding style which is 98% solo.

I had trouble believing this at first so I also wrote Ikon in Australia. I gave them the same info and I got the same response, use the SP1 Spring, which I did.

Were I you, I think I'd write/call Dave the Ikon Guy in San Francisco and get his recommendation. The shocks are rebuildable so it should be more than possible to replace the springs if so advised.

 

Called Dave. He retired end of May. Jeff from the factory in Australia is manning the shop temporarily. He told me he'd suggest the SP1s as well.

Options for me are to buy and install a new set of springs ($100) unless Brent has a better idea when I speak to him.

Anybody know what the cost of replacing a set of springs would be --- or who in the NYC area knows how to do that?

If this is an ordeal I may just sell my shocks and go with something made for my weight.


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If this is an ordeal I may just sell my shocks and go with something made for my weight.

If Brent sends you SP1 springs, any dealer with a shock spring compression tool can change them in minutes.

Blue Loctite on the shock bolts and DO NOT overtighten!

There ARE no shocks "made for your weight". Had you spent the extra $50 and ordered from Dave in the first place..., you'd already HAVE them!

 

I'm thinking Ikon would be doing themselves a favor if they changed the spring names from light/standard/heavy to something else. No one thinks they should be on a light spring and yet I seem to remember the now retired Dave tell me that anyone under 210 lbs or so should be on the light spring unless you did a lot of 2-up riding.

 

I can confirm this in an email I have from Dave. I'm 190# with gear.

That's true. the -1647 have springs for heavier riders or more than 50% two-up.
You'll be more comfortable with the 1648 springs solo and you can adjust the spring preload up for the two-up ride.

 

I had a set of very, very expensive shocks made for me by Maxton for my ZRX 11. They are oversprung! Seems like the suspension gurus assume we live on the track vice dream of visiting one! Well in my case anyhow. I was living in Scotland and the B roads are hardly smooth enough to justify the set up. Still they are sweet, just need some lighter springs and work. Bike is now laid up until I return from bloody Rio

 

I live 5 miles from Maxton so I had them do me a sett for the Honda VFR I had at the time,but I found them very stiff,but they worked well, like you said they
assume we are all into track days.

Plasma1

 

I should be receiving the softer springs this week for a swap out/exchange. I'll share my thoughts once done.


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While I originally posted complaining the standard ikon shocks were too stiff, I think the problem is now solved.

I installed the softer springs (SP1s maybe?) onto the ikon shocks this past week. While many dealers were quoting me 2 hours, others telling me they don't have the equipment, and others telling me my springs we're not the right diameter for their machines... The mechanic in my garage was able to pull apart the shocks, swap the springs and put back together using a simple vice, clamp and a couple rods in under an hour.

The ride is significantly better than the "default" ikon shocks. I actually feel the shocks working. NYC city streets are finally bearable now. FYI I'm 162 lbs.

The other positive outcome from putting on the correct shock configuration is that I have considerably less "blowback" to my grips when I'm going over bad roads. With the stiffer shock configuration it was very challenging to prevent bumps from affecting my throttle control. Doable. But very challenging. Now, it's easy peasy.


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hi caramelgq, im about to order ikon rear shock and intiminator for the front, im 165 with gear. Could you tell me what spring should i ask for, is it sp1 ?

also when you ride with passenger is the spring still do a good job ?

thanks christian

 

hi caramelgq, im about to order ikon rear shock and intiminator for the front, im 165 with gear. Could you tell me what spring should i ask for, is it sp1 ?



also when you ride with passenger is the spring still do a good job ?



thanks christian

Hey there,

I ordered the springs from ikonusa with the softer SP1 spring. I’m 160+gear.

I’ve found it’s slightly too soft for riding with a pillion around the city (where roads suck). What I mean by this is a girl between 100-130 on the back will make me feel the shock is bottoming out on bumps where that wouldn’t happen if it were just me. The shock is set to “2” but I should probably move it to “3” when I have pillions and give it a try.

Hope this helps!


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Try backing your damping off to '1' as well, assuming '1' is the lowest setting.

 

I think you want the SP1 spring, but it is important to raise the preload when carrying a passenger.
That’s the preload, where you adjust the spring with the tool.
The damping is adjusted with the built in adjuster, usually set to 2 solo.
The best advice is to do what was suggested - and what I did - call Ikonusa in SF to be sure.

 

i might have a better deal in canada with hagon or progressive rear shock ( 412 series ) anybody have advice on those compare to ikon ? By the way ikon usa reply to my email once for stock 7610 but never reply for questions about sp1 )

 

I have much better luck calling, email just doesn’t do it for me, I prefer one conversation as opposed to numerous emails.

 

I agree, a phone call is just too easy.

Rex

 

Ikon Usa answer my email, i end up buying a pair of ikon 7610 with a less rigid spring, if you go with the stock lenght for the shock of a T100 , they have two springs rate, the 222 for majority of setup, and the 215 that is a little softer, that is the one i pick. Once installed ill give you my feedback on them. I also ordered intiminator valve for the front.

 

i rode my T100 all summer and i do like my new ikon, and my intiminator in the front ( but still need fine tunning with spacer and oil level). one of the thing i didnt like with the original shock was once i had a passenger the rear end will compress a lot giving the bike not much space between wheel and fender, now with the new ikon, it is the same or worst because the shock lenght is 5-6mm shorter than the original, ikon usa assure me that i was wrong and the t100 original shock is 335mm, i know that they are wrong, i had the two shocks side by side and measure them and original is longer... (after 700$cdn)i should have check the lenght specs of the ikon myself ...so think twice before you order.

 

^^^^^

When you have a passenger, increase the preload. That's its purpose.

 

ty lambroving, i know and im doing it, i started to think that i should sell the one i have and buy the ones that fit to a thruxton. what do you think ?

 

Not sure the difference would be all that dramatic. It would quicken the steering a bit if that's what you're after. Would raise the seat height as long as you are tall enough. Would also mess with the bike lean angle on the side stand, so beware that consequence.

 

I put Thruxton shocks on my SE to try out the length. Definitely improves turn in and was otherwise a good move. Did not harm a thing with the side stand. I already took the center stand off.

I got a pair of 2001 Kawasaki ZRX shocks. I think they were 14 or 14 1/4 inches long. I had to contact Racetech to get springs appropriate for my weight but once they were on the shock is excellent.

I wonder if Racetech would have a spring for the Ikons??

 

I wonder if Racetech would have a spring for the Ikons??

Ikon have countless springs. Reading above, he's got the right one for solo with the damping set at #2 and no preload. The shocks themselves are great for Bonnevilles...

 

yes, the spring is fine for me, i just find the that the bike should be a little higher in the back, if im not carefull, my feet scrape the pavement when i do a sharp turn at low speed. if i gain 3/4 -1 in more, i think i might like it. does a side stand from a thruxton fit on a T100 ?

 

does a side stand from a thruxton fit on a T100 ?

Yes, it does. It is about 25mm longer

 

The std T100 shock length is 340mm, the Thruxton/scrambler is 360mm.
I use 360mm Hagon 2810's with a 23kg/cm spring without any problems with the std T100 side stand, but I also use a 17 inch front rim which lowers the front a little to compensate for the higher rear.

I don't think that you'll have any side stand problems with 360mm length shocks.