Morning Andy I think it may have gone easier if you had removed both the old shocks before attempting to fit the new ones. That way you could have used the jack to adjust the height and thus the angle of the swing arm to match the length of the new shocks without having to compress them.
When I was still a teenager I built a complete bike from several tea-chests of parts (engine already built, luckily). I can't remember how many cock-ups I made but it was PLENTY. A few years later I was confident enough to do engine top end rebuilds. The point is that you don't learn anything without making mistakes. Brave of you to show us your enthusiastic efforts, warts and all. I hope this encourages others to have a go - doing your own spannering is one of the joys of motorcycling.
When you're using a screwdriver to lever something always a good idea to put some soft material around the end of the screwdriver in order to prevent a scratch occurring, bit late in this case but good to know 👍
And... Use a small pry tool with a bent end, instead of a screwdriver for jobs like this. If you use a screwdriver in this way you risk doing exactly what you did..
Hi Andy, I am sure most of us if not all of us have at one time tried to do something on our bikes and had a minor mishap and caused some damage. I think it's good that you included the part where you scratched the swinging arm as others can learn from this. A lot of TH-camrs would have edited that out, so thanks for being sincere. A very helpful video. Don't forget to patch up the paintwork :) Sandy
@@TheMissendenFlyer always nice to see people are human! I'd count myself quite handy mechanically... didn't stop me from accidentally removing a chunk of lacquer from the fairing of my new R1250RS last summer when simply taking off the decals! - a black enamel touchup pen will sort yours out no doubt!
@@commander_lard I agree, we have all made mistakes and it's great that Andy included his and I hope it doesn't deter from future spanneribg efforts. I do all my own work and it's so satisfying to see a job well done but it has taken me years to build the knowledge and skills, and the never complete tool kit 😂
Not yet I haven’t. Repaired some damage on my first gsx-s125 dome but the previous owner crashing but not done any Mai the car damage beside replacing one bolt on a Honda CBR650R who’s Allen head was made of cheese! Just had all the fairings off the V2 and found a bolt the dealer had lost as plastic washer off but again all went back together properly without a scratch!
It’s like looking into a mirror watching you do the shocks. So many times I’ve tried a job that’s theoretically simple, and it turns into an all day nightmare😆 Interesting how big a difference the shocks make to the comfort!
I have made all those same mistakes, Andy. These days if I have access to a jack, I pull both shocks (when applicable) and adjust the height to match the new stuff. And I also use a touch of silicone based lubricant on rubber bushings when I need to push them on, or a small bit of spit will do in a pinch. Always good to have a mate as a backup plan. And every expert I know has a long list of cock ups to become one.
Thanks to Nigel for his kind assistance. While y'all were wrenching on the shocks I was admiring those tires you have on the RE. I need some off-road tire options for my Super Tenere. I think some similar tread would work nicely for some moderately unpaved road riding I want to do in the future.
Reminds me of my apprentice mechanic days, I'd see the senior mechanics doing jobs that looked easy , I'd be given the same job , and think this will be handy, but you'd always have something and normally something unexpected giving you trouble, never be afraid to ask for help or advice my chief mechanic would always tell us. Because everyone in that garage would have had something similar and even the most experienced will tell you, you are always learning some new problem will always catch you out. Good video mate
Great to see such an honest video as I think we have all been there. We think it might be an easy job and then we do end up getting stuck or wishing for some help. Scratching the swinging arm was the best example of how we learn things by doing them ourselves.
Local 'poundshop' had Tipex correction pens/sets which is ideal for marking any nut/bolt/fitting and easy to see if anything is coming loose. I did wince before the damage and wondered what would get caught first, paintwork, wiring or brake pipe, glad it all worked out in the end.
Well done Andy! Theres no shame in not knowing what to do or getting stuck, you had a go thats the main thing & ask for help when unsure. 100% mate. Even us experienced tech's have to learn somewhere, no one gets it right 1st time all the time. You learn from having a go! 🙂My tip would have been to remove both shocks together, and as you're buddy did, bottom or threaded end 1st, then a tiny squirt of silicone spray would have had the top slip on. This doesn't affect the rubber bush, just aids installation. Shocks look good & seem to be a good fit financially & physically. I rate Hagon. Nice 👍
Yep we’ve all been there when attempting something. I now wrap my fork legs before taking front wheel off as I slipped with the wrench and scraped my freshly painted forks once
Nice one Andy, I knew you would be happy with the Hagon shocks, I always have been. They are in keeping with the style of the bike too and in my opinion, look better than the originals. It's a shame you struggled too, my late Father was an excellent, highly skilled engineer and I'm realising how much he taught me over the years, which was a blessing and saved me a fortune too.
Don't know if it's already been said but remove both old shocks before fitting the new ones. Then you can jack the bike up and down to align the new ones. Also. Don't do anything up tight until everything is fitted. That gives you enough slack in the system. Winding out the pre load can help to soften things up a bit.
Andy next time you pass a camping/ caravan shop go in and buy yourself a rubber mallet (the type used to knock in tent pegs) you'll be amazed what can be achieved with said implement with zero damage! You should have put a thin strip of wood between screwdriver and swing arm! Ps really sorry to see how you were messed about and conned with your customisation of this bike, thankfully the Chris fella came to the rescue! Loving the channel as always!
It's good to see other motorcyclists who have as little mechanical skill as I do! Great video Andy, the bike sounds amazing too. Love how excited you got seeing that shock sit home. Cheers!
Good on you Andy for having a go,it’s how we learn,TH-cam is your learning companion at times, very handy to have knowledge of your bike; on a side note I live in Australia and last year I spoke to the boys at Hagon, as you said more than helpful and so knowledgeable, put their shocks on my Triumph T100 Bonneville, completely different bike.
I followed the exact same process on my 2010 Thunderbird. Popped some piggy back nitros on it. Had to persuade them with a mallet as well! Good effort Andy! Front forks are next….
Just spent the weekend fitting an exhaust and still not quite there but its the only one way to learn! I am watching this video while waiting for my mechanic guru to arrive!
I fitted a similar pair of Hagon shocks to my Continental GT last summer and find them ideally suited to the bike. More sophisticated and considerably more expensive alternatives require lots of trial and error adjustments to get them right but Hagons are simple and work well straight out of the box. I was told to start with the softest preload setting, put a few miles on the bike then adjust them up to the medium setting which I did and the handling is now far better than when the bike was new. Mind you I have also fitted a YSS fork kit and a pair of Avon Roadrider tyres both of which I can wholeheartedly recommend.
I love watching watching you work on a bike. A complete antidote to watching Allen Millyard and Dave Mitchell (The Classic Motorcycle Channel) who both make me seem a complete buffoon, whereas you make me feel quite competent. Well done for trying and being so honest. Great stuff!
No skin lost or moved, and a minor scratch that can be touched up, not bad! Sometimes even holding your tongue right doesn't work. Thanks to your tech support friend its a done deal.
Very impressed with your humility mate. There are others on YT who would never admit their fallibility; doing so would severely bruise their massive egos. And yep Nigel seems like a proper decent guy.
When I did mine I removed both exhausts and the rear wheel and supported the bike on the centre stand. Was a good learning activity on removing and fitting the rear wheel which is a right pain in the proverbial.
These are the best videos, because most of us can relate to it. We have all been there at some point, I had a huge saga fitting some heated grips once, can’t bring myself to speak of it even now 😢😢. Can’t wait for some more spanner stuff in the Garage.
Bravo for giving this a go Andy. The easiest looking jobs always turn into full scale projects. You could be faulted for having no gloves, eye protection, and some janky tools. Dressed like you were going to Tesco, and no protection between that screw driver and your frame, but this is exactly how it would have gone down in my garage, and the garages of any average DIYer. We've all been here. Go to the pub, proudly tell your mates how you upgraded the rear springs. Leave out the rest. 😉
By throwing a few spanners at a bike yourself now and then as you did, you get so much more from the whole biking experience. Without getting too "zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" about it, there's something satisfying in trusting your life or at the very least the skin on your knees and elbows to a machine you worked on yourself. My mate call guys who just ride and go to the main dealer to get their chain adjusted "all torque and no wrench" Well done Andy
l always found Hagon helpful when l was building a Triton in the mid 90s. My alloy wheels.. (rims)..were build by them, also advised and suppied rear shocks....Mine bolted on no problem but l understand your pain...sometimes bad language works!, if not, 'stop'... go make cup of tea, light up cigarette if applicable....deep breath then start again. Most times a clear head solves the problem....Enjoy your new ride.... Greeting from España.
After 20 years I switched out the stock front springs and rear shocks on my 84 BMW R100RT with replacements from Progressive Springs. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Should have done it years ago. Improved the handling immensely.
Helped a friend of mine change his Thruxton shocks. On reassembly he snapped the top mounting bolt. Fortunately I'm really good with a bolt extractor. (lots of practice) and had a spare replacement bolt (lots of pack-ratting). Post-mortem revealed that the bolt had been over-tightened by the shop that previously changed the shock.
I'm glad you showed this video,shows that if you're struggling with anything on a bike get a mechanic to do the job or you're risking damaging your bike or even leaving it in a dangerous condition. There's a gent on TH-cam ,who I won't name,currently completely rebuilding an extremely powerful motorcycle with ...as he freely admits....no mechanical experience or,sadly,aptitude. It's actually scary to watch and I sincerely hope he never gets the thing on the road given what I've seen already.
I'm sure he;'s getting plenty of advice form viewers?? That is the beauty of TH-cam, there's always someone who has been there and done it and can advise....
Well mate it just goes to show that things don't always turn out as simple as they look. Shame you damaged the paint work but as you've said it's more a point of horse's for course's with certain things so they are best left to those with experience. Thanks for the video always nice to watch.
Andy, I’ve been in your shoes many a time and it’s nice to see and read in the comments that I’m not the only one. I’ve done many a shock change and don’t always use stock length. I’ve found that taking all the weight off the back and then using a Winbag or Air Shim to fine tune alignment works spectacularly. Great video and sorry about the paint work.
It's always the way - something that you think will be easy, often takes a lot longer. One way to avoid having to compress the springs by hand is to use a wood working ratchet clamp such as an Irwin Quick Grip. You can add just the right amount of compression so that the holes align easily with the post.
I watch your channel from time to time but every video on this bike I have to watch. It’s just like watching a car accident in slow motion from a side street. This bike is cursed from day one. Thank god you have so many other good bikes. ❤
You seem quite angry. I never meant to belittle it. We all make mistakes and buy a bike that hasn’t been good. I really don’t know how you can keep defending it. Id say plenty of people like your gold wing and gs and Ducati. But jealous of a royal Enfield that cost you a fortune ? I like your channel ! This bike is just a disaster really. Doesn’t mean I don’t like your channel just cause I think one of your bikes isn’t great. You do seem quite angry lately. Chill out. It’s only a bike channel.
A little bit of washing up liquid on the top rubbers will help, if it's really cold warm them up a touch. Hagon are an excellent company always very helpful.
I bought some Hagon rear shocks and progressive front springs for my 1988 goldwing, the ride and handling is superb, the staff at Hagon are very knowledgeable and friendly, I'd reccomend them every time 👍
Good advice to remove both old shocks first. Also worth checking the two new shocks visually before fitting. One of the reasons for going to a monoshock design was the slight differences in cheaper shocks
I’m stunned you still have this bike. Sell it and get a nice cruiser / chopper from Indian or Harley. Even if you lose a lot of money it’s been nothing but heartache from day one. I admire your amazing strength of will to keep working on it after all the negativity it’s caused since you got it. Get a Harley or an Indian. Something really classy and quality built.
This video brought back memories of DIY glory. Years ago I owned a 1981 Suzuki GS 1100E. I decided to swap out the stock exhaust for a set of Vance & Hines 4-in-to-1 headers. "How hard could it be?", I thought. I found out about five hours later. I sure do miss that bike!!
We have all learnt by trial and error and error but usually in private. Great to see you sharing your attempt and showing that these jobs are not beyond DIY mechanics. Although each new job is a challenge, the next time you change shocks will be fine by yourself….
I put hagons on the rear of my Harley Electra glide. Transformed the bike. Much better. Shows up how crap the front springs are now but Hagon do those also. You’re quite right. Hagon customer service is brilliant
Lovely to see. Most youtubers would have either edited that out or not put the video up but as brutal as it was to see it is an honest warts and all video which will help people withe their own bikes so thanks for posting it.
You did the right thing removing one at a time. You need one person sitting or leaning on the bike to compress it and one pushing the shock on. If the shocks are a different length you remove both shocks and jack the rear, but you still need two people because the bike WILL topple. Glad you got it sorted.
I found that fitting mine on the sidestand was a 10 minute job. One side at a time, bottom end first, then either lean on the seat or pull it toward the sidestand to fit the top end.
Glad you got it sorted with a little help from the pros. On critical fasteners like these I will use a little blue Loctite (medium strength thread locker) on the threads to prevent them from loosening off. Especially important on machines that vibrate a lot.
Fair play for having a go. As you said yourself, knowledge and experience are the best tools in the box. At least you tried, even though you admit, to not being very mechanically minded. Good effort mate.
Thanks for sharing Andy, this is a life changer for our amazing RE bikes, I will try to get one of this to my continental gt. Thanks for sharing your experience in replacing and riding this new shocks!
...well done sir!.... I'm also a member of the ham-fisted mechanical nightmare club. Nice to see a youtuber that shows the mistakes as well as the victories. Great vid.
As the axiom goes when referring to dumping a bike, "we've all done it," so goes with causing scratches, etc. The good news is that the upgrade is on, and it's working out great. Cheers to that, and cheers to Nigel.
It may have been a struggle for you Andy but for the rest of us it was terrific fun, thanks! Here’s what you learnt 1. When using a lever on a finished surface always protect the surface and use a pad under the end of the lever. 2. Always get an assistant if the job involves the bike not being supported in a robust manner. 3. It is vastly preferable to remove both shocks with the bike supported securely under the engine to allow the swing arm to move and allow easy alignment of the new shocks. 4. And this is specific to you Andy, always ensure that you are working hard at your day job or making videos whilst someone else does the mechanical work on your bikes 😂
Oh man. I was cringing SO hard at the metal screwdriver against the swing arm. Then the scratch came in! I actually shouted, "NO!" when that happened! Hope you get the paintwork sorted and matched up! Interesting video! I've done front fork replacement on a Chinese bike that I had, which were simple enough. But damn, those looked proper fiddly! Glad to hear it's had some an effect on the ride! Stay safe!
Honest video Andy. Some would have edited out the difficult bits, full credit for leaving them in. Hagon good choice for quality and value for money, are you going to upgrade the front ? It’s worth doing.
@TheMissendenFlyer The Hagon distributor I dealt with recommended Norman Hyde progressive springs, which I found to be a very nice match to the Hagon shocks. They were very inexpensive.
I've made small scratches in the paint like that as well. It's annoying but can usually be blended in with a Chipex kit. Just need to get the matching paint code such as RE/solid black etc.
I’d invest in a socket set, easiest way to take out a knuckle is a spanner trying to loosen a tight bolt, also a jack under the bike & a lever under the wheel you can use the weight of the bike to align. I can’t believe your ‘expert’ fumbled so much too
@@TheMissendenFlyer Us blokes know all about a Ten Minute Job (TMJ) on our motorbikes. We need to make the phrase TMJ part of the Oxford Dictionary as it's something we can all relate to. 👍👍
I’ve been in the automotive industry for nearly 20 years (😳 feels like a long time when you type it down…) and sometimes jobs just go like that. Good job Mr Flyer 👏
Good for you Andy, for giving it a shot and you all but had it. Its just a shame someone didn't mention putting it on the bottom and then the top, in all the advice you had offered beforehand. Never mind though all turned out in the end and a much better handling bike to enjoy too
I thought we were going to see some burst knuckles for a minute! Glad that didn’t happen. Just a wee tip: use an open hand to push a spanner just in case it slips and you end up punching something very hard and usually sharp…like a sprocket… Ask me how I know that 🤦♂️ 🤕
10 out of 10 for a valiant effort! You now have a degree in QBF. Qualified By F-up. This is how we learn. This is the way. I agree with you on not going the Öhlins route. Sometimes cheap and cheerful will do just fine. Most men think they are Barry Sheene on a bike, Schumacher in a car or Rocco Siffredi in bed. But we are not. The cheaper shocks will most probably be good enough for all the girls you go out with. Many miles, big smiles on a reasonable price!
Only Fail is the April Bike News!!! Fortunately there's Tuesday at Dobbses!! Surprised Gold Ohlin cans next to those rims wasn't a fancy!! I do enjoy your attempts. More of it Andy!!
Just a small point Andy, when using a torque wrench don’t click it again. The first click means it’s at the correct setting , doing it again increases the torque.
Hi Neil, have you any scientific evidence that a double click on a torque wrench increases the torque. The reason ask is that I’ve seen this comment numerous times on tinternet with my daytime job as a mechanic and hobby of engine building I must of torqued thousands of fasteners and to this day I can’t see how a double click increases the torque.
@@ticthedog6095 when I was trained I was told to only tighten until I heard the first click. The reason I was given is that when you apply pressure to the torque wrench on subsequent occasions, I.e to hear more clicks, you are tightening the nut or bolt further.
@@neilfordham5790 My friend who is a air frame fitter was taught exactly the same, so we marked a fastener and retorqued it multiple times and it never moved. I think the one click only rule is been taught because of people using the torque wrench incorrectly.
Got Hagon shocks on my interceptor. Very happy with the results. Haven’t yet taken blue lettering off but not sure I like how it looks on a black bike. I was told putting them on was an easy job but I know my inner bodge and took straight to local mechanic. Watching your video makes me feel I made the right choice 🤣
Are you going to get Kteck to upgrade the front fork internals too. A 3/4 braker bar and a socket would have been helpful to undue the bolts, a spring compressor would have made the job much easier.
Such a great honest video...we've all been there.....however....i was screaming for a rag between that screwdriver and the swinging arm. Lol. How many "half hour jobs" have taken me 3 or 4 hrs...aarrgggh!
Hi Andy, have another rummage through Mrs Flyer's nail varnish, to see if she's got something that'll match the swingarm (maybe from her goth phase), nail varnish makes brilliant touch up paint. Falling that, Boots will have something.
IKON shocks are great. The are made in Australia using the same tooling that used to make Koni motorcycle shocks, same design as old Koni shocks. Retro upgrade, but a great upgrade.
Morning Andy
I think it may have gone easier if you had removed both the old shocks before attempting to fit the new ones. That way you could have used the jack to adjust the height and thus the angle of the swing arm to match the length of the new shocks without having to compress them.
Nope.
Andy did it exactly how it should have been done by a novice. He now has earned his QBF.
Qualified By F-up
I second this, haven't done this for many a year but that's how you do it.
It’s always reassuring to see that it isn’t only me who sometimes finds things don’t go exactly to plan. Smashing honest video.
It's not DIY unless you spent double the expected time in the garage and throw at least one spanner at the wall 😂
I’m on week 2 replacing a shock on a BMW X3. You’re not alone.
I'm happy if I can complete a task without having to go out and buy a tool that I'm missing :)
That screwdriver being levered on the swing arm must have caused a collective "NOOO" on the Internet!
It did from me, even the non damaging first time.
Yes when I edited it back I thought the same!! What I do for entertainment!! (Yeah right!!)
The nation held its breath! 😉😁
What brand and size of the rear tire?
The chuckle brothers.😂
When I was still a teenager I built a complete bike from several tea-chests of parts (engine already built, luckily). I can't remember how many cock-ups I made but it was PLENTY.
A few years later I was confident enough to do engine top end rebuilds. The point is that you don't learn anything without making mistakes.
Brave of you to show us your enthusiastic efforts, warts and all. I hope this encourages others to have a go - doing your own spannering is one of the joys of motorcycling.
Cheers Chris - that was my intent on putting this video up, helping other learn by my errors....
When you're using a screwdriver to lever something always a good idea to put some soft material around the end of the screwdriver in order to prevent a scratch occurring, bit late in this case but good to know 👍
Well if you notice prior to that mishap I was doing exactly that!
@@TheMissendenFlyer 👍👍
And... Use a small pry tool with a bent end, instead of a screwdriver for jobs like this. If you use a screwdriver in this way you risk doing exactly what you did..
Hi Andy,
I am sure most of us if not all of us have at one time tried to do something on our bikes and had a minor mishap and caused some damage.
I think it's good that you included the part where you scratched the swinging arm as others can learn from this.
A lot of TH-camrs would have edited that out, so thanks for being sincere.
A very helpful video. Don't forget to patch up the paintwork :)
Sandy
Yes I will - it’s not a big deal and thought it would be fun for others to see me suffer!
@@TheMissendenFlyer always nice to see people are human! I'd count myself quite handy mechanically... didn't stop me from accidentally removing a chunk of lacquer from the fairing of my new R1250RS last summer when simply taking off the decals! - a black enamel touchup pen will sort yours out no doubt!
*"Now I know it's mine," is what I say when I put a dent or scratch on my machines.*
@@commander_lard I agree, we have all made mistakes and it's great that Andy included his and I hope it doesn't deter from future spanneribg efforts. I do all my own work and it's so satisfying to see a job well done but it has taken me years to build the knowledge and skills, and the never complete tool kit 😂
Not yet I haven’t.
Repaired some damage on my first gsx-s125 dome but the previous owner crashing but not done any Mai the car damage beside replacing one bolt on a Honda CBR650R who’s Allen head was made of cheese!
Just had all the fairings off the V2 and found a bolt the dealer had lost as plastic washer off but again all went back together properly without a scratch!
It’s like looking into a mirror watching you do the shocks. So many times I’ve tried a job that’s theoretically simple, and it turns into an all day nightmare😆
Interesting how big a difference the shocks make to the comfort!
Thank you Freddie - that makes me feel much better! ….and yes, what an improvement to the ride!
Amazing how long it took me to take the fairings off my Panigale V2 and put them all back on perfectly aligned!
Best part of four hours I recon!
I have made all those same mistakes, Andy. These days if I have access to a jack, I pull both shocks (when applicable) and adjust the height to match the new stuff. And I also use a touch of silicone based lubricant on rubber bushings when I need to push them on, or a small bit of spit will do in a pinch.
Always good to have a mate as a backup plan. And every expert I know has a long list of cock ups to become one.
Amazingly mild expletives when you scratched the swingarm, you are a gentleman.
Thank you!
Thanks to Nigel for his kind assistance.
While y'all were wrenching on the shocks I was admiring those tires you have on the RE. I need some off-road tire options for my Super Tenere. I think some similar tread would work nicely for some moderately unpaved road riding I want to do in the future.
I joined London Amb Service in 1986,during my training an instructor said "we don't Know what we don't know" that's always stuck with me, good video.
Reminds me of my apprentice mechanic days, I'd see the senior mechanics doing jobs that looked easy , I'd be given the same job , and think this will be handy, but you'd always have something and normally something unexpected giving you trouble, never be afraid to ask for help or advice my chief mechanic would always tell us. Because everyone in that garage would have had something similar and even the most experienced will tell you, you are always learning some new problem will always catch you out. Good video mate
Cheers Martin - appreciate that!
Great to see such an honest video as I think we have all been there. We think it might be an easy job and then we do end up getting stuck or wishing for some help. Scratching the swinging arm was the best example of how we learn things by doing them ourselves.
There's a certain channel that this will be an absolute joy to ............. this channel continues to be comedy gold............
Glad to help!
Local 'poundshop' had Tipex correction pens/sets which is ideal for marking any nut/bolt/fitting and easy to see if anything is coming loose.
I did wince before the damage and wondered what would get caught first, paintwork, wiring or brake pipe, glad it all worked out in the end.
A center stand is priceless for a motorcycle
Well done Andy! Theres no shame in not knowing what to do or getting stuck, you had a go thats the main thing & ask for help when unsure. 100% mate. Even us experienced tech's have to learn somewhere, no one gets it right 1st time all the time. You learn from having a go! 🙂My tip would have been to remove both shocks together, and as you're buddy did, bottom or threaded end 1st, then a tiny squirt of silicone spray would have had the top slip on. This doesn't affect the rubber bush, just aids installation. Shocks look good & seem to be a good fit financially & physically. I rate Hagon. Nice 👍
Yep we’ve all been there when attempting something. I now wrap my fork legs before taking front wheel off as I slipped with the wrench and scraped my freshly painted forks once
Last time I bought a Hagon was over 20 years ago. Glad to hear they are just as good now.
Nice one Andy, I knew you would be happy with the Hagon shocks, I always have been. They are in keeping with the style of the bike too and in my opinion, look better than the originals. It's a shame you struggled too, my late Father was an excellent, highly skilled engineer and I'm realising how much he taught me over the years, which was a blessing and saved me a fortune too.
Don't know if it's already been said but remove both old shocks before fitting the new ones. Then you can jack the bike up and down to align the new ones. Also. Don't do anything up tight until everything is fitted. That gives you enough slack in the system. Winding out the pre load can help to soften things up a bit.
Andy next time you pass a camping/ caravan shop go in and buy yourself a rubber mallet (the type used to knock in tent pegs) you'll be amazed what can be achieved with said implement with zero damage! You should have put a thin strip of wood between screwdriver and swing arm! Ps really sorry to see how you were messed about and conned with your customisation of this bike, thankfully the Chris fella came to the rescue! Loving the channel as always!
It's good to see other motorcyclists who have as little mechanical skill as I do! Great video Andy, the bike sounds amazing too. Love how excited you got seeing that shock sit home. Cheers!
Andy, you forgot “get in there, ya bastard!”
Works for me.
Good on you Andy for having a go,it’s how we learn,TH-cam is your learning companion at times, very handy to have knowledge of your bike; on a side note I live in Australia and last year I spoke to the boys at Hagon, as you said more than helpful and so knowledgeable, put their shocks on my Triumph T100 Bonneville, completely different bike.
I followed the exact same process on my 2010 Thunderbird. Popped some piggy back nitros on it. Had to persuade them with a mallet as well! Good effort Andy! Front forks are next….
Cheers Darren - glad it's not just me!
Just spent the weekend fitting an exhaust and still not quite there but its the only one way to learn! I am watching this video while waiting for my mechanic guru to arrive!
Glad it's not just me - thanks for watching!
I fitted a similar pair of Hagon shocks to my Continental GT last summer and find them ideally suited to the bike. More sophisticated and considerably more expensive alternatives require lots of trial and error adjustments to get them right but Hagons are simple and work well straight out of the box. I was told to start with the softest preload setting, put a few miles on the bike then adjust them up to the medium setting which I did and the handling is now far better than when the bike was new. Mind you I have also fitted a YSS fork kit and a pair of Avon Roadrider tyres both of which I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Yes I did look at the YSS but I think these are fit for purpose - I'm very happy with them. Thnaks for watching!
I love watching watching you work on a bike. A complete antidote to watching Allen Millyard and Dave Mitchell (The Classic Motorcycle Channel) who both make me seem a complete buffoon, whereas you make me feel quite competent. Well done for trying and being so honest. Great stuff!
Glad to help!
Whenever I’ve done those, always found it’s easier to do the bottom then use the lift to help me align the top of the shock :)
No skin lost or moved, and a minor scratch that can be touched up, not bad! Sometimes even holding your tongue right doesn't work. Thanks to your tech support friend its a done deal.
Yes I’m taking it as a win!
What a brilliant video, honest, funny, and informative, although you did forget to thank Mrs TMF for her nail polish.
Back in 1977 Hagon's straitened out a buckled Honda Comstar wheel for me. Saved me a fortune, great company.
Very impressed with your humility mate. There are others on YT who would never admit their fallibility; doing so would severely bruise their massive egos. And yep Nigel seems like a proper decent guy.
He’s baled me out on numerous occasions!
Del boy?
@@kwak1k no mate but i'm sure you won't need many guesses to nail it - the one i'm thinking of really meets all the criteria stated above
When I did mine I removed both exhausts and the rear wheel and supported the bike on the centre stand. Was a good learning activity on removing and fitting the rear wheel which is a right pain in the proverbial.
Yes way beyond me that….
Fair play Andy. Admire your honesty and learnt something.
Thank you!
These are the best videos, because most of us can relate to it. We have all been there at some point, I had a huge saga fitting some heated grips once, can’t bring myself to speak of it even now 😢😢. Can’t wait for some more spanner stuff in the Garage.
Yes some you win some you lose don't you.....on balance I seem to be about 50:50 with my spannering!
I love Hagon shocks. I've fitted them to my Harley sportster. URAL 750. BMW R80. Plus a couple of other bikes. I thoroughly recommend them.
Bravo for giving this a go Andy. The easiest looking jobs always turn into full scale projects. You could be faulted for having no gloves, eye protection, and some janky tools. Dressed like you were going to Tesco, and no protection between that screw driver and your frame, but this is exactly how it would have gone down in my garage, and the garages of any average DIYer. We've all been here. Go to the pub, proudly tell your mates how you upgraded the rear springs. Leave out the rest. 😉
Thanks David appreciate those words -I like to show the rough with the smooth, don’t want anyone thinking I have too easy a time….
By throwing a few spanners at a bike yourself now and then as you did, you get so much more from the whole biking experience.
Without getting too "zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" about it, there's something satisfying in trusting your life or at the very least the skin on your knees and elbows to a machine you worked on yourself.
My mate call guys who just ride and go to the main dealer to get their chain adjusted "all torque and no wrench"
Well done Andy
Thanks, I appreciate that!
l always found Hagon helpful when l was building a Triton in the mid 90s. My alloy wheels.. (rims)..were build by them, also advised and suppied rear shocks....Mine bolted on no problem but l understand your pain...sometimes bad language works!, if not, 'stop'... go make cup of tea, light up cigarette if applicable....deep breath then start again. Most times a clear head solves the problem....Enjoy your new ride.... Greeting from España.
Greetings from Gran Canaria!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Andy , nice warm ride on good surfaced roads...🏍
After 20 years I switched out the stock front springs and rear shocks on my 84 BMW R100RT with replacements from Progressive Springs. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Should have done it years ago. Improved the handling immensely.
Nice one…
Helped a friend of mine change his Thruxton shocks. On reassembly he snapped the top mounting bolt. Fortunately I'm really good with a bolt extractor. (lots of practice) and had a spare replacement bolt (lots of pack-ratting). Post-mortem revealed that the bolt had been over-tightened by the shop that previously changed the shock.
A small amout of rubber grease on the shock spigot always helps the shock push on easier.
I'm glad you showed this video,shows that if you're struggling with anything on a bike get a mechanic to do the job or you're risking damaging your bike or even leaving it in a dangerous condition. There's a gent on TH-cam ,who I won't name,currently completely rebuilding an extremely powerful motorcycle with ...as he freely admits....no mechanical experience or,sadly,aptitude. It's actually scary to watch and I sincerely hope he never gets the thing on the road given what I've seen already.
I'm sure he;'s getting plenty of advice form viewers?? That is the beauty of TH-cam, there's always someone who has been there and done it and can advise....
@@TheMissendenFlyer He is,this being the internet not all of it good,sadly he's not big on listening either.
Well mate it just goes to show that things don't always turn out as simple as they look. Shame you damaged the paint work but as you've said it's more a point of horse's for course's with certain things so they are best left to those with experience.
Thanks for the video always nice to watch.
Well done on having a go at it yourself. The Hagons are a good upgrade, esp after a few hundred miles when they've loosened up a bit.
Andy,
I’ve been in your shoes many a time and it’s nice to see and read in the comments that I’m not the only one. I’ve done many a shock change and don’t always use stock length. I’ve found that taking all the weight off the back and then using a Winbag or Air Shim to fine tune alignment works spectacularly. Great video and sorry about the paint work.
It's always the way - something that you think will be easy, often takes a lot longer. One way to avoid having to compress the springs by hand is to use a wood working ratchet clamp such as an Irwin Quick Grip. You can add just the right amount of compression so that the holes align easily with the post.
Or could they be adjusted (preload) slightly differently do you reckon?
I watch your channel from time to time but every video on this bike I have to watch. It’s just like watching a car accident in slow motion from a side street. This bike is cursed from day one. Thank god you have so many other good bikes. ❤
I’m stunned by the amount of hatred I get regarding this bike - it’s just a fun project and I love it! Mostly I think jealousy is at play….
You seem quite angry. I never meant to belittle it. We all make mistakes and buy a bike that hasn’t been good. I really don’t know how you can keep defending it. Id say plenty of people like your gold wing and gs and Ducati. But jealous of a royal Enfield that cost you a fortune ? I like your channel ! This bike is just a disaster really. Doesn’t mean I don’t like your channel just cause I think one of your bikes isn’t great. You do seem quite angry lately. Chill out. It’s only a bike channel.
Yes I'm very much known for my anger :0) All the best.....
When you started levering the screwdriver on the swing arm i had to watch from behind the sofa 😅
Yes I knew the risks as well!
A little bit of washing up liquid on the top rubbers will help, if it's really cold warm them up a touch. Hagon are an excellent company always very helpful.
Yes I found them so for sure…
Nice vid. Glad you got it sorted & are happy with them. I think Hagon are the best value new shocks you can get in the UK imo.
I bought some Hagon rear shocks and progressive front springs for my 1988 goldwing, the ride and handling is superb, the staff at Hagon are very knowledgeable and friendly, I'd reccomend them every time 👍
Agreed!
Glad you made such a big improvement 👍
Good advice to remove both old shocks first. Also worth checking the two new shocks visually before fitting. One of the reasons for going to a monoshock design was the slight differences in cheaper shocks
I’m stunned you still have this bike. Sell it and get a nice cruiser / chopper from Indian or Harley. Even if you lose a lot of money it’s been nothing but heartache from day one. I admire your amazing strength of will to keep working on it after all the negativity it’s caused since you got it. Get a Harley or an Indian. Something really classy and quality built.
I have plenty of other bikes and love this one too thanks…..
This video brought back memories of DIY glory. Years ago I owned a 1981 Suzuki GS 1100E. I decided to swap out the stock exhaust for a set of Vance & Hines 4-in-to-1 headers. "How hard could it be?", I thought. I found out about five hours later. I sure do miss that bike!!
Good to see the story had a happy ending. A great value performance upgrade.
Good to an honest garage video. As we all know nothing ever goes to plan. 👍
We have all learnt by trial and error and error but usually in private. Great to see you sharing your attempt and showing that these jobs are not beyond DIY mechanics. Although each new job is a challenge, the next time you change shocks will be fine by yourself….
There won’t be a next time if I can find Nigel!!
Hagon are excellent shocks for the money.
I put hagons on the rear of my Harley Electra glide. Transformed the bike. Much better. Shows up how crap the front springs are now but Hagon do those also.
You’re quite right. Hagon customer service is brilliant
Lovely to see. Most youtubers would have either edited that out or not put the video up but as brutal as it was to see it is an honest warts and all video which will help people withe their own bikes so thanks for posting it.
My pleasure (and my thoughts exactly)
You did the right thing removing one at a time.
You need one person sitting or leaning on the bike to compress it and one pushing the shock on.
If the shocks are a different length you remove both shocks and jack the rear, but you still need two people because the bike WILL topple.
Glad you got it sorted.
Cheers!
I found that fitting mine on the sidestand was a 10 minute job. One side at a time, bottom end first, then either lean on the seat or pull it toward the sidestand to fit the top end.
You were luckier than me then!
Glad you got it sorted with a little help from the pros. On critical fasteners like these I will use a little blue Loctite (medium strength thread locker) on the threads to prevent them from loosening off. Especially important on machines that vibrate a lot.
Fair play for having a go. As you said yourself, knowledge and experience are the best tools in the box.
At least you tried, even though you admit, to not being very mechanically minded.
Good effort mate.
Thank you!
Silicon lube. The sort they use to connect foul water drains or rainwater guttering with. Costs very little and works EVERY time!
Thanks for sharing Andy, this is a life changer for our amazing RE bikes, I will try to get one of this to my continental gt. Thanks for sharing your experience in replacing and riding this new shocks!
...well done sir!.... I'm also a member of the ham-fisted mechanical nightmare club. Nice to see a youtuber that shows the mistakes as well as the victories. Great vid.
I have precious few victories!
As the axiom goes when referring to dumping a bike, "we've all done it," so goes with causing scratches, etc. The good news is that the upgrade is on, and it's working out great. Cheers to that, and cheers to Nigel.
Indeed!
It may have been a struggle for you Andy but for the rest of us it was terrific fun, thanks!
Here’s what you learnt
1. When using a lever on a finished surface always protect the surface and use a pad under the end of the lever.
2. Always get an assistant if the job involves the bike not being supported in a robust manner.
3. It is vastly preferable to remove both shocks with the bike supported securely under the engine to allow the swing arm to move and allow easy alignment of the new shocks.
4. And this is specific to you Andy, always ensure that you are working hard at your day job or making videos whilst someone else does the mechanical work on your bikes 😂
Re 4 - This is my day job!!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Thank Christ for that!, I was worried you might be an aircraft mechanic as I’m off on holiday soon 🙂
Thought i was watching a Laurel and Hardy film for a minute. 😂
Love a bit of Laurel and Hardy me….
Glad it turned around and hope you get the scratch on the swing arm painted up.
Willdo
Oh man. I was cringing SO hard at the metal screwdriver against the swing arm. Then the scratch came in! I actually shouted, "NO!" when that happened! Hope you get the paintwork sorted and matched up!
Interesting video! I've done front fork replacement on a Chinese bike that I had, which were simple enough. But damn, those looked proper fiddly!
Glad to hear it's had some an effect on the ride! Stay safe!
Absolutely love my Hagon Monoshock and Progressive springs. Totally changed my handling for the better too.
Honest video Andy. Some would have edited out the difficult bits, full credit for leaving them in. Hagon good choice for quality and value for money, are you going to upgrade the front ? It’s worth doing.
Would like too but not too sure how to go about doing it - maybe I should speak to Hagon again!
@TheMissendenFlyer The Hagon distributor I dealt with recommended Norman Hyde progressive springs, which I found to be a very nice match to the Hagon shocks. They were very inexpensive.
At least you had a go at doing the job, 10/10 for effort, perhaps not quite as high for actual result. Nigel takes the 10!
I've made small scratches in the paint like that as well. It's annoying but can usually be blended in with a Chipex kit. Just need to get the matching paint code such as RE/solid black etc.
Yeah it’s no big deal AFAIC
Hagon shocks are brilliant value used them for years on all kinds of bikes and never had an issue with them.
Is this just baiting a Dirty Garage Guy reaction video? Love this marketing synergy.
I’d invest in a socket set, easiest way to take out a knuckle is a spanner trying to loosen a tight bolt, also a jack under the bike & a lever under the wheel you can use the weight of the bike to align. I can’t believe your ‘expert’ fumbled so much too
I do indeed have two socket sets.....
Hi Andy, welcome to the world of TMJ’s (Ten Minute Jobs). All day for 4 bolts is very impressive, it’s what Man Caves are made for.
Yes I think that may even be a record for me!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Us blokes know all about a Ten Minute Job (TMJ) on our motorbikes. We need to make the phrase TMJ part of the Oxford Dictionary as it's something we can all relate to. 👍👍
I’ve been in the automotive industry for nearly 20 years (😳 feels like a long time when you type it down…) and sometimes jobs just go like that. Good job Mr Flyer 👏
Cheers Craig - appreciate that….
Great honesty here and job done too.
Cheers Chris!
Good for you Andy, for giving it a shot and you all but had it. Its just a shame someone didn't mention putting it on the bottom and then the top, in all the advice you had offered beforehand. Never mind though all turned out in the end and a much better handling bike to enjoy too
Cheers John - appreciated!
I thought we were going to see some burst knuckles for a minute! Glad that didn’t happen.
Just a wee tip: use an open hand to push a spanner just in case it slips and you end up punching something very hard and usually sharp…like a sprocket…
Ask me how I know that 🤦♂️ 🤕
Yes I’ve experienced that a few times too!!
10 out of 10 for a valiant effort!
You now have a degree in QBF.
Qualified By F-up.
This is how we learn. This is the way.
I agree with you on not going the Öhlins route. Sometimes cheap and cheerful will do just fine. Most men think they are Barry Sheene on a bike, Schumacher in a car or Rocco Siffredi in bed.
But we are not.
The cheaper shocks will most probably be good enough for all the girls you go out with.
Many miles, big smiles on a reasonable price!
Cheers Cedric!
Mr Hudson is going to have a field day with this one! 🤣😂.. fair play for showing the 'mishap' on camera.
No idea who “Mr Hudson” is but cheers for the comment!
A very acceptable amount of "Engineers screwdriver" usage 👍👍👍
Only Fail is the April Bike News!!! Fortunately there's Tuesday at Dobbses!!
Surprised Gold Ohlin cans next to those rims wasn't a fancy!!
I do enjoy your attempts. More of it Andy!!
Bike news will be along in due course - apologies it’s a little late (thank Covid for that)…
@@TheMissendenFlyer cheers mate. Trust you're all well.
Look forward tp my monthly bike chat fix!!
Hope the shocks last longer that the Hagon's on my RE 535 CGT. From memory around 1000 miles. I put the originals back on.
Oh dear!
Just a small point Andy, when using a torque wrench don’t click it again. The first click means it’s at the correct setting , doing it again increases the torque.
Thank you for that!
Hi Neil, have you any scientific evidence that a double click on a torque wrench increases the torque.
The reason ask is that I’ve seen this comment numerous times on tinternet with my daytime job as a mechanic and hobby of engine building I must of torqued thousands of fasteners and to this day I can’t see how a double click increases the torque.
@@ticthedog6095 when I was trained I was told to only tighten until I heard the first click. The reason I was given is that when you apply pressure to the torque wrench on subsequent occasions, I.e to hear more clicks, you are tightening the nut or bolt further.
@@neilfordham5790
My friend who is a air frame fitter was taught exactly the same, so we marked a fastener and retorqued it multiple times and it never moved.
I think the one click only rule is been taught because of people using the torque wrench incorrectly.
So doing them up tight and then a little bit more isn't good enough then. 😂😂
Got Hagon shocks on my interceptor. Very happy with the results. Haven’t yet taken blue lettering off but not sure I like how it looks on a black bike. I was told putting them on was an easy job but I know my inner bodge and took straight to local mechanic. Watching your video makes me feel I made the right choice 🤣
You sure did!
Well done Andy good honest video we have all been there and will I'm sure have further times of fitting parts that test us all.
I wouldn’t mind but it’s every time for me!!
Are you going to get Kteck to upgrade the front fork internals too.
A 3/4 braker bar and a socket would have been helpful to undue the bolts, a spring compressor would have made the job much easier.
I like the sound of getting the front done…
Have you had a look at the Revelry cycles channel they do some cool things with Royal Enfield
Such a great honest video...we've all been there.....however....i was screaming for a rag between that screwdriver and the swinging arm. Lol.
How many "half hour jobs" have taken me 3 or 4 hrs...aarrgggh!
....most of mine do!
Hi Andy, have another rummage through Mrs Flyer's nail varnish, to see if she's got something that'll match the swingarm (maybe from her goth phase), nail varnish makes brilliant touch up paint.
Falling that, Boots will have something.
IKON shocks are great. The are made in Australia using the same tooling that used to make Koni motorcycle shocks, same design as old Koni shocks. Retro upgrade, but a great upgrade.