Koni shocks rebuild

[jkorn]

The Koni shocks that I bought back in the 80's are starting to leak oil. Koni can't help me since they are not in the motorcycle shock business anymore. Does anyone know of a rebuild kit for Koni motorcycle shocks? I hate to have put the old stock shocks back on my 1100.

[beechfront]

perhaps the ikon people can help??

IKON LINK

[Robert Haller]

Re: Koni shocks rebuild

Originally posted by jkorn
I hate to have put the old stock shocks back on my 1100.

You notice that much of a difference? I have been waivering between replacing my stock shocks (which seem to be working pretty well) with aftermarket shocks (either Hagon, Progressive, or Ikons).

[sixtysix]

Re: Re: Koni shocks rebuild

Originally posted by Robert Haller


You notice that much of a difference? I have been waivering between replacing my stock shocks (which seem to be working pretty well) with aftermarket shocks (either Hagon, Progressive, or Ikons).

The difference for me was like night and day! My old shocks were OK I thought (but were stiff at all settings) but after intalling new Koni's (4 years ago) I went from being able to ride 10 miles with out my back hurting to doing 700 miles days.


Here is a post from the old list with comments from me and Micha. I decided to leave it intact. From July 1999, prices were lower then!



Tim,

Buy the Koni's, at $229 for the pair it is the best deal in motorcycling, also the progressive front springs are only like $42 from comp acc......it was $297 with shipping for the shocks and springs and arrived in 10 days.
They have several phone numbers but call the one on the website, It did say starting at $239 in the catalog but I think they must give slightly cheaper internet pricing since the only charged me $229, also the proggessive springs were listed like $5 higher in the catalog.

Since I have put the Koni's (and progressive front springs) on I have discovered a new joy in motorcycling, gone is the stiff and sore back, and here to stay is a new desire to ride anywhere any time. I don't work for or sell Koni's but I would recommend them for anybody. Think of it as one payment on a new bike because that is what your bike will feel like.

I weight 280lbs and ride with no air in the front and shocks set at min pre load and min dampining, with SWMBO on I crank to preload 2 and dampining 2, so there is plenty of adjustment for touring loads left.

But don't take my word for it, here is what Micah wrote about the Koni's, and what sold me on them:

Open them up and WOW they are beautiful. Well, crap! they have black springs (progressive) on chrome bodies. Looks good but I have a 80SG and I like to see chrome. Gotta get chrome where you can b/c you sure can't buy aftermarket stuff for these things. I call CompAcc and talk with this guy who really knows bikes and come to find out chrome springs are not available with Konis for the XS1100. So I talk to him about Progressive Shocks. He says more people use Prog. and that makes me start thinking but
then I remembered the reason for getting the Koni's. Progressives use automatic velocity sensing damping adjustment and the Konis have four manual adjusments. Both have three preload settings. See below for notes about the settings:

The damping force is adjustable by means of the adjusting disc in the upper eye. As needed, you can select one of the following:
1 - for very smooth damping under modest load
2 - for solo and pillion passenger use on average to good roads
3 - for sporting solo riding or for use with pillion and luggage
4 - heavier adjustment than strictly necessary for use with pillion
passenger and luggage
Three preloads:
lower - for solo use
middle - pillion passenger use
top - heavy pillion passenger use

As I am a small rider (160 lbs) compared to some of the riders on the list (I am ducking, swing now :-) ) I didn't want to be at the control of the progressive shocks w/o being able to adjust them softer or firmer. If they didn't fit my size, tough luck buddy. I mounted the Koni's and immediately noticed a difference. I went out to get a movie and some cold medicine (for Alicia) and went back to the road which threw me off the road a few weeks ago. I went through those curves like the bike was on rails. I was amazed, I still am. I love these shocks, not LOVE, just love. ;-) I went in search of patches in the asphault (or tarmac for some) and noticed how smooth it was. I had installed progressive springs in the front over a year ago and thought how firm everything was now but now I am seeing how they help and
how much more the F/B really helps. I just can't stop talking about it. The ride is awesome!!!

Why I think my old shocks did what they did. When sitting on my bike, I could hold the bars and jump up and land on the seat and only compress the shocks about 1/2". I thought this to be XSively firm but hey, I don't have fourteen other XS's to compare it to like Kerry and Rick so I ride on. (I say with envy) :-) When I would go through a curve (before) the shocks would not give until absolutely necessary and then for only a fraction of a second before pushing back out. Then the force would be there again and
they would compress just to rebound and on and on and on just to bounce me off the road. Also, on the interstate, the seams were ruthless on my butt. I hated interstate riding b/c of the surface, the cars/wind don't bother me. Now, it is so smooth.

I thought the front end to be XSively firm too but now that the shocks will allow the front end to properly drop in a curve and in braking, the progressive front springs are great. See with the old shocks so "locked-up" when I braked hard, the front would not dive much (b/c the shocks would not lengthen any to allow it) and now it will operate more correctly. I think this will also help my rear braking. I think, now proven yet, that my braking will be much improved b/c before if I put much force on the rear it
would lock up, b/c the shocks were not pushing to make good contact with the tarmac (asphault for some).

So, basically, I love these shocks, they could be pink and I think I'd ride with 'em on before I went back to the old ones. I am so looking forward to the Smoky Mountains!!! I feel like I have stolen someone's bike for a while, it is like having a new one!

Later,
Micah

ps- Until now I could never putting the foot pegs on my bike to the road
but now I do! It's awesome!

So anyway you can have my Koni's when they pry my dead cold butt of the seat!!

[jkorn]

I haven't re-mounted the old stock shocks yet. I just remember how much better the Konis were and don't want to have to put out $200-$400 for a new set from ???

Koni will only refund my money... Jeff

[Robert Haller]

Gary, thanks for the post from the old list. I'm pretty convinced to get new shocks, especially since I often get lower back pain after riding for more than an hour, now the question is which. Have you seen the Hagon website? I'm curious how they stack up against the Ikons. They sound pretty good and I like that I can get all chrome shocks and they are about $70 cheaper.

[Robert Haller]

Originally posted by jkorn
I just remember how much better the Konis were and don't want to have to put out $200-$400 for a new set from ???Jeff

Supposedly Ikon not only licensed the design from Koni but bought the Koni tooling as well. So it should be identical.

[jkorn]

Cool, I'll give them a call and let all know the out come. jeff