Hagon Nitro review (copying Perd)

[XXL]

Changed to the Nitros just before my Tour round the North of Scotland.

The spring rate is set at the factory and calculated by your weight (16 stone for me) and percentage of pillion use (very little for me).

I opted for 13" springs to improve ground clearance and wound it 2 turns tighter to try and get a little more, I set the damping at 2 from the highest initially but ended up turning it back 1 step because we were mostly in wet conditions and I wanted the rear to be able to maintain road contact if I hit a severe bump (mission accomplished)

As per Ped's Progs I immediately noticed that the bike lost it's tendancy to corner like you're riding a jelly-trifle or step out like a puppy on a lead.

The front end felt more planted and I think the slight increase in rear clearance may have slightly quickened the steering.

The confidence I gained allowed me to keep with the lead group in all but the most rediculously tight twisty sections (lead group was GSX1400, Fazer 1000, GSXR 1000 and a Millie RSVR which are all relatively more manoeuverable than the R3 in the twisties) I had enough confidence that I was continually scraping the hero blobs(kerb feelers) and would also reccomend these shocks to anyone who has not already replaced thiers.

HTH

Allan

 

[Joker]

Allan,
Glad you're chuffed with them mate. Any after market shocks seem to be a vast improvement. I couldn't face the multiple variations in compression and rebound damping of the Wilbers and didn't have the patience to wait for the Hagons, but Billy and you seem to like them. I was going to go with 13s, for the same reasons you did, but they only had 12.5s in stock and like a kid with a new toy I couldn't wait.
What psi are you running in the front tyre? After the recent discussion on here on the subject I tried 40 and it's quickened the steering up a bit. next handling mod will be progressive front springs, but that will have to wait for winter coz of the down time. I changed the back shocks meself, but two bolts is about the limit of my mechanical prowess. Every time I pick up spanners I cost meself more money than I'm trying to save. Each to his own.
Enjoy your scratching.
Like the signature by the way.
Cheers. :lol:

 

[XXL]

Am running at around standard pressures Perd, have, so far, seen no need to alter this, but I may try the 40 in the front like you suggest to see if it improves the steering.

The 13"s wound up 2 complete turns have reduced the scraping by about 70-80% for me, which I find beneficial because sometimes in a longer tight corner I get concerned about the possibilities of diggin in.

I am 5` 11" but have only got a 31" inside leg and find the height no problem at all although am aware that some shorter people may find the extra clearance a problem.

I was sorely tempted to go with the Progressives for a mere £75 extra BUT I wanted the control over the dampening effect which the Hagons provide and was under the impression that the Progressives were non-adjustable :?:

I too am considering the progressive front springs for this winter's spanner-time and am in the process of "negotiating" a set of Thunderbike 3-1-2 exhausts with the better half :lol: .

Cheers for the feedback about my original post, was beginning to think I'd gone invisible there hehhehheh

 

[step1]

If you want it to steer quicker raise the forks in the yokes.Moved mine 6 mm well impressed.

 

[Joker]

Step,
I would do mate, but I'm already scraping pegs, rails and lugs on the base of the frame, so wouldn't want to sacrifice any ground clearance.
I'm also a bit of a Neanderthal so throwing it about isn't a problem. Part of the reason I tried higher pressure was coz Metzler recommend higher pressure than Triumph so I thought I'd give it a try. A by-product seemed to be slightly quicker steering which XXL was looking for. May be wishful thinkig, but worth a try to see if he notices a difference.

XXL,
I don't think there's much chance of the pegs digging in coz when the frame touches it doesn't dig in, it just takes a chunk out of the road. :lol: :lol:

 

[XXL]

don't know if I've scraped the frame yet or not, but my boots are no longer made for walking due to the slight camber on each heel from scraping the ground a little too often and a little too long.

Not tried the pressure lift yet, but as you said, I would not bother with dropping the yolks down the forks due to losing clearance, although I agree it would quicken the steering a little. I will be opting for progressive front springs now due to now noticing that the front is a little wallowish after sorting out the rear when giving it some big rice in tighter corners.

I'm more than happy with how she handles considering the sheer mass, length, size etc, but I can't help trying for small improvements in this department because I cannot really afford to throw cash at the power enhancements the way others can, although I will be getting a new zorst and either underseat K&N or triple K&N plus a few cosmetic changes including a custom spray hopefully next year.