1989 NC30 hagon monoshock set up

[GregEason_NC30]

Hi guys, trying to set up my NC for fast road use and the occasional track day.
I'm 13 stone (w/o leathers etc.) and just after a bit of advice regarding static sag/pre-load and damping.
I've got a hagon monoshock on the rear with adjustable pre-load and damping.
Do any of you have this shock and what would you reccomend that I set it to.
From what I've gathered so far is that I need 35mm of static sag, no one seems to know what the damping should be set to or whether there's enough "poundage" (for want of a better phrase) in the spring.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks, Greg.

[amorti]

Damping on hagon shocks is typically in a very narrow band. There is as little as half a turn of usable adjustment between over- and under-damped. Because they are not marked in any way, it's up to you to experiment until you find it. Start from right in, go out maybe two turns, and just keep an allen key in your pocket, make whole then half then quarter turns, narrowing in each time, until you get to about 1/8 of a turn that will be sweetest. It's all about personal preference here, nothing is right or wrong ... except using someone else's setup notes and thinking they will be right for you

I have a spare 180kg Hagon spring. No idea if it's useful to you, just mentioning it.

[GregEason_NC30]

Thanks man, what spring should I be using?

I've just got the stock hagon spring that came with the shock.

I'm 83 kg if you know how to work out the math haha

[amorti]

Sorry mate I have no idea what's best, and no clue what yours comes with. It's spare to me as it was too light on my CB-1 but that doesn't have suspension linkages, so it bears little relevance to your '30.

[lukemillar]

Thanks man, what spring should I be using?

I've just got the stock hagon spring that came with the shock.

I'm 83 kg if you know how to work out the math haha

You need to setup the riders sag to find out if you have the correct weight spring. If you can get your 35mm without crazy amounts of preload or barely any preload, then the spring you have is fine.

Until you have this, I wouldn't worry about damping.

[skinnydog0_0]

As a guide i woudl usualy go for between 25mm - 30mm sag for fast road and some track use.
As for spring rate i would say your free sag (the amount the spring compresses under the weight of the bike alone) should be 5mm - 10mm. if you have too little free sag you have probably have to much preload meaning the spring is probably to soft. If you have more free sag you probably have little pre load added - so need a softer spring.

You will also need to set your front sag too. not sure on a 30 what this woudl be as i have a 35, but i would say you would want around 30mm rider sag.
It is worth remembering that when you adjust the preload front and rear, it changes the bikes geometry, unless you adjust both at the same rate.

As for damping it all depends on how the bike feels when you ride it. As the others have said you will only be able to find this for yourself. on new suspension i would say go to the minimum damper setting go for a ride and see how it feels, then go back and set it to full damping, and ride again same road and see what the difference is. then set the damping to the middle, ride the same route same speed and see what you think. Then go 3/4 full ride and see, then go 1/4 full ride and see, and narrow it down till you get a setting you are happy with.

[GregEason_NC30]

Thanks people, setting the front and rear sag Tomorow morning.
I've got a lot better understanding now, thanks skinny!
I'll let you know how I get on :)

[Dynamohum]

amorti is correct in what he says about these shocks had one on a bike now sold and it takes a little patience getting them set up using the combined damping adjuster to give a satisfactory setting on them. but they seem well made for a budget shock and are still much better than a 20 year old showa full of frothy cat piss..