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It sure is nice to have a bunch of friends when doing extensive suspension mods.
Suspension upgrades on the GL1800 require a few special tools and it's nice to have a few extra hands and expertise while doing them. A Traxxion fork upgrade also requries some machine work, so it's best done by a specialist.
Although the stock suspension is relatively well sorted, it is suited better to comfort on smooth super-slabs then to spirited curve riding or rough-roads. Replacing the stock bearings with tapered roller bearings, which allow higher torque settings, makes the bike more stable at speed and more planted when leaned over. They also eliminated the dreaded Wing Wobble (headshake under deceleration). The tradeoff is slightly higher pressure required on the handgrips to get the bike leaned over, but the adaptation comes quickly. In attempt to get a bit more ground clearance and firmer suspenders, I first tried Progressive Springs front and rear. They give more ground clearance with the preload set at minimum than the stock springs did at full preload. The bike tracked better, soaked up the sharp edges bumps better and bottomed out far less frequently. A Super Brace fork brace, while not the most handsome piece, added consistency to tracking a line while leaned over in a bumpy corner. These are hugely recommend upgrades for those trying to get better handling out of their Wing without breaking the bank, but you'd better have a shop manual and be good with tools or have a competent mechanic at hand. If you decide to make try this upgrade, also look at springs from Race Tech. I’ve been told that unlike Progressive, they can give you a spring rated to your weight and riding style.
Yes, the bike has to be torn down a long way to replace the rear shock.
I'll admit, I thought was happy with the suspension upgrades I'd already made except for some harshness, but a friend of mine made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and I upgraded to the full Traxxion setup. Wow, like they say, "it's a whole different bike". Now, with cartridge dampers and new springs in both fork legs and a beautiful new shock and spring on the back, the ride is much more compliant and the feel so much better, even flipping U-turns in a parking lot is easier. The best analogy I've ever heard for this suspension setup; "I've always watched in wonder those motorcycle racers ride off and on the edge of the track and act like nothing was amiss. How the heck can they do that? With Traxxion, now I know!" If you've got the bones, do this suspension upgrade. Changing the rear shock on a "GL1800 is a lot of work, but it can be done with a shop manual and decent mechanical skills. Installing the cartridges requires some machine work and must be done by an authorized installer. Luckily, my steering head bearings and fork brace were recommended for use with Traxxion Suspension. While my friend and I were installing the Traxxion suspension upgrades, I put on some new Traxxion brake pads. I can't say they work any better than stock pads, but they don't leave a bunch of brake dust on the wheels like the stock pads do.
You'll end up with a lot of tools out of your box.
And, if you do more than a few bikes at once,
you'll have a bunch of parts to throw away.
Traxxion Shock and spring, center. Special tool, right.
New parts are so pretty. Seems a shame to take them out of the box.
Traxxion cartridges are gorgeous.
Photography and website byDAYLE DESIGNScopyright 2009