Sure did.. lol
I am trying to find a reasonable upgrade.. So I am watching JamieDaugherty's F4i conversion as well as looking at Hagons etc.

 

Note! This is about the F4i shock that Jamie Daugherty worked over for me, NOT the Hagon shock....

Well... I can give you a small review after the first real ride of the year, the streets where dry today, colder than I'd liked, but nice weather... Cold tires and gravel, so I wasn't pushing...

And the verdict, you may ask...? Damn! why didn't I do this sooner... Thanks Jamie!

As I said cold, ***** footing around, and with the other upgrades on my bike it's hard to compare it too the other VTR's with Öhlins I have tried for shorter rides...

But I did a back to back with the OEM shock... I rode for 8km with the OEM, rolled straight into the shop (stuck my hands in front of the heater for 5 min) and then swapped the shock out... (swapping swingarms 10 times taking measurements gives good practice...) and out again doing the same loop...

It's like comparing a brick to a shock... The OEM is harsh, hard and insensitive... The F4i is a lot more compliant, but still feels taught and controlled...

I still haven't tried the fiddly ***** yet, and my height adjustable mount isn't done, so it's at stock height with a simple lengthened mount... But there is a definite and obvious improvement... I'm not that very fast, and not a very good racer... But I felt the difference... poking around below the speed limit or just above, the difference is still obvious...

So is it as good as a Öhlins?... No... definitely not... Sorry Jamie!


Buuut... Hold on... Wait... how big is the difference... ?

Oh well... I'd say it compares to the Wilbers... But not the Öhlins... And for a shock that cost me half of what the Wilbers would be and roughly a fifth of what the Öhlins costs... That's damned good... Better than damned good... It's bloddy fantastic...

 

how much travel does the f4 shock provide ?

tim

 

As far as I know it's close to the same as the OEM shock... I haven't found any numbers, as Honda only states travel at the wheel, which includes the linkage...

And since I'm not strong enough to compress the two shocks and compare...

The shock is physically shorter, but that is because the gas bladder and piston is in the remote reservoir instead of in the body...

 

Good to read a report on the Hagon - I've looked at them as a 'reasonable' replacement too. Frankly, though I like my Hawk plenty, I can't justify spending the $$ on a Penske or Ohlins for it, and my riding ability doesn't justify it either.

 

The above I wrote was on the F4i shock... not the Hagon... If that was unclear...

 

Got one about a year back, with the remote preload adjuster.
Shock quality's ok, and the ride's much improved.
Having said that. my old standard shock was getting tired, so a direct comparison with a new Honda one might be closer.

I mounted the remote adjuster on the RH side just under my right knee, so I can adjust it traffic lights much easier than with it installed under the back end, where you have to get off and adjust it.

Last observation: there's no detent on the adjuster, so re-adjusting it once a pillion's been on the bike is more difficult, I just work on two full turns difference.

Good value for money, sure a Ohlins or something for top money will be better, but for the street this is just fine.

 

So what was the final price with remote res and preload adjuster?