[Plantboy]

About 2 months ago I fitted a new Ikon rear shock to my Scrambler Icon. The shock is a quality item with spring supplied according to rider weight and load requirements. Pre-load is adjustable over a wide range by turning a screw collar up or down in the threaded shock body. Simple damping is adjusted using a 4 position wheel at the bottom of the shock. The shock is simple, easy to set-up and a big improvement over stock, it is also re-buildable. For my 90 kg I found the supplied setting to be a little hard, but winding off about 3 mm on the pre-load and setting damping at # 2 made it all sweet. Cost in Aussie was AU$772.50 delivered, including GST

Because I had bought the shock, Ikon offered me an introductory price (AU$139.40 delivered) on their matching progressively wound fork springs. At that price I had to give them a go - as a cartridge kit was beyond my play-money budget. The springs were fitted on Friday, and I am again most impressed with the improvement. The smoothness of the ride was a welcome surprise - especially at speed on dirt corrugations - and the forks now provide some genuine feedback from the front end. The ride actually feels softer and more compliant, but dive under brakes is not a problem. Turn-in also seems quicker - perhaps it's just that front-end feel is better than the no feel from the stock set-up. Maybe not as good as cartridges, but a very worthwhile improvement to me.

 

[Tiger68]

Mate Iv been waiting for some feedback on the IKON shock , thanks very much for your Post I live In Wodonga Vic ( IKON is just across the river in Albury ) So I was thinking of getting both myself , ordering direct from factory , so you reckon the front progressive forks springs are good as well ? I guess its a lot cheaper then 900 odd for fork cartridges ! so do the progressive forks springs work well of road and the rear shock for that matter ?
Regards
Paul

 

[Plantboy]

Yes mate, I was surprised how much the Ikon springs changed things. After reading numerous posts saying that cartridges were the only way to really improve fork performance I was a little reluctant to bother with simple springs. However, all I can say is that the Ikon progressives work very well for not a lot of money. Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of cartridges having fitted a lightly used pair of Matris cartridges (plus rear shock) to my Aprilia Shiver 750 some years ago and they totally transformed the bike. Unfortunately I'm not financial enough to spring for cartridges these days.

I live a few kms up a dirt road and can say that the bike now seems to handle the ruts, bumps and loose gravel with improved smoothness and feel, but the suspension upgrades do not turn the Scrambler into a full-on dirt bike.

If you can pick up the gear from Ikon you will save quite a bit on freight. I also paid extra dollars ($25 I think) for a coloured spring to match may Scrambler.

 

[Tiger68]

I can agree I used some IKON front progressive forks springs on one off my old bikes a Triumph Tiger 955i ( and they made a massive difference to the handling and front end dive , also I had a rear shock made up for a bike I had as well, I have another thread on Scrambler riders in Australia NSW and Vic getting together for a ride and talking mods , problems etc latter in the year when the weather improves if your interested ( Just look on the Australian Scrambler page ) anyway thanks again for your feedback

 

[Tiger68]

One more thing with the progressive springs what rate fork oil did you use ?

 

[JustMe]

PlantBoy thanks for the info.
How did you know what spring rate to use?

 

[Plantboy]

One more thing with the progressive springs what rate fork oil did you use ?

No change from the standard 7.5 wt specified by Ducati.

 

[Plantboy]

PlantBoy thanks for the info.
How did you know what spring rate to use?

The spring supplied with the shock was based on information I provided about my riding weight and kind of riding done, i.e, for bad roads, no track. The shock was supplied with a set spring pre-load that I found a little too harsh, hence leading me to soften it up somewhat.
The progressive fork springs apparently cope with a wide range of rider weights - I guess this is because they are progressively wound.

 

[Tiger68]

So just take out old spings and insert new ones ( without changing oil )

 

[Plantboy]

That's my understanding Tiger. My bike was in for a replacement front brake master cylinder under warranty, so I had the dealer change the springs at the same time. Both forks had to come out - not quite as simple as doing conventional forks.

 

[Tiger68]

Thanks plantboy

 

[rangerover]

That's my understanding Tiger. My bike was in for a replacement front brake master cylinder under warranty, so I had the dealer change the springs at the same time. Both forks had to come out - not quite as simple as doing conventional forks.

Hello ,why do the forks have to be removed .
Surely it should be just a case of removing the fork top ,removing the springs and replacing in sequence .
They do not look OR ACT with ANY sophistication .
rangerover.

 

[Tiger68]

They are upside down forks and to be taken of to put upside down and drain old oil out overnight

 

[rangerover]

They are upside down forks and to be taken of to put upside down and drain old oil out overnight

Hello ,not wanting to be regarded as an --se ,but could not the oil be syphoned out ,either by good old fashioned piece of pipe or by a modern electric pump .
I know I will give the none fork removal a go first , or even lay the bike down ( past horizontal ) or even the judicious use of a HENRY hoover and piece of pipe .
I am only trying to be constructively helpful .
rangerover

 

[Tiger68]

Left fork is rebound right is preload you need a special tool to take right preload top section of to get spring out I took right fork to suspension place and he did it for 20 dollars, but rest I did myself its not hard to take forks of and also easyer to drain ALL OLD OIL OUT if you what to do correctly than measure current amount of oil back in forks then pump out air prior to doing up top of forks , but if you what to do half a job its your bike !

 

[Plantboy]

You beat me to it Tiger.

 

[rangerover]

Left fork is rebound right is preload you need a special tool to take right preload top section of to get spring out I took right fork to suspension place and he did it for 20 dollars, but rest I did myself its not hard to take forks of and also easyer to drain ALL OLD OIL OUT if you what to do correctly than measure current amount of oil back in forks then pump out air prior to doing up top of forks , but if you what to do half a job its your bike !

Fair comment ,AND correct to the letter .
Tis better to ask than blunder on .
rangerover