[m45mcdan]

Sometimes I wonder what I've been missing with my stock suspension when on this board...but then again, I'm happy with my bikes handling and ride pretty aggressive according to others. Can't imagine if I had more.

 

[thekid]

I questioned the need for an upgrade, made the decision on the recommendation of a 'former' board member (Rocky) & went with the progressive set up (mono-cartridge, rear spring & new trike take off rear shock), along with upgraded steering head bearings. I am thrilled with the results. You need to compare Traxxion, Progressive & Race-Tech. Any of them will be an improvement. Check out who is going to do the installation? What follow-up service is required & available. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Boot]

TRAXXION Suspension

Mid June I had Paul Bihm of Midwest Custom Cycle Works, Evansville, Indiana (812) 455-6618 do a total TRAXXION upgrade on my 2010 Goldwing....... It was a great improvement over the stock Honda suspension. I was amazed with the new ride/handling and guess I had just gotten use to the Goldwing sloppy front end? 4:

 

[Captron]

wow! 100% of folks in favor of replacement.........Well I guess my mind is now made up...
I have a 2010 with only 19,500 miles... and I gutta admit [gutta spelled this way on purpose] I'm kinda dissapointed in the way it handles, two weeks my bike will hopefully be a new happier machine....My front end has been bouncing around since new...
Thank everyone!
Ronnie

 

[2WheelNut]

Sometimes I wonder what I've been missing with my stock suspension when on this board...but then again, I'm happy with my bikes handling and ride pretty aggressive according to others. Can't imagine if I had more.

View attachment 58085 View attachment 58086

Yeah you can, just imagine having more clearance and control so you could do those runs just as fast but without all your bike parts being on the pavement.

And...you could make a mid corner adjustment to swerve around something if you had to which is hard to do on stock suspension when you are already rubbing hard parts and can't lean any more.

I'm sure you are a great rider and you can ride plenty fast and agressively on stock suspension. However, doing so the way you are doing it uses all the bike's capabilities and you have much less reserve to tap in to if something goes wrong. In a controlled environment like a track, that's ok, but on a road where anything can happen, you really don't want to be right on the edge of the bikes capability and a bit of reserve is good.

Judging from your profile pic, you don't look like a 150 pound guy. Stiffer springs set up for your weight are only $140 would be a huge improvement over stock. You don't have to spend $3K for a mega monty to get improvement.

I don't think I really ride more aggressively with an improved suspension, but I do think I am safer when doing it.

 

[chrisashbrook]

And...you could make a mid corner adjustment to swerve around something if you had to which is hard to do on stock suspension when you are already rubbing hard parts and can't lean any more.

Hmmmmmm.

 

[Ed Kruse]

Hmmmmmm.

Got that right.

 

[varider]

If you want your Wing to be almost 100% responsive to every rider input where a pre-load of 4 is high and the bike handles more like a sport bike, yes a very big sport bike, but nonetheless a tight, true to the line motorcycle then I would say the Mega Monty is worth every cent. I also put the Heli Bars on and man what an icing on the cake difference that made. There is no flex at all and I love it at all speeds. Oh and I forgot something important. They are totally adjustable!! If you do not enjoy a more firm ride or just are a true slab rider than I do not think it is for you. If you want to get the most out of your motorcycle then this is the best there is IMHO. I honestly look at my bike and don't think it can get much better. Financially we all have different worries and concerns. For me it is an investment in something I truly enjoy. Life is way too short. When you look back years later, did spending the money really make or break your life? Did you loose your home, go hungry, lol. If your that close to the edge then selling the bike might be wise. Other than that the smiles that come with riding the best is priceless for me. Go for it! You wont be sorry. Oh unless you can't support your family or pay your bills lol.

 

[2WheelNut]

Hmmmmmm.

Got that right.

I assume you guys are agreeing with me but I'll clarify just in case.

What I'm saying is that it's kind of hard to do an evasive manuever and change your line when you've used up all your clearance and are already scraping hard parts. I guess you can stand it up to get around it but then you're going to have to lean it even harder on the other side to make the curve and that's where the fact you don't have the clearance will be the big problem.

 

[nedro]

I assume you guys are agreeing with me but I'll clarify just in case.

What I'm saying is that it's kind of hard to do an evasive manuever and change your line when you've used up all your clearance and are already scraping hard parts. I guess you can stand it up to get around it but then you're going to have to lean it even harder on the other side to make the curve and that's where the fact you don't have the clearance will be the big problem.

No worries 2Wheel, they are either completely in agreement with you, or have not considered that aspect before.
If they are questioning your scenario, they may have never been in a situation that needed immediate and complete readjustment of their line.
In any case I have lived through your scenario and have credited traxxion suspension with my survival.

 

[Ed Kruse]

Every bike has it's limits. I don't care if it's stock or Mega Whatever. If you are not riding within your and the bikes limits you have problems. If you are riding your Traxxion bike fast enough to drag hard parts you have the same situation that you described. All you seem to be saying is that your Traxxion bike can go around corners faster than a stock bike. I can agree with that. If the Traxxion bike is ridden at the same pace as when the bike was stock there should be more of a bit more safety factor.

Regardless, you should know the limits of your bike and not push beyond that.

I've been riding Wings since '97 and an 1800 since 2002. When I bought my 1800 Traxxion was not even available yet. The stock 1800 was way better than my 1500 with mods. I can tear up a twisty road pretty good by most standards but I know enough not to grind the Wing into the ground. I now do my twisty riding on a FJR but I don't ride much faster than I did on the Wing. But I do have a much larger safety factor when the pegs touch.

 

[2WheelNut]

Every bike has it's limits. I don't care if it's stock or Mega Whatever. If you are not riding within your and the bikes limits you have problems. If you are riding your Traxxion bike fast enough to drag hard parts you have the same situation that you described. All you seem to be saying is that your Traxxion bike can go around corners faster than a stock bike. I can agree with that. If the Traxxion bike is ridden at the same pace as when the bike was stock there should be more of a bit more safety factor.

Regardless, you should know the limits of your bike and not push beyond that.

I've been riding Wings since '97 and an 1800 since 2002. When I bought my 1800 Traxxion was not even available yet. The stock 1800 was way better than my 1500 with mods. I can tear up a twisty road pretty good by most standards but I know enough not to grind the Wing into the ground. I now do my twisty riding on a FJR but I don't ride much faster than I did on the Wing. But I do have a much larger safety factor when the pegs touch.

I agree with what you are saying but I'm even a bit more conservative and think you should ride BELOW you and your bikes limits on public roads.

If you are riding AT the limit and encounter something unexpected, you have no ability to compensate for it. Traxxion (or other aftermarket suspension systems) helps the bike have a bit more capabilities and allows me to run at a pace where a stock wing would be at it's limit but with Traxxion, I am not.

This theory works fine until you hit the riders limit. Personally, I can take a stock wing to it's limit. Not sure about a Traxxion wing, haven't tried to and probably won't as I've gotten smarter since I took the stock wing there. As a rider, I definitely cannot take my sportbike to it's limits though but I regularly take it close to my limit on the track to try and improve.

 

[nedro]

This theory works fine until you hit the riders limit. Personally, I can take a stock wing to it's limit. Not sure about a Traxxion wing, haven't tried to and probably won't as I've gotten smarter since I took the stock wing there. As a rider, I definitely cannot take my sportbike to it's limits though but I regularly take it close to my limit on the track to try and improve.

With a traxxion suspension and a 205 Faulken in the back, scraping pegs becomes much harder. Do I still scrape? Yes, but I have to really be trying. Traxxion with a motorcycle tire was still very easy to scrape pegs, lower cowl and engine guards. I have yet to scrape the lower cowl with the 205 Faulken, let alone the engine guards. This gives me all kinds of fudge factor out on the streets. Without traxxion, I might as well be riding a Harley.

Oh, and Ed, my bike of choice in the twisties is my CBR929RR. FYI, it gets low...

 

[Ed Kruse]

This theory works fine until you hit the riders limit. Personally, I can take a stock wing to it's limit. Not sure about a Traxxion wing, haven't tried to and probably won't as I've gotten smarter since I took the stock wing there. As a rider, I definitely cannot take my sportbike to it's limits though but I regularly take it close to my limit on the track to try and improve.

There is the part I guess I have a problem with. MOST Wing riders I've met over the years do not have the ability to ride a Wing anywhere near it's limits. Nor are they interested in learning. I see it all the time, n parking lots or while riding twisty roads or just using there brakes. I know there are some good riders on this board but I'll bet it's less than 10%. Many riders can't even tell that their tires are under inflated let alone notice a difference in suspension or even suspension settings.

I'm sure there are riders on this board that have been talked into putting thousands into Traxxion upgrades that can't tell the difference from stock. Just reading this forum would make one believe the 1800 can't make it through a turn without rebuilding the bike. Most Wing riders would probably be happy with just Progressive springs on the front of the bike and ADV disabled. $100. in parts is all that would be. Do I think a full monti Traxxion rebuild would better? Yes I do, but I fortunate to be able to tell the difference. I just hate seeing people get talked into things that really are not necessary for them.

All that said I did have Traxxion springs and shock on my bike and was very happy with it.

 

[nedro]

Well ya ED,
It's the internet.:lol:
Don't you know? You will DIE if you don't do what the crowd says.:lol:

 

[Ed Kruse]

You got a point there. :thumbup:

 

[GaryC]

Getting the Traxxion is a personal decision only one you can make. I do agree that most people cannot outride the capabilities of the stock wing so investing that much money is not "worth it".

Interesting incident tonight that relates. I took my bike (full traxxion set up) to a dealer tonight. Thinking about trading it for an F6B. The dealer was giving my bike the once over for a trade in offer. The mechanic took it out for a ride and when he brought it back he says to me, is this your bike?
Me. Yep
M. What the hell is with this thing I never rode a wing that handles like this.
Me. It's traxxion suspension.
M. I took this thing through a twisty road that we use to evaluate the bikes and this thing is unbelievable.

He kept going on about the suspension it was pretty cool.

 

[Roadie]

I upgraded to the Traxxion system because I wanted my bike to be able to handle the weight of a passenger while pulling a trailer better than it did from the factory.... Traxxion matches the rebound, compression damping, and springing to the weight you carry on your bike and the results make this machine so much more confident inspiring and a much nicer riding two up touring machine...the fact that you can ride a Traxxion Wing faster on a the curvy road if you want too is just icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned...I don't want to ride my Wing like a sportbike...but I do want my Wing to be rock steady on any type of road and while leaned over hard in a bumpy curve while riding two up... Traxxion delivers the type of ride that the Wing should have been from the factory... my Traxxion Wing feels like it's riding on a rail in a bumpy curve two up with a trailer behind it....just so confident inspiring and more fun to ride. You can go cheaper and install just springs on both ends, but the results will not be as nice....like with anything you buy related to motorcycles, you get what you pay for.

 

[chrisashbrook]

Yes I do, but I fortunate to be able to tell the difference. I just hate seeing people get talked into things that really are not necessary for them.

Ed, you make a great point here. If a person thinks the stock suspension is sufficient, and is incapable of riding that to the limit, to invest in Traxxion would be a waste of money and only good for posting at the bottom of their signature. There are many who benefit to the extent that it eliminates the scraping of the hard parts. I would fit in that category. Then there are those like YW who are able to get the absolute most out of the system. There are really just a handful who can do that. I have a mix myself, but where I live plays a huge factor.

 

[2WheelNut]

There is the part I guess I have a problem with. MOST Wing riders I've met over the years do not have the ability to ride a Wing anywhere near it's limits. Nor are they interested in learning. I see it all the time, n parking lots or while riding twisty roads or just using there brakes. I know there are some good riders on this board but I'll bet it's less than 10%. Many riders can't even tell that their tires are under inflated let alone notice a difference in suspension or even suspension settings.

I'm sure there are riders on this board that have been talked into putting thousands into Traxxion upgrades that can't tell the difference from stock. Just reading this forum would make one believe the 1800 can't make it through a turn without rebuilding the bike. Most Wing riders would probably be happy with just Progressive springs on the front of the bike and ADV disabled. $100. in parts is all that would be. Do I think a full monti Traxxion rebuild would better? Yes I do, but I fortunate to be able to tell the difference. I just hate seeing people get talked into things that really are not necessary for them.

All that said I did have Traxxion springs and shock on my bike and was very happy with it.

I totally understand and respect this position. I've repeatedly told people that you don't have to spend $3K to have a significant improvement over stock. I've got a 2013 so my rear shock / spring is already a bit better and all I've done is put stiffer springs on the front so I could disable ADV and replaced the stock tree. I notice you've done springs yourself.

By far, the cheapest and most effective upgrade is just putting in better springs in the front. Not sure where you can get the parts to do that for $100 but the springs themselves can be had for $140 and a bushing, seal rebuilt kit with fork oil is another $100 so for $240 in parts, you can get a significant improvement. The tree is the next thing IMO and you can feel that improvement at low speeds in a parking lot so you don't have to have significant skills to be able to use it. It's more like $300-400 more, so it's not the bang for buck you get with springs, but it's still a pretty nominal cost.

Having said all of that....the other upgrades (AK20s / Penske rear shock) are actually pretty reasonably priced as compared to similar upgrades for other bikes in the industry and are very good products. MOST do not NEED them, but they will perform better than stock for ALL riders, even if they can't really appreciate the performance gain. I wouldn't recommend them to the average owner though, but I'd recommend front springs and a better lower tree to just about everyone.