Recommended shocks & forks for AGB36?

[S00100100S]

So, I've had the Apollo AGB36/RX/Whateveryouwanttocallit for about a year and have been dicking around with the rear suspension forever and as most of you know you cannot adjust the forks, so I would like to know if anyone can recommend components that they've used/ will work with this bike (in terms of suspension of course).

[Its_not_a_honda]

Originally Posted by S00100100S

So, I've had the Apollo AGB36/RX/Whateveryouwanttocallit for about a year and have been dicking around with the rear suspension forever and as most of you know you cannot adjust the forks, so I would like to know if anyone can recommend components that they've used/ will work with this bike (in terms of suspension of course).

I have worked on the forks quite a bit. I changed the oil and oil levels several times. I also added some washers as a shim at the top. I weigh 190 lbs. I settled on 5W fork oil set at 250 ml. The forks are 100% better than stock to me. I really took my time getting the oil level like I wanted. I knew nothing about forks before I started. I learned that oil level makes a huge difference in performance. I filled them to 180ml. Then added 10ml at a time until I hit the magic 250ml mark. You have to raise the bike and loosen the top triple clamp and take the top plug out of the forks each time to add oil. Time consuming but only way to get it like you want. Now it is smooth and no harsh bottoming.


The rear shock is a piece of crap. Nothing I have done makes one bit of difference. I finally took the spring off to get some measurements for a new spring. I found that the shock would not rebound. I would compress slowly as you would expect. The rebound would require me to put the shock in a vice and pull with everything I had to even get it to move. I have posted on here several times about the shock but have not got a response. I bought a shock for another china bike.
http://www.e-bikecanada.com/full-cat...0009-pbc1312gp
I tried to get it to fit but it is just way too long. I bought a Honda crf250 shock that a couple of people on here have shoe horned on but it was exactly like the china shock. I was just not comfortable with the way it was hitting the bottom of the linkage and the frame. This is where I am now. Out $300 in shocks and still can't ride. Not sure what to do. Don't want to buy a stock shock. Scared it will be messed up like the original. https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-435mm-Ad...b90b%7Ciid%3A1
I found this one on ebay. 15 mm longer than stock and looks like it may have more adjustments. Hate to put more money in it and it not work though.

[Douglass]

its_not_a_honda, any chance you could post pictures, and/or a write up of how you dissassemble/assemble the front forks to drain/add the oil?

[Its_not_a_honda]

Originally Posted by Douglass

its_not_a_honda, any chance you could post pictures, and/or a write up of how you dissassemble/assemble the front forks to drain/add the oil?

I didn't make any pictures. I can't believe I didn't. Usually do. I found an old thread on here with some. http://chinariders.net/showthread.ph...ighlight=Forks
Only thing I will add is you don't need a thin wrench. It is easy to use a regular size and just pry it in there.

[pete]

Originally Posted by Its_not_a_honda

The rear shock is a piece of crap. Nothing I have done makes one bit of difference. I finally took the spring off to get some measurements for a new spring. I found that the shock would not rebound. I would compress slowly as you would expect. The rebound would require me to put the shock in a vice and pull with everything I had to even get it to move. I have posted on here several times about the shock but have not got a response. I bought a shock for another china bike.

That sounds about right..... you are pulling with a few pounds the spring is pulling
with hundreds of pounds... if you were able to pull it open fast it would be unable
to damp the return force of the spring..

on the forks another place to look at is the piston head on the damping rods if the nylon
ring/ware seal is not a tight fit the oil can by-pass and not all go though the damping rods...
years ago on my IT465 I machined a second groove in the head & put a O-ring in it..

.

[Its_not_a_honda]

Have to disagree on the shock Pete. I have a brand new shock and a used shock for other bikes. Took the springs off and tested. They both compress and rebound easily by hand.

[pete]

Originally Posted by Its_not_a_honda

Have to disagree on the shock Pete. I have a brand new shock and a used shock for other bikes. Took the springs off and tested. They both compress and rebound easily by hand.

wonder why the Ohlins i have in the XT660 is so hard to pull open...



.

[Its_not_a_honda]

Originally Posted by pete

wonder why the Ohlins i have in the XT660 is so hard to pull open...



.

Not sure on that pete. When I say that my original apollo shock is hard to pull on the rebound, I mean I had to finally get a pry bar and hook to it to get it back to the fully extended position. It is just about locking up once it is compressed. I had a rough ride and severe wheel hop (when going down hill on trails). I also noticed when I would stop and put the kickstand down it would seem like it was too long. I now know that the shock being so slow was making me think that.

[oouthere]

Thanks for all the info, very helpful��

[oouthere]

Just a heads up for whoever is curious, if you do an eBay search of “ 400mm motorcycle shock” or “420mm motorcycle shock” a lot of possibilities come up.

Rich

[pete]

Originally Posted by Its_not_a_honda

Not sure on that pete. When I say that my original apollo shock is hard to pull on the rebound, I mean I had to finally get a pry bar and hook to it to get it back to the fully extended position. It is just about locking up once it is compressed. I had a rough ride and severe wheel hop (when going down hill on trails). I also noticed when I would stop and put the kickstand down it would seem like it was too long. I now know that the shock being so slow was making me think that.

yer that dose sound a bit to hard to exstend....

The Ohlins is quite hard to pull out.... but it works great
for $1800 you want it to...

[Mycovilly]

Are the stock rear shock 380mm?

[Its_not_a_honda]

Mine looked like around 420mm. That is from center to center of the mounting holes. It is the shock with the white spring.

[Mycovilly]

Will a 400mm rear shock fit the apollo. 20mm diffrent from stock

[pete]

Originally Posted by Mycovilly

Will a 400mm rear shock fit the apollo. 20mm diffrent from stock

if the arm/shock has a 3:1 leverage ratio ???..
20mm diffrents means a 60mm diffrents at the wheel...

so what would you do about the front end ?..


..