Delboy’s Garage, Triumph Bonneville #5 ‘TEC Gas shocks’
Time for some overdue modifications to the Bonneville, And first on the list, some TEC Bike gas shocks for the rear….”lowering it by an inch, and improving the ride by a country mile”…
Check out the website ;- www.tecbikeparts.com/
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Great Review and install video. I just purchased my own but I don't have a vise. Will i still be able to change the Eyelets or do I need to take them to a Shop? Also, what is the length with the spacer? Thanks!
Delboy,
I recently bought a 2013 Bonnie and discovered your great videos. I was interested int he TEC shocks — and as a credit to you, trust your endorsement of them. I got on Triumph Rat Forum and many people just trash these shocks as cheap junk. How have your performed over time?
Hi, love your videos. Got a couple of questions. After some time using the TEC shocks are you happy with them? The other thing, are they height adjustable? Apart from the spacer of course, I am aminf for 330mm myself. Thanks a million.
Hi, I did install these after following this amazing video, on my 2013 Bonneville and I am slightly confused about the adjustments. How do I determine the amount of preload I need to have for rides in mixed conditions, like bad roads, lots of potholes and wet slushy conditions. I am about 75kgs in weight and I usually ride solo. The roads in India are very tricky, sometimes we find really good roads and 70% of the time its bad roads.
hi , never posted before , but just want to say how interesting the shocks video was , GREAT, as i am thinking of changing my stock rear shocks on my Thruxton 2014 and not mechanically minded, so thanks, no dout ill get stuck. Kev Stoke On Trent
I put TEC gas shocks on my T100 Bonny using the length adaptors and in general I think they are very good for when I ride solo. However I've had some complaints on the two occasions when I had a pillion on-board. I thought I'd boosted the spring pre-load enough but apparently not.
I was supplied with an extra set of heavier duty springs in with the deal and I'm wondering about fitting them as a test, just not 100% sure how I should swap the springs over.
Bushings in the frreezer for an hour, and thay fall right in !!!! Thanks for all the great how to's !
Harry
I HATE locktite as well. On the Sportster and Softail Slim i clean it off every bolt that i undo, lubricate with Molykote and torque on feeling or to specs. Never had parts vibrate loose.
You make great videos. I'm inspired to do a lot more work on my T100 myself. I'm waiting on some Hagon's to arrive, your comment at the end made me a have a bit of the buyers remorse. You don't think there's much difference in quality?
Great tip using tap to remove old loctite!
Thanks, Del. I ordered a set today. I'll let you know how it goes.
Rudy
http://bonniecafe.com/
Excellent and useful video/s, many thanks! Just ordering my shocks and fork springs now from the USA as TEC UK don't send 'em outside Europe… 🙂
Hello. Silly question: As long as the length is exactly the same, could I technically fir any shock absorber to my Bonnie?
Hi Del,
I am installing HAGON Nitro shocks and just noticed that the little rubber & metal ring you switched in this video is only rubber, there is no metal ring in it. Could it be that I use the rings from the factory shocks? I was simply wondering how long would the rubber last without the extra support
Hi Del. Wondering if you can help me with a quick question regarding dropping a Thruxton ride height by ~ one inch? I hear of some folks buying the Thruxton TEC shocks and throwing it on their Bonnevilles to increase the ride height of the bike. As I understand, the Bonneville T100 shocks are about one inch shorter than the Thrux (Don't quote me on that. TEC doesnt actually state the length of each models shocks, so I may be wrong on that), so I was wanting to throw the T100 shocks on my Thrux. The problem I have is the front fork springs. If I also buy the TEC T100 front fork springs, will I be able to just throw them into the fork tube or will I need to modify the cyclinder that sits on top of the springs that nestles up against the cap on top of the fork? It doesn't need to be exactly one inch because my heel is nearly touching down flat to the ground while on the bike. Just wanted to get flat foot placement while at a stop, and I want the front of the bike lowered the same as I would at the back. Any help on this would be great!
Excellent vid. Yes, the TEC bike shocks work very well. A snug fit on the bushes. smooth and tamed the back end 🙂
Just wanted to report, 13 months after I got TEC shocks they are leaking oil. I contacted TEC, lets see how they deal with this.
Thanks Delboy
Replied in PM Daniel, hope thet sort you out with a new set without question…keep me posted buddy.. !
Hey Del, changed out to these shocks and springs on my Bonnie SE, I am well happy made such a big difference but just one thing fella, there's nowt wrong with an 80's Virago, I've owned and loved mine for 14 years and it's still going strong!!
Hi Del, the TEC shocks are getting quite a bad review on the Thruxton forum. Seems a lot of problems with failing mounts and failures. Too bad, because the 2 in 1 short trackers are getting great reviews. I was wondering if there was a difference between UK and North America TEC parts? I will go ahead with the exhaust system, considering a different shock supplier though. I might even order from UK instead of USA. Any thoughts?
I use all of your videos for any work that I do. They are great!
Question about these shocks. Does it matter if they are mounted with the gas canister toward the front of the bike versus the back? I ask because I have my turn signals mounted at the top shock bolt so I'm wondering if I can mount the shocks backward.
I just got a pair of these and put on my Bonnnie SE…WHAT a difference and they aren't even broken in yet. So much better. Thanks for the vid and info which gives all of us the confidence to break out the spanners and get wrenching!
i bought a pair of these blew an oil seal on one of the shocks after a couple of weeks i guess you get what you pay for
Delboy has a lot of really useful tips and tricks, and I am really greatful for that, but this is not one of them. I have had these shocks for a year now and they easily make the list of top ten worst buys of my life. They are absolutely shite. I weigh 90 kg and I have ended up setting the preload to maximum. Without any luggage on my bike the shocks still hit bottom hard. It's like being kicked in the arse by a mule sometimes. I called the company and the guy told me to put more air in them but that I couldn't do it at a gas station because that would ruin the shocks. I had to have a hand or foot pump that would gently put air in them. Went and bought a foot pump, followed the guys instructions to the letter. No difference what so ever. My shocks are pure crap. Mybe ended up with a faulty pair but since I live in Sweden it would cost me a fortune to send them back, on my expense which was the suggestion I got from the company, should this air-trick not work. Don't bother with these is my recommendation.
how many miles did you have in your old stock shocks? or at what milage should they be change?
So living in Canada and after watching this video, I picked up a pair from TEC USA (they're closer) for my 2013 Bonneville SE figuring that they would be of the same quality as the UK. Though they worked for a short while and did improve the ride, they have since begun to leak. After a bit of research, I did discover that the US TEC doesn't undergo the same "rebuild/improvement" effort that is performed in the UK. I am disappointed but fortunately the cost was not prohibitive. I put the stock ones back on and am looking into a pair of Hagons. Love your videos Delboy. Unfortunately, TEC didn't work out for me for the long term.
Hello, this video was very informative… does this improve the ground clearance?
Just looking at TEC'S site Del , are these adjustable for load or are they adjustable length only ?. The stock Bonneville shocks have a 5 way adjustment for load . By the way , have watched quite a few of your vids now and we seem to be frequenting a fair few of the same places ,Compton Abbas , Loomies ,Swanage and especially loved the Dartmoor footage , have spent quite a lot of time on the moors on the bonny 🙂 We're off to Loomies on the 13th of March ,maybe we could organize a Wiltshire Bikers/Idiot Collective rendezvous . Cheers . http://www.wiltshirebikers.co.uk/showthread.php?40511-March-Ride-Out-Loomies-13th
Will they fit on a 2013 speedmaster
I wondered if, after you dismount the old suspension and replace the shock on one side and bump it up and down for the oil/air bubbles, you take that shock off again and repeat the mountain/bumping process on the other side of the bike, before actually properly mounting the new shocks with the right torque setting etc?
I'm asking because it looked as if you replaced the shock on the right hand side, bumped it up and down and then tightened it straight away. Which would mean you would never be able to bump the left side shock properly.
Hi there… I ve got a question… I have a T100, but i want the ride hight of a thruxton, do i buy the bonnie shock and set them on the highest setting or do i buy scrambler/thruxton shock and put them on the lowest setting? Because a thruxton is 360mm… i am a little confused, hope you can help me out… Thx you, love your channel btw (y)
Hello, I order and shortly received my Tec Rear shocks for my 2015 t100. All went well while referring to your video. The only suggestion for we dummies is if using the center stand be sure the rear swing arm is supported when removing the shock, almost lost a little finger.One more question if you would be so kind. Tec is currently out of stock of the front springs. Can you suggest a alternate set of springs that would be compatible with the Tec rear shocks? Thanks, you are a blessing for new Bonnie runners. John
Thanks Delboy, I will wait for Tec to replenish their supply. Shocks look great
Which model shocks did you get for this video exactly?
Great video mate, new viewer… subscribed. Oh and just got myself a 2010 Bonnie 😉