Holy sh*t!!!

Rob Farmer

Rob Farmer

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Had a scary one today. The rear shock on my 100PD fractured while I was riding along. It's a Hagon unit, just over two years old and has covered around 12,000 miles. The top mount look has come away completely...Not impressed at all.

Has anybody got a rear shock for sale?
 
Phone them up and give them some shit.

Thats a real safety problem and i'm sure they'd like to hear about it.

The least they should do is rebuild it for free
 
Not the first broken Hagon I have heard of. Definitely let them know but even if they replaced it would you trust it?

I imagine you are in the market for replacement undies too :eek
 
I always found Hagon to be very good, having used their shocks on various courier bikes I've had. They always replaced any problem ones with new, without question. Give them a call.
 
Bloody hell - that could have seen you off!

As others have said, I'd definitely call Hagon - while their products get some bad press, I've heard their customer service is pretty good.
 
It's one thing for the damping/suspension function to fail but something all together far more serious for a mounting point to fail.

That could easily lead to death or very serious injury.

Irrespective of warranty periods, based on the little information from which I'm expressing my opinion, officers of the company would wish to know about that failure.

Don't just speak to a customer services oik speak to a senior manager or even send a registered letter to the managing director with photographs. Directors have personal liability these days.
 
Thanks Guys.

I've sent them an Email.

I'd just been belting along and braked for a roundabout as soon as I released the brake there was a loud bang and the back end dropped a few inches. Fourtunatly the shock wedged in the frame stopping the wheel hitting the mudguard.

Scary moment though.
 
I agree with Packer get at them, that's a serious failure.

I had a shock mount snap on an old A65 outfit the back of the bike collapsed down pushing the shock up into the seat ripping it off the bike, i felt i was very lucky then and i had three wheels to keep me safe.

I've got a fornales shock but Abraision has first dibs at the moment have a word with him and if he don't want it i'll post it up, it might need a fettle though but i was using it.

Shep
 
John Armstrong has kindly offered a shock so should be ok Thanks.

I've already had a reply from Hagon:-


"Hello Rob and thank you for your e-mail,

A failure of this nature is not common practice and are keen to inspect the nature of the failure. Please return the unit to us for inspection, along with some pictures of the bike if possible.

We will act as quickly as possible to resolve this matter for you, apologises for any inconvenience.

Regards

Hagon Sales Team"


Good response but I'm not sure I'd ever trust a Hagon unit again. The top mount that fractured is probably only 2mm thick. It failed at the weld points where the loop is attached to the main shock body - no sign of corrosion or distortion just clean breaks across the weld lines.
 
I have heard of this happening before with Hagon shocks and their response was that their shocks are not made for off road use.
Which is ironic when they will sell you a shock for a trail or enduro bike.
To offer you a new replacement and be nice about it is much better for them than to get into an arguement and possibly be dragged through the courts on a very serious safety issue.
Anyway I would always feel nervous using a replacement from the same makers.
 
At the Horizons Unlimited meeting a couple of years ago there were other reports of Hagon shocks failing. It was 2 guys on Hondas I think. They showed an exploded picture of a Hagon shock versus a Honda shock and the comparison was scary. The Hagon shock was much thinner and weaker in all the critical areas and was obvious it had been built down to a minimum price. I think everyone who saw that presentation would avoid Hagon shocks for life.
 
I'm going to take the shock down to our materials science guys to see what they make of it before I send it off to Hagon...Always nice to have a report from a Professor whose an expert witness for the aircraft industry when sorting these things out :)
 
Rob Farmer said:
I'm going to take the shock down to our materials science guys to see what they make of it before I send it off to Hagon...Always nice to have a report from a Professor whose an expert witness for the aircraft industry when sorting these things out :)
Click to expand...

That's a handy thing to be able to do:thumb2
 
Rob Farmer said:
I'm going to take the shock down to our materials science guys to see what they make of it before I send it off to Hagon...Always nice to have a report from a Professor whose an expert witness for the aircraft industry when sorting these things out :)
Click to expand...

Great idea his opinion will carry alot of weight in any negociations unlike the shock itself.

Did they ask how heavy you were???:augie
 
Rob Farmer said:
John Armstrong has kindly offered a shock so should be ok Thanks.

I've already had a reply from Hagon:-


"Hello Rob and thank you for your e-mail,

A failure of this nature is not common practice and are keen to inspect the nature of the failure. Please return the unit to us for inspection, along with some pictures of the bike if possible.

We will act as quickly as possible to resolve this matter for you, apologises for any inconvenience.

Regards

Hagon Sales Team"

.
Click to expand...

Hello Rob.

I wouldn't accept that response at face value. The message is very badly worded and would appear to be from a very junior member of staff. You want this to go to the top so that, if required, design changes are implemented to hopefully ensure that nobody else suffers the same failure with possibly lethal results.

If you are prepared to return the unit it may be a good idea to retain very detailed pictures. They will want the unit back so that they can bury the problem.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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