Page 1 of 1
Handa Reflex rear shocks on a Forza?
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:44 am
by SteveP
I have a 2014 Forza...wonderful scooter! No complaints except for the hard ride at the rear. Has anyone looked into replacing the rear Forza shocks with those from a Reflex? The Reflex is lighter, so am thinking it's shocks (springs) should be softer. A friend has a Reflex and I tried comparing the length of the two shocks but the upper mount of the Reflex is hidden so was not able to get a measurement. Anyone looked into this? Thanks
Re: Handa Reflex rear shocks on a Forza?
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:57 am
by gn2
SteveP wrote:The Reflex is lighter, so am thinking it's shocks (springs) should be softer.
You need to look at all-up weight including passengers and luggage for a proper comparison.
The 30lbs difference in the scooters weight is likely to be a very small fraction of total loaded weight.
So any difference in the shocks between the two scooters would be minimal.
Re: Handa Reflex rear shocks on a Forza?
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:17 pm
by SteveP
SteveP wrote:I have a 2014 Forza...wonderful scooter! No complaints except for the hard ride at the rear. Has anyone looked into replacing the rear Forza shocks with those from a Reflex? The Reflex is lighter, so am thinking it's shocks (springs) should be softer. A friend has a Reflex and I tried comparing the length of the two shocks but the upper mount of the Reflex is hidden so was not able to get a measurement. Anyone looked into this? Thanks
I realize that, but my 140 lbs and no passenger barely causes the stock rear springs to compress. If I knew they'd fit, used ones off eBay are cheap enough to take a chance and see how they'd work.
Re: Handa Reflex rear shocks on a Forza?
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:19 pm
by gn2
Have you adusted the preload to the softest setting?
As I recall standard is 3 of 5 so there may be two softer settings available.
Re: Handa Reflex rear shocks on a Forza?
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 7:11 pm
by SteveP
Preload is at the softest setting. Ride is worst at slow speeds over sharp bumps. Highway ride is acceptable. I also have a 1985 Honda Elite250. Surprisingly it has a much more acceptable ride in all conditions. ???
Re: Handa Reflex rear shocks on a Forza?
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 7:57 pm
by gn2
Your Elite was a made in Japan premium product at the time (and a classic now) the Forza is bargain basement made in Thailand tat and not in the same league.
There are a few threads on here about aftermarket shock options for the Forza.
But I wouldn't bother.
You say "highway ride is acceptable", well the natural environment for the Forza is well made roads, it simply isn't intended for poor surfaces.
Aftermarket shocks likely won't increase the available suspension travel.
Re: Handa Reflex rear shocks on a Forza?
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 9:46 pm
by SteveP
Yes....they Fit! Got 2 used ones off eBay. fit like a glove. Same length and and mounting system. The spring on the Reflex shock is shorter and the diameter smaller (2" vs 2 1/8") and wire diameter slightly less. Before actually trying them and made up a test rig so I could measure the any difference in spring load between the shocks, using a bathroom scale to read the load and 1/2" threaded rod to compress the schocke (definitely not Government certified!). At a 1" compression (with both shocks set at their minimum preload setting) the Forza shock showed 62 pound load, the Reflex 66. At 2" compression, the Forza was 118 pounds, the Reflex 106. May try 2.5 and/or 3" later, but may need to stiffen up the test rig first. So...did the ride improve?...yes, a little. I took scoot out over same roads with the standard Forza shocks, then with the Reflex shocks and ride seemed a bit better, but not hugely better, certainly still no "Goldwing". Will be leaving the Reflex shocks on it for now to see how they feel in the long run.