Shocks for Surrogate Manx

As many of you know by now, I'm building a Model 50-engined classic racer (surrogatemanx.wordpress.com). And as many of you also know, I'm no seasoned tinkerer, nor very knowledgeable in British bikes. However, I just get on with things and ask advice where needed, which seems the way to go, as the project is going well.

Still, and this is where I desperately need some input, I am a bit at a loss what to do with the rear shocks. With the Roadholder forks already having new stanchions and, in a couple of months, new bushes and the addition of damper internals, they will be as good as they would have been new. Which, as I was told by a veteran Manx GP racer, is good enough.

The front forks don’t have any adjustable damping arrangements, so I’m comfortable with rear shocks that don’t have any either. Yet, the forks can be modified if I wish, with a change of oil viscosity as the easiest option and drilling or plugging holes or altering bush sizes as the other.

I’d like some period looking rear shocks that I can do the same with, but most of them nowadays can’t be serviced. They just have to be replaced. As I don’t want to go down the fully adjustable and VERY expensive route, I’m afraid I have to opt for the simpler, non-serviceable ones.

However, I’ve put some new Girling replica’s on my road going Model 50 and am not very happy with them. They showed rust coming from inside the covers since the first ride in the rain, and they’re squeaky ever since. The damping action is better than the worn old Armstrong dampers (as in: there is some), but still leaves a lot to be desired.

Instead, I thought about Hagons, as at least you can have them made up with a spring weight to match bike and rider. As I’m lucky not to have grown in circumference in decades, most general shocks have springs that are a bit too strong for me. This results in a rebound that’s way too fast. So the option of choosing a spring rate is a must.

ADVICE NEEDED
Looking at their line-up, I noticed the length for a Model 50 or Dominator (wideline) should be 33 cm, while 34 cm is specified for a Manx. I’d rather go for a Manx option, as the damping should be better suited for racing. But I do have to ask them, as it’s an assumption.

Question 1
Are the frame mounts for Manxes different, or are they just put more ‘on the nose’ with 1 cm longer shocks to give them a sportier steering head angle? I wouldn’t mind that, as the large diameter wheels will make the bike very stable, but less nimble too.

Also, when looking for rear shocks, I’m a bit at a loss regarding quality. I have to admit that I haven’t kept up my knowledge of the market. I know Maxton would be the way to go if I wanted to go down the high-end route, which would be like buying a space shuttle and then fly to London with it. I just wouldn’t use their full potential if I didn’t upgrade the forks to be fully adjustable too. Which I wont. Doing that would defy the purpose of the Surrogate Manx project in proving anyone can go racing on a budget. And the pain in my wallet would be excruciating…

Then there’s the fact that I don’t really need high-end right now. I always remember Dutch racer Wilco Zeelenberg telling me once that many trackday riders would ask him for the right suspension setup and tire pressure. Or which upgrades he would recommend. He would give them some general advice, but told me: “What they should be focussing on, is going a lot faster before things like that are going to make a difference." And regarding upgrades, he told me: "They’re mostly just throwing their money away.”

Okay, back to the subject at hand: shocks, and which ones to get. I know Hagon always was a good compromise between price and quality. And they seem alright for what I’m going to do, but surely they’re not the only ones.

Question 2
Are there any other brands out there that might be interesting? Preferably with serviceable parts, as that means I can experiment a little.

Cheers,

Tim