Improving Marzocchi AG series shock absorbers

F

filip

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Croatia
I recently acquired a pair of Marzocchi AG1 shocks and from what I've read online most people agree that they're not the best, I plan to use them on a racing project I've been planning for a while now.

For now I already have most of the supplies ready, fresh oil, proper springs for my weight and I plan to buy a rebuild kit as well(bushes, seals, gas bladder..).

Is there anything else I can do to make these better? Different shim stack and or oil height? Also is there a specific manual for this model? I know there's a zillion Strada manuals online but none for the AG1..:(
 
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That's them. I lost a plastic cap early on and looked for ages, including caps for all manner of household gadgets, including spice bottles. I eventually ended up using a couple of Welch, also called frost plugs, in car engines, as caps, siliconed on.
 
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"Yes it’s frame mounted, and I know it’s the wrong way ‘round, but it’s not easy to let the caliper hang, because the megaphone is in the way. Didn’t want to weld the swingarm either, so I left the construction as Larry Strung used to raced it. I never, or hardly ever, touch the rear brake on the race track, so can’t really comment on the functionality, other than that it’s a fine handling machine. The low weight of just below 170 kilos of this example surely plays a role, possibly also in the functioning of the Marzocchis. Or maybe I was just lucky with the oil I used, who knows." agree with that Marnix, I rarely used the rear brake when racing my Monty (Koni shocks) and later using TOG (1200TS) except exiting corners in the wet!!, because as the late great Mike Hailwood (SMBH) once said, if you are using the front brake hard enough when approaching a corner, there will be fresh air under the rear tyre, which was deffinately the case in the IOM in 1978 and 1979 on both Ducati and RG500. On TOG if the rear brake was deployed from high speed into slow corners it would squitell all over the road, which can be handy if someone is challenging youand you need to "out psyche" them.

I also certainly agree with Hamish, "chuck 'em in the sea", but I definately would not waste any further money on string and a brick.
CLEM
 
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CLEMTOG said:
"Yes it’s frame mounted, and I know it’s the wrong way ‘round, but it’s not easy to let the caliper hang, because the megaphone is in the way. Didn’t want to weld the swingarm either, so I left the construction as Larry Strung used to raced it. I never, or hardly ever, touch the rear brake on the race track, so can’t really comment on the functionality, other than that it’s a fine handling machine. The low weight of just below 170 kilos of this example surely plays a role, possibly also in the functioning of the Marzocchis. Or maybe I was just lucky with the oil I used, who knows." agree with that Marnix, I rarely used the rear brake when racing my Monty (Koni shocks) and later using TOG (1200TS) except exiting corners in the wet!!, because as the late great Mike Hailwood (SMBH) once said, if you are using the front brake hard enough when approaching a corner, there will be fresh air under the rear tyre, which was deffinately the case in the IOM in 1978 and 1979 on both Ducati and RG500. On TOG if the rear brake was deployed from high speed into slow corners it would squitell all over the road, which can be handy if someone is challenging youand you need to "out psyche" them.

I also certainly agree with Hamish, "chuck 'em in the sea", but I definately would not waste any further money on string and a brick.
CLEM
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Stop polluting the sea.
Paul
 
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Weren't these called AG Strada Oro, Piet, or was that just me calling them this way?

Put mine on the shelf years ago for Konis, but until they leaked, they were quite good, even if a bit on the soft side. Never liked the Konis on the early batch 1000 SFC's as they were simply to short (Marzocchi = 375mm, Koni = 362mm. 13mm is a LOT). Handling wasn't really improved... Fitted the Wilbers which had I think 372mm (from a period bike, don't recall if it was a KAWA or Honda or so...?) and that improved Handling again a lot.

The Symbol were available in adjustable, too. Not sure anymore if the ones on the 1000 SFC were, but I don't think so...

Here are some available with some adjustment on the reservoir:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235944852209 (missing the top rubber parts though!!)

Assume it's rebound, but am not 100% sure. Maybe combined rebound and compression or one side rebound, one compression - don't know.
 
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Ducati mounted the AG1s on their works racers in the 70ies, here at Montjuich, so they can’t have been all bad. The AG1s were popular in offroad/motocross too at the time.

Laverda (pre RGS) triples struggle with their handling/stability more than the 750s, which probably explains the constant search for better performing shocks, forks and frame mods.

Marnix
 

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MarnixSFC said:
Ducati mounted the AG1s on their works racers in the 70ies, here at Montjuich, so they can’t have been all bad. The AG1s were popular in offroad/motocross too at the time.

Laverda (pre RGS) triples struggle with their handling/stability more than the 750s, which probably explains the constant search for better performing shocks, forks and frame mods.

Marnix
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Ducatis had a good frame.
Paul
 
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MarnixSFC said:
Ducati mounted the AG1s on their works racers in the 70ies, here at Montjuich, so they can’t have been all bad. The AG1s were popular in offroad/motocross too at the time.

Laverda (pre RGS) triples struggle with their handling/stability more than the 750s, which probably explains the constant search for better performing shocks, forks and frame mods.

Marnix
Click to expand...
Agree, these don't seem to have much in common with the later Stradas. The AG1 were probably a proper sport/racing shock while the Stradas were built to a price for the general aftermarket and cashing in on the AG1 reputation.

I have a couple of sets of AG1 awaiting restoration, came with one of my Chotts/2TR. Got to fettle the Ceriani GP for the '73 first...

piet
 
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MarnixSFC said:
Ducati mounted the AG1s on their works racers in the 70ies, here at Montjuich, so they can’t have been all bad. The AG1s were popular in offroad/motocross too at the time.

Laverda (pre RGS) triples struggle with their handling/stability more than the 750s, which probably explains the constant search for better performing shocks, forks and frame mods.

Marnix
Click to expand...
In the 70’s the ag1 s were popular on 50cc gp bikes as well. I’ll dissasemble them and compare the internals with the Stradas, thanfkully they still make seal kits for them.
 
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