Lowering a 800

[Danar972]

Do you still have your lowering kit?? I am very interested.

[LarryInSeattle]

you might try putting your kit in the classified section to sell it.

Thanks.  I just put it on ebay and let the war begin. 

[Goombah]

you might try putting your kit in the classified section to sell it.

[LarryInSeattle]

I recently purchased an 800cc and it came with a lowering kit uninstalled.  I have the whole thing plus the instructions.  I won't be lowering mine.  I would consider selling it or trading it for any Drifter parts I could use.

I am new to this site, but not new to doing things online.  I use larryinseattle as my ebay account with almost 500 transactions and 100% positive feedback and belong to the Goldwing forum for many years.  New to this site, but not new to forums or motorcycling.  The Original Owner said the kit was $225 and it is still in the package.  I would take $125 for it or trade.

Whatcagot?  PM me for my phone number.

[DriftinGirl]

Good to know tedley!

[tedley]

She loves it. 3 inches was a lot frt and rear. After a few rides i think the frt should go up a inch. Suspention travel suffers. I can't ride it , it will bottom out with me on it. It's fine with her thou. Bike looks smaller down there to. It handles fine..

[DriftinGirl]

I lowered my friends 800 and she's 5 ft tall. I think it was a scootworks kit if i remember. It's been awhile. Dropped it 3 inches. She also has the corbin solo which helped abit.

And how did she like it? Any problems? We girls generally don't have the weight to bring the seat down so having good control at stops is difficult, especially for a new rider like me. Eagerly looking forward to spring to get on it lowered an see how it works out.

[tedley]

I lowered my friends 800 and she's 5 ft tall. I think it was a scootworks kit if i remember. It's been awhile. Dropped it 3 inches. She also has the corbin solo which helped abit.

[DriftinGirl]

Checked out seats...do have the Corbin. Going to lower two inches...totally reversible...so when I get some more miles on and some experience handling it I might end up putting it back. Getting too cold for riding here so have the winter to do it.

[chief]

It will be marked CORBIN on the underside, the pan isn't plastic and there are no Kaw part numbers on the underside... plus all they look different. See the SEATS info on the web site.

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/drifterseats.html

[pcarrell]

Chief's guide to Drifter Seats: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/drifterseats.html

Yes, you can contour the seat some.  The thing is, if you want to do this, have an Industrial Strength stapler handy to reattach the cover.  Even the bigger handyman ones don't have the muscle.

[DriftinGirl]

Thanks for the info, ideas, and opinions! How do do tell a "real" Corbin? Read on here that you can have front of seat narrowed...would that be a better solution? I do have a 31 inseam and found my Suzuki uncomfortable due to my knees being too high.

[chief]

Make sure you have the REAL Corbin seat... not a Fire & Steel seat (kaw pan covered by Corbin to Kaw Specs)... stock solo and F&S seats are "taller" than a Corbin solo.

[pcarrell]

The 800 is about 20mm taller with stock seats on both.

[Troll]

I was going to mention lean angles, and the lack there of. I scrape the floor boards on my 1500 all the time. It's not as bad as my '78 E-Glide, but not as good as my '80 FLT. Kind of in the middle. I'm wondering...I'm 5'8", with a 29" inseam, and I'm flat footed with both the solo seat and 2-up seat on my 1500...Is an 800 taller than a 1500?

[pcarrell]

Also, you need to shorten the kick stand or the bike will sit too upright when parked.  I know you can get a Voyager stand and it's shorter and bolts up, but I don't know how much shorter.  Cyclearts Engineering will make you a custom kickstand if you'd like.  They do awesome work.  You can check them out here: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/cae.html

[CARPE DIEM DRIFTER]

Welcome DriftinGirl,
I don't think the rear fender will be an issue, but the lean angle will be reduced significantly. I ride a standard ride height 800 drifter and road scrape the underside of the floorboards quite often on tight turns. I have also heard that lowered 800 drifters are prone to the side kick stand dragging. Just my 2 cents.
Happy Drifting,   CDD

[pcarrell]

The 800 fender is bolted to the axle/swingarm, same as the 1500, so no dragging issues there.

The max an 800 can be dropped is 3 inches.  Keep in mind, lowering changes lean angles though.

[ChilliDrift]

That brings up a question, do the 800 rear fenders mount on the swingarm like the 1500's? Im guessing not. Im just going to have to buy an 800 and have the best of both. Then I can leave a solo seat on it and run my 1500 2 up. I love the solo seat on it, but I hate changing it all the time.  So will DriftinGirl have any issues if she lowers her 800 3 inches will she have any problems with her rear fender dragging?

[DriftinGirl]

Got the scootworks kit but their info packet left me wondering which choices others have made and how it worked out. Don't want her purdy dress dragging on anything. 

[CDNRatMan]

  Welcome DriftinGirl; 5'11" and I really like my bike and the seat is super comfortable, but hope you can figure out how to lower it to the right height for yourself.

[pcarrell]

Good place to start: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=597&cat=53

[chief]

Congrats and welcome. Make sure you read the stuff in the new member area.

[DriftinGirl]

Hello...
Just got my new-to-me Drifter 800!! Can get my feet flat when I stop but it is a strain....looking for advice about lowering. I'm 5'6", 130 lbs, and a new rider, if any of this matters in the lowering decisions. It came with a Corbin seat which I love and hear is lower than stock. Thanks for any info you can offer!