Subjective comparison of 1500 and 800

[Troll]

U.K. version of the iron butt?

[greenbarn]

I am planning to try 1735 miles in 36 hours on it soon so I will let you know what it's limits are..

John.

Or Yours....    I'm not sure I'd be up to that one...

[DC]

It's tained every day here for the past 10 days.  The rainfall record here for June, dating back to 1938, was just broken.

[CDNRatMan]

 Pilgrim just imagine a sunroom as nice as GB's with a south facing windows on a sunny winter day sucking in the heat and making a really nice place to go and sit reading the morning paper and having your hot beverage to sip on ..........ah to dream

[Troll]

Rained twice last week, once for four days and then again for three...Mississippi is still in flood stage in a lot of places!

[Pilgrim]

SO, whatever will you do, having to make do with only one 1500 drifter?  Now you'll have to ride the week-day bike on the week-ends too.  Or is it the other way around??

Well I'd like to have one for every day of the week...wait a minute, it rains 6 days a week so I only need one. Wish I had a sunroom to sit in while it's raining...

[John Hopkins]

I only have the 1500, I find low speed U-turns can be difficult, the throttle doesn't seem smooth enough I find it better to do a three point turn, on a long run the bike is comfortable, in good weather it is a joy to ride, the bike is very well balanced and you can take both hands off the bars with no issues..Top speed is 100mph and at fast speeds you get 100 miles to the tank on the smaller 1999 tank.

I am planning to try 1735 miles in 36 hours on it soon so I will let you know what it's limits are..

John.

[CDNRatMan]

  sarcastic are we not?

[greenbarn]

SO, whatever will you do, having to make do with only one 1500 drifter?  Now you'll have to ride the week-day bike on the week-ends too.  Or is it the other way around??

[Pilgrim]

Yes...it's a nice bike. I'm thinking it's going to sell pretty soon.

[greenbarn]

Is that the 2004 2-tone mostly stock with 11K?   clean bike, and seems like a good price. 

[Pilgrim]

It is set up for 2 up but I haven't ridden it with the 2 up seat on it. It's on CL for sale.
Tri-Cities. TN ...I'm getting down to one bike.

[chief]

However, I would really like to do some day-trips, with 200-400 mile rides with my wife over the next few years and I can't help but think the 1500 would be a much better 2-up bike.   The 800 does OK, but seems like it needs more suspension in the back.  Maybe I need to adjust the rear setting, but I don't want it too high for solo, as that is the majority of my riding.

Its really sorta common sense. The 800 works okay 2-up if you are smaller folks and don't carry much. The mono-shock really limits the bike in this regard. The 1500 will carry more and there are plenty of options for beefing up the suspension to handle the heavier loads that come with two up riding. The range of adjustment is much better as well. Even with the 1500 you can reach the load limits really quickly with two people and baggage attached. Its all relative!

[greenbarn]

Thanks for the input on this comparison.  It's helpful.   Much is pretty much what I thought.

The majority of my riding is short trips.  I live 4 miles from work, and ride occasionally to "town" 15-20 miles either way., and maybe a 50 once in a while.  So the 800 really is fine.

However, I would really like to do some day-trips, with 200-400 mile rides with my wife over the next few years and I can't help but think the 1500 would be a much better 2-up bike.   The 800 does OK, but seems like it needs more suspension in the back.  Maybe I need to adjust the rear setting, but I don't want it too high for solo, as that is the majority of my riding.

I was hoping to get some feedback on 2-up.  DK, obviously you don't use yours that way.  Pilgrim, I noticed the bike in your Snake pics is set up for solo - is your "other 1500" set up for 2-up by any chance??   

[Pilgrim]

I agree with everything DK said...
I only rode the 800 for 300 miles before I sold it so I can't give an in depth comparison. Had nothing against it, I just prefer a bigger bike.
On the open road the 1500 shines and easily cruises at 75 mph and is just more comfortable than the 800 for me, being 5'11 @ 190 lbs. I like to stretch my legs out.
Like Dk said, the 800 is smooth and easy to ride and in my opinion is great for around town and short rides through the hills and curves.
Both the 800 & 1500 are nice bikes but my choice is the 1500 for my type of riding. I like that big 5 gal tank too.

[greenbarn]

That's a great comparison.  Thanks for your input. 

[DKtime]

Ok, I do have both models, I rode the 800 for about a year before my wife took it away, then I got a 1500 and I've been riding it for a year now, so 2 years on drifters, one year each, about 7000 to 8000 miles on each. That being said I am far from an expert, but I'll do my best to give you my perspectives of each.

Handling... IMHO the 800 actually handles better at speeds under 65 mph. It's more nimble on curvy roads like the "tail of the dragon" which we ride at least twice a year. The 1500 just feels heaver and takes more effort to ride on twisties but is more stable at higher speeds and causes less fatigue 'for me anyway' on long hauls.

seat height.... this depends more on the seat you have installed. If I have both solo seats on the bikes the width of the 1500 makes it feel just as high if not just a little more as the 800.

power... yes the 1500 has a lot more power, probably not twice as much but maybe a third again. The torque on the low end are similar, the 1500 is a little longer winded though.

ride comparison...  the shocks are adjustable enough on both models to get the ride you want if you ride solo, my wife and I don't ride 2up as she has her own bike.

Is shaft and FI better than chain and carb?...  Short answer Yes, but if you keep your fuel fresh and your chain lubed and adjusted you'll have few problems with the chain and carb combo.

The fule guage is a big plus for me as is the clock I like having these.

There is no answer in my mind as to which bike is better you have to decide which bike is better for YOU. What kind of riding do you do and just what do you want out of the bike.

I ride and will continue to ride my 1500 mainly because it fits my body type better I'm 6'1" and 240 lbs.
If the 800 had just a little more power on top end and a little more leg room I would still be riding an 800.

[greenbarn]

Yea, if we can get some expert feedback here, from those who have handled both models.  Like PILGRIM, or I believe I saw that DKTIME had a 1500 and his wife a 800. 

[Gerhardberger]

Interesting post. Will keep an eye on it. I've read oppinnions of all kind. Let's see...

[greenbarn]

Pilgrim, since you have the distinction of being one of the few to have owned both an 800 and 1500 (well, 2 1500's now), I thought it would be nice to see a comparison between the two.  A new post would be good perhaps.

I'm thinking of more of an owner/rider perspective, an "subjective" comparison - the "objectives" have already been covered: FI vs carb, shaft vs chain, fuel ga. vs. not, etc.  I've always thought that I wanted to move to a 1500 eventually after riding the 800 a bit, but some insight here would be helpful.  What I'm looking for (and maybe others?) is more from your perspective, what do you like better on the 1500 vs the 800. (I'm going out on a limb here, thinking you must like the 1500 twice as much since you sold yer 800 and bought 2 1500's  )

Handling? Longer wheel base make any difference?
does the 1500 actually sit lower, like the specs would have you believe? (~1" lower seat height)
power:  1500cc + FI =  2X power??
how's the ride comparison, mono vs the dual shocks?
in theory the shaft and FI are perceived as better than chain and carb - how about your user's perspective??
How much better does the 1500 handle loads, for example 2up riding?
There are probably other comparisons you might be aware of that someone that hasn't owned both would even think of...