Best way to lower a 99 Drifter 1500

[guero77037]

I'm  getting ready to purchase a 99 Drifter 1500 but have read that shorter drivers have a hard time balancing the bike when at a stop.
I am 5'7" tall.   Does anyone have any good suggestions on what is the best way to lower the bike as much as possible?   I have seen a couple kits advertised but not sure because there are no reviews (and should I lower the front along with the rear or is just the rear ok?). I am also 5.7 I bought 11 inch rear shocks and left the front alone I had to set the shocks at the stiffest setting and it rides great but I only weigh 155 lb if I hit a big pot hole it bottoms out but it would bottom out with the 13 inch shocks I got my shocks at shortshocks.com jut to test them I got the heavy duty ones like for riders that weigh 300lb  good luck

Thanks in advance to all replies

[bambam0099]

[John Hopkins]

Just put a fat girl on the back. Bike will be instantly lowered.

All jokes aside, the 1500 is rather a low rider in stock trim. You will be fine.
Folks that want to lower them just want to drag the floor boards. Ground clearance is already an issue with them.

I think the bike low enough for that already, my floorboards drag too much on roundabouts and tight curves without a fat girl on the back.

John.

[Harleymanz]

I'm  getting ready to purchase a 99 Drifter 1500 but have read that shorter drivers have a hard time balancing the bike when at a stop.
I am 5'7" tall.   Does anyone have any good suggestions on what is the best way to lower the bike as much as possible?   I have seen a couple kits advertised but not sure because there are no reviews (and should I lower the front along with the rear or is just the rear ok?).

We have the shorter springs and shorter shocks off of a 99 drifter we removed and went back to stock as my gf is 6'. If your interested. It's a simple job to swap out.

[bambam0099]

I didn't know that was in question....  I could have helped perhaps sway your your decision even more ....
buy it       BUY IT           BUY IT!!!!

And don't forget when you get it- we like pics...

I just bought a beautiful 1500 today!

The thread is here:  http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=32336.msg70570#msg70570.   Thanks everyone....

[DC]

You didn't say what color that seat is, DC....   It's not the new Indian Tan by any chance is it???  I should have asked before -- if it the new Indian tan color - I'm sure you won't like it.   Don't even bother to mount it.  That color, for some unknown reason, is reported to be really uncomfortable.   If that's what you bought, you should just ship it over to me, and I'll try my best to bear with it.   

[greenbarn]

You didn't say what color that seat is, DC....   It's not the new Indian Tan by any chance is it???  I should have asked before -- if it the new Indian tan color - I'm sure you won't like it.   Don't even bother to mount it.  That color, for some unknown reason, is reported to be really uncomfortable.   If that's what you bought, you should just ship it over to me, and I'll try my best to bear with it.   

[greenbarn]

Does the Corbin two-up absorb shock very well? That's what I'm also concerned about.  How is it on long rides?

I'd agree w/ Chief - it does not really "absorb" shock.  It's a very deep bucket, though, so it contours around your behind.  This seems (to me) to spread out the contact area more, and for me they are real comfortable.  Like PC said, some won't like them - they are firmer than some other seats (stock for sure).   Hope that helps.  Put 'er on there and go on a few rides. 

[chief]

I've had Corbins on every bike I've owned for a long time. Have one on the Drifter and the Goldwing I have now. NO unsuspended bike seat "absorbs" shock. The soft seats bounce a bit - which is a big problem for me. They also "hug" you which results in hot spots (monkey butt). We rode the Goldwing 5000 miles in a couple of weeks touring out west with no problems. Corbin makes FIRM seats. If you like stock seats and lots of padding this will not be the seat for you.

[Troll]

I have a Corbin gunfighter solo on my W-650, and it's just what I was looking for, but I have the stock solo with the Nomad passenger seat on the Drifter, with a Mustang cover and that's a good 600+ mile a day seat...It was too soft without the cover, now it's just right...

[pcarrell]

Does the Corbin two-up absorb shock very well? That's what I'm also concerned about.  How is it on long rides?

Many people swear by their Corbins, but when I tried it out I likened it to sitting on a wooden park bench.  To each his own.

[DC]

That can be really unpleasant, depending on what exactly, if anything, gets hung up on the seat...

Tell me about it!   

So how do your wives deal with this 2" loss??   

Flexibility is the key.   

I don't think the Corbin will give you a problem.  They are kind of wide, but at the height on the 1500 it hits me better than the 800.  I have a Corbin 2-up on both of them.  The 800 is too tall, really (combined with the width) - taller than the stock solo that came on the bike.   I'm hoping the solo Corbin is better.  On the 1500 the Corbin is wide as well, but I can stand with knees bent as it sits quite a bit lower than the 800.  Can't compare the 1500 Corbin to stock or anything, b/c that's how I bought the bike.

Does the Corbin two-up absorb shock very well? That's what I'm also concerned about.  How is it on long rides?

[greenbarn]

the bike tended to take off out from under me, and I was sliding off backwards. 

That can be really unpleasant, depending on what exactly, if anything, gets hung up on the seat...

I used to be 5'10" but have shrunk two inches . . . . .

So how do your wives deal with this 2" loss??   

I have a Corbin two up that I have yet to put on.  This should even take the seating position lower, but the seat is very wide and it will probably be like riding a horse.

I don't think the Corbin will give you a problem.  They are kind of wide, but at the height on the 1500 it hits me better than the 800.  I have a Corbin 2-up on both of them.  The 800 is too tall, really (combined with the width) - taller than the stock solo that came on the bike.   I'm hoping the solo Corbin is better.  On the 1500 the Corbin is wide as well, but I can stand with knees bent as it sits quite a bit lower than the 800.  Can't compare the 1500 Corbin to stock or anything, b/c that's how I bought the bike. 

[Drifter1500]

Just put a fat girl on the back. Bike will be instantly lowered.

All jokes aside, the 1500 is rather a low rider in stock trim. You will be fine.
Folks that want to lower them just want to drag the floor boards. Ground clearance is already an issue with them.

[DC]

No kidding..with legs bent?   Huh, I was obviously given the wrong information!

Thank you so much for the reply...made my day!   

I used to be 5'10" but have shrunk two inches . . . . . in height.  My inseam is 29".  When I first got my bike, the springer seat was mounted way forward and too high, and it was unsafe in trying to control the bike at a standing stop.  Because the front was high up and the back of the seat lower, the bike tended to take off out from under me, and I was sliding off backwards.  I moved the front mounting of the seat lower, by making some cheesy brackets out of angle steel.  This improved the rake of the seat so I wouldn't slide rearward and also lowered the seat enough to where I can control the bike at a standing stop.  I have a Corbin two up that I have yet to put on.  This should even take the seating position lower, but the seat is very wide and it will probably be like riding a horse.

[greenbarn]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.   I feel very confident about making a purchase now.

I didn't know that was in question....  I could have helped perhaps sway your your decision even more ....
buy it       BUY IT           BUY IT!!!!

And don't forget when you get it- we like pics...

[bambam0099]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.   I feel very confident about making a purchase now.

Again, appreciate it everyone

[greenbarn]

bambam, I don't think you'll have as much problem reaching the asphalt as you might think - Like Troll said, they sit pretty low, and also like he said, much of it depends on your seat.  I'm 5'8 with 30" inseam, and reach the ground better than on my 800.

That being said, I think the reach to the handlebars is a different story.  This all depends on what you're comfortable with, but I felt I was too leaned over, and too much weight on my hands, so I'm in the process of adding scootworks PhatII risers.  Honestly, I prefer the looks without risers, but I'm choosing comfort over looks.

[CDNRatMan]

 that is why my seat I had it shaved lower and the sides cut in so lower it and it is about 2" lower now.....

[Troll]

A great deal depends on the width of the seat, as well as how much foam is in it. With the stock 2-up seat, you sit farther forward, and a little higher, The solo seat is a bit farther back, and lower, even though it's actually wider.

[CDNRatMan]

 at the link I used the 1500, with a rider of 5'7" and a 29" inseam...you can change it.....

[Troll]

By all accounts, the 800s sit a bit higher than the 1500s

[CDNRatMan]

http://cycle-ergo.com/

this might help

[bambam0099]

No kidding..with legs bent?   Huh, I was obviously given the wrong information!

Thank you so much for the reply...made my day!   

[Troll]

I'm 5'8" with a 29" inseam, and I sit on mine with my legs bent at a stop...No issues with the bike being too tall, as a matter of fact, it's closer to the ground than my TourGLide was...That being said, in order to maintain steering geometry as much as possible, you need to lower (or raise) both ends the same amount. Lowering will decrease cornering clearance, and shorten the wheel base. These bikes are not sporting, by any means, but at stock height, you can corner pretty briskly. If you lower it, you will start dragging things on the ground.