Thinking about a Drifter 1500 vs. a Road King

[holycow]

I've been so busy I have not had a chance to go out and ride a Drifter. I've been slowly putting the Road King together bit by bit I'm 99% sure I will be selling it so I'm cleaning and doing the brakes, tires etc- even that has taken a back seat to work and daily life. But I will get around to it SOON!

[no4hitter]

Hello,

Have you made a decision or made a purchase yet?  I have a 2002 Drifter in the garage that I just put the classic rotor cover on.  I also have a 2008 Road King CVO.  I love both bikes,  I think the RK does ride better, really nibble and it really feels planted to the road when riding on curvy roads.  The drifter rides completely different, but that also makes it fun to ride, and you always get the looks.  I do believe the drifter would be more reliable, but thats just an opinion,  cause I haven't had any problems with either of my bikes.   Happy and safe riding....

[2beers]

I've had a '60 DuoGlide HD, a '78 Sportster Cafe (which was completely dissed by the Harley crowd, btw) and an '87 GSXR1100 with a Stage III kit and other crazy fast mods.  I like two wheels.  I haven't ridden a 1500 Drifter (yet).

This has been a good discussion, it covered all the bases.  The biggest difference I've found with my 800 Drifter compared to the other bikes is that is so well balanced, with a low center of gravity.  It is as nimble as the GSXR for non-aggressive curve riding.

There's also this.  Last night I was at an auto parts store, getting an LED bulb.   I couldn't find an employee at the checkout, and while I was waiting I glanced outside to check on Blue.  The crowd around her was the store staff, lol.  One employee was leaving work for the day, an obvious Harley guy, and he stood in the cold with me, instead of going home, asking all about the Drifter.  It was a Drifter Moment, and if you purchase one, you'll have to get used to having them, too.

The cost factor is shockingly different, as you must already know.  My wife and I have two '00 800 Drifters and she also has an '04 750 Shadow.  There isn't a Harley out there, running, that could've been purchased for the cost of those three bikes together.

Would I have another Harley?  Sure.  I like bikes.  I'd like to have a Ural, too.  We need more garage space!  Have fun on two wheels, whatever you decide, and be safe out there!

[chief]

I rode a 98 RK before getting the Drifter. When I started looking for a new bike, I wanted liquid cooled, fuel injection and better drive train. Harley had nothing that interested me.

The differences are too numerous to list, but here are a few...
1) Vibration -  no comparison, Drifter wins.
2) Looks - Drifter
3) Technology - Drifter
4) Ride - Drifter (on the RK I always felt like I was pushing a wheelbarrow.)
5) Reliability - Drifter by a nose. RK was never too bad for me.
What do I miss about the RK... nothing. The only thing you give up is the HD name. and access to accessories, IMHO.

[Troll]

This is an interesting post. I owned H-Ds starting in 1966...when I purchased my first one, in pieces. 1946 EL....Up until I found my 1500 Drifter, I owned a series of bikes, including a BSA and a couple of Moto Guzzis....but always returned to the H-D. I sold my TourGlide in 2009 when I bought my Drifter....Besides the fact that I love the look, I also love the fact you only have to buy it once.....I don't want to even think of how much I spent keeping those Milwaukee Paintshakers running. I put on some would say, a lot of miles. I put the Drifter on the road in March of 2010....and I have put 53,000 miles on it since. That TourGilde I sold had 200,000 on it. so I have a little experience with them...

[gdrudd13]

While I would take my Drifter over most of the HD's, there are plus sides to having an HD. The biggest one that I've seen has been the aftermarket support available. You can walk in to any dealership, or go online to most motorcycle stores and get whatever you want. With the Drifter, there is usually (in my experience) a lot of looking involved, a little trial and error, and sometimes giving up and fabricating a custom part. The same thing goes for replacement parts. Easy for the HD, not as easy for a Drifter unless it's a part it shares with a standard Vulcan.

I still find it interesting after having ridden an Electra Glide, that with how bad the bike vibrates at idle, it smooths right out once you start moving.

[jmbo]

The good thing about riding a Drifter in a Harley world is no one accuses you of being a poser.  Many of the "brethren"  have this ridiculous habit of looking down on any non-Harley v-Twin. Before I bought my Drifter I road Triumphs. Trumpets were OK especially among the older HD riders because they all started out on Triumphs. Ride a Shadow, or a Star, or a Nomad in Harley country and will likely get scoffed at by someone in the HD group. I've seen guys so vane that they refused to park next to a non-HD V-twin.

I never owned or road a bike for status sake. I certainly didn't buy my 1500 to please anyone but myself. I will admit that most HD riders I have met are indifferent at best about the Drifter. Some will ask if it's an Indian even though it clearly says Drifter on the tank.  But at the few bike nights I have attended I'll get and occasional affirmative grunt from one of the boys. I don't take that as a welcome to the brotherhood but among the Milwaukee HD boys, that's as good as it gets.

Doesn't bother me either way. Every time I hit the back roads and local twisties I have the solace of knowing that I bought the bike for me and no one else.  Ride on!

[holycow]

The comment about the Ural is hilarious because I've been looking for a Ural w/2 wheel drive for some time- just have not found the right one yet! That sidecar rig will be great for camping one day.
Otherwise- I ride strictly solo, my wife is bike shy. And I am not out there to go as fast as I can. What I do like about he Harley is that its weight isn't pushed around by the wind like a smaller machine, and it feels solid. 300 miles on the interstate at 75mph is no big deal.
The "Harley Club" thing is also not big with me. I actually just did a charity ride on Sat. and I rode my 2002 Aero 1100 because I wanted to clean the carbs and burn some fuel before it went bad. 99 out of 100 there were Harley. Some nice people and some wannabe tough guys. That's not why I like motorcycles. For me it's experience of the road and appreciating form/function balance that makes up a great bike.
By the numbers it seems like the Harley and the Drifter 1500 would be similar on power (maybe more torque in the Harley)? Is that evident in the ride?
-Jeff

[John Hopkins]

Here in Britain I have almost the opposite experience..

Harley's are becoming more popular and Drifters are getting rare but parts are not really a problem for either bike and getting a Drifter fixed means the local small town repair shop can usually handle it.. My 1999 1500 Drifter is well balanced and has handled everything I have thrown at it, the balance is very good and after scraping the floorboards it returns to the upright position as if it weighs 20 lbs.. if there is a downside I would have to say it is the top speed..I get 107 mph on a good flat road with no wind.. this drops to 90 mph in a strong buffeting crosswind while going uphill.. My fuel tank holds 16 litres and at top speed that will get me 70 miles before it hits reserve.. if I ride at the posted speed limits that increases fuel economy by an amazing amount.. one of the problems with the Drifter is that with that big Vtwin I really like to go as fast as I can and because the bike responds without complaint it is very hard to keep to the speed limits..

John

[49Reo]

I too have owned and ridden both Harley and Drifter; my Harley was an '05 Ultra; I now have an '02 Softail that has been given a third wheel (triked) I have owned several Harleys in my life, and will never buy another one. If ( and highly doubtful) I ever purchase another new bike, it will not be Harley; possibly a Victory Magnum, haven't tried one yet but do like the looks. Ride, however, tells all. In all liklihood, if I purchase a new bike, or even a newer model, it will be a Kawasaki. They are, IMHO, the best bike out there today. My Drifter 1500 rides better and is more comfortable than any bike I have ever owned. And the nicest looking.

All this being said, however, it all comes down to what YOU are wanting out of a bike. If you never want to carry a passenger, the Drifter is a beautiful solo ride. A lot of Classic parts will work on them, and if you are any good at fabbing, the sky is the limit. There is none of the "attitude" among the Drifter groups that is found among Harley riders. That line of malarkey has led me to prefer riding by myself as much as possible. I have not had the opportunity to attend a Drift-In yet, but do look forward to kicking back and relaxing with a great bunch of people who are not pretenders, but are genuinely interested in their own bikes and those of their group. No "chest thumping "me Tarzan you Jane if it ain't Harley it ain't blah-blah-blah".

Great bikes, great people, no negativity among this group. And, as it has been said, if you buy a Drifter, we are picture hounds......Lol

Good luck on your decision of whether to buy or not to buy a Drifter.

[jmbo]

You've hit a good number of the differences.  I have ridden both and while I prefer my 1500 Drifter, I also realize that it is not for everyone.  Harleys are good bikes. Parts are available everywhere.  Tons of guys will work on them.  They hold their resale value. You can bling and bobble them with more trinkets then a dog has flees. and then there's the "botherhood".  Living where I live in Harley country, that's huge. There are no biker bars in this part of the country.  There are only "Harley" bars.

Harley's downside is also they upside, tradition.  Their customers are so enamored by the tradition that Harley is reluctant to make changes to their bikes. They have the knowhow and the resources to build a cutting edge bike but their customer base won't buy it. The V-Rod is a classic example.  They shake, they rattle, they are hot and relatively under powered for the size of the engine.

Drifters are different animals. During their time they where technologically and mechanically a better built bike than a comparable HD.  Water cooled makes it ride much cooler.  For its weight it has a good balance. Until HD switches to the six speed, the Drifter cruised at a much lower RPM and so it rides smoother at highway speeds.  And as you mentioned, the look is distinctive.

Drifter's downside is the lack of replacement parts.  Few accessories were available when they were new and even fewer now. You might just as well ride a Ural when it comes to getting work done at the neighborhood bike shop. The rear suspension design causes seat, rack, and saddle bag designs to be somewhat unusual. And, the look isn't everyones cup of tea.

To me a Harley is more of a fan based purchase and not so much a personal choice bike.  Drifter is with out a doubt a personal choice bike. You have to go out of your way to find one and owning and maintaining one requires some research and patents.  I spent five years looking for mine.  Glad I did.

Good luck with your choice.  If the Drifter wins then congratulations.......and send photos.

[holycow]

Hello,
I have been lurking here for a while. I love the aesthetics of these bikes. I currently have a 2005 Harley Road King with the 88 ci engine, and was curious if anyone here had ridden a road king and could compare it with the 1500 Drifter. I ride solo and I love the looks of the Drifter- I think the Harley is a bit dull in combination with being needlessly mechanically complex, also shakes like washing-machine at idle in traffic when it gets hot. I'm also not in love with its belt drive. They gave it fuel injection... Why can't they make it shaft!? Heritage!!??
Plus it will be 5 years or so until I can get my hands on the new Indian. By the sound of it I may not want one after having one of these Drifters. So anyone have experience on both a Road King and the 1500 Drifter to give me a good comparison?
Thanks.
-Jeff