How to firm up rear suspension

[CDNRatMan]

Sorry for not being so smart, amazing on what we can learn from places like this forum, it is so good to learn new things.....

[Zoar]

lol well you can be like my Brother In Law........he has a H-D Ultra Glide Classic........

out for a ride one time and he is leading the group. I tell him his signal light is not working. We go to the H-D shop and he spends $12.00 something for a bulb and another $30.00 to get it installed PDQ.
I am laughing my butt off and tell him we could have gone to Canadian Tire and spent $1.95 for a 1157 bulb and I have the Phillips screw drive to remove the screws and we could have done it in the parking ......... but then I get told it was not a H-D bulb......oh ok now I understand needs to be an H-D bulb......

EXACTLY! He, your brother-in-law, is just trying to preserve that great resale value by ONLY using HD parts! People can tell the difference ya know! That Jap or China or whatever 1157 bulb is not the same as an HD bulb and if you put in an 1157 you de-value the bike by thousands. A light bulb is a slippery slope to using a jap seat or a jap shock or a jap wheel.... Capice? Understand?

Hahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[CDNRatMan]

lol well you can be like my Brother In Law........he has a H-D Ultra Glide Classic........

out for a ride one time and he is leading the group. I tell him his signal light is not working. We go to the H-D shop and he spends $12.00 something for a bulb and another $30.00 to get it installed PDQ.
I am laughing my butt off and tell him we could have gone to Canadian Tire and spent $1.95 for a 1157 bulb and I have the Phillips screw drive to remove the screws and we could have done it in the parking ......... but then I get told it was not a H-D bulb......oh ok now I understand needs to be an H-D bulb......

[Zoar]

ok progressive is asking $495.95 and has them in stock, so a at $108 difference I know were I would be going and Kawasaki does not have any so makes it really easy.....

Yea, and Kawasaki wants $15 (and they are back-ordered) for the rear brake light bulb that you can buy for $1.79 at any auto store. I think I am understanding a trend here. Do not do OEM. Alternative sources are far better. Unless you like to over spend and wait and wait and wait.

[CDNRatMan]

    ok progressive is asking $495.95 and has them in stock, so a at $108 difference I know were I would be going and Kawasaki does not have any so makes it really easy.....

[Phoebe5150]

P.S:  Local Kawasaki Dealer wants $604 for a OEM piece, BUT....   Kawasaki doesn't have any.      Thanks again!

[Phoebe5150]

Thanks!

[CDNRatMan]

  The correct shock for a Drifter 800 (greatest bike on the market bar none) is a 465-1148.

I used the following link to install mine and it was really simple, looks like a lot but it is doable with the right tools and most of us have them in the shed.

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/monoshock800.html

I called and talked to the support people and because I am under tall and and slightly heavier then normal I added 2 turns to the preload.

Cost is a tad high but a new stock one will be almost the same price, so went for better quality.

Any questions just ask......

[gdrudd13]

For the rear shock, Progressive Suspension makes a really nice one. Do a search on here and you can find the correct part number. I don't know it off hand. For a standard shock, I'm not sure of any other manufacturers.

[Phoebe5150]

Thanks for the help!  Do either of you have a suggestion on a manufacturer?

[CDNRatMan]

  I'll have to agree with gdrudd13, I also have started to put my winter weight on and so am slightly heavier then you. My original shock was almost wore out and so I  replaced it with the progressive  shock, and it is really worth the funds. The labour is not that bad, it is really simple if you take your time and is a really good way to learn about the suspension of your bike. If you have never done it then perhaps an afternoon of work, while some of our experts would have it swapped out in a couple of hours. 

[gdrudd13]

You can replace the rear shock with a progressive unit, or I installed air ride. I'm thinking your shock is bad though because I weigh significantly more than you do and never had my bike bottom out during normal riding.

[Phoebe5150]

I just added saddlebags and a trunk to my 2000 (solo seat).  With me at 170 lbs. and very little in the bags and the preload at 7, it still bottoms out.  Anything I can do?

TIA!