I know how the Drifter got her name.

[CDNRatMan]

  Thank you jmbo for a wonderful read.....lol...it was funny. Sadly I can not relate to the story as I do not have hearing aids yet.....lol......but the wind part I can as I rode a bit over 5 hours in a tail end of a tornado it seemed over the weekend with the wind buffeting me all over and that 800 is so light.....lol........

[jmbo]

I hopped on my 1500 for the first ride of the year.  I couldn't believe how noisy the motor was.  I thought what the heck happened over the winter.  Then I hit the road.  Once in the country roads I sped up. By the time I hit 50, I could not believe the wind.  I thought I was in a hurricane.  I thought sure I get a little rusty over winter and it take a few long rides to get in the swing of things but this is just not right.

I came home and waited to a chance to ride again.  Second ride?  Same thing.  Noisy engine, hurricane wind noise.  Then it dawned on me.  It was not the bike and it was not the wind.  It was my new haring aids. I had them cranked up too high.  Turned them down and no more wind noise and all I heard was the purr of the pipes.  All is well.

[greenbarn]

54 you are really old in dog years.......GreenBarn is almost as old as you, and we have members that had a mastadon for a pet.......lol.......I am so happy to be a young person........

Almost, but not quite.... LOL

[CDNRatMan]

 Of course not, I never said a word of you being on the Ark with Noah either.....so there....I can keep your secret.......

[Old Drifter]

and we have members that had a mastadon for a pet.......lol.......I am so happy to be a young person........

I know that your not talking about me. LOL

[CDNRatMan]

    54 you are really old in dog years.......GreenBarn is almost as old as you, and we have members that had a mastadon for a pet.......lol.......I am so happy to be a young person........

Get them speakers mounted and it will be so cool riding listening to Drifter music........

[Ontargetbill]

HI guys,
Yeah i wanted to see what she'd do but I'm most happy running around 40 mph and listing to the bike and enjoying the ride.
I'm 54 and this is by far my best bike. I've had the biggest Vulcan 2000 and the first 1987 BUBF (Butt Ugly But FAST) Vulcan 1500
and this is by far the best looking and cool to ride. I cant wait till bike nights down at the coffee shop and see all the Harley guys tell me " Wow that's an Cool looking bike". I had my neighbor come over. He's a 2014 Elec Glide owner and said He loves the bike.

NO tunes yet putting them in maybe next weekend. Working 50 Plus hours a week cuts into mods.

[--Jerry S--]

JerryS, just my idea but the Drifter was not meant for speed but for sitting back and relaxing as you tour the highways and enjoy the ride........

I would guess for me the Drifter is the most researched bike ever, before any purchase. I am a cruiser lover and it is time to do just that. Maybe it was the last shot and I knew it was going away.  I am ready to Drift. The second I saw a drifter I was totally hooked.

[CDNRatMan]

   Ontargetbill I forgot to ask you a very important question, you are out cruising on your new Drifter and feeling like a king in your world, knowing your teenagers are still sleeping and tucked in their beds......so my question......what song were you listening to? In the Wind,

JerryS, just my idea but the Drifter was not meant for speed but for sitting back and relaxing as you tour the highways and enjoy the ride........

[--Jerry S--]

Ok, yes I am not Drifterized yet but, I call my 1800c Valkyrie the "stupid bike"   So off I go, I think Tuesday after work on a short blast to hit a stretch of road that is just north of me and opens up to empty 65mph pavement. I zing up 10 miles and turn around back and ready to hit the road and a couple on a new Indian full dresser "FLOAT" on by. I run up side by side and point to the bike give the thumbs up (they are greatful for the positive jesture) and I then grab a hand full of throttle.  In no time flat I hit the limiter at 123 and realize it is time to mellow out.  And what comes to mind is, this bike is stupid.  Yes moreover I, am stupid and one of the reasons this needs to go. I'm 56, when will I act it.

When I score my Drifter and hit the road on a windy day I will remember this post.

[CDNRatMan]

  been there done that .......

My lightweight 800, my featherweight buttocks of 245 lbs. a month of clothing and kit, say 100 lbs and then high winds in North Dakota......on the flatlands.......and the bike is leaned over so much I have to lift my left leg off the boards to keep from scraping them.......lol........

But me I would not have left the teenagers sleeping I would have gotten them up to mow the lawn, rake the leaves, clean the house, wash the car, but that is just me.......lol....

Glad you are enjoying your machine.......

[Ontargetbill]

Easter Sunday I'm up early and the kids were still sleeping (teenagers) so I figured Id take off my 2up and sissy bar plus bags early this morning. Then I put on my solo seat and did a cleaning on the bike So much better.

Nice day here 80 degrees but windy.. Very windy... get where i'm going her.

So I'm ready to take my first long ride on my new (too me) drifter up my old riding route.
One the way I pass a beautiful lake called Lake Massabesic (Indian name) so fitting.

The Speed limit is 30 miles an hour near the lake where people are fishing, laying out showing off their cars and bikes etc.

then the speed limit goes to 45 then 55 now were talking the first time I'll get her up past 40mph  and I hit the throttle 55 mph and loving it. I give her a little more then 65 mpg and all of a sudden a huge gust of wind hit me side ways and the whole bike Whooshed .. and just moved sideways about 4 feet to my left without me moving the handlebars.. Holy Moly I almost messed my self. The bike literally Drifted into the left lane about two feet to the left of the double yellow line.

I've been dreaming all winter of riding my 99 1500 with her big bold fenders . They were my a dream catcher.. lol

The big fenders are a definite wind catcher as well and I thought It might take a little getting used too but wow. Luckily the road was empty and it's flat. After going back in my lane and knowing I need to change my drawers when I get home, I was laughing and couldn't be happier that I got one of the coolest bikes around.

So if you are new to a Drifter take a little while to get used to how she travels down the road before driving fast.