Riding Double

[Snow Drifter]

Thanks Guys,
I wish I had asked before I checked the pressure "Phewtooii" the oil tastes crappy! Did manage to get oil back in and set pressure at 35 but I think I will take it up to 65 or so. Taking the bike up to Maine and going to tour the coast and and Nova Scotia as well including Cape Breton Trail. Looks like a good July!
Snow

[aclone]

I use my drifter for touring. Fully loaded about 440#  and  I do bottom out with the progressive  hd 440. Riding with empty bags and and two up about 400# we bottom out very rarely. The one problem we have is front end float drifter are not designed to carry that much weight.  Working on that now  with front springs, heaver fork oil, and rear shock extentions. The progressive are a much smother ride than the air shocks and worth the money.
Mark

[chief]

Well, whatever the pressure before, it ain't that pressure now!

You have to use a lossless gage... the mini-pump by Progressive is the one to use... its a pump and gage and it won't spew your oil everywhere...

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/blog/?p=590

Here is some info:

- Raise the rear wheel off the ground to adjust pressure and make sure you have the same pressure in each shock.
- Use a loss-less pump only - like the one above.

-  Max air pressure is 71 PSI. Normal pressures 0 to 43 PSI.
-  Bike comes set at Atmospheric pressure intended for 150 lbs.

-  Higher the load or the worse the road are, the higher the pressure should be adjusted.

- 43 psi = Heavy Load / Bad Roads
-   0 psi = Light Load / Good Roads

- Shock Pre-set (1=soft ride, 4=stiff ride)

- 1 = Light load, soft ride, good road conditions, low speeds
- 4 = Heavy load, stiff ride, bad road conditions, high speeds.

Personally, I replaced my air shocks with Progressive 440's... overkill now that I ride solo on the Drifter, but at the time needed it for two-up and luggage. Progressive 412's are used by some Drifters as well.

[griz01]

Kawasaki suggests 43 psi for the HARD Setting, Heavy Loading, or Bad Roads, but I was running 60 psi at setting 4 and still bottoming.

Legal Crap:
You show never exceed the Kawasaki recommedation pressure

[Snow Drifter]

Thanks again,
What would be the max air, by chance?

[griz01]

Hey SnowD, watch that unfortunately stuff I ride solo and weight 370! I ended up just switching to the progressive 440 Heavy Duty shocks (440-4221B). 500 miles on them set a level 3 out of 4, have not bottomed out yet, on the same roads where the factorys' set on 4 with max air did bottom. Also noticed I do not drag the floorboards as often, put on the stock 13" length but bike seems to be a much firmer ride. I am loving it!! Should have done this a long time ago.

[chief]

You can adjust the suspension... ie move pre-set to 4 and add air to the shocks... beyond that, you will have to look at replacing the rear shocks.

What seat are you using? Do you have all the correct hardware under it?

Have a look at this discussion... for more info...

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=7564.0

[Snow Drifter]

  Is there an upgrade to the rear suspension so we don't bottom out on the road as much? Combined weight is 370 (unfortunately).