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Posted by Troll
- August 22, 2012, 07:51:17 AMI guess I never really noticed excessive heat. After riding H-Ds for more than 45 years, the toasted right leg must be numb. I road a Victory Vision a few years ago, and that sucker makes some serious HEAT....
Posted by mbk
- August 22, 2012, 07:09:49 AMI agree the heat is relative, but I was a bit surprised that I could feel it through the air cleaner covers, especially the right side, which had enough heat to be mildly painful.
Posted by Troll
- August 22, 2012, 06:41:57 AMI'm about your size, and I'm running 25 psi in the rear shocks. It's not as good a ride over bumps as my TourGlide, but it's pretty much ok. I would like it to be more compliant, but then it weighs over 200 ls. less. The heat thing is relative, I guess. All exposed engines generate heat you can feel right away. The big heat source is likely the exhaust system. If all the heat shields are in place, it should be manageable, but if they are not, or it's an aftermarket exhaust, the heat coming off the head pipes can be an issue. To check the coolant level, there is a window on the right side, at the front edge of the side cover with a plastic tank sticking out just behind the cylinder...or you could take out the one phillips screw and remove the right side cover.
The stock exhaust has a very large collector mounted in the rear, on the right side, and a black "goat bladder" premuffler behind the engine, between the back of the trans and the rear wheel.
Posted by waltervl
- August 22, 2012, 02:28:26 AMThe cable on the right side is indeed the idle adjustment, the choke is under the ignition key on the left side.
Running hot? I don't feel mine is running hot.
Suspension, I have the european version so no air. Did the drifter went down a little bit when you sat down on it or a lot?
If you are not sure try to get along someone with knowledge for a second look. And if it does not feel right dont do it, even when it is such a nice motor (and Drifters are). I have myself lead by wanting to have it and it came back to me every time the wrong way 
Posted by mbk
- August 21, 2012, 21:30:42 PMONE MORE THING - Guy showed me on right side there was cable with thumbscrew or similar on end of it to adjust what he said was the choke, but what I thought was idle - on a cable ablout four or five inches long just hanging down - is that correct?
Posted by mbk
- August 21, 2012, 21:24:29 PMA FEW MORE DETAILS - it does not smell like coolant and it does not smell hot - it's just a presence of heat off the engine area - cleaner covers moreso than I felt with the time I rode an 800. It has stock pipes as well, no changes there that I know of.
Posted by mbk
- August 21, 2012, 20:59:36 PMGood news is I found a very wonderful looking 1999 1500 Drifter with 24K on it and I love it, however I have two questions. One, are they supposed to run hot? By hot I mean as soon as it started I could feel the heat and as I rode it, I could feel a lot of heat from the air cleaner covers and engine on my legs. He said oil was changed this season and he runs premium gas in it. I was not riding much and what I did was at slow speeds in a subdivision, but it was hot when I first got on it and the guy had not run it much. Oil level looked good - a bit high, infact, but that may have been due to angle of the bike. Don't know how to check radiator so I did not do that. Shifted well although I think I stalled it out once (and it made a horrid noise) but started right back up. I may have been trying to move from third, not sure. Also, ride over bumps was horrible. Guy said he never adjusted shock, never put a air compressor hose to it, but he is second owner. I am about 240 so it may just need an adjustment of air or preload (I have seen a lot of threads here on that), did not notice what setting it was on. I love this bike, but is the hot engine and bad ride from rear shocks a deal breaker? I'm not worried about the shocks, because I think you can find cheaper non-air ones for it or get a set of Progressives for around $600 (although I don't want to have to put that into it) but it's the hot engine that bothers me. But it looks so good, is so cool and I did not know this but the thing comes with a certificate made to the original owner with the serial number on it - also comes with a personalized handlebar riser cover made out in original owner's name (not mounted on bike, as a little extra in a pack with the certificate, video, and brochure) - did all the first ones come with this presentation? It's side covers also have a black inset and the guy told me those are hard to find (like a black Circle with a stylized V on it). It's so nice, it may be worth it if it needs some fixing - or maybe these are all normal things. Thanks in advance for your help, I really want to get this. Mike