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Posted by 49Reo
- August 09, 2014, 14:22:47 PMThat is, without a doubt, the nicest 800 I've ever seen; and I say this with no disrespect to all the other 800's and their owners. You have done a fantastic job of taking it back to the '50's. Great job.
Posted by Tecumseh
- August 09, 2014, 00:04:10 AMQuote from: Bucko on August 08, 2014, 01:30:59 AMBucko, actually raised the forks from the triple clamps an 1-1/2" which in reverse effect lowered the bike the same amount.It looks pretty awesome! I've always felt the Drifter's profile, at least the 1500 model, makes it looks a bit like it's riding 'up hill'. I think, as long as there's no clearance issues, it would look a bit better with the front end lowered slightly, just like yours. Did you use a Progressive lowering kit or did you just cut the OEM spacers down? (I think the 1500's and the 800's have the same front end).
Posted by Bucko
- August 08, 2014, 01:30:59 AMQuote from: Tecumseh on August 04, 2014, 20:01:57 PMIt looks pretty awesome! I've always felt the Drifter's profile, at least the 1500 model, makes it looks a bit like it's riding 'up hill'. I think, as long as there's no clearance issues, it would look a bit better with the front end lowered slightly, just like yours. Did you use a Progressive lowering kit or did you just cut the OEM spacers down? (I think the 1500's and the 800's have the same front end).Yes I lowered the front end. I think also the angle that the pic was taken makes it look a little funny, doesn't look as extreme in the 4th pic.
Posted by Tecumseh
- August 04, 2014, 20:01:57 PMQuote from: Bucko on August 04, 2014, 00:04:11 AMYes I lowered the front end. I think also the angle that the pic was taken makes it look a little funny, doesn't look as extreme in the 4th pic.Sweet looking bike! The front fender looks close to the rad; did you lower the bike?
Posted by Tecumseh
- August 04, 2014, 19:58:34 PMQuote from: greenbarn on August 03, 2014, 15:48:04 PMIt mainly drags when I turn left riding doubleThat seems odd that the kickstand drags- I always thought it was my floorboard that makes contact first. hmmmm maybe I need to look into that...
Nice mods, Tecumseh.
Posted by Bucko
- August 04, 2014, 00:04:11 AMSweet looking bike! The front fender looks close to the rad; did you lower the bike?
Posted by CDNRatMan
- August 03, 2014, 20:09:56 PMQuotebut it's just "not my bag baby"! (as Austin Powers would say
ok so now I have a buddy who is not a chrome person either....welcome my new buddy......
Posted by pcarrell
- August 03, 2014, 18:01:47 PM....as long as you aren't dragging the handlebar ends......
That's a BAD thing!Posted by Troll
- August 03, 2014, 17:25:27 PMI drag the side stand on my 1500 on the left, and the knobs on the right...
Posted by greenbarn
- August 03, 2014, 15:48:04 PMThat seems odd that the kickstand drags- I always thought it was my floorboard that makes contact first. hmmmm maybe I need to look into that...
Nice mods, Tecumseh.
Posted by Tecumseh
- August 03, 2014, 15:39:03 PMThe kickstand would always scrape the ground whenever I was cornering fast and aggressively to the left, or even slow to the left when loaded up and riding double (yes, I have a corbin 2 up seat and saddlebags for those occasions) so I needed to increase the ground clearance some........
This little flat area is where the kickstand stops it's travel, so by removing about 3/16" with the grinder it allowed the kickstand to travel a bit further up and increased the needed ground clearance...............
Here you see the difference. Doesn't look like much but definitely enough to feel it!.....
As much as I love these bikes there are still several things about it that don't suit my taste......like all the chrome on the engine. Not that chrome is a bad thing, I've seen many Drifters on this site with all the chrome add-ons that look down right fantastic, but it's just "not my bag baby"! (as Austin Powers would say). Further down the road I plan to have all the chrome stripped and bead blasting the black finish off the engine to expose the natural aluminum, but that's much later, so for now I'll do whatever I can to eliminate some of that chrome on my own. So for now, I decided to do something about the brake reservoir and air cleaner......
For the longest time I've been wanting to relocate the rear brake reservoir and get it out of sight!! I left the air cleaner chamber off when I installed the Dyno-jet intake kit so it left me a nice open spot to relocate the reservoir.......
I took a small piece of tubing leftover from my home fence job and cut a piece about 5/8" wide........
.......then re-shapped it to fit and mount around the reservoir and to the frame as well.....
.......cut off the old mount and touched up with Krylon gloss black.
I then also toned down the chrome on the air cleaner cover by mounting it up on the lathe and while spinning it some red Scotch-brite with light pressure was applied on the surface for a nice "spun" finish......
Now I'm a happy camper! 
