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Posted by tgoelz
- August 23, 2014, 15:33:38 PMOK, first thing I have to say is that the Drifter is fantastic for "cross country" rides ... and I do mean cross country. Be it Interstates or two lane blacktop, they are damned good on either. They are not "canyon racers" but they handle the mountain passes, like those in the Rockies just fine. It may take a bit of effort to fit your Drifter for touring but it'll be worth it in the long run. I have a Rifle windshield & lowers up front, a Vista throttle lock/cruse control, Lutz leather saddlebags, travel trunk & barrel bag. The stock 2 up saddle is more than comfortable for daily ride of around 750 to 850 miles a day. I have other accessories on her but those are the major touring accessories I believe are the most useful for long rides and short weekend hop-ride (under 300 a day).
Posted by pcarrell
- August 04, 2014, 07:31:12 AMQuote from: moosewing3 on August 03, 2014, 19:23:40 PMAgreed! That's SMOOOOOTH!I like the tail light swap to match the bags.
Posted by moosewing3
- August 03, 2014, 19:23:40 PMI like the tail light swap to match the bags.
Posted by Racewriter
- August 03, 2014, 12:32:03 PMQuote from: Drifter1500 on August 03, 2014, 07:08:59 AMYeah, something like that! How do you like those Mutazu bags? I've heard they're a bit flimsy, but I love the look.Maybe something like this?
Posted by west mi drift
- August 03, 2014, 08:39:32 AMI owned a 98 Magnum 750. It was a fun bike, especially around town. However I found that at 5'11" with a 34" inseam I could go for about 1.5 hr and my legs were cramped. I don't have that issue on the bigger drifter. If I had to put money on it I think that v4 Honda 750 would take a 1500 drifter in a drag race. I know I beat several big cruisers with mine again and again. The v4 is high reving engine that makes excellent hp for its displacement. One guy dump $4k in souping up his Harley engine and still didn't want to race after watching me beat his buddy. This said the magnum was pushing it gearing and torque at highway speeds. The big vtwin in the Drifter still pulls nicely at any speed I have had it up to.
My bike in between my Magnum and my Drifter was a BMW R1100RT. These bike are great. They are about as fast as the magnum with a smooth power band. I often found myself in triple digits. 7 gal fuel tank that will take you 250+ miles between fill ups. Tool free seat height adjument (0 to +3"). Electric actuated windscreen and full fairing that puts your legs and torso completely out of the wind. The sattlebags pop off like suitcases and can be carried right into your hotel room. I rode long trips where I spent most all of the day on the bike and at the end of the day I was as fatigued as if I had been riding in a car. All this said I felt like the bike was boring and not sexy at all. I prefer riding my drifter. If you are looking to do long distance touring I would go ride a Honda ST or BMW RT.
Posted by moosewing3
- August 03, 2014, 07:28:45 AM@ Troll I have also installed a 600w stereo and run driving lights and have had no issues wiyh charging since I put a decent battery in it, sure the old one was at least 10 years old.
Posted by Drifter1500
- August 03, 2014, 07:08:59 AMMaybe something like this?
Posted by Troll
- August 02, 2014, 10:35:46 AMThanks. It's a barn rescue...kinda like a rescue dog, but with more mechanical issues, at first. Going on 88,000 miles, now, and so far, it's cost me less to run for the time I've had it than I would have spent on my TourGlide in one season. Since I modded the intake, I've gotten as much as 52 mpg. I did have to replace the drive shaft u-joint, and I had the bevel drive input bearing fail at about 79,500, but I put at least 4 sets of heads on my TourGlide, and that was always a $600+ situation...
Posted by Racewriter
- August 02, 2014, 09:49:02 AMQuote from: Troll on August 02, 2014, 08:40:41 AMWhat a beautiful bike! Thanks for the response. And to define 'touring' - for me, that's long distance riding, 500 miles or more in a day, probably a lot of it on the Interstate. I'm less worried about electronic add-ons than I am comfort and reliability.Ok...this is my forte. I replaced my H-D TourGLide with my Drifter 1500 5 years ago, now. Not looking back. I've done some 800 mile days on the Drifter, and in the time I've had it, I made it into the kind or tourer that I had back in the 60's...Bags, windshield, trunk, and double seat. It reminds me a lot of my '57 pan, but without the issues, vibration, and inevitable break downs on the road...I love it. On the 11th I'm embarking on my trip to my second Drift-In. Last year, I put 2,500 miles on her in a week, this year, I'm anticipating the same thing. I went out to Wyoming in '12, and put on 2,000 miles in 4 days...I normally run 70-75 mph on the Interstates, and my induction mods have gotten me a consistent 45 mpg at those speeds. Define what you mean by touring, please....Anyway, hare's a couple of pictures of what I have done since I put it on the road in the Spring of 2010...going on 48,000 miles ago. By the way, I've had no issues with the charging system, like some others may have stated. I have a stereo with a 500 watt amp, and the driving lamps, which I use at night...As soon as I saw it, I knew it was my next LDR...and I'm VERY satisfied.
Posted by Troll
- August 02, 2014, 08:40:41 AMOk...this is my forte. I replaced my H-D TourGLide with my Drifter 1500 5 years ago, now. Not looking back. I've done some 800 mile days on the Drifter, and in the time I've had it, I made it into the kind or tourer that I had back in the 60's...Bags, windshield, trunk, and double seat. It reminds me a lot of my '57 pan, but without the issues, vibration, and inevitable break downs on the road...I love it. On the 11th I'm embarking on my trip to my second Drift-In. Last year, I put 2,500 miles on her in a week, this year, I'm anticipating the same thing. I went out to Wyoming in '12, and put on 2,000 miles in 4 days...I normally run 70-75 mph on the Interstates, and my induction mods have gotten me a consistent 45 mpg at those speeds. Define what you mean by touring, please....Anyway, hare's a couple of pictures of what I have done since I put it on the road in the Spring of 2010...going on 48,000 miles ago. By the way, I've had no issues with the charging system, like some others may have stated. I have a stereo with a 500 watt amp, and the driving lamps, which I use at night...As soon as I saw it, I knew it was my next LDR...and I'm VERY satisfied.
Posted by moosewing3
- August 02, 2014, 08:34:36 AMI will let you know in a couple of weeks as I begin my adventures on Thursday, many miles to ride everyday. Will post a pic once I have her decked out for travel. As an aside related to this, I caved in yesterday and actually went to a mechanic to just take the bike for a ride and give me feedback on any issues, $25 well spent in my opinion. He told me that there is a guy in my area with a 1500 that has put approx. 450 000 km on his bike and is shooting for 500 000 km, original engine, trans etc., I would say that's touring. I guess it's all about what type of touring you want to do, if you want all the comforts Golwing is it, personally I find it like riding a la-z-boy which is enjoyable but I more of a bike feel. A lot of guys I ride with love the adventure touring style, again fun but not what I am looking for, so far the Drifter seems the best fit for me. Will let you know after two weeks of riding if I still feel the same.BTW the mechanic said in his opinion they were pretty much bullet proof, you pretty much had to try to break them.
Posted by John Hopkins
- August 02, 2014, 06:01:33 AMI only skimmed through the replies because I have my own opinions..
I own and ride a 1500, I also own other bikes. I have heard people say that the Honda Goldwing is the best tourer, comfortable, reliable, 300 miles on a full tank and will go forever..
I've never owned a Goldwing but I do own a Drifter..
A few years ago I rode for several hundred miles on a Kawasaki 750/4..I found it very uncomfortable but reliable..
I rode 1100 miles in four days on a Vmax, It was fun but they have a tendancy to overheat under certain conditions.
I rode a Honda Shadow VT1100 for 4,500 miles in two weeks and it broke down almost every day, once again through overheating..
And I rode my Drifter for 1250 miles in 23 hours and 7 minutes..I fitted a sheepskin rug over the seat and it was comfortable, I rode it like I stole it and found it had a top speed of 107 mph which dropped to 90 mph in heavy buffetting wind..but above all it didn't ever let me down...I found that without a windshield or crashbars it handled very well, it leans into the curves and sticks to the road (with Michelin Commander ll's) it takes a little getting used to because of the weight and the length, 8ft 4", the hardest thing to do on it for me, was riding a narrow 1 in 4 mountain road with very short hairpin bends..I have ridden this bike through deep mud, rain, wind and hot sun, country roads, highways, mud tracks and loose gravel..
I know not all bikes are the same so if you buy one you may not have the same results as me but I would rather rely on this bike than any other I have ever owned.
John.
Posted by Racewriter
- August 01, 2014, 22:50:51 PMThanks for the advice, and keep it coming.
Modding a bike that doesn't have a wide variety of accessories ready-made isn't a problem. I've done that with my Magna. It has Hardstreet Classic Tour bags (that aren't supposed to fit but in fact fit nicely with the proper tweaking) and a custom billet luggage rack (by me). I've seen the 1500 with the Buco bags, and that's definitely the direction I'd go. Like I said, I just want to get the lay of the land before I start seeking one in earnest. But they are beautiful bikes with an identity of their own, and that's what I like. Keep the thoughts coming - nothing like the voice of experience.
Posted by pcarrell
- August 01, 2014, 22:41:25 PMAs greenbarn said, a 1500 is way better for touring then an 800. That being said, the 1500 has shortcomings in the touring department. The electrical issue is probably the biggest one, as you'll have to be careful what kind of electrical add-ons you use as power is limited by the single stator. Converting to a dual stator, like most bikes, is not an easy, but very costly proposition. If you want 35 watt driving lights and a cigarette lighter to charge your phone you should be OK though.
The 1500 is nice because it doesn't get blown around on the highways very much. That said, wind control is important because it can cause fatigue on longer trips. Fortunately, this is easily done! The Nomad style windshield (it's a big shield) is a good start. Lowers will be money very well spent. With that, touring can be done. A full fairing with lowers is the ultimate in luxury, but the wallet has to come out a bit more for that.
Since you're by yourself on this steed, the stock suspension should be quite adequate. You stated that a Corbin seat was in your future, so that's sorted. One other thing I'd suggest budgeting for is some good grips. I have Iso Grips and I love them. I've covered them with leather for a more classic look, but I still get all the advantages of the vibration dampening, and they're great.
The rest is just all about luggage, and that is more of a personal taste. As it is, just about anything can be done with a few tools and some time. Heck, I managed to fit a Harley Shovelhead tour pack with a modern Harley backrest onto my Drifter! *** The look is a work in progress. ***
Posted by greenbarn
- August 01, 2014, 22:14:58 PMI guess it depends on how far towards the "touring" spectrum you want to go. I'm sure there are bikes suited better to touring than the Drifter. If you want the "best" touring bike, I would guess there are better - more capacity, more brakes, better charging amps, more aftermarket options, etc. But none of them look as good as these Big-Fendered-Beauties.
Troll can speak more directly to this post- he's put like a million miles on various bikes, as have others. I have not - I just love the Drifter for it's beauty and it's nostalgia, and am willing to live with any shortcomings. The 1500 is better suited to touring than the 800 IMO. It just wants to get out and go.