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Posted by Troll
- October 13, 2014, 11:57:44 AMBetter tires will really enhance the experience...I've put 52,000 miles on my '01 since 2010, when I got it running.
Posted by Meridious
- October 13, 2014, 11:54:28 AMHere is a pic from the Columbia River Basin. Notice the two hastily purchased and strapped-on bags to give me room for my cold-weather and rain gear. 
Posted by Meridious
- October 13, 2014, 11:42:09 AMHi there,
2002 Drifter 1500 (Approx 17,000 miles on the ODO now)
I just did a run from Lincoln, NE through the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, then through Idaho to the Washington State coast. (Taking every NON-INTERSTATE road that I could use (Big Horn pass, anyone...Beartooth Pass anyone? BEAUTIFUL!!!))Over 5500 miles in 3 weeks in SEP 2014.
I have the stock one-seater and used some medium leather saddlebags and a (third) tail bag just large enough to hold a full-face helmet (just to give you an idea on size). Glacier had a 9-mile repair/dirt stretch on the Going to the Sun road, which irritated me and my street tires....and I elected to get on some rough gravel roads here and there...also not very cooperative with street tires...
That said, I had a blast, was comfortable as I have ever been (I've done some "Louisiana to the West Coast" rides in my time) and I had NO mechanical or otherwise motorcycle-related issues with my Drifter.
I am gearing up for a 2400 mile trip to Florida here in just a couple weeks.
Lessons learned (mostly personal, not to do with anything wrong with the motorcycle):
1. Not enough luggage room! (I am remedying that now. Just installed these Victory Saddlebags http://www.vikingbags.com/indian-chief-classic-trianon-motorcycle-saddlebags-7136-prd1.htm. Had some clearance issues as they are very long in length, but overcame those)
2. Gravel Roads and sloppy old Dunlop street tires are not always copacetic! (Not much I can do there....I am on the street 99% of the time)
3. Some sort of fender trim or guards would have been nice. Ended up with a few chips here and there.
NOTHING about that long ride would stop me from getting on my Drifter and riding even farther!
Posted by Troll
- August 24, 2014, 07:31:35 AMUnlike "purpose built" or "type" bikes, the Drifter can be anything that you want it to be, but always with the underlying theme of grand style....
Posted by moosewing3
- August 23, 2014, 20:43:50 PMHere's mine all decked out for the road. You'll even note in one pic a dozen beer strapped to the bike lol. Was comfortable and I only got stiff after being held up repeatedly in road construction. My eight hour trip home ended up taking 13.5 hrs. Mix of interstate and and some fairly challenging riding in the Adirondacs north of Lake George.
Posted by Troll
- August 23, 2014, 18:53:07 PMTom is SOOOO right about the Drifter for the long haul. Here's a pic. of mine before I left for Maggie Valley...2,700 miles in a week, 46.3 mpg, and a really smooth, comfortable ride. 675 miles the first day, 470 the second...625 going back home the first day (Sunday), and 450 on Monday...I rode all over the country on a series of bikes, and finally got a "touring bike" in 1995...I thought I would get spoiled by the FLT, but the Drifter has it beat by (a lot of) miles....and a shot in Beloit, WI for my first fuel stop @ 180 miles..
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.