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Posted by Zoar
- November 07, 2016, 11:33:57 AMGreat post and thank you for some verifying of your own factual experiences, such as towing a trailer.
I know, I am off the grid and use solar power and it is flabbergasting how many people immediately say to me--- "That Solar shit doesn't work!" or "You can't live off the grid, it just doesn't work."
Well, there are no power lines coming from the gird on to my property. I have solar panels and batteries. I have successfully lived this way for 12 years.
It works.
And so does my 800 Drifter. It works great and is one of the best purchases I can say I ever made.
Posted by LarryInSeattle
- November 05, 2016, 10:35:37 AMI have something to say about the Drifter 800. It has enough power to do what we need to do on the road, which is to get from one place to another. It does it with style and class. I toted a trailer with mine and could still keep up with the other boys.
The disadvantages I had with the bike is this: Two up, it wasn't as comfortable as my big bike.
I kept everything stock on the bike and I am glad I did. The looks of the 800cc can be improved by "making it your own" so to speak, but when it comes to resale, they sell better stock.
I bought mine with 6,000 miles on it and sold it with 11,000 miles on it.
Testimony to the size of the bike: After I sold the 800, I missed the mid sized cruiser and bought an 07 Kawasaki Custom LT 900cc with fuel injection and belt drive. It has stock floor boards, heel toe shifter, windshield and saddle bags. It feels just like my Drifter, but it doesn't get the looks that the 800 did. I found an 07 in Sept 2016 with 182 miles on it. Yes, 182 miles. I now have a whopping 600 on it. I paid $2500. The knock on the 900 is "not big enough." "Girls or first time buyer bike" Bullshit.
They did put a 5.3 gallon tank on the 900. The 900 feels just like my 800cc in seat height, position and comfort level. My girl friend still won't ride very far on this one either. (she is 61 and in America, we do believe in choice.)
The guy who bought my 800 lives close by. When he rides by, I just smile and have fond memories of my 800. I don't regret selling it. I learned a long time ago that I shouldn't love something that can't love me back. However, when he found out how much I was selling it for ($3500) he bought it immediately that day. After a few months of riding it, he sold his 2008 HD. He is a smaller framed guy and he said, "it fits me perfectly." I am taller and come in at 260 lbs and I told him, "it fit me well too."
Posted by Zoar
- October 31, 2016, 10:01:22 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on October 31, 2016, 09:36:55 AMYou guys can stay at my place. I have a Gypsy Wagon Guest House for one of you and plenty of room to pitch a tent OR I may have my Tree House Guest House done by then so there will be two structures with very comfortable beds for you guys to stay!
I would love to leave you worrying all winter about this, but we are talking about the summer of 17 just to be fair.......we need time to plan this out, we just need a place next to the food truck to pitch our tents.....park the bikes, have a washroom, and a place to sit and eat.........
Did I miss anything GB?
No problem!
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 31, 2016, 09:36:55 AM I would love to leave you worrying all winter about this, but we are talking about the summer of 17 just to be fair.......we need time to plan this out, we just need a place next to the food truck to pitch our tents.....park the bikes, have a washroom, and a place to sit and eat.........
Did I miss anything GB?
Posted by Zoar
- October 31, 2016, 09:32:08 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on October 30, 2016, 18:29:14 PMAnd just so you guys are fully understanding the situation, the food truck is closed for the season however if you guys drove in I would fire up the wood stove on the truck and make you guys FREE pizza and we would have a mini Drift-In. Yes, absolutely. I just need some advanced notice. My climbing robot company sometimes requires me to travel. I would hate to be in Japan or even worse in Ohio when you guys are pulling in my driveway to get some pizza Pi.GB I fear that if you and I show up at the food truck......poor Zoar would have to work for a full weekend to make it pay, he can only give out so much free food.......
I am correct that he did say free food for anyone showing on a Drifter.........
Now if we knew the exact location I could be closer on my time and distance appreciation. So going by the map on his profile.....
From Richwood to him is about 7 hours, 728 km
From North Bay to Zoar is about 8 hours 714 km
We could leave at the same time and see how close we can get to arriving at the same time other then I have Customs to clear in Buffalo........might be a good weekend ride.......lol......
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 30, 2016, 20:42:58 PM 
you would have to ride the 800....lol......an over night trip and free food, sounds like a plan to me.......
Posted by greenbarn
- October 30, 2016, 18:48:14 PMYea, that's what he said...
So sounds like I can sleep in 2 hours longer than you, and still we can show up the same time....
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 30, 2016, 18:29:14 PM GB I fear that if you and I show up at the food truck......poor Zoar would have to work for a full weekend to make it pay, he can only give out so much free food.......
Now if we knew the exact location I could be closer on my time and distance appreciation. So going by the map on his profile.....
From Richwood to him is about 7 hours, 728 km
From North Bay to Zoar is about 8 hours 714 km
We could leave at the same time and see how close we can get to arriving at the same time other then I have Customs to clear in Buffalo........might be a good weekend ride.......lol......
Posted by greenbarn
- October 30, 2016, 17:54:26 PMAnd Ratman: Let me know when you're going to ride out to Zoar's food truck... I'd like to meet you there. Heck, we could have an ad-hoc mini-drift-in!!
Posted by greenbarn
- October 30, 2016, 17:53:23 PMZoar, you're right - I've seen a lot of people "Judge a book by it's cover", or a bike by it's CC's... Bigger is not always better - The 800 can do everything the 1500 can do - only the 1500 does some things better. The 800 does some things better. You pretty much have hit the nail on the head with your descriptions - I love the way my 800 handles and the easy turns etc. When I was on the trail of the dragon, I was on my 1500 - but wish I had the chance to ride it on the 800. Such a fun bike.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 30, 2016, 09:38:45 AMMost likely due to weight and the shipping charges, cost one person something like $375.00 to ship a exhaust system to Sweden.
Lots of e bay sellers do not ship to Canada so I can feel your pain, and a lot if they do ship to Canada charge you more then twice the cost of the item.
OR_seedman posted the parts he used for his solo seat and if I did it right the three parts:
seat, $64.95 , $40.70 shipping,
mount $15.99 , $15.50,
springs $12.95 , $15.50,
$93.89 , $71.70, or in Canadian funds ........
$125.00 , $96.05 = $222.00 this is not including and import charges.
All parts if shipped to the US are free shipping, so I could save almost $100.00 if I lived closer to a border town.
Posted by mittico68
- October 30, 2016, 03:20:34 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on October 28, 2016, 18:34:53 PMYou need to contact a guy outside of Toronto and get some elephant ears......
Mr. Ratman, that's what I was thinkin' for ma-deuce, too... but the seller doesn't ship to Italy!
Too bad...
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 28, 2016, 18:34:53 PMYou need to contact a guy outside of Toronto and get some elephant ears......
Posted by Zoar
- October 28, 2016, 18:27:56 PMI just finished my ride. It was cool out there. Legs got the coldest. But it was fantastic! I went to grocery store and when I came out there was a guy fawning over my 800. He was a Harley / Indian guy. Needless to say he was impressed with my 800. I started it for him and he looked at me like I just told the best story! He liked the sound. A lot. Oh, that is the other thing, I like the sound of my 800. When I drove by some cliffs today reflecting the sound back, I was thinking, "Damn, that sounds sweet!"
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 28, 2016, 16:53:03 PM Zoar, I do draw a line as fine as it is about what I would do for a free meal. Seems after all the snow last night that my season is over or very close to over, so time to park the bike and start my winter project list.
Zoar's food truck is on the schedule for next summer for a over night ride...........