I currently ride a 1999 Drifter 1500 but know little about the 800. My wife ride a yamaha. I am looking at the costs of importing an 800 to Australia for her to ride. My wife is short and looking at the seat height the bike will need to be lowered if she is going to be able to ride it.
Now to my question, is there a lowering kit / set up that will allow me to lower an 800 so the seat height is about 60mm lower? I run progressive s on my Drifter but they do not seem to have a lowering kit for the 800.
I look forward to your learned comments.
There is a lowering kit from Scooter Works, and progressive makes a rear shock that is about 1" shorter then stock, in the 456 series.
DriftinGril has posted a thread about lower her ride, and I think 2beers has a lowering kit in hers.
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=17867.0
washbrook - the seat makes a big difference too. I'm 5'8 and perfectly confortable on the stock seat, but my corbin 2-up sits a bit higher and i have to reach to get my feet on the asphalt. I suspect some of the custom solos, on the other hand, will lower the seat height significantly, at least by their appearance. What do you say D1??
2 Beers Bride, here. My 800, stock, left me with toes barely touching the ground and I'm 5'1". I ordered the Scootworks rear lowering kit through Hellriser Customs (they had the kit in stock, and there were availability issues directly through Scootworks).
We installed it on the middle setting for 2" (it can be set to lower 1", 2" or 3"). I'd read that 2" was about max to lower the Drifter front end, and I wanted to keep the lowering of the front and rear equal. I used the Progressive Spring lowering kit on the front end.
You're looking for 60mm which is a little less than 2 1/2", if my American brain converts that correctly. Princess is a full 2" lower now than Blue (hubby's 800). I'm reaching the ground much better now but would like to lose another 1/2" or more, so I'm having the stock seat shaved when it is recovered. Princess handles the same as she did before she was lowered, btw.
Good luck with your decision!
P.S. Remember to order a shorter kickstand if you're lowering an 800 :) The Kawasaki Voyager kickstand that was recommended to me was the perfect solution!
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say depending on the preference of seat style your looking for , Washbrook . You can simply lower or raise the comfort zone , on height adjustment on a sprung seat by the size of springs you choose for individual comfort . For example , I'm 6' so my comfort height spring is 4 1/2 " tall as someone shorter would need a shorter spring . Or like 2beers bride has suggested you always have the option of shaving the stock seat with a lowering kit . Again , it's all about the preference style seat for ones liking . Keep us posted on the outcome and good luck to the miss's on her new to her drifter if it pans out that is .
Thanks for all the suggestions, they are appreciated. I will check it all out. It may be all academic if they do not allow me to import the 800, not sure why they would not but I am still waiting to hear back. If I get a yes then I will need to source the 800 from the States somewhere, comments on the best year to buy? As I said, I know my 1500 but nothing about the 800.
Greenbarn, I was surprised re the Corbin seat comment as I had thought that going for a Corbin might actually help with the lowering a little as the Corbin on my 1500 sat me lower [but wider or at least that's how it felt] than the stock seat. We would go for a solo not a 2 up.
2beers 50mm = 2" so 60mm is about 2 1/3".
I have had a bad experience with Scootworks, I paid for a longer brake pedal last year and am still waiting so a little reluctant to rely on them but maybe going through Hellraisers might help.
My wife is 5'2" by the way, yes short but cute.
Again thanks for the comments and pointers.
Ya know, you're close enough to Japan that it might make sense to look at getting a Drifter 400. Those were Japan only models, and getting one exported would make it the first 400 outside of Japan that I know of. To top it off, it might be more the size you need for the wife. The seat height is almost 1/2" lower to start with. http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Kawasaki_VN_400_Vulcan_Drifter_2004.aspx
Most of the rest of the specs I can find look the same as the 800, so if it's running an 800 frame, any lowering kits that work on an 800 should work on the 400 too. Of course, you'd want to do some more research to be sure, but according to some, it really is an 800 bike with a 400 motor: http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/forum/kawasaki-cruisers/99750-vn400.html (sorry Chief, but the info happens to be on another forum. Don't worry though.....this forum is so good we won't lose any members to that other place!)
Just think.....you could be the only forum member to have a 400 Drifter! 8) You could have your own page with stats and tips, etc., and come Drift-In time, ship that baby over here and you're the instant hit of the event! ;D
Just a thought.......
When we were looking for second black-out 800 for the hubby, we came across Blue from a seller in Arizona. He had purchased it from a relative and planned to export it, along with a couple of other bikes, to sell in Austraila (his homeland). He told us that the inspection and environmental fees involved made the plan unprofitable for him. We don't know anything about the process other than what we heard from him.
Hope it goes better than that, and you're able to find an 800 for the wife! That 400 idea is intriguing, too.
A note about the Corbin seat. Princess had a Corbin when I got her. Pretty funny to see, the first time I sat on her, I was swinging my feet like a little kid...couldn't touch the ground at all! Yes, the Corbin sits higher, and the extra width adds to the height problem, too.
Pcarrel, Funny I had given the 400 some thought but since she is already riding a 650 V Star Custom it would mean dropping back in engine size. I'll have a read of the links.
2beers, I understand the cost issue re importing one here but since I am not intending to try and make a profit it is not as big an issue as it would have been for someone trying to flip the bike. I have been informed the process might take up to 9 months from when the bike hit the country so not a quick process, bloody bureacrats!
All good food for thought. Thanks guys.
Since the 400 revs so high (9000rpm), and from one of those links, sounds like it has lots of hop up parts, the difference might not be so much. It might even go better. Worth exploring.....
Quote from: Washbrook on February 05, 2014, 22:23:33 PM
Greenbarn, I was surprised re the Corbin seat comment as I had thought that going for a Corbin might actually help with the lowering a little as the Corbin on my 1500 sat me lower [but wider or at least that's how it felt] than the stock seat. We would go for a solo not a 2 up.
I have a corbin solo as well, but haven't had it on the 800 yet. not sure what it does for the seat height. Corbin would be happy to make the seat narrower for your appliatioon if you ordered a new one, or if you send them a used seat, they'll "shave" it and recover it and it should sit lower.
Sorry....
I read the thread title and thought you were looking for a swap..
John.
Nice idea on the Corbin
I lowered my 800,front and back w/scooter kit. I also have a solo Corbin. I don't know why it would be different with mine, but my Corbin lowered my seat position from stock sear height. My Corbin is a "Corbin" not the redone Kawasaki seat with Corbin name on it. I don't know which you have,but I can tell you that a true Corbin lowered me probably the 1/2" you are looking for. I had the width shaved just a little bit,but nothing taken from the top.That might account for it being lower. I know one thing, I sure like the seat.
Oh, I forgot to mention. There is a pretty good picture of the seat in my gallery photos.
Thanks Goombah.
Quote from: Goombah on February 19, 2014, 11:36:30 AM
I lowered my 800,front and back w/scooter kit. I also have a solo Corbin. I don't know why it would be different with mine, but my Corbin lowered my seat position from stock sear height. My Corbin is a "Corbin" not the redone Kawasaki seat with Corbin name on it. I don't know which you have,but I can tell you that a true Corbin lowered me probably the 1/2" you are looking for. I had the width shaved just a little bit,but nothing taken from the top.That might account for it being lower. I know one thing, I sure like the seat.
That might do the trick. I've not actually measured the true height, but you're right the width is definitely an issue. I can tell by sitting on them the Corbin is wider in the front - this makes it "effectively" higher... i.e. harder to reach the ground. With the Stock solo I could reach flat-footed while sitting in the saddle. With the Corbin 2-up I have to "reach" to get both feet flat on the ground.
Goombah - did you have Corbin do the work on yours, or do it yourself, or have a local leatherworker do it?
I sent it back to Corbin. As you mentioned, I just had them shave some off the front portion for width. I'm 5' 10" and didn't really "need" to lower mine, I just wanted to. When I sit, my feet are on the ground,and I have some bend in my knee. I like it that way. I know you said your wife is short,and I know it is not a great feeling to be standing on the tip toes every time you need to or want to stop. I hope all this advice from everyone gets her flat footed and lovin' it.
Feet on the ground.
Yep. All good thought starters. I appreciate the comments and feedback.