Which years - white speedo?

Gerhardberger · August 03, 2011, 03:55:24 AM

Definetly, 800's had all the black speedo.....like mine

greenbarn · July 22, 2011, 16:30:19 PM

Thanks, all, for the replies. I appreciate it.

griz01 · July 21, 2011, 09:33:01 AM

Nomads had a black face mechanical speedo, layout same as Drifter, don't know about connectors.

Troll · July 20, 2011, 18:10:33 PM

That's got to be an 800, since it's a mechanical instrument...

VN1500 · July 20, 2011, 18:07:09 PM

Quote from: chief on July 20, 2011, 17:36:27 PM
Yeah, I think only 800's have black. Not sure if all years or not.

Could be that they have been changed. My Nomad speedo lost the magnet, so I had no choice but to replace the unit.

Could be that a Nomad classic was all they could get? and put it on a Drifter.

chief · July 20, 2011, 17:36:27 PM

Yeah, I think only 800's have black. Not sure if all years or not.

greenbarn · July 20, 2011, 17:18:01 PM

Thanks Troll, Griz, and Chief, for taking time to reply.

Chief, I have a question though - you're thinking all the years have the white speedo available? I've seen a few later models listed for sale that show what looks to be a black background, like the pic I attached from an ad on Craigs for a 2005 - but it didn't even say if it was a 800 or 1500 (not a very good ad...). I prefer the cluster in Troll's picture he posted - it's just CLASSIC.

ALL: it looks like all you guys own 1500's - was the white background only on the 1500 or both models??? I was kind of leaning towards the 800 for a few different reasons, but just haven't made up my mind yet.

Thanks.

chief · July 20, 2011, 13:37:58 PM

I believe they all are white. There may be some variance in light color, but I believe most are the orange/red lighting.

griz01 · July 19, 2011, 19:07:37 PM

My 99 1500 is also a white faced gauge; same orange/red lighting

Troll · July 19, 2011, 18:46:57 PM

My '01 has a white speedo with red/orange back lighting. The first 2 years have cable driven speedos and then they went electronic.
"01 and up has all the chrome, and a 5 gal fuel tank

greenbarn · July 19, 2011, 17:32:50 PM

Can anybody tell me off the top of their head (or point me to a link) which models/years the white - faced speedo came on the Drifters? Is it available as an aftermarket, for those that it didn't come stock on??

I'm a potential new bike owner, looking for a Drifter. I've looked at several different bikes, and fell in love with the Drifter for probably some of the same reasons you all like them. I haven't seen hardly ANY around, so almost all of my looking has been on Craigslist and ebay. One of the things I really liked about the Drifter is the white speedo I see on some 99's and 2000's (I think). Can't find enough good pics or info to tell for sure when and which (800 vs 1500) it was on.

I suppose, though, a certain speedo is NOT a good "main reason" to pick a certain model or year. Are there any other features or major differences (besides condition, mods, price, miles, etc) that I should be inherently looking towards (or staying away from) any particular years, or for that matter either the 800 vs. 1500?
Thanks in advance.

Which years - white speedo?

VN1500