Can of worms: Indian tank emblem on drifter

[drifter-paul]

I removed my Kawasaki Drifter emblems with a hair dryer (hot) and see-sawing a fishing line down behind the emblem.

Then Gum-off/wiping, and gum off and more wiping, etc - slow but safe.

I replaced with Zambini (untitled) Indian heads using Clear (for glass) silicone-sealant from the hardware store.

[Gerhardberger]

Use a hair dryer and soften the silicone to remove the tank nadges. The silicone will peal off and there will be no harm to the tank. I used new black silicone to put my indian head emnlems on my Drifter.
Dan

I've finnally everything ready for the swap. Will just make sure what kind of silicone shall a ask for, in order to fix the new emblem to the tank. Can you tell me what silicone is best?
Thank you

[greenbarn]

Wow, I really like the one indian head motif....   And given the price,  it would DOUBLE what I have in my bike!!!

The wife would LOVE that....

[49Reo]

Some people have it, ...........and some don't. But, it's only money, go for it!!lol

Regards and such,
49Reo

[Kimbershooter]

Do you really, really, really want to make em stare??? Check this out!!
Wish I had rapper or NBA or NFL type money. I love this Indian air brush work. More talent in his little toe than in my medulla oblongata!!

http://www.colormaniapaint.com/airbrushart.html

[marshalldoll]

Use a hair dryer and soften the silicone to remove the tank nadges. The silicone will peal off and there will be no harm to the tank. I used new black silicone to put my indian head emnlems on my Drifter.
Dan

[Gerhardberger]

I've reading all the post long. In order to have full information about indian badge "yes or not", Can anybody tell me the procedure of the swap ?

1.- is it difficult to remove existing kawasaki badge from tank ?
2.- Will be the paint below the badge damaged or not ?
3.- Will it be necessary to paint the entire tank to get a perfect finish ?

Thank you in advance !

[chief]

Sweet bike.

[jagered]

I have an indian head on mine, but no script at all.  http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/IMG_0759.jpg

To each his / her own!

our bikes are similar...

[49Reo]

Nice, clean look; looks good. Here is a couple of shots of mine before I did too much to it.

Regards and such,
49 Reo

[pcarrell]

I have an indian head on mine, but no script at all.  http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/IMG_0759.jpg

To each his / her own!

[49Reo]

Very well put. The only thing on my bike that alludes to the "Indian" is the horn, and the instrument panel badge, says "Indian 'K' Model" which will stay until I find/make a replacement... the original Kawasaki badge is not in good shape; ( like it was taken off and replaced, kind of bent up). Might make one out of brass sheet stock.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[chief]

Well, understand TIMING... back in the "day", some Harley guys would dress their harleys to look like an Indian. Didn't go over with the old guys like my dad... an old Indian rider. Then Kaw did the Drifter. During these times were were NO active Indian companies. It would be like Chevy making a car that looked like a Studebaker and some enterprising custom guys branding it as a Studebaker. That's fine and good unless the Studebaker brand was revived. Then the "tribute" takes on the image of being a "wannabe". Even though the NEW Studebaker wouldn't be a "real" Studebaker in old timers' eyes, its still a legal, "real" Studebaker and the Chevy "tribute" is not.

Personally, I don't mind if folks confuse the Drifter with an Indian, I just don't want to intentionally try to confuse them, and I don't want them to think I have Indian "envy". If I wanted a new or old Indian, I'd buy one. I wouldn't put Indian branding on my bike any more than I'd put Harley branding on it.
That said, there is nothing wrong with pushing forward the illusion if that's what you wanna do with your bike. There are plenty of American Indian stuff out there that would go with our bikes that don't have anything to do with Victory's new brand. I use a lot of that stuff on mine... like Indian head conchos, indian head nickels, etc. Its an allusion to Indian motorcycles of the past without directly branding our bikes.
After all, we paid for the privilege of owning a big fendered bike. The holders of the Indian brand felt the fenders were "theirs" only, so Kaw had to license use. Fact is, our bikes were as much an Indian as any since 1953. Licensed by the brand.
Do as you want and enjoy your creation.

[Troll]

http://www.kiwiindian.com/
check them out, it's more Indian than Kiwi.....Might give you some ideas

[49Reo]

The true Indian never had a "softail" style frame nor an S&S motor. IMHO, the modern Indian was nothing more than stylized Harley;
the S&S engine is basically a Harley motor; if memory serves me correct, it is build on the "Evolution' design.  Anyway, this is starting to get off topic, so I will reiterate, before closing; it is your bike, put on it what pleases you; never mind what anyone else thinks.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[jagered]

As far as putting anything that says "Indian" on your Drifter, what is the difference between that and all the Ford pick-ups that say "Harley Davidson" on them? They are not nor ever will be, "Harley Davidsons". Just remember; this is YOUR bike; do it up the way YOU want it; it doesn't matter what others think; it matters what YOU think.

Regards and such,
49Reo

well... although you are technically correct in stating that any 4-wheel vehicle will never be a harley.... it is "advertising", not branding when on the pick up.  it is the harley model with harley accents (just a way to charge more!) but as far as our bikes they are not nor ever will be indians unless you want to change the suspension and throw an air cooled s&s motor on them!!!    then they would be a bit closer...

[49Reo]

Sorry about the double post, folks; this lap-top is about to become the victim of a fatal shooting. 

Regards and such,
49Reo

[49Reo]

As far as putting anything that says "Indian" on your Drifter, what is the difference between that and all the Ford pick-ups that say "Harley Davidson" on them? They are not nor ever will be, "Harley Davidsons".  This is YOUR bike; do it up the way YOU want it; it doesn't matter what others think; it matters what YOU think.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[jagered]

i agree... a non-Indian branded as one gets you not only dirty looks but people wondering w-t-f you are riding and telling you it!!  but for the record it was never to be named an "indian", it was suppose to be the Super Chief but that was already taken...

mine had the indian on it before i replaced it with the Zambini 3D emblems (awesome by the way!!!))... had many people asking me "Why?" and hated having to explain the reason behind it because it always ended with "... but it isn't an Indian?"  didn't matter what the history was and what Cobra did... so I chose to make it exactly what it is, an Indian look-a-like and put the same indian head style emblems on it but without the indian in it... drifter would have been fine but the Zambini ones just caught my eye so i wanted them! 

[aclone]

Yea, just water spots.  I'm not a member of the dark side I like my drifter shiney.

[KsDrifter]

Aclone- That is cool!!

[Troll]

Cool design... are those water spots on your CHROME?

[aclone]

Do what makes you happy!!  I don't care for the indian logo on none Indian bikes so I came up with my own.

[marshalldoll]

I used the Zambini Indian Heads on my 99 and they are spectacular. Go with what you like and screw everyone else.
Dan

[klake1]

My opinion is that if that is what you like or want it to look like, do it.  I for one do have the Indian head on my bike on the tank and also the Indian head fender light but nothing that says Indian or even Drifter or Kawasaki. I for one do not like the Indian drifter wording, for one it is not an Indian, yes it is a drifter but a Kawasaki drifter.  I do not hesitate to tell people that it is a special edition Kawasaki honoring the Indian motorcycle. Although it may look like an Indian it is a Kawasaki.  If I was to put any wording on mine it would probably say Drifter of Drifter Indian.

As I started out it is yours and you can do with it as you want, you could even take the big flowing fenders off and put normal fenders on, you could make it a rat bike, you could paint it pink with polka dots, it is yours do what you want and if you don't like it change it.  You do not need my approval.