Tank Logos

[chief]

Just read an article where Polaris/IMI went after a small mfgr called Crazy Horse Motorcycles whose tank emblem was a War bonnet for copyright infringement. Sent them a nice cease and desist letter..........before a summons to civil court! Guess it's already started. I seriously doubt they would go after individuals.........they're more worried about being hijacked on a larger  scale.

Bob

They are only interested in people making money from the symbols. No way they could ever go after every individual.

[jmbo]

Jmbo...........did you have someone who can/is going to make those logos we talked about.............?Just curious.........

Bob

Checking out a source for printing.  Will get back to you as soon as I hear.

[bikerbob5864]

Just read an article where Polaris/IMI went after a small mfgr called Crazy Horse Motorcycles whose tank emblem was a War bonnet for copyright infringement. Sent them a nice cease and desist letter..........before a summons to civil court! Guess it's already started. I seriously doubt they would go after individuals.........they're more worried about being hijacked on a larger  scale.

Bob

[bikerbob5864]

Jmbo...........did you have someone who can/is going to make those logos we talked about.............?Just curious.........

Bob

[jmbo]

As you may know we used to sell the Indian head fender lights. But when Kings Mtn bought Indian, the manufacturer had to pay a royalty for those, so they stopped making them. I suspect with Polaris' deep pockets they may start trying to curb other things as well... like the original warbonnet. BUT, you will likely still be able to get these things from authorized resellers.

You mentioned the magic words - royalties and authorized resellers.  I spend over 40 years in the licensed product business. Both mean one thing CHA-CHING! Things will cost more and have more limited availability.  Been there done that!

[chief]

Watchout now that Polaris owns Undian. They also own the logo and the rights to it. Buy your Indian based stickers and emblems while you can.

As you may know we used to sell the Indian head fender lights. But when Kings Mtn bought Indian, the manufacturer had to pay a royalty for those, so they stopped making them. I suspect with Polaris' deep pockets they may start trying to curb other things as well... like the original warbonnet. BUT, you will likely still be able to get these things from authorized resellers.

[jmbo]

Watchout now that Polaris owns Undian. They also own the logo and the rights to it. Buy your Indian based stickers and emblems while you can.

[LarryInSeattle]

I like the Zambini work and put those on my bike.  I call it what it is when asked, it is a Drifter, a tribute to the Indian, made by Kawasaki under license from Indian.  Most of the time, when someone says "nice Indian"  I just say, thank you.

[greenbarn]

Polaris Indian is going to make using the original warbonnet logo a bit less appealing. Fortunately, there are plenty of similar but not the same decals out there for those who really want the warbonnet look... like Zambini.

My thoughts exactly.  I'm much likely to want to indianize my drifter now that Indian is "alive" again. 

[chief]

Polaris Indian is going to make using the original warbonnet logo a bit less appealing. Fortunately, there are plenty of similar but not the same decals out there for those who really want the warbonnet look... like Zambini.

[greenbarn]

bikerbob (and Chief):  I understand exactly what you are saying.  The Drifter IS an Indian tribute or Indian clone bike.  That's what it was from the beginning.  Like Chief said, it was born in a time when "real" Indians were no longer built.  I don't see how putting an Indian bonnet (if you like it), or an Indian fender light (if you like it) or an Indian script tank emblem (if you like it) or WHATEVER, it trying to "make it something it's not".   No different than if you put cadillac tail lights, or ford turn signals, or a harley tool box, or paint it to look like patio bricks (I do wish I had saved a picture of THAT one..).  It's your bike, your creation to make it look like you want.

bikerbob:  Have you looked at the zambini brothers tank emblems.  If I recall, they have multi-colored war-bonnet style tank badges.  Kind of expensive, but heck, what isn't? 

[chief]

This is a debate that has been going on since 1999!  The bike was designed and originally built before the resurrection of the Indian brand. Kaw did indeed pay to use the fenders. It is a tribute bike.

Over the many years between 1953 and 1999 many bikes tried to do the same thing. I have seen Harleys with Indian/American Indian stuff on it.  Kiwi still makes bikes that look like the originals. Kawasaki and the Cobra team did a fine job!

I think it will be more difficult to keep to the tribute line since Polaris has and will sell a bunch more Indian brand bikes. BUT! one of the things that makes us different is we are DIFFERENT. We don't have the same bike as the herd that rumbles by... and what we do with our ride is entirely individual. There will be groups who like this and dislike that... but mutual respect still underlies it all. The great thing about Drifters... you rarely find two just alike!

So, do what makes you feel good and while I might not want to do it with my bike - I respect your choices!

[bikerbob5864]

Besides...................Mama likes'em............and if Mama ain't happy...............ain't nobody happy!!!!..................

[bikerbob5864]

It's my understanding that Kawasaki paid for the right to use the Fender style to whomever held the Indian copyrights when they started to manufacture the Drifter...............correct? In doing doing so, it can be reasonably assumed that they(Kawasaki) knew they were building a motorcycle that would replicate the overall style of the early Indians close enough to possibly cause infringement of copyright laws. Since this was obviously their purpose, adding things that enhance the illusion of an Indian-style motorcycle is not turning it into something it is not. Rather, I would argue that it is paying tribute to a time and style gone by on a technically relevant platform. Besides...............I think the War Bonnets are just too cool for S'Kool!!! baby!!!!!!.................................

[Drifter1500]

DRIFTER and proud to fly my flag.

Just got no idea why you would make it something it's not.

[bikerbob5864]

Yea, I get what you guys are saying. If I couldn't find decals like I wanted, the one's I have with the script on them were going on......no matter what.
I just like the look of the Classic War Bonnet. Shoot..........there's a guy here in town that has a Honda late model of some kind with Indian Warbonnets on the tanks..........and it looks good!!!! I never dumped on the guy.....but when I asked him where he got them......he got all defensive and and said"they came on the bike!"
You could tell that he'd been dumped on many times before. Man, why do people have to be such jerks?!

[CDNRatMan]

49 buddy, not really what you want but a start.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tank-Dash-Bezel-decal-FOR-1999-1500-Kawasaki-Drifter-Indian-DRIFTER-text-/261262095248?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cd46f3390

Me I like to be different and so I have a Drifter, I am not marching to anyone else's drummer, I want to be my own person.......

[49Reo]

What Milky said. You don't have to trick out your ride to please others; you trick it out to suit YOURSELF. The only thing that says "Indian" on mine is the fender light, and the instrument panel has a tag on it that says "Indian K Model" since the original panel was scratched up, it looks better that the original. I am, however, looking for one that says "Drifter" on it if anyone knows where to source one...

In a car /bike show last fall, a bunch of guys rolled in on vintage motorcycles, and when they were walking around, one guy looks at my Drifter and says (he didn't know it was mine) look at what someone did to a F#$%ing Kawasaki" Guess he thought the owner had put the fenders on it....one in every crowd.

[Milky1112]

Okay fellas, here's my problem.............I'm really digging what Dub is working on.........the Enfield/Drifter Brass Tank Emblem.....it is awesome looking!!!! Congrats to Jmbo and Dub for design and engineering however, I'm getting ready for a maiden voyage real soon. I don't see this Drifter badge being ready anytime soon, which is cool......so option two is a Warbonnet Tank Logo. Trouble with that is the only one that trips my trigger is the classic, full color style......with Indian script in the middle. I can't find anyone around here who can make me one without the script. The colors against the black backround on a 2002 Tank are too cool for S'cool.........but I don't want to be a poser riding a pretendian, yet I like the look...........this has become a real moral crisis for me!!!!, I mean......Meds have been upped......changed............sleep lost......dogs loosed on innocent neighbors,.............it's been hell!?!
I need advice........

It's your ride to do what YOU want/like, Who cares what other people think or how they feel. Are they the ones throwing the leg over taking it down the road? Nope. This bike is an EXCELLENT TRIBUTE to the Inidan's of old. Bringing back that classic style, charm without the cost/maint cost! (Poor man's indian!) But seriously.. Do what you want to the bike.. I'm looking for a couple things Indian for my bike.. (plate for console lights) maybe even the fender light. I know it's not an indian... but WHO CARES! It's a SEXY BIKE!!!! But most of all.. SHE'S MINE!

[greenbarn]

Okay fellas, here's my problem.....................but I don't want to be a poser riding a pretendian, yet I like the look...........this has become a real moral crisis for me!!!!, I mean......Meds have been upped......changed............sleep lost......dogs loosed on innocent neighbors,.............it's been hell!?!
I need advice........

Here's my 2C worth, bikerbob:  Do what you like.  I know where you're coming from, not wanting to come across as a "poser".  But here's the thing:  no matter which choice you take, some will like it and some will not.  When it comes down to it, they're not making payments on your bike, and they don't have to ride it!  Do it like YOU like it.

Caveat:  keep in mind when you go to sell it, SOMEBODY else has to like it enough to cough up the dough.  Case in point:  this bike has been for sale for a long time.
http://tricities.craigslist.org/mcy/4346304141.html   ---  someplace down there around Chief in TN...

[bikerbob5864]

Come to think of it, I would like a pair of each of the designs. Both are so nice I just can't decide until I have them on the Bike to see. Damn! I hate decisions like this.........neither is bad, one is just the best!!!

Thanks again Jmbo

Bob

PS      Email me if you like with all the pertinent info, it's in my profile.

[bikerbob5864]

Jmbo, the top design is exactly what I've been wanting!!!! I'm dancing in the streets!!!! Where do I send the Money Order/Cashiers Check?

Bob

[49Reo]

I too would like a couple of those; I have a POW/MIA one on my Drifter but it is almost wore out. Would like to have one on both my bikes.

[Drift1]

They do look nice guys . Jmbo when you get done with bikerbob and 49 would you be interested in making me this ?

[49Reo]

I like. How much for 2 pair? (one set for the bike, one set for the toolboxes...)