My 1999 Drifter

[moosewayne]

wha-BAYUM!!!
Good lord, that thing is beautiful!!!

[John Hopkins]

All you need now is a black leather armored jacket to match the bike.

John.

[Washbrook]

Nice photo.

[chief]

Nice pic... makes me wanna ride... what? 7 degrees?  okay, I'll just look at pictures.

[mittico68]

Hey Lurch, nice pic: seems you like sparkling with your bike's floorboards...
Next time tell your buds to take a night time pic 

[Lurch]

looks like the new bars do indeed allow you to sit up straight . Are is this because your around 7' tall , hence the name 

6'7", but yeah - pretty much.

[Drift1]

Lurch I see you had the tank pinstriped . Bike came out sweet brother ! Nice pic looks like the new bars do indeed allow you to sit up straight . Are is this because your around 7' tall , hence the name 

[CDNRatMan]

looking good.....

[greenbarn]

Nice pic, Mr. Lurch.

[Lurch]

Had a photo ride organised with my club recently.

DSC_0164 by Mr Lurch, on Flickr

[Lurch]

Went for a quiet solo cruise this afternoon out past Tharwa with the camera. Didn't really find anything I liked, so pulled into the old Tharwa church on the way back.

DSC_1848.jpg by Mr Lurch, on Flickr

More: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjHGzupR

[Lurch]

Yes too bad about the lights but you will figure it out and teach us how to fix that issue.

Got the second panel made up, on and painted.
Fixed to the bike and at least seams a lot stronger than before. Time will tell.

[Washbrook]

Yep, see mine

[Lurch]

Because mine was already 'modified' when I got it; I'm trying to work our how the indicators were mounted originally?
If I look here:
http://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists/kawasaki-1999-j1-vn1500-fenders_bigkae0628f2170_023f.gif
The rear fender bracket/bumper thingy has two 'loops' at the top of the uprights to mount the indicators. I dont have that

[dakuhosu]

I have to say I think the 99 1500 is the best Drifter hands down. The fix looks good too.

[CDNRatMan]

  Same badges I have on my 99 800, nice and subtle. Yes too bad about the lights but you will figure it out and teach us how to fix that issue.

[Washbrook]

Congrats on getting the tank badges. They look good. Pity about the indicators.

[Lurch]

Ok; good news and bad news...

First the bad news

The indicators that were on the bike when I got it (the rubbish little plastic ones) were mounted straight into the side of the tail light housing. When I replaced them, I didnt really consider that the plastic housing wouldnt have the strength to take the new indicators hanging on there vibrating away.
On the way back from the Feet First run, one broke, making a mess of the housing. I plastic welded it back together, added some large washers in there to hopefully spread the load a bit, and hoped.
Yeah..... no. Came home this arvo to find one loose again and on pulling it apart found it had all broken again.
So... for now at least - fraken-lightmount:

After a coat of paint - you wont really see it.

On better news - I HAVE TANK BADGES!
(thanks to Mak Drifter)

[JLA]

Very, very nice Lurch

with an original touch, but at the same time preserving the heart of the drifter.

[Troll]

Might be a N.America only thing....http://www.mrclean.com/en_US/magic-eraser.do?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=mr.%20clean%20magic%20eraser&utm_campaign=Mr.+Clean_Search_Desktop_Brand+Awareness&utm_content=sZ29MsIrn_15185192589_e_mr.%20clean%20magic%20eraser
Yeah, the whitewalls look great, but cleaning...fortunately, Michelins don't come in white wall, so no desire to have them!

[CDNRatMan]

 one awesome sponge type of cleaner....perhaps not available in OZ yet

http://www.mrclean.ca/en_CA/magic-eraser.do?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Mr.+Clean_Search_Desktop_Brand+Awareness&utm_term=mr.%20clean%20magic%20eraser&utm_content=sqnMhkrpu|dc_mr.%20clean%20magic%20eraser_p_28364390244

[Lurch]

What is this Mr Clean Magic Eraser people talk about?

[CDNRatMan]

  Warm water and Mr Clean Magic Eraser works wonders too.

[49Reo]

Very nice bike; are you planning to black out the rest of the engine as well? As to the white walls, I found that some Spray-nine and hot water work well; be careful not to get Spray-nine on paint or decals. Was washing a company truck and wad trouble getting some of the road film off, so sprayed it with Spray-nine. Took the color right out of the door decals....

[Lurch]

After some research on how to care of a satin paint job; recommendations pointed me to Meguiars 'Ultimate Quick Wax'
My paint guy suggested that the best thing would be a very light wax. Something that doesn't try and give the paint too much gloss.
So I picked some up on the way home and gave it a whirl.
Damn!
The perfect stuff no doubt. Brings everything up silky smooth, but still quite obvious that its a satin finish.

Also;
Pro tip: Don't get white wall tyres. They look fantastic on the right bike, but what a pain in the arse to clean :/