Blacked out Ebony Drifter?

[Dubliner]

Out of curiosity, the old school liscense plate, is that a vanity plate or just a just styled to look like the old ones?  Really like it and would love to add one , but wondering if the displayed DFTR 800 might violate some law or other.

[Dubliner]

Michael, your bike is absolutely gorgeous. Ok maybe not the right word for a bike, but it looks amazing. You should be really proud of it. Air cover and saddle set it off. You should be very proud.

[drifter-paul]

No, haven't posted yet. I need to get my daughter to take some photos of it with the kickstart and Ted's handshift. Matter of  timing - made easier now that she's talking of coming home'.
 

[kw-retrorider]

Thanks guys.

Troll - I think you are on to something....most of the "black" parts that have become available are off 1500s....not 800s.

[Troll]

There MUST be more 800s than 1500s, and more '99 1500s than any other year...

[Drift1]

Perfectly said , Kw ! There's a fine line in the balance wirhout overkkill destroying thw whole look .   Again just my own opinion . KW scoot looks great , my man 

[kw-retrorider]

ventoracing: Nice looking bike. I wanted a "blacked out" 800, but came across a good deal on a 2002, which because of the black bodywork/paint I thought could be further "blacked" and still look right......but I believe you can go "too black." My goal was not the new "rat rod" flat black everywhere fad, but to just keep chrome accents and get rid of extra chrome....much like you did. So I spent some time finding "black" parts from earlier Drfiters and changing them out, but have reached my limit, because of what I perceive as "balance" in the combination of black and chrome.  Here's photo the group has seen before of my 2002.

Most parts are from a 1500 and include black headlight, tail light, directionals, spots, license plate bracket, rear brake reservoir cover, upper triple tree, risers and speedo housing. I still have black brake pedal and heel/toe shifter to install, and am still thinking about black handlebars.....but stopped with the front forks. I have a complete black front fork set up (and know where there is another one), but with the black fenders....too much black. I think the "bright" fork goes with the chrome windscreen and attachments as well as balances the fact that the rear fender bracket is chrome and not black. The result in my opinion is a balanced combination that ages the bike just right with no flat paint. With the reduction in chrome, I can live with the chrome that is on the engine because all total, the bike is much toned down.....just like yours, which I like. So be careful....and I know it's subjective, but what you have looks good.

[greenbarn]

My missus didn't like the mock-ups I did with "Paint" etc, but I trusted my judgement and went ahead. Seeing it life size in 3D, she now loves it, and I've stopped counting the number of people who take photos on their mobiles when I park.

Drifter-Paul: have you shared pics of said bike with us on this forum?  I don't remember seeing it...

And, Vent:  I probably wasn't clear on my previous post, that I really like the way your bike looks as far as you've gone so far.  I think more black runs the risk of too much.  Having said that, the photo editing mock-up option sounds like a good one to me.

[drifter-paul]

Very subjective.

I like what you HAV done.

I'd dabble with "Paint" and the various other photo adjusting programs (several free) to see what the results would be -e.g. changing the forks and headlight to black, and leaving the heart (the engine) chrome. These tools can be a bit painful to learn - but do a mock up and stand back and squint a bit. Then re-paint your original photo using the tool and see what IT now looks like - this will give you a basis for comparision to the "accuaracy of the changes" as shown by the tool.

My missus didn't like the mock-ups I did with "Paint" etc, but I trusted my judgement and went ahead. Seeing it life size in 3D, she now loves it, and I've stopped counting the number of people who take photos on their mobiles when I park.

Good Job. Unless I was very impressed with the "Paint" mods, I'd be happy to leave it as is. 

[racinfan101]

Your bike looks awesome in my opinion, hard to imagine it looking better!

[CDNRatMan]

  Rich I have a poster picture just for your mancave........budddddyyyyyyyyy

[Drift1]

....which doesn't necessarily apply to men's clothing........

Oh yea Pastor dude sneaks in again LOL

[jmbo]

I agree with D1.  IMHO there is such a thing as TOO much black.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/4133551141.html

This is a full black-out bike I found on craigs.  I thought too much black for my taste.

I have to agree. I think or at least hope that the flat black/flat paint fad has run it's course. I've painted a fews bikes for customers who wanted flat colors including a few flat black. Their tastes not mine.  I like the shiny stuff plus believe it or not shiny is easier to keep clean.  To me flat black looks unfinished.

[pcarrell]

like I said sometimes more is too much and less is better..........

....which doesn't necessarily apply to men's clothing........

[CDNRatMan]

  like I said sometimes more is too much and less is better..........

[greenbarn]

I agree with D1.  IMHO there is such a thing as TOO much black.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/4133551141.html

This is a full black-out bike I found on craigs.  I thought too much black for my taste.

[Drift1]

Ventoracing , you have a great chrome/black combo scheme going and it works beautifully ! IMOP if you black out the forks your going to throw the whole balance of color off . I like ratmans idea of just going the headlight/fog light housing but leave the light shades chrome . Think that would keep the balance of color again just my opinion . Bike looks fantastic the way it is and haven't you ever been told leave well enough alone LMAO . I hear that quit often 

[dakuhosu]

Thanks, it's hard to tell in pictures but it has a real green tint to it in the sunlight. Ugly as sin on most vehicles it looks right at home on the drifter. It's a VW color-Texas Brown. I feel real fortunate to have bought a 99 blacked out version, too. Painting the bike was really easy too, came apart and went back together with almost no issues save getting the FI hose off of the tank, that's a two person job, one to hold up the tank and one to rip the hose from it's nipple. If you go through all the trouble to paint it then do the speedo housing and the headlight housing too, it makes a huge difference. I'm going to go back and do my headlight housing.

[jmbo]

I'm luck to be riding a '99. Love the blackout look. In fact I've built a few doodads like a luggage rack, battery cover, and backrest which are black as well.  One suggestion i would make is to have the forks powder coated like the originals rather than paint. Paint chips too easy. All my doodads are powder coated for the long haul.

[ventoracing]

Hey, thx for that link. That is black on black like I was thinking and it doesn't look as good as I had envisioned it... Got me rethinking my decision to black-out my already black drifter 800

[pcarrell]

A couple of years ago I saw a black out bike that had been repainted black in a for sale ad.  It had a menacing, Darth Vader-like quality to it.

I just found another for sale in the UK.  It's got some goofy looking home made rack on the back, but it should give you an idea of what your project might come out like: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-Drifter-1500-LOW-MILEAGE-/121193004198?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1c37aa7ca6

[ventoracing]

Dakuhosu;

I love the look of your bike.... if I ever decide to repaint my bike I'm definitely going to go with a Tan or Olive green type theme...

[dakuhosu]

Incredible looking bike as it is but blacked out forks would make it even better. My bike is largely de-chromed. I think it adds a more vintage look.

[ventoracing]

Thanks, I am curious about the Indian airbox modifications. And the exhaust system is from...?

The exhaust is (was) from Roadhouse

[Darth Wraith]

Thanks, I am curious about the Indian airbox modifications. And the exhaust system is from...?