2014 Drifter vs 2014 Indian - What if?

[bikerbob5864]

I have no comment........Troll said it best..........

[pcarrell]

From the Wise One........

[Troll]

  Ya know, and I'm sure you realize this...it's been 9 years since the last 1500 Drifter rolled off the assembly line. Progress in all ways on all fronts by EVERYBODY makes our vintage iron obsolete in both form and function, if you really want to just look at a bike as a tool...kinda like the difference between a pre-unit Bonneville and the latest and greatest Hinckley bike. If the Drifter was modernized at the same rate as the other Kawasaki offerings, it might just be a match for the "new" Indian...but as it is, it will always remain frozen in time. Sometimes too much "modernization" might not be a good thing.

[49Reo]

As was the DeSoto...

[bikerbob5864]

yea, the Edsel!!, It was ahead of it's time.........technologically and.....too some style wise.........I know, I know.........It's still an Edsel........but they are highly collectable these days..........

[DC]

If it were me, I would wait a few years to go for a Victory Indian, if that was a preference.  It will take a while to get the bugs out, as with any new offering.

[jmbo]

Edsel?

[bikerbob5864]

From what I've seen.....and read of the new Indians.......I could very easily own one. Knowing Polaris as I do, and that they strive to turn out a quality product....coupled with the financial might to draw the best and brightest in the field........I can see nothing but success for the brand. The Victory had a shaky start, I rode one of the 1st ones out of Storm Lake, and it was pretty clunky......but..........they brought in Arlen and Cory Ness...re-tooled and listened to the masses. "Our" Drifters were ahead of their time......and may have suffered for that....much like the Edsel.
It just proves that going against the Status Quo can sometimes be risky........but I'm glad to see Indian again......and hopefully I'll have one to sit beside my Drifter soon.....like I need another Bike!!
(Who is it who says he's such a Bike Whore?, well move over Brother!!!)
P.S. At this point, I DO think the Drifter has better styling cues than the Indians..........More retro...true to the brand....kinda funny, huh?

[49Reo]

Gotta agree with Chief on that; my bike is factory colors, factory seat, seat rail, air cleaner covers. I did put on Headdress tank badges, but they say Drifter on them; and an Indian fender light; that being said a buddy had an Indian fender light on his Harley Softail; didn't mean he wanted it to look like an Indian, he (and I) just liked that particular fender light.

It remains to be seen how the new Indian will hold up; in the past it seemed to be pre-determined that they would be poorly built, with a tendency to be way over-priced; if the new Indians prove to be well-built, I could very easily own one, but would keep my Drifter as well....really cannot see myself getting rid of it.

[chief]

Both bikes are very rare in Britain, and they don't make the drifter anymore..but be honest, forget the price, if you could buy a new Indian or a Kawasaki VN2000 with Indian style fenders..Which would you go for..and before you answer..if you choose the VN2000 would you remove the Kwak badges and paint it to look like an Indian..

John.

Very astute observation. I didn't paint/make my Drifter look like an Indian... I have always removed tank badges preferring my own badges. If price were not an issue I'd go with the Indian... but its very hard to think of a VN2000 looking like a Drifter.

Why:

1) I like the Indian engine
2) The Indian will have a LOT of accessories available... Drifter never has and never will.
3) My Dad rode an Indian.
4) I can't adequately imagine a fantasy Drifter ...

[John Hopkins]

Both bikes are very rare in Britain, and they don't make the drifter anymore..but be honest, forget the price, if you could buy a new Indian or a Kawasaki VN2000 with Indian style fenders..Which would you go for..and before you answer..if you choose the VN2000 would you remove the Kwak badges and paint it to look like an Indian..

John.

[49Reo]

And way more powerful....

If they still made the Drifter, it (to me) would take away, a bit, from owning one. Now, they are a unique and rather scarce bike, with a "privileged" few able to own one, vs them being available as just another cruiser style bike.

[chief]

Who knows what a 2014 Drifter would be... If I am going to select from an fantasy bike and a real bike, I will always select the fantasy bike because it will always be better, cheaper and better looking.

[pcarrell]

Guess the Indians have come down in price quite a bit under the Polaris banner.

Those price differences would make the choice tougher.  I guess I'd have to give both bikes a better look.  I know that they both appear to be quality products, so I'd say a closer look and a test ride of each would be in order.

[jmbo]

Probably the closest comparison would be the Indian Chief Classic which lists for $18,999. The soft bagger Vintage lists for $20,999 and the big dog Chieftain comes in at $22,999. Naturally this does not include any of the dealer add-ons, do-dads, or senseless charges for doing nothing but turning the lights on but list to list we are talking about $2500 to $3000 between the two bikes.

[pcarrell]

A new Indian Chief Retro was in the $35k neighborhood last I looked.  $16k for a new Drifter would be a no brainer!

[jmbo]

I think the Drifter vs Indian and the whole idea of what-if Kawasaki continued to built Drifters today is an interesting topic.  How would they fair as competition in today's market.  Price wise the $11500 for the 1999 Drifter would run around $16000 in today's dollars comparable to a new Nomad and giving it a small price advantage over the Indian.  No doubt it would have a 1700 motor w/six speed as opposed to the 1800 indian.  Kawasaki might have ditched the driveshaft and "inchworm" suspension in favor of a belt drive and fixed fender.  Maybe some better colors and a better seat and a little more sparkle. The question is would you buy it over the Indian?  Tough call.  Thoughts???