Has anyone customized their Drifters?

greenbarn · May 27, 2018, 21:05:52 PM

Quote from: jmbo on May 24, 2018, 11:25:45 AM
I agree you MUST keep the skirted fenders otherwise it will be like Jennifer Grey's nose job, it will just look like everyone else's. And as long as you are keeping the fenders, IMO they MUST be painted two tone. Pick your colors but paint'm two tone

Amen, brother, I do love a 2-tone Drifter.....

indue · May 27, 2018, 19:47:45 PM

I think the best way that you can customize a Drifter is by paint schemes, chrome versus black (flat or glossy), bolt on enhancers such as grips, mirrors, saddlebags, racks, windscreens/windshields..etc. etc. The bike looks great as is, but little enhancements here and there go a long way to making the bike "personal". The bike in some ways looks more like an authentic Springfield Indian than the new ones. (The new one's are quite good, though).

jmbo · May 24, 2018, 11:25:45 AM

I agree you MUST keep the skirted fenders otherwise it will be like Jennifer Grey's nose job, it will just look like everyone else's. And as long as you are keeping the fenders, IMO they MUST be painted two tone. Pick your colors but paint'm two tone

RockinRollin · May 22, 2018, 07:01:55 AM

Yes, They have L shaped brackets welded on and bolts holding them in place on the crash bars. The easiest way is to trace the outline of your crash bars on cardboard while on the bike paying careful attention to how they look and fit. They do not need to be perfect as you are not putting them inside but rather in front of the crash bars. You do not want them as big as the outside of the crash bars, they should be about half the diameter of the pipe smaller. Next remove the crash bars and with the template take them to a weld shop. Here they can cut out and manufacture the covers and fit them so they go on and come off easily.

BlackBlueMagoo · May 21, 2018, 19:14:52 PM

Each to their own, but I would not want to turn my old street dog 1500 Drifter into a bobber or café racer type! The bike by its self makes many riders stop and stare..and it was designed to look like the old Indians of the 40s-50s..and trying to change it into some chop job is not my idea of a Kaw Drifter! Just My Opinion..

mittico68 · May 17, 2018, 10:43:09 AM

Quote from: RockinRollin on May 17, 2018, 06:24:07 AM
The hardest part would be cutting out the Indian heads

That's why I'm thinkin' about apply some kind of stickers on them... I ain't got no technological tools on my own.
BTW: As far as I can see from your nice video, those insert are held in place by some nuts and bolts that go throu the crashbar. You used "L" shaped brackets or what?

RockinRollin · May 17, 2018, 06:24:07 AM

Carbon steel 16 gauge or 1/16" thick. They were powder coated. The hardest part would be cutting out the Indian heads , the rest is fairly straight forward.

mittico68 · May 16, 2018, 04:32:30 AM

RockinRollin, I really like those homemade inserts!
Before startin' my own project, I'd like to have some specifics from you: what kind of material are them and what is their thickness?
I wouldn't like to see them wobbling at high speed...

CDNRatMan · May 15, 2018, 21:20:15 PM

If I remember correctly Trall you were invited to attend and you could have seen some of these really cool Drifters and Drifter riders in person......

badboy194 · May 15, 2018, 20:22:34 PM

Ouote "The first thing people ask me about my bike is if its an Indian when I reply its actually a Kawasaki Drifter their smiles disappear and look confused haha"

Many have said the same thing to me including Harley mechanics. I think they are embarrassed when they find out it is not an Indian. I make an effort not to make them feel foolish. They obviously liked the bike enough to start the conversation. It is up to us to keep it going. My reply sometimes is I thought the same thing when I first saw it and we all laugh...

Trall · May 15, 2018, 18:40:07 PM

Quote from: RockinRollin on May 15, 2018, 07:32:09 AM
Lots to customize other than exhaust and windshield, Custom paint for starters. Custom bags, custom wheels , custom trunk, custom lights. I could go on and on! This year I installed custom inserts into the crash bars and will make or adapt custom windshield lowers. Watch last summer's Northern Drifter Rendezvous for some really cool custom bikes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cFAAuKBdJU
Here's my custom crash bar inserts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko3Lt-QmvAQ

WOW. WHAT A GREAT VIDEO with some ultra cool Drifters. That and those really cool crash bar inserts custom made. Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing.........

CDNRatMan · May 15, 2018, 09:26:51 AM

God that white haired person is some nice......

RockinRollin · May 15, 2018, 07:32:09 AM

Lots to customize other than exhaust and windshield, Custom paint for starters. Custom bags, custom wheels , custom trunk, custom lights. I could go on and on! This year I installed custom inserts into the crash bars and will make or adapt custom windshield lowers. Watch last summer's Northern Drifter Rendezvous for some really cool custom bikes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cFAAuKBdJU

Here's my custom crash bar inserts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko3Lt-QmvAQ

Adventure_Boy · May 15, 2018, 00:58:14 AM

Ill try to post the picture again.

OR Seedman · May 14, 2018, 15:38:43 PM

Zoar...I agree on the batwing....keeps my hands from getting cold in the early morning and directs the airflow around you better...that's why I put one on both my 1500 and my 800 (when I still had it) My 1500 with the batwing is so stable on the highway that I can lock the throttle (have a BrakeAway) and put both hands down and it just cruises straight and steady (I don't do that for very long LOL). My old Honda Pacific Coast would even do that...

Zoar · May 14, 2018, 14:42:28 PM

Quote from: Adventure_Boy on May 14, 2018, 11:35:30 AM
This is all very true! I love the fenders on the Drifter though it was made to look like Indians and now that the Indians are back it doesnt feel as unique. The first thing people ask me about my bike is if its an Indian when I reply its actually a Kawasaki Drifter their smiles disappear and look confused haha

I just wanted to know if anyone has modernized their drifters with some cool stuff? My favorite so far has to be this guy! Check out the picture.

I hear you. People do the same to me. They WANT it to be an INDIAN!! When it isn't they get "disappointed".

The only two "mods" I see are exhaust pipe and wind shield. I think more of a bat shield TO COVER THE HANDS MOSTLY is a better shield than what they came with. My hands get COLD with them exposed.

As far as the exhaust, I want the exhaust to look more like 1939-1943 and I want the sound to be throatier. See my exhaust below.

Old Drifter · May 14, 2018, 12:12:29 PM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on May 14, 2018, 11:38:45 AM
I can not open it.....not sure why.

For some reason, it won't open down here either.

CDNRatMan · May 14, 2018, 11:38:45 AM

I can not open it.....not sure why.

Adventure_Boy · May 14, 2018, 11:35:30 AM

This is all very true! I love the fenders on the Drifter though it was made to look like Indians and now that the Indians are back it doesnt feel as unique. The first thing people ask me about my bike is if its an Indian when I reply its actually a Kawasaki Drifter their smiles disappear and look confused haha

I just wanted to know if anyone has modernized their drifters with some cool stuff? My favorite so far has to be this guy! Check out the picture.

mittico68 · May 14, 2018, 01:55:49 AM

I totally agree what GB said.
You CAN'T strip those lovely fenders off of a Drifter, unless you ain't got NO sense of beauty...
They're the first and most nice thing that pops out from that bike!
If you like bobber or cafe look, PLEASE, buy everything else BUT the Drifter.

greenbarn · May 13, 2018, 21:40:10 PM

I think you'll find that there are many many Drifters that are Customized... But very very very few owners will ditch the fenders and make it into a bobber or cafe bike - I think most Drifter owners bought the bike BECAUSE of the fenders, and the Indian-esque look. It would be like taking the fender fins off of a '57 chevy, or cutting out the split-rear window on an '63 vette, or cutting off the tail lights from a '59 caddy.

I would hate to see a Drifter stripped of her britches and left to run around naked. But like I've always said, it's your bike, so make it what you want it to be. I just think maybe it would be better if you want to modify something radically, it might be better to start with something less unique?

CDNRatMan · May 13, 2018, 19:45:18 PM

Wow why would you want to take a really fine looking piece of machinery like a Drifter and bob or cafe it. Perhaps a Vulcan 1500 Classic or something I might do that with but never a Drifter......
It has been done but why ruin a Drifter........

Old Drifter · May 13, 2018, 15:56:19 PM

Quote from: Adventure_Boy on May 13, 2018, 13:21:31 PM
I've been searching for ideas of what I can do with my drifter and change its look however it seems there isnt much out there. I'm curious if anyone has done anything to their drifters? Bobber or Cafe look or maybe just short fenders? If anything please post pictures I would love to see your modifications.

Many people make mods to the Drifter, however we don't really like "changing it's look". The Drifter "Look" is unique, that's why we have them. The fenders are the signature look of the Drifter. Just my 2 cents.

Adventure_Boy · May 13, 2018, 13:21:31 PM

I've been searching for ideas of what I can do with my drifter and change its look however it seems there isnt much out there. I'm curious if anyone has done anything to their drifters? Bobber or Cafe look or maybe just short fenders? If anything please post pictures I would love to see your modifications.