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Ogri · August 15, 2018, 05:17:17 AM

My rear tyre had the profile of a brick so I went looking on ebay and found an Avon SM MkII for £70 including shipping.
It's a 5.00 x 16, a tad narrower than the recommended 140/90 x 16 so it should make the bike slightly more 'flicky'.
It'd been fitted to a show-bike so had never actually been used on the road, still had the bobbles on it.
I fitted it today - it's been a long time since I fitted a tubed tyre, touch wood I didn't pinch the tube.
Looks good but with the rear mudguard back on is almost impossible to see!

Tedsdrifter1500 · May 13, 2018, 22:39:17 PM

Everything happens for a reason. That first bike you looked at was meant to be what it was so that you could find the RIGHT one, the one you bought. I had the EXACT same experience with my '99 1500. Arrived at the one I initially found after the owner assured me that the pictures didn't lie and the bike was really nice. Utter garbage. Just like your first one, rusted nuts, flaking paint on frame, but the worst was the hydraulic clutch was so out of adjustment it wasn't even completely engaging!! The small hill at the end of his street I didn't even think the bike would make it up, so I turned around and told him all the things wrong with it. Didn't want to be disrespectful but the guy could have killed himself riding that thing which he was doing!! Turns out it was his first and only motorcycle and he didn't know very much about motorcycles to begin with. Arrrrrrgh!! Found my second one and snagged it up quick even though it was a good 7 hour drive each way for me. Well worth it.

Have fun making it "yours" as you are already doing. Love the look of the 800's as most here do even though mine is a 1500.

Ride safe!!

RockinRollin · April 16, 2018, 10:01:14 AM

Welcome aboard, hope your new ride gives many years of good times. Now to start customizing it!

mittico68 · April 16, 2018, 08:34:35 AM

Quote from: Ogri on April 16, 2018, 08:20:51 AM
Latest update: The seat arrived from Alabama and fitted straight on. What was suprising was the weight of the dual seat, grabrail, and subframe assembly. I was going to weigh it for the record but my bathroom scales only go up to 400lbs .

Here's a pic of the bike now, I think it looks so much better with a solo seat:

You're absolutely right, for the whole thing!
When I switched the bike to the single (spring) seat, I've found it waaay lighter on the rear end: but now she tends to tailing much more easily...
Your bike is very nice!
BTW: where did you put all the headlight cables? does the new shell contain them all?

Ogri · April 16, 2018, 08:20:51 AM

Latest update: The seat arrived from Alabama and fitted straight on. What was suprising was the weight of the dual seat, grabrail, and subframe assembly. I was going to weigh it for the record but my bathroom scales only go up to 400lbs .

Here's a pic of the bike now, I think it looks so much better with a solo seat:

Ogri · March 26, 2018, 08:46:32 AM

Hey Abby, I'd kinda like to keep it as close to being a Kawasaki as possible. Having said that I was thinking of changing the exhaust and mocked up something that ended up looking very 'Indianesque' (see below.) I really like the understated exhaust note of the stock exhaust though so I'd want to keep that if I could.

Abby · March 25, 2018, 20:39:28 PM

Beautiful bike Ogri! Love the color. Will you be "Indianizing" your new Darling?

Ogri · March 21, 2018, 10:35:23 AM

I thought you might like to see the latest development. I've never liked the stock headlight and seeing as how mine was cracked anyway I decided to replace it.
I found a complete unit from a H*rley Fatboy on ebay; I wanted a large headlight which had a bottom mount. I made a kind of arm and welded it onto the existing bracket.

I have also found an OEM solo seat which is winging its way to the UK from Alabama!

kw-retrorider · February 13, 2018, 17:02:39 PM

Congrats on your find Orgi....you won't regret it.

DC · February 13, 2018, 15:58:42 PM

Welcome to the forum, Ogri! Congrats on your new ride!

OR Seedman · February 13, 2018, 11:48:47 AM

I actually mount it in the holes with a plate that the seat and springs are attached to. I put two threaded rivets in the holes (had to drill them out a bit) and the matched the holes to the flat steel plate that is attached to the seat springs.....2 short bolts through the plate and one slightly longer tank mount bolt and it comes off (or goes on) takes me about 5 minutes to change the seat out whenever I want....

Ogri · February 13, 2018, 07:35:45 AM

OR Seedman, man, that's a nice seat.
The trouble is that there are relatively few of them over here and the people who want them - Harley riders, push the prices up enormously.
You're right though, it really shouldn't be too hard with the twin mounting holes already supplied in the frame on each side to mount just about any seat of that kind that comes along.

OR Seedman · February 12, 2018, 19:29:54 PM

Mounting a pan style springer solo seat is pretty easy to do....lot's of options and should be readily available in your country.....

mittico68 · February 12, 2018, 01:45:47 AM

Well done, Ogri!
Now, the funniest (and hard...) part: making it your own bike, with new add-on's.

CDNRatMan · February 11, 2018, 16:48:34 PM

Well I know from personal experience that for me to ship a solo seat to the Uk it is about $150.00 for shipping charges alone.

Ogri · February 11, 2018, 16:45:17 PM

Thanks greenbarn, I'll like it even more when I get hold of a solo saddle for it. I'm currently scouring every resource on the internet. Hopefully when the weather improves, Britain's motorcyclists will wake from their hibernation and clear out their sheds.

greenbarn · February 11, 2018, 16:31:40 PM

Congrats Ogri, and welcome to the group. Glad you could find one you like.

CDNRatMan · February 11, 2018, 15:05:08 PM

Because the people that think they know assume it is an Indian, the rest don't know but they see a really cool and really different looking machine and it is awesome and just draws the eye........then if you are half as good looking as the rest of us that is the best part of the reason they stare........

Ogri · February 11, 2018, 14:44:21 PM

Thanks VulcanPunch, CDNRatMan and Old Drifter, maybe I should take pics of all the flaws and nastiness then work my way through fixing them all

Anybody else notice people looking at you and your bike more than a typical Japanese motorcycle? I was at the gas station and I'm sure passersby and car drivers were glancing at it and me; I couldn't help swaggering a little.

Old Drifter · February 11, 2018, 13:47:48 PM

Congrats on the new acquisition! Sounds like you've found a nice one. In case no one has mentioned it...we like pics.

CDNRatMan · February 11, 2018, 13:35:55 PM

Very nice 99. But then I have a special place in my heart for the 99's. Yes the UK does have some large plate holders. Now the fun starts, hunting for the elusive parts, and personalizing the bike to be yours.

Vulcanpunch · February 11, 2018, 12:44:28 PM

Quote from: Ogri on February 11, 2018, 09:59:34 AM
I am officially a Drifter owner!

The seller delivered it this morning, he'd tried to get it a new MOT (road worthiness certificate) during the week but it had failed on a sticky rear brake and a misaligned headlight.He'd told me this but I was okay with it; he knocked £100 off the price. It currently has one that expires in a month's time.

Having checked it over I paid the guy and immediately set to work on freeing the rear brake (the bike rolled normally). The pistons were moving okay, it was one of the rods of the "holder" that sits in a rubber boot (that sits in the caliper.)
It eventually came out and when I took out the rubber I realised that white corrosion had formed on the inner surface of the hole in the caliper and was pushing on the boot which was gripping the rod.
I cleaned it all out, smeared a little copper grease on the bits that needed it and reassembled.
Then I bled the rear brake. One nipple was okay one was blocked; cleaned out the offending one and bled it too. I jacked the back end up and applied the rear brake a few times then tried to spin the wheel and it went round as smoothly as silk.

Headlight adjustment was by the book but I noticed the black plastic bowl had cracked and been repaired (quite well actually.) I had been thinking of replacing the headlight entirely with a pre-war Joe Lucas Prince of Darkness one and mounting it slightly higher - watch this space.

I went indoors and called up my insurers, transferred the policy from my old bike to the Drifter, then went online and paid for my road tax. I was legal!

Filled up with petrol and drove around the neighbourhood. Front brake needs bleeding but rear brake very good now. It rides straight and feels very secure and planted on the road. Very comfortable and its weight disappears when it's moving. Engine is smooth and quiet no smoke or leaks anywhere.
It's a bit shabby here and there, paint chips, a ding in the tank, a little rust on screws and bolt heads but nowhere near as bad as the other one I looked at. I'm going to bleed the front brake tomorrow if the rain holds off then go for a longer ride.

https://imgur.com/a/S0r8T
One thing I hate about it is that registration/licence plate and holder, Jeesh!

EDIT:
I just checked the lights as it's getting dark now and the Indian head mascot lights up! WOOHOO!

Congratulations on your newly acquired drifter! Yeah that license plate holder doesn't quite go with the look of the bike lol.

Ogri · February 11, 2018, 09:59:34 AM

I am officially a Drifter owner!

The seller delivered it this morning, he'd tried to get it a new MOT (road worthiness certificate) during the week but it had failed on a sticky rear brake and a misaligned headlight.He'd told me this but I was okay with it; he knocked £100 off the price. It currently has one that expires in a month's time.

Having checked it over I paid the guy and immediately set to work on freeing the rear brake (the bike rolled normally). The pistons were moving okay, it was one of the rods of the "holder" that sits in a rubber boot (that sits in the caliper.)
It eventually came out and when I took out the rubber I realised that white corrosion had formed on the inner surface of the hole in the caliper and was pushing on the boot which was gripping the rod.
I cleaned it all out, smeared a little copper grease on the bits that needed it and reassembled.
Then I bled the rear brake. One nipple was okay one was blocked; cleaned out the offending one and bled it too. I jacked the back end up and applied the rear brake a few times then tried to spin the wheel and it went round as smoothly as silk.

Headlight adjustment was by the book but I noticed the black plastic bowl had cracked and been repaired (quite well actually.) I had been thinking of replacing the headlight entirely with a pre-war Joe Lucas Prince of Darkness one and mounting it slightly higher - watch this space.

I went indoors and called up my insurers, transferred the policy from my old bike to the Drifter, then went online and paid for my road tax. I was legal!

Filled up with petrol and drove around the neighbourhood. Front brake needs bleeding but rear brake very good now. It rides straight and feels very secure and planted on the road. Very comfortable and its weight disappears when it's moving. Engine is smooth and quiet no smoke or leaks anywhere.
It's a bit shabby here and there, paint chips, a ding in the tank, a little rust on screws and bolt heads but nowhere near as bad as the other one I looked at. I'm going to bleed the front brake tomorrow if the rain holds off then go for a longer ride.

https://imgur.com/a/S0r8T
One thing I hate about it is that registration/licence plate and holder, Jeesh!

EDIT:
I just checked the lights as it's getting dark now and the Indian head mascot lights up! WOOHOO!

Ogri · February 06, 2018, 13:32:25 PM

Thanks for the input chaps. The deposit has been paid and the bike arrives on Sunday! Assuming all is well I'll pay the balance and she'll be mine.

mittico68, I'll see if there are any identifying marks on the rack and report back if I find any. CDNRatMan, good spot on that front mudguard, is that from it touching the rest of the bike under fork compression? Might have to look into touch-up paint.

I'm on the lookout for a solo saddle (who isn't?) on this side of the pond so if there are any filthy metrics reading this who can help give me a tinkle.

TTFN

CDNRatMan · February 06, 2018, 11:00:39 AM

Take a close look at the rear of the front fender. But like our Italian friend has stated a nice looking 99 blackout version, only missing a windscreen. Seat is easy enough fix. Yes not a Ledrie luggage rack so not sure where it comes from. Have a listen to the valves and that would be enough.