Still riding a Drifter

[drifter-paul]

My big girl (J1) is being frumpy at 187,000 - only starts when she wants to , sometimes in the morning , sometimes in the evening , but not three times in a row ! I don't sweat it, have a Suzuki VStrom 650 as backup .

Haven't seen an unknown Drifter in a dozen years (female friend in Queensland has a '02 (it must have been a grey import - we only got 50 (J1's) imported to Oz in 1999)) ,  her partner modded a Classic to have the Drifter (chrome) look (i.e. post 2000) .

Took the J1 as far as Karumba in the Gulf (QLD) - no tarmac to the Northern Territory (west),  & to Cooktown - no further tarmac to the north, in 2021 in a 10,500 K / 6 month  trip .

Just waiting till she goes around the clock a second time - so I can sell her as LOW mileage  , like heck !!

A bike ahead of it's time - EFI, proper self cancelling blinkers, hydraulic clutch & tappets , serviceable,  including EFI
owner-diagnosis thru slot 37 , and good fuel mileage.

Vive le vagabond

[Easy Drifter]

Still riding my Drifter but I currently have two other bikes in the stable so I do alternate depending on my mood.  

[Troll]

Still riding mine. 142,000+ miles on her, right now.

[CousinVinnie]

Yes, we are a few and far between group. I am lucky, here in Kansas I have 2 Drifters of my own, and have two friends here in town (Fort Scott, KS) that own Drifter 1500's.  Plus, we have 2 1500's that are works in progress.  However, we do agree that Drifters in the wild are rare.  Saw one in 2015 about 25 miles away, but it has since been sold.  One of mine will be departing to my son this spring and the other I have converted to a Reverse Trike. But, yes we still ride and we still love to and live to ride

[mittico68]

Me too, it's 24 years now that I ride ma-deuce and I've only seen a bunch of Drifters riding here in Italy, and always during bike happenings...
BUT I still keep ridin'!

[chief]

Well, in 20+ years I have only seen 2 Drifters in the wild in my area. Bike rallies usually produce a few and there are many riders on this forum. So the answer is YES, we are still riding. 

[OR Seedman]

Well...there's a whole bunch of riders on this forum that most likely rider their drifters over their other bikes (I know I do...)  The problem is that there were only a total of 9000 from each model made (800 and 1500) over their lifespans....and the last model was made 17 years ago.  I have only come across a another Drifter when riding once....in 7 years......not like a Harley that's on every street corner.  But I can tell you that my 1500 gets more OOOOH's and AAAAH's than any other bike around when I am parked near other rides.....and I only have about $5k invested in it as it sits....

[ChristianJarry]

I am wondering if anyone is still riding Drifters. I ask because I never see any around and when performing searches online, many if not most replies, date from about 10 years ago and more.