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► Modify message ( Re: Is the power manageable? )

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Reason for editing: Last Edit: August 20, 2012, 21:55:47 PM by 45 Bravo

You know, after posting about my gpz, and the photo, i got to thinking how much i REALLY liked that bike.

It was dead reliable, comfortable to ride, and really looked good.

I think i may in the future look to getting one again. 
A friend had the Gpz 1100, at the same time i had my 550, i rode his once, it just didn't have the same feel as the 550..

1984-85, just old enough to be cheap, and old enough to be hard to find parts for...

I do remember when my ECU shorted out after coming home in what seemed like a monsoon, (where the plug entered the box was compromised and water got inside). 
Kawasaki was outrageous on the price, as was ebay, I was scouring every motorcycle bone yard in La. and MS.

Then a friend who was a wiz with electronics (he repaired tv's, camcorders, and vcr's and dvd players for a local electronics store) 
wanted to look at it to see what was inside the sealed unit. 
We mounted an exacto knife on a soldering iron, and cut the back off.
Within 30 minutes he had determined that 2 SCR's had burned out, he brought 2 home the next day, soldered them in, we put the unit on the bike, it fired up. 
we took it back off, and sealed the box shut with RTV silicone, including the cable entrance.

I paid him a case of beer and introduced him to my girl friends sister.
I drove the bike for another 5 years.

I really miss that bike...

I sold it to a friend who didn't know how to control his right hand, and every time he got on it it was full tilt. 
He was smart enough to recognize he didn't need a street bike and sold it to a soldier at Ft. Polk, He wiped it of the side of a car , the photos showed the left side was almost perfect, the right side was gone.

45 Bravo

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Topic summary

Posted by testpilot

- August 20, 2012, 20:02:25 PM

As a first year beginner, my 1500 Drifter has been very manageable. It won't throw you off the bike but the power's there when you ask for it. I'm lovin' it more every day.

Posted by Troll

- August 20, 2012, 18:53:09 PM

It's not a peaky sport bike with a 10,000 rpm power band, but you'll be able to embarrass most of the H-D CVOs, especially the ones with drive by wire!

Posted by 45 Bravo

- August 20, 2012, 17:18:14 PM

My brother had the 454 ltd, it was tough..

i used to own a 1984 zx-550a1 Gpz, it was only a 550, but holy moses was it zippy.
It would get 60 in second and 90 in third with my big ass on it, and it had 3 more gears saying PICK ME! PICK ME!

The drifter is nothing like those bikes, it is just slow, steady, and plenty of power, it just doesn't jump up and bite you like the sport bikes do.

45 Bravo

Posted by mbk

- August 20, 2012, 10:53:06 AM

I remember the old 454 LTD with that half-of-a-Ninja (parallel twin) engine - man that was unbelievable! I have a friend who has one of those and nearly 30 years later it's still a speed monster.

Posted by chief

- August 20, 2012, 10:44:12 AM

Nah, you won't have a problem... its not like the old Kaw 900 that would rip you off the seat. The Drifter 1500 is a cruiser... it will putt along like a big old bear... it has the power when you want it or need it but its not a drag racer!

Posted by mbk

- August 20, 2012, 10:31:22 AM

OK, forgive this question, but I am considering a 1500 and though I have been riding for over 3o years have had bikes around the 650 to 800 range. Will I find the 1500 to powerful, or does it have a user-friendly power band. I am assuming that since it is a twin it will be a little more nanageable and not to over powering? Thanks

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