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Posted by 45 Bravo
 - November 12, 2012, 19:30:23 PM

I have notice that Ratman has been strangely silent since he has discovered his MAY be 1 of 50...

Either he is beside himself joy, passed out on the floor from the shock, or his head is slowly swelling over the new found knowledge of exactly how collectable his bike is over ours (yes i am jealous).

So, now that the numbers have been made public, how long do you think it will be before the blue books adjust their numbers as to the value of the Drifter?

Or do you think they will stay the same?

As it is, Drifters regularly bring over twice the book value, and that was before the low production numbers hit the street..

45 Bravo

Posted by pcarrell
 - November 12, 2012, 19:16:57 PM

I know, right?

Posted by 49Reo
 - November 12, 2012, 10:30:14 AM

I would like to get my hands on one, just for bragging rights!

Posted by pcarrell
 - November 12, 2012, 09:29:51 AM

No word on 400cc production, except that they were intended for the Japanese market only.

Posted by DC
 - November 11, 2012, 23:31:53 PM

Yes, rarer than chicken lips.

Posted by 49Reo
 - November 11, 2012, 19:11:27 PM

Does the 9000 units of each cc unit apply to the 400cc model sold in Japan?

Regards and such,
49Reo

P.S. Btw, my 1500 was a U.S. unit; it came up from Colorado.

Posted by pcarrell
 - November 11, 2012, 08:54:55 AM

Chiefs first post on this thread stated that 600 of each, 800's & 1500's, were sent to Canada....total.  So that means RatMan's bike is one of 600 of the 800's.  Seeing as that 600 number was spread across all the years available, I'd say there's a good chance it's one of less then 100 for that year.  Add to that there were 2 colors available that year for 800's, and his could be one of only 50 made for Canada that year.

Posted by CDNRatMan
 - November 11, 2012, 08:16:46 AM

Sorry yes meant to mention that the Drifters were made for the European market mores so then the NA market, and a few of them were sent to CDN and Aus for a test run to see how they were looked upon there by riders. An for some reason the figure of 900 is always popping up in that. I'll have to see if I can track done some more info on that number.

Posted by pcarrell
 - November 11, 2012, 07:54:30 AM

Cool, I wasn't sure about that.

Posted by waltervl
 - November 11, 2012, 05:57:49 AM

I see  far more 800 for sale here in The Netherlands (Europe) than 1500, Blacked out and chrome versions. So the 99 models are also sold in Europe.

Posted by CDNRatMan
 - November 10, 2012, 21:11:26 PM

  from what I have read and been told the 1999, 800's were only sold in Canada and in Australia as a test market, and 900 were produced of the 1999 800 Drifters now as to how many were sent where I have not been able to find out. So I have a bike like me..... special......

Posted by pcarrell
 - November 10, 2012, 16:55:51 PM

More rare then hen's teeth it would seem.......

The 1500 was from '99 to '05, the 800 was from '00 to '06, with no 800's going to the U.S. until '00 (though Canada got them in '99, making those like RatMan's blackout 800 more rare still).  These are indeed rare birds!

Any numbers on the 400cc model?  I think that was an Asian market only model, but I could be wrong.  I know none were available to North America.

Just curious..........

Posted by Troll
 - November 10, 2012, 15:21:59 PM

Wow. '99 through '05...Motorcycle Consumer News doesn't list the 2000 1500 at all, so then 6 years. maybe 5. Mine is a 2001 model, but with VIN 0099, it was built in July of 2000. Seems like the bulk of the production was in the first year. There are more '99s for sale than any other year...even if the production was steady, that's only 1500 world wide each year...I thought my W-650 was pretty rare, but I had no idea just how close to frog hair the Drifter is!

Posted by pcarrell
 - November 10, 2012, 13:15:28 PM

Far more rare then I would have thought!

Thanks!

Posted by chief
 - November 10, 2012, 12:12:38 PM

This information is directly from KHI - Kawasaki.

1. ALL Drifters were made at the Akashi plant in Japan.
2. Global Total:  18,000
3. 1500 cc: 9000
4   800: 9000

Canada:
1. Total: 1200
2. 1500: 600
3. 800: 600

Australia:

1. Total: 50 (1999-2000)
2. 1999 - 49
3 2000 -1

The Kawasaki Drifter was imported in to Australia for the 1999 Model Year. There were approx 50 units sold in 1999-2000. There was one 2000 Model Year unit sold, sales were slow of the Vulcan 1500 Drifter model and it was not imported again after 1999.

Murray Sayle
Homologation, Industry Relations & Technical Marketing Assistant
Kawasaki Motors Pty Ltd
Unit Q, 10-16 South Street
Rydalmere, NSW, 2116, Australia
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