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Posted by David Baker
- November 16, 2012, 13:56:16 PMTroll,
I'm with Chilli, How doe's your speedo work? (I'm curious due to the fact I'm not allowed to use the "I got here as fast as I could" line anymore! LQTM
Posted by David Baker
- November 16, 2012, 13:52:31 PMQuote from: 49Reo on November 16, 2012, 12:10:22 PMLook forward to seeing that Reo.As lot of Indians did have a left hand shift, right throttle, (like Harley,there is that dirty 6 letter word again,lol) I am going to make my own shifter using 1" tubing, left side, and move the clutch assembly onto it. I already bought a 1" chromed mirror mount to remount the mirror after the mod. I will post pics and a how-to when done for those who want it.
Regards and such,
49Reo
Posted by ChilliDrift
- November 16, 2012, 12:28:51 PMPretty cool Troll, it def looks good not having that cable showing, so how does your speedo work?
Posted by Troll
- November 16, 2012, 12:22:41 PMI'm using a Kaw hub cover for a classic, with a speedo drive for a Nomad. Not connected to anything, but the slot for the nonexistent cable hides behind the fender. Made a sleeve to fit inside the speedo drive to take up the difference in diameter between the inside of the drive and the seal. The hub cap came with 3 grub screws to attach it, and it's a pretty tight fit on the aluminum housing to begin with...making parts and adapting things that don't fit is part of the game.
Posted by 49Reo
- November 16, 2012, 12:10:22 PMAs lot of Indians did have a left hand shift, right throttle, (like Harley,there is that dirty 6 letter word again,lol) I am going to make my own shifter using 1" tubing, left side, and move the clutch assembly onto it. I already bought a 1" chromed mirror mount to remount the mirror after the mod. I will post pics and a how-to when done for those who want it.
Regards and such,
49Reo
Posted by David Baker
- November 16, 2012, 11:41:15 AMDan, $ALTY, A$ in CO$T. LQTM
Posted by marshalldoll
- November 16, 2012, 11:31:24 AMYes you pull the clutch release the throttle sift and back to the throttle. It is very simple and once you get started you will use it over the foot shifter.
Dan
Posted by DC
- November 16, 2012, 11:11:29 AMFrom a practical perspective, I'm trying to remember how you coordinate using the hand shifter. I remember guys on Indians doing the daredevil shows when I was a kid, but I don't remember how they coordinated the throttle and shifter. So what do you do, let go of the throttle, then clutch with your left hand and hold the bar straight, while quickly shifting with the right, then grabbing the throttle, then releasing the clutch? Is that how you do it, or is there some other more practical way?
If I did the hand shift mod, I can envision the linkage being steampunk inspired.
Posted by marshalldoll
- November 16, 2012, 10:45:46 AMThe hand shift is a no brainer. After the first few shifts it becomes second nature. Ma Kaw makes lots of nice things you just have to make them fit our drifters. My top rail around the Indian head light is also MaKaw item. I did have the down linkage fabricated for the hand shifter. When you purchase it from Ted it is just a straight bar and I thought it needed something to dress it up. I am not sure what you mean by Salty. I'm an old fart!! LOL
Dan
Posted by David Baker
- November 16, 2012, 10:38:12 AMDan, Didn't know Kawi made a hub cap, I picked up an HD cap and enlarged the hole then fit it to the back side of the speedo drive (notched it out at the cable, doesn't show) speedo drive and cap are now one and come off together. Used a sort of super glue that came with some sort of sand beads that you sprinkled on that acted as a hardening agent (bought it at a gun show) really bonded well. I take it you have to let off the throttle to shift, How hard is that to get used to? How salty is the shifter kit and the rotor cover if you don't mind my asking?
Thanks, Bake
Posted by marshalldoll
- November 16, 2012, 10:14:39 AMBake to answer a few of your questions. I used a Kawasaki front hub cover. I too had to make it just a bit larger to fit then used grub screws to hold it in place. It also has the cut out for the cable. The other side is the Kawasaki OEM rotor cover ( Chief has them for sale on this site ) you do have to mod it just a bit to fit and then I had it powdercoated black and I aldo powdercoarted the hub cover black. I replacede the front reflectors with antique style bicycle reflectors. I found them on ebay. The shifter is from Ted Struble and is also available through this site. I love the hand shifter and use quite a bit.
Dan
Posted by pcarrell
- November 15, 2012, 22:34:25 PMQuote from: 49Reo on November 15, 2012, 21:48:52 PMYou got that right!The Drifter is truly in a class of its own. If the (new) Indians were half as good they would have been a raging success. (Imho)
Regards and such,
49Reo
Posted by 49Reo
- November 15, 2012, 21:48:52 PMHaving long been a fan of the (original) Indian motorcycles, and knowing I could never afford one and not caring for the new Indians, ( the adage about no matter how much perfume you put on a pig comes to mind when I see one), when I first saw a Drifter, the hunt was on. Finally picked my '02 1500 up in January 2008; it was even better than I expected. Much better than any Harley I have ever owned, including "Frankenstein", the Harley trike I own now. The Drifter is truly in a class of its own. If the (new) Indians were half as good they would have been a raging success. (Imho)
Regards and such,
49Reo
Posted by adeyar
- November 15, 2012, 21:12:23 PMThree weeks ago. I've been looking at Roadstars for a while; customs, price, cost to trick out, etc... While sitting in the break room at work I was talking to a coworker about the "classic cruiser" type bike I was looking for. He showed me a couple of Drifters and the search was on. I brought it home last Sunday.
Posted by testpilot
- November 15, 2012, 20:50:29 PMThanksgiving day 2011 my youngest brother was home from a couple hours away. We were outside enjoying a cigar and got to talking about bikes. He's been riding the last several years including logging over 30,000 miles in 2010! I'd never ridden a motorcycle in my life, although I have about 60,000 miles in my legs on bicycles. Well anyway we were talking about his motorcycle and he told me I should get one and we could ride together. I told him I've always said if I ever got one, it would be an Indian or a Victory. That thought stuck in my mind the rest of the day. That evening after everyone was gone, I sat in front of my computer for several hours looking. I started with Indian but sticker shock convinced me to look further. Victory was my next choice and there were several good one-owner candidates in my price range at dealers in the area. Friday I was off work so I sneaked out of the house to go look. I found two really good Victory candidates in my price range and told the guy I wanted to look around more. After several more stops at Honda and HD dealers, my last stop was to a Victory/Polaris dealer near home. I walked in and around their showroom and there it was! Every thought of owning a Victory vanished and I was in love. The Ebony/Silver 2005 Vulcan Drifter 1500 had 5,020 miles on the clock, a set of leather bags, was pristine in all respects and even had new whitewalls. I was tempted to buy it on the spot but needed time to settle down and needed to ease my wife into the idea. The next weekend, my brother rode up and I took him out to look at it. He was impressed with my find. After rechecking the other places I had visited earlier we stopped for lunch. He told me if I didn't get the Drifter, he was seriously thinking about going after it. I think I made three more visits to the dealer after that. I finally made an offer and negotiated a deal for $6,000, a new windshield and a modular, full faced helmet. On December 10th, my friend Jim and I went to pick it up. Remember, I had never ridden before. Jim was happy to ride it home for me in spite of the 18F weather that day! We took it to the church parking lot at the end of the road and I drove it around there for about 15 minutes until I could feel my fingers or toes anymore. We then took it back to my house and put it to bed for the winter. I was the first to sign up for the MSF Rider course scheduled at the end of March. I passed with flying colors and have had a wonderful summer. October 13th my brother and I rode from Cleveland, OH to our brother's home in Mebane, NC near Raleigh. Riding though the hills of WV and VA during peak leaf season was awesome. We put 1,100 miles on that weekend. I might be able to grab a few more rides before the rain, snow and ice set in. My Drifter's birthday is coming up soon then it will be bedtime again for my baby. When people show me their baby pictures, I always get mine out. I have a showroom view, a speedometer view, a front view, two side views, a back view and a windshield on view.