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May '11. To be honest getting my Drifter was more of luck and necessity than a falling in love and searching for my dream bike. Prior to May of '11 my '06 Sporty was good enough to handle everything we wanted to do which was a lot of weekend trips or solo runs etc.

In the spring of '10 my boss got jealous that several us at work that rode (including his son in law) would get together at the end of a long week, pick one of our favorite burger/beer joints about 70 miles away and make a short evening run. He always wanted an Indian but refused to pay that kind of $$ , so he found a Drifter at an Indian dealer about 3 hrs away.  5200 original miles, V&H LongShots, Corbin 2-up seat, and saddle-bags. He proceeded to put a whopping 400 miles on it over the next year. While he owned it, I went into work one morning and he had me ride it to town to run some paperwork around. I was definitely impressed with the ride, not so enamoured with the looks, but amazed at how comfy it was.

In the spring of '11 my boss let me know that he had bought a Heritage Soft-tail from his cousin and the Drifter was up for sale. I still wasn't willing to pull the trigger. That spring my wife and I were prepping for our 1st major road trip, almost 3 weeks and around 3500 miles, getting some gear and some miles on the sporty. Even with my wife being 5' tall and 100lbs there was just no way to get her comfortable enough for back to back 500 mile days on a sportster, me, not a problem, my wife not so much. She was looking forward to this trip as much as I was and I wanted to make damn sure she enjoyed it. So I went and talked to my boss and bought the Drifter from him. We both had a blast on our road trip and now I can't imagine not having it. 18 months later, the bike I bought with 5600 miles on it now has close to 30,000 miles on it, hell, I put more miles on it than I do my car, lol!

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Topic summary

Posted by Troll

- November 16, 2012, 18:22:28 PM

I have my Drifter and my W-650 as desktop wall paper so I don't have to go out in the winter to look at them...but I still do, sometimes!

Posted by marshalldoll

- November 16, 2012, 18:22:13 PM

Ditto !!
Dan

Posted by pcarrell

- November 16, 2012, 17:55:50 PM

Quote from: DriftinGirl on November 16, 2012, 17:33:02 PM
Sometimes I go out to the garage for no reason other than to look at it some more..

***Truth be told, I think we all do that too!***

Posted by DriftinGirl

- November 16, 2012, 17:33:02 PM

Fall of 2010 - retired at 55 and bought a motorcycle for the first time, Suzuki 650. Summer of 2011 - rode a motorcycle for the first time in my life, did lots of parking lots and deserted roads, and got bike endorsement. Summer of 2012 - put 1000km on the Suzuki and decided riding was definitely for me and started shopping for my dream bike. Was getting lots of push to Harley and liked the Softail deluxe but would like to have money left for gas so ended up looking at a used Yamaha, BUT....next to the Yamaha when I went to see it.... sat the Drifter!! Poor man couldn't even get me to sit on the Yamaha...the next day I went back and bought my 2004 Drifter, only 2100 miles on it and in excellent condition!! Love it. Sometimes I go out to the garage for no reason other than to look at it some more..

Posted by ChilliDrift

- November 16, 2012, 16:50:47 PM

Uhhh yep for sure I think you definately get the barn finder award for Drifters as far as I can tell. I really appreciate your help on here. And may of had the most work to do on their purchase.

Man Bake, I have the same gooseberry paint, its really cool to see the change that occurs with the color.

Posted by Troll

- November 16, 2012, 16:32:40 PM

The luggage rack is mounted on the saddlebag struts... The total load should be less than 40 lbs, so using the rack for a p-pad is not only dangerous, but pretty stupid. The P.O. wasn't exactly a Rhodes Scholar...

Posted by ChilliDrift

- November 16, 2012, 16:19:35 PM

Ahhh. That's good to know. Will the drive shaft sensor fit off of a classic? Hey where do you think I could find one of those luggage rack/ bag mounts. I really like that setup, and Troll, I can't imagine riding on that piggy back for a passenger pad. But what a cool look. With the dufflebag trunk. I like that look. I've seen them just didn't know whst they were called.

Posted by Troll

- November 16, 2012, 14:13:02 PM

2001 and up are electronic...vss mounted in the output of the transmission

Posted by David Baker

- November 16, 2012, 13:56:16 PM

Troll,
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 PM

Quote from: 49Reo on November 16, 2012, 12:10:22 PM
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

Look forward to seeing that Reo.

Posted by ChilliDrift

- November 16, 2012, 12:28:51 PM

Pretty 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 PM

I'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 PM

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 David Baker

- November 16, 2012, 11:41:15 AM

Dan, $ALTY, A$ in CO$T. LQTM

Posted by marshalldoll

- November 16, 2012, 11:31:24 AM

Yes 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

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