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Posted by pcarrell
- March 12, 2009, 22:19:50 PMI love the way the rear fender area cme out. Nice work....very professional.
Posted by drifter800
- March 12, 2009, 21:50:02 PMhere i tried to Drifterize a 535 virago for a lady driver who loves deco style
Posted by drifter800
- March 12, 2009, 21:47:25 PMquick pic of my Enfield
Posted by drifter800
- March 12, 2009, 21:45:25 PMWhen i first got my drifter i realy didn't care for the Indian decals and such. But realy, what's the big deal. When Indian didn't have a home, a few overseas manufactures made Indians under their
own names like Royal Enfield. Enfield Indians.They didn't look that great and never took off. They did however make some great tank badges. Do a google search. I'm surpirised no one has them on their bikes yet. I left my Kawi name plates on. People are surprised it's a Kawi and i like to give Kawi the credit for building a better 'Indian.' than Indian did. I understand the folklor of Harleys and Indian. They gotta lot of soul. Kawi just hasn't got that mistique. I love the old brit bikes as well. Gotta lot of soul especialy in old school chopper form in my eyes. Reliable? They are junk compared to the modern bike but cool.
Posted by Iron Indian
- February 28, 2009, 12:48:23 PMThe Kawasaki Drifter is patterned after the Indian Chief. I think it is already "Indianized" These are already a lot closer copy than the Gilroys or the New producers of "Indian." Are the new ones still in business?
Fact is the '99 black out Drifter 1500 models were really the closet to the original.
I bought a new 2000 Chief back then and it was a chrome belt driven beauty with the tear drop headlight and all the stuff Other than fenders and badges I don't think it was very close copy to the oldie.. but Jeeze, like I said the 1999 Drifter was a lot closer visually to the real antique Chief.
So it's only a natural for some to go ahead and put the Indian ornaments and markings on a Drifter, After all the KAWA factory did 99.5% of the Indianization.
Posted by Chris
- February 10, 2009, 23:35:35 PMJust a funny little tid bit I thought I would share with you... At a recent swap meet that will remain unnamed... A guy was hocking "Indian" fenders, fronts and rears. Claimed to have made them himself with fiberglass resin using an original fender as the mold. Also said that he cut these neat little vent holes in the front fenders to aid in cooling the brakes... so I walked up and looked at the fenders. $300 a pop for the fronts $275 for rears. He had about a half dozen of each. I asked him "Nice fenders. Where did you find so many Drifters to scavenge parts off of?" 
Posted by drifter1946
- January 18, 2009, 09:58:23 AMHello, I would also like to deliver sometimes my modest opinion in addition. I have bought the motorcycle 10 years ago to myself because I found it nice. Also I like this Retri style. But it also depended on reliability and it feels simply well with Japanese models. My motorcycle is a Drifter more, however, also no less and builds them as well as I like it. Everything without Indian parts and will never also use the name Indian in my motorcycle. As well as she is so I like them, for 10 years.
Reiner 
Posted by pcarrell
- January 18, 2009, 09:27:23 AMAnd in the end, if you can say "Yes" to the question, "Are you happy with your bike?", then I think you have a winner!
Posted by lefecious
- January 18, 2009, 04:31:58 AMEver since I was a kid I dreamed of owning an Indian. I had the exact paint scheme picked out and everything. However, when I got older and learned that real Indians cost a fortune and don't perform well on today's streets, and Gilroy Indians cost a smaller fortune but were unreliable, then the next logical step was the drifter.
For 6 grand I have the look I've always dreamed of having, in a bike that actually runs great, is reliable, and I can actually find parts for.
Posted by chief
- December 30, 2008, 17:33:08 PM 
-- Who Me?... Now you know why I'm not Sec. of State in lieu of C. Rice. <LOL>
Posted by pcarrell
- December 24, 2008, 20:56:18 PMSo why don't you quit holding back so much and tell us how you REALLY feel?
Posted by chief
- December 24, 2008, 11:57:41 AMIts called "JEALOUSY"... I've ridden a bunch of -what I thought were great looking bikes... but I have never gotten the interest and positive remarks from those (including bikes that cost 5 times as much).
#1 - If I wanted an Indian I'd find a 53. But I've done the old bike, kick start thing.
#2 - Why would I want to buy a harley clone with Indian stickers on it... that's no more an "Indian" than my Goldwing.
#3 - The Harley herd is simply mooing... ah repeating the stuff I said back in the 70's. Nowadays its meaningless.
#4 - Anyone who rates their bike based upon cost is a "poser". These are the same guys who are your "bud" when you're on your HD and denigrate you when you are on the Drifter. So, the reality is the BIKE is their bud... not you.
#5 - I don't give-a-shit what these losers think.
Posted by pcarrell
- December 24, 2008, 10:39:42 AMHey yeah, I'm from Ingalls, which is just southeast of Anderson. We aren't that far apart!
Maybe we'll have to hook up and do some riding this summer.
Posted by Chris
- December 24, 2008, 10:24:40 AMHey pcarell... I think I read somewhere in the forums you are from Indiana. Is that correct? I live here in the town of Winchester about 30 minutes east of Muncie if you know where I am talking about.
Posted by pcarrell
- December 24, 2008, 09:48:05 AMMy bike came with all of the emblems removed, but thats OK because I would've removed them myself and replaced them with others. That goes the same for any bike I bought. I'd have removed Harley or Indian emblems from one of those bikes too. I just like to put my own custom touch on things, thats all.
As to a Drifter getting a best American classic award, the owner stepped up to the plate and corrected that mistake I hope. If not, what a shame. The Drifter is a much better bike in almost all areas then it's nearest look-alike, the Indian.