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Posted by 49Reo
- May 14, 2015, 22:26:14 PMWelcome to the madhouse. Always fun to read of others first passion when they finally get the bike of their dreams. Now the fun begins. Making it yours. When it comes to these Drifters, creativity is the key. Most of the trinkets and baubles you see on others Drifters are adaptations from other bikes. or scratch built, thus a lot of individuality emerges. No two are the same. Have fun, and keep us all up-to-date with pics and stories! We'd love to see it!
Posted by pcarrell
- May 14, 2015, 09:02:46 AMQuote from: Donkey on May 13, 2015, 20:36:13 PMThere are a few options for 2up seats, but the brackets are a must. These are some of the seat options offered over the years: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/drifterseats.html Some of them are no longer made, but might turn up second hand. You might find this page interesting: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?action=links;cat=33 Also, besides looking on Ebay for the brackets, you can try here: http://www.ronayersmotorcycles.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=389864&category=Motorcycles&make=KAWASAKI&year=2001&fveh=8987-It has a Corbin 1-up... I want to keep that but I'd also like a stock 2-up to swap on/off for the kids...
-Any other 2-up opinions welcome (I understnad the brackets are as expesive as the seat)
QuoteNo tellin'.........most trailer hitches I've seen on Drifters seem to attach to the passenger foot peg mounts and to the frame under the seat, as the whole rear of the bike moves too much to mount to. As for a side car mount, maybe look in that section of the forum and compare to what you see there to determine if that's what you have.-It had a heavy duty custom steel bracket on the right side... sidecar or trailer? That's gone. Those are my guesses what it was.
QuoteYour shield should come up to about your chin or so at it's highest. You can go lower, but I'd not recommend higher. As for the batwing, there are a few options. Some good info has been gathered here: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?action=links;cat=35 One thing to remember.......Drifters use the same front forks as a 1500 Fuel Injected Classic, so while there are some subtle differences, most fork related parts for those bikes fit ours pretty well. That means stuff like this is on the menu: http://www.recklessmotorcycles.com/classic1500.htm-Has a windshield. Too high for what I like. While I debate a quick release batwing (opinions welcome), I will cut it down to about 14"
QuoteOther then stock Drifters, I don't know if there are any two that are alike! Make it "right" in your eyes!-I'm a big fan of the "way it was supposed to look" for this bike. The colour stays, there will be little mods to this one.
QuoteCheck local laws reguarding this. Also keep in mind laws of states you might want to visit. I know for example that Colorado has very strict noise level laws concerning motorcycle exhausts.-But I do like the V&H Longshots. I'm used to a little more bark with the 800 and V&H Cruzers and debated removing some baffling...
QuoteCan't help ya there.....sorry!-I'm worried removing baffling will affect backpressure and run reliability. Opinoins, again, very welcome
QuoteWith just the V&H pipes you don't need it and probably don't want it.-Anyone have a power commander? If so, reviews and why?
QuoteYeah, that rack sounds like it has to go. There was the Kawasaki Fire & Steel rack, but the only one of those that I've seen mounts to the 2up seat bracket, so it's no good for a solo setup. Other then that, it's pretty slim pickin's! Wompus Racks used to make a solo rack, but I'm not sure if they still do. Then you can always make your own setup. I did, using only basic tools (an angle grinder with grinding and cutoff discs, and a drill) when I wanted to mount an old Shovelhead tour pack to my 1500. ( http://s83.photobucket.com/user/pcarrell/library/Drifter/Tour%20Pack?sort=3&page=1 )-Rear luggage... it has bags, and a modified rack over the fender but something has to change. The rack is too low and has contacted the fender and rubs against the seat... and I'm a little bit of a perfectionist. Any "removable" or OEM luggage rack options welcome
They say that the bike is just the downpayment on the accessories, and truer words were never spoken!
Welcome to the forum!
Posted by moosewing3
- May 14, 2015, 08:40:34 AMWelcome to the forums.I have a stock two up I am looking to sell if your interested.
Posted by bambam0099
- May 14, 2015, 07:31:39 AMQuote from: Donkey on May 13, 2015, 20:36:13 PM1st off, welcome aboard and second...pics! Would love to see your bike.This whole experience is going to be a LOT of fun...
The two-bit bakcground... I still consider myself a new rider... first bike came along in '07. The love affair with the THOUGHT of riding really started in the early 90's, but there was always an excuse... no time, blah blah... so the trigger wasn't pulled for years.
In '99, I won a jacket that said "Indian Motorcycles" on the back, so I looked them up on my dial-up internet connection... And fell head over heels with the newly recreated Indian Chief, but it was out of reach. I still didn't know anything intelligent about anything at that point, and by the time I finally realized that the excuses were just that, Indians were no more, and the used ones were rare and expensive and I just wanted entry level to see if I would even enjoy riding at all... along comes my 800 Classic.
I know and love that bike inside and out, but a friend introduced me to a friend a couple of years ago that rode this thing that had me picking my jaw up off the ground... everyone saw it in my eyes... what IS this thing?! A Drifter? WOW... MUST HAVE. Match made in heaven. Indian looks and style, Kawi reliability that I had grown passion for.
Fast forward to this past fall and he finally agreed to part with it when he went to HD, and I am in SUCH a happy place!!
Now I need to do what it will take to make it "mine"... and that brings me to the wish list. Feel free to add, subtract, explain, offer, or review any or all of it as you see fit... opinions welcome.
-It has a Corbin 1-up... I want to keep that but I'd also like a stock 2-up to swap on/off for the kids...
-Any other 2-up opinions welcome (I understnad the brackets are as expesive as the seat)
-It had a heavy duty custom steel bracket on the right side... sidecar or trailer? That's gone. Those are my guesses what it was.
-Has a windshield. Too high for what I like. While I debate a quick release batwing (opinions welcome), I will cut it down to about 14"
-I'm a big fan of the "way it was supposed to look" for this bike. The colour stays, there will be little mods to this one.
-But I do like the V&H Longshots. I'm used to a little more bark with the 800 and V&H Cruzers and debated removing some baffling...
-I'm worried removing baffling will affect backpressure and run reliability. Opinoins, again, very welcome
-Anyone have a power commander? If so, reviews and why?
-Rear luggage... it has bags, and a modified rack over the fender but something has to change. The rack is too low and has contacted the fender and rubs against the seat... and I'm a little bit of a perfectionist. Any "removable" or OEM luggage rack options welcomeI'll read as much in here as humanly possible because I know the drill... most of this is probably in here somehere... It's the time I lack to read like I once had.
Thanks gang... nice to be here!
When I read your post, I smiled because I felt the same way. I picked up a 2001 Drifter last year as my 1st road bike and love it. I always knew I would enjoy it but never thought this much.
I've added alot of "bling" this year and really enjoy the looks even more. Franks leathers makes some incredible products. I get complimented on the mud flaps and rear fender bib all the time and of course, mentioning the emblems and front fender ornament produced by Donna Zambini goes without saying. When I stop for gas, I literally have people walk up to me asking about them.
The one thing I didn't like about the stock bike was the exhaust. It was just too quiet and from a safety standpoint, dangerous. I routinely saw people jump or get scared when they realized I was along side them; they had no idea I was there. I bought a set of Vance and Hines and can't say enough how much it has made riding more pleasurable and, safer. Yeah, I guess they're loud but I really enjoy it. No more guessing on my rpm's and again, from a safety standpoint, other drivers know I am in the area and are never surprised. The other huge safety thing I did was throw on a Signal Dynamics headlight modulator. Watching the reaction of other drivers is incredible. People would routinely pull out in front of me in the past; no more. I can't count how many times I have seen a driver start to move forward then immediately stop to wait for me to go by. From a safety issue, it was the single best purchase I have made. I plan on buying another one for my brother.
You mentioned cutting the windshield; good idea! I cut mine so it was the same height as my nose while sitting. What a difference and again, makes the ride so much more enjoyable. Last year, I hit a fog area while riding into work in the dark morning hours and I was literally blinded for a few seconds and hit to sit up as straight as possible to see over the windshield. Dangerous lesson learned...
Keep us updated and would love to see your progress!
Posted by Donkey
- May 13, 2015, 20:36:13 PMThis whole experience is going to be a LOT of fun...
The two-bit bakcground... I still consider myself a new rider... first bike came along in '07. The love affair with the THOUGHT of riding really started in the early 90's, but there was always an excuse... no time, blah blah... so the trigger wasn't pulled for years.
In '99, I won a jacket that said "Indian Motorcycles" on the back, so I looked them up on my dial-up internet connection... And fell head over heels with the newly recreated Indian Chief, but it was out of reach. I still didn't know anything intelligent about anything at that point, and by the time I finally realized that the excuses were just that, Indians were no more, and the used ones were rare and expensive and I just wanted entry level to see if I would even enjoy riding at all... along comes my 800 Classic.
I know and love that bike inside and out, but a friend introduced me to a friend a couple of years ago that rode this thing that had me picking my jaw up off the ground... everyone saw it in my eyes... what IS this thing?! A Drifter? WOW... MUST HAVE. Match made in heaven. Indian looks and style, Kawi reliability that I had grown passion for.
Fast forward to this past fall and he finally agreed to part with it when he went to HD, and I am in SUCH a happy place!!
Now I need to do what it will take to make it "mine"... and that brings me to the wish list. Feel free to add, subtract, explain, offer, or review any or all of it as you see fit... opinions welcome.
-It has a Corbin 1-up... I want to keep that but I'd also like a stock 2-up to swap on/off for the kids...-Any other 2-up opinions welcome (I understnad the brackets are as expesive as the seat)
-It had a heavy duty custom steel bracket on the right side... sidecar or trailer? That's gone. Those are my guesses what it was.
-Has a windshield. Too high for what I like. While I debate a quick release batwing (opinions welcome), I will cut it down to about 14"
-I'm a big fan of the "way it was supposed to look" for this bike. The colour stays, there will be little mods to this one.
-But I do like the V&H Longshots. I'm used to a little more bark with the 800 and V&H Cruzers and debated removing some baffling...
-I'm worried removing baffling will affect backpressure and run reliability. Opinoins, again, very welcome
-Anyone have a power commander? If so, reviews and why?
-Rear luggage... it has bags, and a modified rack over the fender but something has to change. The rack is too low and has contacted the fender and rubs against the seat... and I'm a little bit of a perfectionist. Any "removable" or OEM luggage rack options welcome
I'll read as much in here as humanly possible because I know the drill... most of this is probably in here somehere... It's the time I lack to read like I once had.
Thanks gang... nice to be here!