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Posted by Donkey
- June 11, 2015, 20:35:27 PMQuote from: greenbarn on June 11, 2015, 17:27:31 PMAbsolutley nothing is ruled out yet. Until I find evidence that the factory never produced even a single bike with black engine covers, nothing is possible... what's the expression? Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever left, however improbable, has to be true.My guess is that what you have was indeed painted by a PO. If they did a really nice job, took the covers off, had them bead blasted and a good, thick, coat of powder put on there, wouldn't you expect to see the thick layer of black like you have, if/when it starts to chip like you have by your oil fill??
I'm not saying for sure it's NOT factory - Just because no one has seen it before, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Another option that just came to me - I have no idea, but was there an earlier 1500 vulcan in the family that had black covers from factory?? Perhaps a PO switched them out b/c he wanted black?? Just thinking out loud....
I thought of the "replacement" theory too... can't even rule that out. I'm just thinking of probabilities. The bikes are just not rare enough or expensive enough to invest the time, effort and labour to have a job THIS perfect if it was painted. Switching out the covers? I suppose... if you REALLY wanted black that bad.
Here in Ontario when you buy a vehicle, you get an owner history report. I have the names of all four previous owners. I could make a Sunday project out of this one day!
Posted by Donkey
- June 11, 2015, 20:34:56 PMQuote from: greenbarn on June 11, 2015, 17:20:27 PMBetter?I think you northern boys lost me on this one....
Posted by pcarrell
- June 11, 2015, 20:30:54 PMListen, if you're going to try mixing 705 and 715 to get 710, it can be done, but it's tricky! You have to get exactly the same of each in a perfect mix or you can end up with 709 or, worse yet, 711. 709 is pretty thick stuff, but the engine will run on it. 711 on the other hand is too thin and you won't build up the necessary pressure in the bearings and could sieze the engine!
Because of this, I always recommend professionally mixed 710.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- June 11, 2015, 17:36:58 PMQuotePlease do not let me down with my fellow Canadian, here is me telling him you are an expert on 710, and next to you the smartest person on that subject is Troll, mind you PC is pretty up on 710 too.Quote from: CDNRatMan on 10 June 2015, 23:01:00
I am not a 700 specialist you would have to ask GB if tat works he is a smart lad and will figure it out for you.......
I think you northern boys lost me on this one.... ???
Posted by greenbarn
- June 11, 2015, 17:27:31 PMMy guess is that what you have was indeed painted by a PO. If they did a really nice job, took the covers off, had them bead blasted and a good, thick, coat of powder put on there, wouldn't you expect to see the thick layer of black like you have, if/when it starts to chip like you have by your oil fill??
I'm not saying for sure it's NOT factory - Just because no one has seen it before, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Another option that just came to me - I have no idea, but was there an earlier 1500 vulcan in the family that had black covers from factory?? Perhaps a PO switched them out b/c he wanted black?? Just thinking out loud....
Posted by greenbarn
- June 11, 2015, 17:20:27 PMQuote from: CDNRatMan on June 10, 2015, 22:01:00 PMI am not a 700 specialist you would have to ask GB if tat works he is a smart lad and will figure it out for you.......
I think you northern boys lost me on this one.... 
Posted by Donkey
- June 11, 2015, 12:36:45 PMYes PC, I also watched the launch video and saw the promo pictures... I've even read reviews (most recently a Canadian Biker magazine article published Jan 2, 1999)...
http://canadamotoguide.com/1999/01/02/test-ride-kawasaki-vn1500-j1-drifter/
...and haven't yet found a picture of a stock bike with black covers. Unfortunately it seems my risers may have been replaced so there's nothing I can find there.
I'll take better pictures of both engine sides in good light to see if any of the experts can pick out something that says "yup, painted"...
It's all great reading though. Can't say I'm sorry for all the reading I'm doing as I research, it's a fun bike to learn about!
Posted by pcarrell
- June 11, 2015, 08:53:47 AMQuote from: Donkey on June 11, 2015, 06:55:18 AMHmmm, that's strange, because all of the pics I see online show the lower covers on both sides to be matte silver. The original TV ad shows silver painted parts, and I'm guessing that the bike used in this ad is an early one since they're introducing the bike for the first time ( http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/driftervideo.html ). Even the original Super Chief, the bike that inspired Ma Kawi to make the Drifter, had silver engine lowers ( http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/DrifterGallery/SuperChief/ ). I'd agree that yours looks factory though.Yes, the right side cover is black too... That's actually the one with the oil cap in the pic above. The only matte silver I have is the valve covers...
I thought the 1999 model bikes came with a production # plate or certificate or something. Seems to me I saw something like an engraved plate across the risers on an early bike, but maybe that was owner added? Ma Kawi also confirmed that Canada got a total (all years included) of about 600 Drifters for each cc group ( http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=18150.0 ).
Posted by Donkey
- June 11, 2015, 08:26:47 AMQuote from: pcarrell on June 11, 2015, 08:11:45 AMAnd that's exactly what I'm trying to figure out!! I don't want to think I have some kind of special, early run, one of a kind part or bike if I don't, and even though there really won't be any more value to it it is, there would be some cool factor there!...so the part I thought was stock, wasn't.
There's just nothing about it that tells me it was painted. The edges of the covers are curved and there is no visible paint line... No tool marks on any of the fasteners to show it was taken off. That oil sticker... But that's not to say it wasn't replaced. Now it's a mission.
I have a Beretta that turned out to be like that... There was a small run (1000 I believe) of Berettas that were released before the real run started in '88 and turns out I had one of them. According to Car and Driver, these 1000 cars had a multitude of small, square, hard to use radio buttons, a skinny cheap feeling steering wheel and other small indicators... Yep, had them all. And inside the door panel the frame was stamped NOV 1986 and was registered as an '87, way earlier than the intended release.
Posted by pcarrell
- June 11, 2015, 08:11:45 AMQuote from: Drifter1500 on June 11, 2015, 05:20:22 AMYou know what? I stand corrected! I was basing what I said off of a friends 2000 Drifter, but I asked him about it and he said that he took a 2001 part and stripped it and had it repainted, so the part I thought was stock, wasn't. Sorry, I didn't mean to mislead! ***Next time, I'll do more homework!***The left engine cover on my 00 is just like the 99 cover, and is matte silver. also the shop manual shows that they are the same.
Posted by Donkey
- June 11, 2015, 06:55:18 AMQuote from: Drifter1500 on June 11, 2015, 05:20:22 AMYes, the right side cover is black too... That's actually the one with the oil cap in the pic above. The only matte silver I have is the valve covers...The left engine cover on my 00 is just like the 99 cover, and is matte silver. also the shop manual shows that they are the same.
I to have never seen nor heard about any covers being painted black. Is the right side cover the same?
Posted by Drifter1500
- June 11, 2015, 05:20:22 AMQuote from: pcarrell on June 10, 2015, 14:21:25 PMThe left engine cover on my 00 is just like the 99 cover, and is matte silver. also the shop manual shows that they are the same.Donkey, I don't know about the Canadian / American thing (Except that the U.S. didn't get any 1999 Drifter 800's (only 1500's), while Canada did. Both got the 800 for the 2000 model year), but all the '99's and '00's had the black painted engine parts with the matte silver parts. They did this, along with all of the other blackout parts, to try and really capture the 1940's Indian look, but customers in the showrooms wanted chromed out bikes, so in 2001 Ma Kawi gave them what they wanted. Now the blackout bikes are highly prized by some. As for the differences, the 1999 left lower side engine cover was different from the 2000 cover as well (the cover down by the floorboard and shifter). The 1999 lower left cover was sort of a half cover, and a 1 year only part, and the 2000 cover was like the 2001+ cover, only it was also matte silver, making it a 1 year only part as well. Starting in 2001 and through the rest of the model run, all the lower left engine covers were like the 2000 cover except they were chromed. This is my 2001, so you can see the difference between yours and mine.
(Click to enlarge)
I to have never seen nor heard about any covers being painted black. Is the right side cover the same?
Posted by CDNRatMan
- June 10, 2015, 22:01:00 PMI am not a 700 specialist you would have to ask GB if tat works he is a smart lad and will figure it out for you.......
Posted by Donkey
- June 10, 2015, 21:08:59 PMQuote from: CDNRatMan on June 10, 2015, 19:46:39 PMI meant to but I only have 705 and 715 handy. If I mix them together, will that work?So did you add the 710 to top up the bike?
Posted by CDNRatMan
- June 10, 2015, 19:46:39 PMSo did you add the 710 to top up the bike?