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Posted by LarryInSeattle
- August 08, 2015, 10:56:01 AMI like my emblems. Zambini Bros. out of California.
They were expensive to my budget, but I never regretted buying them.
Posted by jmbo
- August 06, 2015, 02:02:13 AMLooks like this old issue is coming back again. Perhaps the timing is right considering most of the previous discussion on this topic came before the new Indians hit the road. As ever it is a personal choice. Most of the Indianized Drifter I have seen look pretty cool. The traditional Indian logo looks well place on the Drifter tank. That said chose to keep my Drifter as a Drifter. When people ask me how i like my "Indian", I proudly and politely correct them and say "It's a Drifter". Given the limited productions numbers, these are rare bikes. They are no longer in production. To me the Drifter is a classic bike with classic looking sculpted fenders. Today there are new Indians on the road. Like them or not they are not a Drifter just as my bike is not an Indian.
But...each to their own.
Posted by norym
- August 05, 2015, 15:57:44 PMQuote from: greenbarn on March 18, 2012, 20:35:01 PMThis is probably a touchy subject, but what are the thoughts out there on putting "indian" stuff on our drifters? I realize it's personal preferance, but I want to know what the general concensus is.
When shopping for my bike, I saw this '02 800 in TN that was just really sharp. It had the script "INDIAN" tank emblem and a custom tan leather seat.
I really like the Indian logo on the tank, but in some way it seams wrong? I see a lot of them with the word "Indian" on them, but I just don't know.
What are your thougts???
Posted by chief
- November 15, 2012, 09:06:53 AM1999/2000 1500's and 800's came with the plain emblems... silver colored.
1500 - 56052-1054 and 1055800 - 56052-1058 and 1059
2001/2006 - 1500/800 came with the red background emblems. All are still available from Kaw.
1500 = 56052-1321 and 1322
800 = 56053-1340 and 1341
Posted by ChilliDrift
- November 15, 2012, 08:06:38 AMI'm just curious, my 99 1500 came without any emblems on the tank. I got some from a person in Hawaii. The ones I have are plastic Vulcan style with drifter across the bottom but mine are colored maroon behind the gold Vulcan lettering and Drifter is below the V is Black lettering on chrome. The ones I see on most tanks are plain, chrome. And appear to be cast. I found a set of the cast looking ones on eBay, and like many of us just bought them to have them. Does anyone else have the style emblems like mine or have any info about where they were used.
Posted by DC
- November 15, 2012, 06:59:01 AMI say "to each their own too". Do whatever floats your boat. I just have a standard indian head with the Drifter script overlaying it. The P.O. put it on, and I don't feel a need to change it so far. Maybe someday I'll get a streak of creative inspiration and come up with something different.
Posted by David Baker
- November 14, 2012, 23:21:14 PMThis is the beauty of owning a Drifter... We have so many options of which way to go. We can personalize our rides to fit us. I'm more of the subtle clean lines look. I know it's not an Indian and I like that about it, To me it's the styling, You don't find that in other bikes in my opinion. People are going to gravitate to our Drifters in a lot full of other bikes because of the look itself. Whether you want to add Indian badges, Decals or emblems is up to you. I like the idea of the fender light but didn't like the large size Indian head so I used the smaller size which to me is more subtle. I don't have tank badges but opted for lettering on the tank with feathers as a tribute to my Cherokee Grand Mother's maiden name "Youngblood" It's all about making it your own, It doesn't matter how you get there, Some people are gonna like it... Others won't... You just have to satisfy yourself.
Posted by 49Reo
- October 02, 2012, 13:34:32 PM I've even looked into having stock tank badges cast in brass of copper. For now I'm going to enjoy the ride as is then when the mood and the money strikes me I'll give it a go.
[/quote]
Check out Zambini's site; they will make emblems to order based on your design.
Regards and such,
49Reo
Posted by jmbo
- October 01, 2012, 22:16:14 PMJust picked up my 1500 yesterday. Been looking for one for quite a while so I've given some thought as to what, if any, mods I'd plan for the bike. I have nothing against the Indian ID route. There are some sweet rides out there and obviously there's a lot of Indian badges and logos to choose from, but, as it stands, I'm not planning to go that route. My bike is a fairly stock '99. I like the blacked out look. It's stock maroon with badges and some of the tape striping removed. I'm thinking along the lines of a classic two tone paint scheme, probably WWs when the time comes but when it comes to badges and logos, I'm going to try for a classic vintage look of a '40's bike but "keep it real". I've seen some Drifter script logos that I like and I've designed a few myself. I've even looked into having stock tank badges cast in brass of copper. For now I'm going to enjoy the ride as is then when the mood and the money strikes me I'll give it a go.
Posted by 45 Bravo
- August 19, 2012, 00:25:49 AMnice...
45 Bravo
Posted by pcarrell
- August 18, 2012, 22:44:49 PMQuote from: jagered on March 24, 2012, 11:08:17 AMHEY LOOK!!!! YOU'RE RIGHT!!!! TWINS!!!!our bikes are similar...
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/IMG_0759.jpg
Posted by greenbarn
- August 10, 2012, 23:22:53 PMAgreed., CDN
I've recently had a new idea.... my wife hates when that happens.... I'm working with an old high-school buddy of mine who now has a macine shop, and I'm considering somewhat of a custom badge. We'll see where this takes us.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- August 07, 2012, 13:53:19 PMHey I am not anyone important, but I think you should be able to personalize your ride to suit your likes and tastes. I am not a huge chrome fan so I do not like to have chrome, not a studs fan on the leather but that is me, plain and clean is what I like. As long as you do not try to pass your ride off as something it is not what is the big deal. People need to mind their own business.
Posted by 45 Bravo
- July 29, 2012, 11:58:49 AMMine does not say indian anywhere on it, but there is an indian head on the tank, right by the Factory Vulcan Drifter emblem.
(it came from the po this way)
the only place it says kawasaki is on the white factory tag on the neck.
I get the "what year is the Indian?" question all the time.
I tell them it is a '99 Drifter.
Some notice the tank badge and say Oh I have heard of Vulcan motorcycles they are nice.
Some still call it an Indian after that though.
I live in a small town (less than 2000) and ride to work daily (rain or shine) as long as there is no snow or ice, and i run into some people that say, Oh you are the "Indian guy" I like old motorcycles too it is great to see someone still riding them..
and other positive comments.
When i needed to replace my shocks (i don't have a lift) I took it to the local harley shop the owner came out and did a walk around, looked at the shock mounting and said $100, and i cant put them on until next wednesday (6 days away).
I said thanks, then he said "nice indian, i would not mind having one" i said thanks again and left.
I went to our local "other bike" shop, the owner came out and said "Nice Drifter" (from 50 ft away) i said thanks, he quoted $30 for labor and would do it right now.
Guess which shop i chose.
Later guys.
45 Bravo
Posted by greenbarn
- July 29, 2012, 11:51:07 AMParagon, I agree with everything you're saying - I don't mind mine being a kaw either - it is what it is. I just have a hard time finding something I like that doesn't say "Indian". The indians head that says "Drifter" probably comes the closest, but that just isn't what I want, I guess- I just don't really care for the big indian emblem all that well. I really liked a bike I saw this spring that had chrome script "indian" (thus I liked the "indiandrifter" I mentioned here). My absolute favorite (so far) is the old Enfield indian emblem (below), but again it just says "indian".
Maybe I could just put that on and scratch "Drifter" in the paint right beside it... 
Anyway, thanks marshaldoll for the feedback as well - guess I'll keep looking....