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Posted by pcarrell
- October 17, 2015, 15:02:36 PMQuote from: Troll on October 17, 2015, 14:46:51 PMYeah, right?Now, that's somebody who REALLY knows his Drifters....
I hate when people just flat out lie in their ad's.
I saw a Craigslist ad the other day for a 1974 Porsche 914 with a "rare" 5 speed tranny (https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5242839131.html ). Now Porsche made 914's from mid 1969 through 1976, and every last one of them, except 2 of them was a 5 speed. The 2 other ones were factory prototypes for a proposed automatic version that never materialized. One prototype was destroyed in testing and the other became Butzi Porsche's (Dr. Ferdinand Porsche's son) personal car for a few years before he added it to the collection at the Porsche Museum, where it resides to this day. As for the 5 speeds, there were two different shift linkages used over the years: known as the "tail" shifter and the "side" shifter. 1970 through 1972 got the tail shifter, and 1973 though 1976 got the better side shifter, so his 1974 is still not "rare".
Sorry.........
/rant
Posted by Troll
- October 17, 2015, 14:46:51 PMQuote from: LarryInSeattle on October 17, 2015, 01:25:00 AM
Now, that's somebody who REALLY knows his Drifters.... 
Posted by Bucko
- October 17, 2015, 14:07:53 PMQuote from: retiredbosn on October 15, 2015, 22:25:29 PMI must be missing something. When I look at the frame diagrams in the Partzilla links, they're not identical at all. Keep in mind the number on the parts diagram is just an index, you need to find that index number in the pats list to get the full part number (which doesn't seem to be shown on the Partzilla list). The Drifter frame part number is: 32160-1680. The Classic frame number is: 32160-1679On Partzilla they are identical, down to the screws, washers etc.
Posted by LarryInSeattle
- October 17, 2015, 01:25:00 AMPosted by retiredbosn
- October 16, 2015, 20:45:05 PMQuote from: Troll on October 16, 2015, 07:56:51 AMEverything from the swing arm pivot forward is the same, but the rear of the frame has no mounting horns for the fender. The swing arm on the Drifter has some tabs and misc mounting holes that the classic frame does not. The Drifter final drive housing has two mounting points on it for the fender support that the others do not. They are close, but not the same, and last but not least, the rear brake caliper mounts under the disc rather than above it...and the mounts for that are VERY different. Not saying you can't do what you want to do, but it's not going to be a bolt on for anything. The front fork sliders have extra tabs on the bottom for the front fender mounting that aren't on the classic, and the bolts for the go through from the outside for the mounting yoke.
Thank you for the info, everyone has been very helpful and I do appreciate it. This modification is going to be very challenging. I will update with photos and progress.
Keep the info and suggestions flowing, I am learning.
Posted by retiredbosn
- October 16, 2015, 20:37:16 PMMy plan for the rear fender are far from complete. Oldys has an Indian style fender that's universal and according to the website designed for passengers. They also have a multi piece design, I really don't know how I'm going to accomplish what I want. I am lucky enough to have a few custom makers and specialty shops. I'm planning on doing a bachelor bike anyway, so a fender able to hold passenger isn't important.
Right now I'm thinking of having what is essentially a fender cover. Using plastics or glass over the existing metal. I can glass the pieces together. Or making the Shields and tall extension out of metal and arc welding the pieces to the factory metal fender. I can do body work and am confident I can find a solution that allows me to use the existing fender and swingarm
Posted by Troll
- October 16, 2015, 07:56:51 AMQuote from: retiredbosn on October 15, 2015, 22:25:29 PMOn Partzilla they are identical, down to the screws, washers etc. Same part numbers, same frame, same swingarm. Where they differ are seat mounts and rear fender mounts. If I am looking at the schematics wrong please let me know, I posted the url link to each schematic. I'm thinking that I can work with Oldys to get a rear fender that I can mount using the classic hardware, which will allow me to do a couple other things that I'm wanting to do.2005 Drifter Frame :
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2005/VN1500-R5+Vulcan+1500+Drifter/FRAME/parts.html2005 Drifter Swingarm:
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2005/VN1500-R5+Vulcan+1500+Drifter/SWINGARM/parts.html2006 Classic Frame:
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2006/VN1500T6F+Vulcan+1500+Classic/FRAME/parts.html2006 Classic Swingarm:
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2006/VN1500T6F+Vulcan+1500+Classic/SWINGARM/parts.html
Everything from the swing arm pivot forward is the same, but the rear of the frame has no mounting horns for the fender. The swing arm on the Drifter has some tabs and misc mounting holes that the classic frame does not. The Drifter final drive housing has two mounting points on it for the fender support that the others do not. They are close, but not the same, and last but not least, the rear brake caliper mounts under the disc rather than above it...and the mounts for that are VERY different. Not saying you can't do what you want to do, but it's not going to be a bolt on for anything. The front fork sliders have extra tabs on the bottom for the front fender mounting that aren't on the classic, and the bolts for the fender go through from the outside for the mounting yoke.
Posted by pcarrell
- October 16, 2015, 07:52:58 AMYes, a Drifter fender is plastic, and kind of flimsy.
Posted by 49Reo
- October 15, 2015, 23:01:16 PMBosn, you will need to gusset the inside of the fiberglas fender with metal, or fasteners will end up cracking out the holes. By having a metal strap inside the fender, it will help support passenger seats and saddlebags. Remember, the seat mounts to the fender, which is supported by the fender struts. On the classic fender this isn't an issue as the fender is metal, but the fiberglas fender will need some extra support, unless they build it in. Just don't try it with a Drifter fender.....lol.
Posted by retiredbosn
- October 15, 2015, 22:25:29 PMQuote from: Troll on October 15, 2015, 20:50:00 PMOn Partzilla they are identical, down to the screws, washers etc. Same part numbers, same frame, same swingarm. Where they differ are seat mounts and rear fender mounts. If I am looking at the schematics wrong please let me know, I posted the url link to each schematic. I'm thinking that I can work with Oldys to get a rear fender that I can mount using the classic hardware, which will allow me to do a couple other things that I'm wanting to do.He's wrong, I'm sorry about that, but if you go to Partzilla and look at the two frames, it will be quite obvious
2005 Drifter Frame :
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2005/VN1500-R5+Vulcan+1500+Drifter/FRAME/parts.html
2005 Drifter Swingarm:
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2005/VN1500-R5+Vulcan+1500+Drifter/SWINGARM/parts.html
2006 Classic Frame:
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2006/VN1500T6F+Vulcan+1500+Classic/FRAME/parts.html
2006 Classic Swingarm:
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/2006/VN1500T6F+Vulcan+1500+Classic/SWINGARM/parts.html
Posted by Troll
- October 15, 2015, 20:50:00 PMHe's wrong, I'm sorry about that, but if you go to Partzilla and look at the two frames, it will be quite obvious
Posted by retiredbosn
- October 15, 2015, 20:32:39 PMAll I know is that the Kawasaki dealer told me that the Drifter and Classic share the same frame and swing arm. The difference is in the subframe, the Drifter has allot of modular sub frame pieces that can be bolted to the Classic frame.
Posted by pcarrell
- October 15, 2015, 20:29:29 PMI had previously been led to believe that the F.I. Classic frame and the Drifter 1500 frame were basically the same from the motor compartment forward, with only the back half being different. Is that true, or not?
Posted by Troll
- October 15, 2015, 19:52:10 PMThe frames are VERY DIFFERENT!!!! There is no rear section behind the seat to support the fender, and there is more gusseting in the frame to add stiffness.
Posted by Bucko
- October 15, 2015, 19:26:13 PMI'm surprised to read the frames are the same. The Drifter has that goofy dual seat horseshoe bracket which bolts to the frame - does the Classic frame have allowance for bolting on that same horseshoe but has something else bolted to it in the Classic version?