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Posted by pcarrell
- October 17, 2015, 21:02:08 PMThose 97 Drifters are REALLY rare!
Posted by 49Reo
- October 17, 2015, 20:32:44 PM.....my point exactly.....
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 17, 2015, 19:24:32 PMThought they only started to make them in 99.....ok we need to figure this out.
Posted by 49Reo
- October 17, 2015, 17:15:25 PMQuote from: LarryInSeattle on October 17, 2015, 01:25:00 AM....a 1997 Drifter, and only 1500 made......and only 100 in the states.....hmm......
Posted by pcarrell
- October 17, 2015, 17:09:10 PMJobear added a metal Indian front fender and a Drifter rear fender to a Nomad. He used the metal Indian fender because he got it for $99. He said it was a lot of work to make fit though, as he had to widen the fender to make it work. His web page has more info on it: http://jobear2.com/
Posted by retiredbosn
- October 17, 2015, 16:27:36 PMpcarrel, didn't you post some pics a while back of a Nomad that the owner put the Drifter fenders on? FWIW my plans are to build a long distance touring bike, I am starting to think that this Classic isn't the bike to start from, as I'll probably end up moving the floorboards back , and I'll need to upgrade the stator (sp?) to handle the electronics. I really want the Drifter look on a Touring bike.
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.