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Posted by pcarrell
- December 21, 2015, 17:57:43 PMThat looks great! Now we need a pic of it mounted to your ride!
Posted by Trall
- December 21, 2015, 16:16:21 PMJust got the seat rail back from powder coater today. All I can say is WOW WOW WOW and WOW. The transparent red looks like Red Chrome in person. Installed with flat and locking washers, one to each seat bracket and it stays locked in place. The two rear holes have a 3/4" aluminum round bar that was cut to length and tap/die with two screws to look complete and connected. The seat fringe hides most of it but looks awesome if I had no seat fringe.
Posted by kw-retrorider
- December 04, 2015, 03:34:17 AMFirst off Trall....nice job and nice documentation.
This might mean there is hope for 800 owners that one from Singh for a 1500 might be similarly fit.....
I never heard back from Singh on making one for the 800, but I know he markets one for the 1500....can't be much different if it's made to attach to the shocks, etc.....this may get me motivated again on seat rails.....thanks
Posted by Old Drifter
- December 03, 2015, 07:57:38 AMNice work, looks great! Glad it worked out, you were lucky to find it. I'm still look'in.
Posted by Trall
- December 02, 2015, 12:55:30 PMQuote from: pcarrell on December 02, 2015, 10:42:33 AMThat's exactly lwhat I just did. I went to the local metal shop and they cut the exact size being 11" of 3/4" Aluminum rod cost $5.23 and then went down the street to the machine shop who tapped threads for two 3/8" bolts (they supplied stainless bolts) and they did it while I waited 5 min for $35 and dropped it back to the powder coater.Why not get fancy and tap the rod on both sides so you can just thread the bolts into them?
The aluminum rod makes it look like it was made for it and completes the look.
I'll have it back in two to three weeks and post pics of the Transparent Red color and mounted on the seat. Stay tuned.......
Posted by pcarrell
- December 02, 2015, 10:42:33 AMWhy not get fancy and tap the rod on both sides so you can just thread the bolts into them?
Posted by Trall
- December 02, 2015, 10:16:38 AMIt was a relief that it fit and would mount so easy.
Iam still tweaking the rear two mounts. The front two mounts on left and right of 800 seat bracket make the rail rock solid and the rail does not move just with those alone.
So I mocked it initially to use the two corner brackets on the rear two mounts to the hard plastic seat shield under the seat for cosmetic reasons since not needed for support. That way I don't need to add two small holes and washers on the back side of the plastic shield but if I do it's no big deal.
Or I could use 3/4" or 1" round aluminum bar to connect the two rear mounting holes with the bar between. Need to check with a machine shop for cost.
Either way it will look good because now I rocking a bad ass looking seat rail on my Drifter 800.
Again for cosmetics and a finished look even though the rear two mounts are partially covered from the seat fringe. That way if I or anyone ducked their head under the seat it looks finished instead of two mounting holes not connected to anything. Details, details lol.
Posted by pcarrell
- December 02, 2015, 08:05:31 AMLooks great Trall! Seems like it wasn't a real big deal to mount after all.
As for your cataloge, the only big seat listing changes that I ever noticed between the years was between 2000 and 2001 when they went from the stock 2up seat to making the solo seat stock and the 2up an optional package. That would have also changed the finishes on some parts, like maybe a rail, from powder coated black to chrome. Other then that, 2001 to the end of the model run should have pretty much been the same.
Posted by Trall
- December 01, 2015, 20:20:17 PMThat would be interesting for a alternate way.......Like I posted earlier my 2001 Kaw. accessories catalog only had the oem seat rail for the 1500 but IDK about other model years.
These rails really make your seat and bike POP............Another nice accent / old school look....
Posted by greenbarn
- December 01, 2015, 20:13:43 PMLooks good, trall...
I have a solo stock seat for my 800, and it came with a rail on it. I always assumed it was an OEM 800 rail. I guess if they didn't make one, maybe it's not! I'll have to see if I can dig it out to see how it mounts.
Posted by Trall
- December 01, 2015, 20:03:41 PMpics
Posted by Trall
- December 01, 2015, 18:03:24 PMPics
Posted by Trall
- December 01, 2015, 18:02:31 PMUPDATE- A 1500 OEM solo seat rail will fit a 800 Oem solo seat.
My 1500 seat rail came today in the mail and it took only 20 minutes to install it on my 800 solo seat.
All I had to do was put two holes in the main seat brackets for the front two mounting points on the left and right side and then add two small L brackets (also called corner brackets) for the rear two mounting points and it looks like it was made for the bike. I have seat fringe so you won't see the brackets when completed and installed.
I Just dropped it off at the Powder coater and to get the seat rail and my air cleaner cover powder coated. It is only 65 for both. The chrome had a few worn spots and wanted to make it more custom.Getting them done in the color called transparent red which almost looks like a chrome red color it's pretty neat.
I Will post pics when powder coating done.
Here are some when I was making the 1500 fit on my 800 seat. The Green painters tape was to keep the fringe out of the way and prevent scratches.
Posted by Trall
- November 29, 2015, 11:20:29 AMSeat rail pic from catalog
Posted by Trall
- November 29, 2015, 11:17:31 AMQuote from: Troll on November 29, 2015, 09:37:56 AMI just remembered when I bought my Drifter in the paperwork was a original 2001 Kawasaki Accessories catalog for 1500 and 800 Drifter parts.I'm pretty sue there never was a rail for an 800...only the 1500. Don't modify it, these things usually sell for $300 in unmolested condition
The catalog shows a solo seat rail for the 1500 only that can be used on the solo stock seat or the Fire & Steel. Part # K53020-296A for chrome and 287A for black.
That answers the ? if the 800 had a factory seat rail available. Answer=No
but it also means the 1500 solo seat rail could be mounted on a 800 since the PO had seen his exact same rail on a 800 Drifter but did not know how they mounted it.
So if your the owner of a 800 Drifter with a 1500 solo seat rail mounted on your 800 then please post how you did it?