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Posted by CDNRatMan
- May 05, 2016, 20:57:09 PMTrall, I keep telling people I have never had any formal or informal training as a motorcycle mechanic. But I like to work with my hands, and this bike is so simple to work on and we have people here who know their stuff. I will not bore you with the number of e mails I sent to either Troll or GreenBarn with simple questions and asking for a explanation in stupid so I can learn. I have all winter to do my projects and so i can take my time and just do it right......
Posted by Trall
- May 05, 2016, 20:28:02 PMYou got some serious skills to take the Drifter down to that and put it back together again. Hats off............ 
Posted by CDNRatMan
- May 05, 2016, 17:25:58 PM see you are not reading and comprehending again.......I do not know everything nor will I learn everything.....but....I know enough to be dangerous, but I feel confident in my ability, to get my own machine running and to get it home or to at least someplace I can get competent help to repair it.
Tweaking and tinkering on the bike during a long cold winter is a real mind saver, and so much fun.
Posted by pcarrell
- May 05, 2016, 16:58:46 PMQuote from: CDNRatMan on May 05, 2016, 15:09:38 PMSo what I'm hearing is that there is NOTHING that you don't know about an 800cc Drifter by now, since you've had virtually unlimited winter down time up in the great white north!I bought my Drifter for medical reasons. I actually used my disability pay out from Veterans Affairs to purchase my Drifter. This is my form of therapy. My logic here is that weather permitting, I need to go for a ride every day, and Wind Therapy is the best type of relaxation and recuperative system known to modern man.
Now before PC jumps in here.....winter time the Drifter has provided me with a lot of mental and physical therapy. Planning my winter projects, planning on how to make parts, fabricating parts, modifying parts to fit, learning about the bike so on a long trip if anything happens I can at least get to the next Kaw dealer to get help.
So this is my medical therapy and life saver machine.........
Posted by CDNRatMan
- May 05, 2016, 15:09:38 PM I bought my Drifter for medical reasons. I actually used my disability pay out from Veterans Affairs to purchase my Drifter. This is my form of therapy. My logic here is that weather permitting, I need to go for a ride every day, and Wind Therapy is the best type of relaxation and recuperative system known to modern man.
Now before PC jumps in here.....winter time the Drifter has provided me with a lot of mental and physical therapy. Planning my winter projects, planning on how to make parts, fabricating parts, modifying parts to fit, learning about the bike so on a long trip if anything happens I can at least get to the next Kaw dealer to get help.
So this is my medical therapy and life saver machine.........
Posted by Zoar
- May 05, 2016, 11:53:24 AMQuote from: Troll on May 03, 2016, 07:36:53 AMI derived so much enjoyment from riding my Drifter last night. I invested in rewarding myself!I've seen this question before, and my answer is still the same...Who cares? I bought my Drifter to ride, it's NOT an investment....
Posted by Zoar
- May 04, 2016, 08:28:33 AMQuote from: Tfrank59 on May 04, 2016, 08:23:25 AMAgreed. It is identified as a "replica" and that means "not the real deal". Harley's are identified as the real deal, so you over pay many thousands for them.To me it all comes down to one word: replica. It's why Drifters don't fetch much on resale. But like someone said, I bought my bike because I liked it and to ride it.
I also agree I bought my Drifter to ride it and am glad it was not 2 or 3 times the money it was.
I can't wait to ride it later today.
Posted by Tfrank59
- May 04, 2016, 08:23:25 AMQuote from: Trall on April 30, 2016, 15:31:11 PMTo me it all comes down to one word: replica. It's why Drifters don't fetch much on resale. But like someone said, I bought my bike because I liked it and to ride it.One thing I don't understand is the UNDERVALUED NADA / Motorcycle Book Values of Drifter's 800 and 1500. It would seem for something so beautiful and Indian inspired from the iconic 1940's Indian motorcycles of yesteryear that these bikes would be on the top tiers of metric bikes. That and for the rarity that will only increase in time like the old Indians because of their limited production runs from 1999-2006. With some of the OEM parts still available, the Custom market parts and the rarer and rarer some parts on becoming i.e.- solo seat rails, original OEM custom parts, backrest, luggage racks etc.
Looking at what these have been selling for in the past 6 months both the 800's and 1500's from as low as $2000 range to high $4000 seems too under appreciated for what these bikes are, their history, their continued future rarity. Some with crazy low miles from 2000 miles and up. Almost all in mint condition from being cared and protected by their owners. Your better off with some of the super rare parts to sell your bike and sell the rare parts later separate.
The NADA or Motorcycle Book Values seem like their UNDERVALUED by a few thousands. It like comparing everyday metric cruiser values as the same values as our's not so everyday Drifter's 800/1500's.
Also it seems that the Kawasaki Drifter's from their inception and design from the iconic 1940's Indian's motorcycles and whatever royalties they paid Indian when they were under bankruptcy protection for using their inspired fenders and design elements that their now part of the Indian Motorcycle History too.Our beloved Drifter's would never have been born or put into production if Indian Motorcycles had been in Full production and never in Bankruptcy protection status and should only go up in value from all factors and both Kawasaki and Indian history but seem to be UNDERVALUED, which I don't understand.
Do You?
??
Posted by LarryInSeattle
- May 04, 2016, 01:40:51 AMI sold my 01 800 Drifter with 10,000 miles on it for $3500 and felt lucky to get it. I advertised it for 6 weeks.
As more of these bikes are butchered up into rat looking pieces of shit, the stock ones will become more rare. Eventually, there will be some additional value on STOCK low mileage bikes.
Posted by Zoar
- May 03, 2016, 09:25:02 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on April 30, 2016, 17:32:11 PMCD---I'll see your hand shifter and raise you this one---The cool one is still being sanded and painted.....
but I have this one...right now
Posted by Troll
- May 03, 2016, 07:36:53 AMI've seen this question before, and my answer is still the same...Who cares? I bought my Drifter to ride, it's NOT an investment....
Posted by mittico68
- May 03, 2016, 02:26:20 AMQuote from: DC on May 02, 2016, 21:32:05 PMOne day some investors/speculators that got interested in rare cars, will see these as the next opportunity. They will speculate, get on message boards and blogs, which will stir the pot. Overnight, Drifter valuations will start to rise.
And that is why I'll keep my bike... at least, my 6 years son will be able to make some real money!! lol...
Posted by DC
- May 02, 2016, 21:32:05 PMOne day some investors/speculators that got interested in rare cars, will see these as the next opportunity. They will speculate, get on message boards and blogs, which will stir the pot. Overnight, Drifter valuations will start to rise. When that will happen is anyone's guess. To me, they're a unique work of art. Few Indians were ever really customized like our Drifters.
Posted by dkeshish
- May 01, 2016, 19:23:53 PMI totally agree with you. I purchased my most recent 800 for $1550 with 26000 miles in great shape. What can you buy for 1550? At the very least it should be in the $5000 range. I'd be tempted to sell if the price was right but as you mentioned no way that happens
Posted by mittico68
- May 01, 2016, 01:48:12 AMI can't figure out why our Drifters are undervalued, but I know one thing for sure: I will keep mine 'til the end of time, no matter how far its value will go!