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Posted by Pilgrim
- October 26, 2016, 11:27:30 AMWhat all is involved in repairing it? is it that bad or just a ticking noise.
Post a pic of that Indian..
Posted by chief
- October 26, 2016, 11:15:28 AMI have multiple bikes and I have looked at the Indian models. I am tempted, but looking at my Drifter next to a Chieftain, I honestly prefer the look of my Drifter. BUT, of course the Indian is a lot newer and if I buy another bike it will be an Indian.
Back in 2001 I had a HD RK sitting in the garage. I wanted a new bike but nothing HD had did the trick... then I found out about the Drifter. After a lot of looking I bought one in Jan 2002. The RK stayed sitting and finally was sold.The Drifter needs to be routinely ridden and maintained or you should sell it. It is a shame to let it sit. It will make someone very happy.
Let me know if you want to donate it to ME!
Oh, and you are always a member here regardless of the bike you are riding. We aren't defined by the brand of our ride.
Cheers.
Posted by mittico68
- October 26, 2016, 10:41:48 AMIf money is not a serious problem for ya, if your wife doesn't roll her eyes each time she looks at the Drifter, well I suggest to keep it with you and fix that problem!
Drifters are Always Drifters... and that's why I still own mine since 1999!
Just my 2 cents.
Posted by Mr. P
- October 26, 2016, 08:44:25 AMLast summer my 99 Drifter of 17 years developed a lifter tick in the rear cylinder exhaust valve. My bike has 68,000 miles and over all those miles has delivered trouble free service and many happy memories. I have kept her all original with Kawasaki original parts and a steady diet of high quality oil.
I have had bike lust before; my first real case of the "gotta haves" was my Drifter. But I got it again when Indian rolled out their new line of bikes. I've always been a swoopy fender sort of guy! And after 6 demo events and a 100 miles of test riding various models, I settled on a red 2015 Indian Chieftain at closeout prices.
The Chieftain is really a joy to drive, smooth, powerful, good fit/finish and bags to haul all my shit; which, by the way, always seem to be full. It truly lets you experience the ride instead of battling the wind and rain, bugs or crappy roads. It has a great visibility factor in the LED lighting which makes it standout in heavy traffic.
And it is amazing how far motorcycles have come in 17 years.
So now my "clacker' sits in the corner gathering dust and not out of the wife's vision. She knows it still means a lot to my but I need to do SOMETHING going forward.
I still take her out for short rides, putting around town, keeping the gas from getting stale and generally taking it easy on the valve system. It is considerably lighter than the 830 lb. indian and in a lot of ways a more visceral ride.
Now you guys and gals have always been a source of great camaraderie and a wealth of technical information, so I bring the question to you first; what should I do? Fix it or sell it?