I recently had the opportunity to recover a 1500 Drifter from 10 year long term slumber from a dusty dirty sunbaked Arizona carport.
After the usual run thru of fluids and various cable, lines, fuel pump etc. I added a Thunderjet programmable ignition, K&N filter and hollowed out [Sans baffles] muffler tubes..and declared the bike to be a solid running and braking machine.
On to the bodywork, The previous owner and the AZ sun were not kind to the plastic or the gooseberry paint.
Missing an entire section in the rear of the front fender and no less than three completely shattered sections on the rear, which also included deep gouges from a wrongly mounted set of saddlebag brackets.
I had some work cut out for me.
After purchasing a ABS welder and some scrap Abs I learned to weld Plastic. Filling in the tail-light dimple allowed me to use a old Beehive taillight. I cut the directional ears off of the rear fender bracket and mounted the plate-holder to the lower bar. Under the bars themselves i used led light strips for the directionals. You can't tell they are there till you use them. A nice clean look.
Paint was pearl white inserts with a custom mix of fade-away purple with multicolored flake. When the sun hits the effect even stunned me!
Two skull trailer hitch covers were donated to the aircleaner covers and skeleton pegs and mirrors complete the look. As for the seat I cut apart an old mustang seat from a roadglide and also made a bracket to hold a single tubebag. {Not the seat shown in Photo's, that was just a mockup for design}
Gave the wife the Bike and was a Hero!,,,,,for a week or so.
Problem was,,,I kept stealing it myself for rides.. ;D
I love the smoothness and power, and very comfy ride.
I have been captured by this Bike!
So a Diehard Harley man for thirty years wants to know if anybody wants to trade a 99 Harley Dyna extremely well maintained with awesome gearcams,etc,,for a 1500 Drifter :o
Your wife's bike? It's bad @ss!. Just a few questions, the Thunderjet programmable ignition - can you give us a comparison of horse power - before and after installation? Any install pictures, how large is the unit and where did you hide it? Second question - what seat did you use? Thanks again.
Looks like a fine ride! I'd probably move the barrel bag though as it will rub the paint on the rear fender and damage it.
Magnificent work!
Beautiful bike to be proud of.
Excellent repairs of the plastic and the new paint is a standout.
You are a hero!
AZCaveman, congrats on an outstanding job! As far as the H-D goes, sorry been there done that 30+ years too...got my Drifter and ain't going back!
Sometimes it takes a while to realize what you've been missing. Started riding in '63, owned H-Ds since '66, bought the Drifter in 2009, now I'm hooked....
The Thunderjet was installed in the refurb process, so I have no comparison to what it was before. I installed it along side the battery under the left side cover. The seat shown in photo's was a mockup. Here is the final seat and brackets. Very comfortable, narrow enough in front to clear inner thighs, yet wide enough to match tank. It was a much modified mustang Harley seat. The bag bracket is a saddlebag support from and old Harley also. I rebent it into a one piece loop, curved it and mounted. Clears fender yet thick and strong enough metal to hold and already chromed ;D
rear view
Seat looks like it belongs on the bike.
;) overall a very nice looking ride.......
Nice looking bike, Caveman! I'd like to see that paint person. Although good luck finding someone on this forum to trade with you.... :o
Great looking bike! 8)
That looks real nice...well done!
Another sweeeeeeeet Drifter
Love the saddle'bagless look with just the round bag!
Yes, I definitely need to look into that for the 800...
Looks fantastic. Lovin it.
Great Look.
But maybe that bag is a little bit too wide, lookin' from the back of the bike. Just my 2 cents...
I have a bag like that for short trips in addition to my Travel Trunk. Very handy and easy to use. I like the whole concept.
Cool bike - congrats! Have you ever checked out the Phoenix Vulcan Riders? We have 40some members, including two Drifters! www.phoenixvulcanriders.com