Hey Guys,
Rob here with a few questions. So I bought a 2001 Drifter 1500 about a year ago and its been sitting. not really sure why I bought it, but I did. Now that I have to time to play with it I am noticing how HARD it is to find anything for it. Man its frustrating. So here are my questions. My bike has V&H exhaust, 12k miles, good tires but handle bars sit just slightly crooked. I had my pal build me a passenger seat so it literally is not anything like other seats people have (its nothing special just different) However. I noticed that the passenger seat is rubbing on the rear fender!! Does this mean my shocks are trashed or is there something I can do to fix this. What handle bar risers do you suggest? and are they easy to install? Saddlebag UGH! nothing available. Suggestions?
I am new to owning a motorcycle so not nearly as crafty as all of you seem. Anybody live in Northern California help a guy out!? Thanks
Much like the H-D Rocker-C, the Drifter fender moves with the rear suspension. When you make or install anything that could rub/hit, you need to make sure you have enough clearance. We, here, have come to find out that there were only 9,000 of each model (1500/800) produced over then entire run for world wide distribution. The last 1500 is now 12 years old, and there is precious little NOS accessory parts available. Used stuff is what most people find, on like eBay, Craigslist, etc. Fabrication is a way of life, especially when you own an old or orphan machine...Put 25# of air pressure in the rear shocks (with a suspension pump, NOT AN AIR HOSE!!!!) and try it out. Singh Saddleries makes some awesome leather goodies, including bags, for our machines, as does Heather's Leathers, and Osprey..I have a set of used Ospreys I bought from a guy in Canada a few years ago. Saddlebag mounting brackets show up on eBay all the time...Here's a shot of mine from last week
Lets see Rob, you bought a 15 year old, 800 lb, 1500cc motorcycle as your first bike? :o
Okay.... :-\
As Troll mentioned, the Drifter is an orphan with some unobtanium parts.
At least unavailable from a dealer.
Ebay and motorcycle salvage yards are potential sources for used parts.
Many of the Drifter parts are common with the rest of the Vulcan line though so we just order the part for the Classic, or Nomad, or Meanstreak, etc that we need. The challenge is the Drifter specific parts so just ask here for what you need and one or more of the Drifter team will tell you which alternate part to get.
The big fenders are very rare but there is a company that makes fiberglass replicas.
You will need a shock pump for the rear air shocks as Troll mentioned, I got mine on Amazon.
Get a shop manual for the bike to help you with maintenance. (Kawasaki/Haynes/Clymer)
And welcome to the wild and wacky world of Drifters ;)
Welcome......send phtos
Quote from: rawbz36 on April 06, 2016, 15:05:39 PM
Hey Guys,
Rob here with a few questions. So I bought a 2001 Drifter 1500 about a year ago and its been sitting. not really sure why I bought it, but I did. Now that I have to time to play with it I am noticing how HARD it is to find anything for it. Man its frustrating. So here are my questions.
Welcome to the forum, and to Drifters!
Quote..... but handle bars sit just slightly crooked.
What's the story there? Are the forks straight? Bent bars? Might be worth looking into. Your bike might be telling you it's history.
QuoteI had my pal build me a passenger seat so it literally is not anything like other seats people have (its nothing special just different) However. I noticed that the passenger seat is rubbing on the rear fender!! Does this mean my shocks are trashed or is there something I can do to fix this.
I think you'll quickly find that Drifter owners love home brewed, unique solutions to issues. The thing with the seat, as has been alluded to already, is that you need at least 5 1/2 inches clearence between the seat bottom and the top of the fender. Yup, the fender moves that much! See, the fender itself is attached to the axle hub, and floats up and down with it. It was designed this way so that the rear fender could hug the tire as close as possible, giving a sleek profile. That floating fender is a tradeoff though when it comes to adding a pillion.
QuoteWhat handle bar risers do you suggest? and are they easy to install?
Scootworks makes a riser called "Phat Risers II" that is about the most radical you can get without changing cables and hoses. You may need to reroute some, but not replace.
QuoteSaddlebag UGH! nothing available. Suggestions?
You can start here: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/oemsbsetup.html
Other then that, Ebay, Craigslist, and getting fancy with the metal working tools are your best bets.
QuoteI am new to owning a motorcycle so not nearly as crafty as all of you seem. Anybody live in Northern California help a guy out!? Thanks
Being in Indiana, I can't help you a lot there. Remember though, there was once a time when we all did this for the first time. This group is a great resource, and you'll find lots of help here....just ask!
Thank you all so much! Once I get some pictures I will post! I will take all your advice and try and fix this baby up nicely . I will measure the seat and see if there is enough space. I sure hope there is or else it looks like I will have to have another seat made! Where do I find a suspension pump to air up my shocks? Auto shop? I know the bike has been laid down as there is a little bit of road rash and I bought from an Impound yard for $1500.00 and the guy told me the original owner got a DUI after laying it down. That could explain the bent handle bars/forks, but it still rides smooth. Again thanks for the help and pictures will be posted soon.
Quote from: JagLite on April 06, 2016, 19:50:26 PM
Lets see Rob, you bought a 15 year old, 800 lb, 1500cc motorcycle as your first bike? :o
Okay.... :-\
As Troll mentioned, the Drifter is an orphan with some unobtanium parts.
At least unavailable from a dealer.
Ebay and motorcycle salvage yards are potential sources for used parts.
Many of the Drifter parts are common with the rest of the Vulcan line though so we just order the part for the Classic, or Nomad, or Meanstreak, etc that we need. The challenge is the Drifter specific parts so just ask here for what you need and one or more of the Drifter team will tell you which alternate part to get.
The big fenders are very rare but there is a company that makes fiberglass replicas.
You will need a shock pump for the rear air shocks as Troll mentioned, I got mine on Amazon.
Get a shop manual for the bike to help you with maintenance. (Kawasaki/Haynes/Clymer)
And welcome to the wild and wacky world of Drifters ;)
Haha Thanks Jag. Ya I know, buying a drifter a first bike was a mistake, but with only 12k miles on it, maybe I have it for a long time and can make her look pretty. Could you let me know the make of the shock pump you bought? I'll just order the same one. Thanks
Fantastic deal for your Drifter!
Wow. ;)
Here is the pump I got for the shocks:
http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Suspension-GP3-60-0-60-Gauge/dp/B000WJEORY?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00
Congratulations on buying a fantastic bike at a super good price!
Quote from: JagLite on April 07, 2016, 12:41:02 PM
Fantastic deal for your Drifter!
Wow. ;)
Here is the pump I got for the shocks:
http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Suspension-GP3-60-0-60-Gauge/dp/B000WJEORY?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00
Congratulations on buying a fantastic bike at a super good price!
Thanks Jag,
Yeah I didnt know what I was getting myself into and at first I was kind of bummed out that there are not a lot of options for this bike, however, on second thought, I like the idea of only a select few having a bike like mine!
Quote from: rawbz36 on April 07, 2016, 12:54:34 PM
I like the idea of only a select few having a bike like mine!
Correct.
And you can be sure, that bike really turns heads!!!
Welcome aboard!
Yeah, you won't see many Drifters.
I'll warn you though.......be prepared for it to take a bit longer then usual to get where you're going. Gas stops usually end up in a conversation with an admirer.
Peekchoorz! Vee vant doo zee dee peekchoorz! 8)
Here ya guys go. This is my baby. Needs to be cleaned up, but looking forward to taking her out and riding
That was a good deal...2001 just like mine, except I gave much more for mine. The passenger seat and backrest look homemade...can you post a pic of the framing whenever you remove the rear seat. Would like to see how all that is tied in.
Went with the Phat Riser II on mine...stock cables work and brings the handlebars up and back just right.
black and chrome...looks great, what a nice combo!
Quote from: rawbz36 on April 07, 2016, 22:57:55 PM
looking forward to taking her out and riding
said that about my last date also...
Quote from: Pilgrim on April 08, 2016, 08:02:30 AM
said that about my last date also...
And what happened then? Did you ride her?...lol...
Pilgrim I'll pass that on...lol........
That's a fine looking scoot you have there! Worth every penny I'd say. Don't worry about the niggly bits......those will get worked out.
Black & Chrome is a classic look for sure! It's what I went with!
http://s83.photobucket.com/user/pcarrell/media/Drifter/IMG_3262EDITED.jpg.html (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/pcarrell/media/Drifter/IMG_3262EDITED.jpg.html)
Quote from: mittico68 on April 08, 2016, 08:39:09 AM
And what happened then? Did you ride her?...lol...
Rode her hard and put her up wet..
Thanks Guys! Yeah she definitely needs to be cleaned up, but overall a good running bike. The back seat is custom, but according to an earlier post it needs to have 5 1/2 inches of clearance which it DOES NOT! Damn. I am going to have to pony up and buy one online or hopefully my pal can fab me one that is elevated.
Quote from: Pilgrim on April 08, 2016, 09:16:52 AM
Rode her hard and put her up wet..
Wow! must have been a real curvy road...
Oooops! I didn't want to hijack this post... sorry, Rawbz!
Quote from: rawbz36 on April 08, 2016, 09:25:45 AM
Thanks Guys! Yeah she definitely needs to be cleaned up, but overall a good running bike. The back seat is custom, but according to an earlier post it needs to have 5 1/2 inches of clearance which it DOES NOT! Damn. I am going to have to pony up and buy one online or hopefully my pal can fab me one that is elevated.
One thing that a lot of guy's doing a custom seat do is they start with the factory "horseshoe" bracket and build on that. It gives you proper clearance and a solid mounting point right from the get-go. You could even fab one up if you can't find one at a decent price.
It's this part here:
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi83.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj319%2Fpcarrell%2FDrifter%2FDrifter%2520Saddlebag%2520Brackets%2FIMG_0681.jpg&hash=3134cca1129b840f8f577b54f3e09bc5bdbc1f2b) (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/pcarrell/media/Drifter/Drifter%20Saddlebag%20Brackets/IMG_0681.jpg.html)
If you're making a bracket, you can guesstimate the proper angle from this pic. The chrome saddle bag bracket is level.
Great looking ride, rawbz36! 8) You got a screaming deal on that! 8)
ebay got the passenger seat frame extension for sale right now - type into the ebay search bar 'drifter 1500 parts' and there are around 250 listings for parts...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/99-Kawasaki-Drifter-1500-Rear-Frame-Seat-Bracket-Support-/361510909510?hash=item542bbab646:g:25gAAOSwyjBW2MB9
and you need this too
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/99-Kawasaki-Drifter-1500-Seat-Brace-Bracket-/361510905348?hash=item542bbaa604:g:oAwAAOSwvgdW2NTI
just check with Kawa if the frame is still available as OEM and what the price is - the listing prices are rather high..
Mak
Quote from: Mak on April 11, 2016, 05:39:27 AM
ebay got the passenger seat frame extension for sale right now - type into the ebay search bar 'drifter 1500 parts' and there are around 250 listings for parts...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/99-Kawasaki-Drifter-1500-Rear-Frame-Seat-Bracket-Support-/361510909510?hash=item542bbab646:g:25gAAOSwyjBW2MB9
and you need this too
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/99-Kawasaki-Drifter-1500-Seat-Brace-Bracket-/361510905348?hash=item542bbaa604:g:oAwAAOSwvgdW2NTI
just check with Kawa if the frame is still available as OEM and what the price is - the listing prices are rather high..
Mak
Man that is way expensive. I would rather pay my pal half that price to make me one. Thanks for the info though!
Yeah, you can buy a brand new part for way cheaper then that.
http://www.ronayersmotorcycles.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=389867&category=Motorcycles&make=KAWASAKI&year=2004&fveh=8990
Still not cheap though.......
Also re accessories - check the members page here on VDR (thanks Chief); there's info under the Mak page with many (not all) parts and parts number - type them into ebay from time to time and see what comes up.
M
Quote from: Mak on May 03, 2016, 06:48:08 AM
Also re accessories - check the members page here on VDR (thanks Chief); there's info under the Mak page with many (not all) parts and parts number - type them into ebay from time to time and see what comes up.
M
Thanks Mak, I will definitely check out that page
Rob
Quote from: rawbz36 on April 07, 2016, 12:27:16 PM
Haha Thanks Jag. Ya I know, buying a drifter a first bike was a mistake, but with only 12k miles on it, maybe I have it for a long time and can make her look pretty. Could you let me know the make of the shock pump you bought? I'll just order the same one. Thanks