Messages

Very nice!

We've all seen themed Drifters. Military style, Tribute to this or that, fire, police, etc.  Has anybody done or have seen a Drifter that has been aged and given a good patina? I'm not a fan of the type where people add all kinds of interesting items to the bike. Some folks like to get an old rust bucket (Triumps, Harleys, Indians) and make the mechanical stuff 100% but not do any cosmetic improvements, and then ride 'em.  I think it would be fun to do, just not to MY Drifter. 

http://www.bikernet.com/pages/The_Art_of_Vintage_Patina.aspx

Welcome to the forum mikelaba!  You chose one helluva first bike.  This is a lot of great, knowledgable people around here and good information on this forum regarding our Drifters. Some pictures of your bike would be appreciated too!   

Welcome to the forum Phil.  There are a lot of good folks on here, and wealth of information regarding Drifters. If you haven't noticed already, you are more likely to see the elusive jackalope than see another Drifter on the road here in the southwest, or anywhere for that matter.  Glad you bought that 2005,  was a smoking deal you got there.

Wow, just when I thought the Drifter couldn't look any better.   Looks amazing and very good decision to do it differently! Thanks for sharing.

jmbo, did you do this mod on your rear turn signals?

I heard somewhere years ago that the 99 had shorter cables and the chrome models longer?  What is max anybody has gone with a 99 on apes or risers?

Apes vs some risers, are the apes more for looks, if you don't want to see the risers?  I want to raise the bars 3" to 4"  and like the mini-apes, but maybe risers would do the same exact thing, give me height and look?  Maybe apes are shaped a little differently?

hope everybody is having a great riding season so far, and if I heard correctly, ratman finally got a promotion around here??

Reveen, unless you are very vertically challenged or extra tall, something like this should work for you.

I am 6'2" and used the same clamps below, but with passenger pegs from a Vulcan Classic, which have a little bit of chrome on them. They work great and very comfy.  I might end up getting these Rivco pegs since they are all black and are simple looking.  Please let us know what you end up going with along with some pics when you are done.

http://www.rivcoproducts.com/products/product.php?productid=353

http://www.rivcoproducts.com/products/product.php?productid=282

Nice bike Coupe! Pin striping looks killer on that Drifter too!

This is the only Drifter ready bracket I can find, a good solution if price is no object
http://www.chromeglow.com/catalog.asp?prodid=752517&showprevnext=1

Here is a thread about the laydown, I included a couple pics of mine, just used an old mc license plate for the mount and was as easy as peeing in the shower.
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=28439.msg61594#msg61594

Nice work Ratman.  Bag and the bike lookin' real good!!!   

I know this thread is a little old, but...what is the wear like on these Shinko tires?  I am in need of some new tires and these fit the current budget, but I don't want to suffer for saving a few bucks.  I have Metzler 880 WWW on now and want to keep the look. Has anyone put sufficient miles on these to judge their quality?

Thanks

Rizzo

Rizzo, check out this video comparison with Shinkos 777 vs Dunflops  - I am riding the 777 aggressively  and they handle very well, only about 500 on mine though, no complaints.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_439306&feature=iv&src_vid=mGtTgBgbGUI&v=IVd0UlzdogQ

I love my deer skin gloves, comfortable, good to wear year round, especially when it's 110 degrees F.  I wash them in a little water and dish soap, they come out almost like new.

http://jrcglove.com/

Id that a car tire you are mounting on your bike or just a pic for reference?

Angel, I was just being silly.  Here is a link to the thread with some pics.
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=28701.0

These bikes do get a lot of attention, it's crazy.  My most recent compliment was from a guy in a Lowe's parking lot.  I was getting ready to pull away, he got out of his truck, I could tell he was waiting for me to go past him.  He started talking to me, ripped his sunglasses off and said "that's the first one I've seen, it's the most beautiful bike I've seen".  He thought it was a new Indian.

He inquired about the color because he wanted to paint his Studebaker the same color, told him it was the Gooseberry.

I just bought a Daytona 3/4 like pc has, feels ok. VERY lightweight of all the bunch, looks good, low profile, little tight in the jaw area for me, otherwise great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007W9NFKE/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also just ordered one of each below, I am going to try 3 helmets, keep the 1 that fits the best.  I need 3xl and oblong gigantic head, so I'm limited on choices.

Z1R Jimmy
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A6H2U4/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
AFX Vintage FX-76
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WVYBT4/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If I had a regular size noodle, I would have also looked at these.  Fulmer V2, Bell Custom 500, and my favorites (for looks) the O'Neal Rockhard American Classic + Biltwell Bonanza

Yeah Bake, glad you like them.  I put another 100 miles on them today, total of about 200 and have no complaints, and they feel good in on the curvy roads I was on today, and I followed a few long cracks in the asphalt, all good so far.  My front is getting a little yellowing around the perimeter of the ww, but I took a magic eraser and it came right off.  I'll have to try one of Ratman's scrub daddy sponge also once they get real dirty.      aralph, our Drifters look so good with any tire, you can't go wrong, as long as you ride a Drifter.  There is always next time.  Heck, these are inexpensive, maybe you'll replace them a little sooner than you need to if you really get the itch.

Looks great on your bike man!  What brand did you go for?

Thank you PC!  After much research, I chose Shinko tires, based on price and performance reviews from other mc riders.  See pic for tire label details, which are for my 1500.  The ww width is 1.5", which seems to be the standard on most  ww.  Have taken her about 100 miles in last couple days, and bike is handling great and feels better than ever.  I took off 7 year old Metzelers which had good tread remaining, but old age got the best of 'em.  Bought these at Chaparral Motorsports website, had the best prices I could find, and service from them was good.

These do come with the red dot on side to show where to line up with valve stem, and my installer said they were easy to balance without a  mc tire balancer.  He spun them off the bike on the axle when he redid the spokes and all that.

This was the first time I ever removed mc wheels from a bike.  It was quite easy, saved a few bucks, but most importantly, got to know my Drifter  a little better.

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Product/shinko-777-white-wall-front-tire/369-874181.aspx

Tire tubes: Also from Chaparral, chose these Bridgestones and they worked well Part #:330-0993   Size:140/90-16  and  Part #:330-0917  Size:130/90-16

Rim strips:  Part #:317-0116   Size:1 1/2" Strip for 16" Rims   Looking back at the order, I just realized they possibly sent me the wrong size strips.  They actually measure 1 1/8" , which is why the installer reused the old strips which were ok.

Yep, I did it... and I think cleaning them will be fun, since I have nothing else to do around here.  Here are the pics, will post tire info soon.

If I wanted to be buried, I'd go with the  MC hearse.

That type of speed bump arrangement would be illegal in the USA, assuming this was also a pedestrian walkway.  Needs to be handicap accessible! 

ok what is with the caption on that picture, that dude does not even look Canadian, we do not have hogs that big up here........and I was agreeing with you..........off the bus list........

Just checking on you, if you were paying attention.  Now put me back on that  !&?@#!#%&! list.

Ok, so the Harley this guy buried himself with...how much would something like that be worth, assuming it was real clean, engine was good, and not buried 6' (1.8m) underground?

What do I think?  Creepy, but to each their own.  It was this guys dream to do this, so good for him.  What an amazing amount of coordination and work to get this funeral done.  At least he started ahead of time!

I know on my 800 I just left that there and slid the Kuryakyn ISO grips right over that and don't even know it is there.

Guess I'm not as lucky as you!      These rubber grips will fit and look better if I can remove the piece.

Hope Ratman will get me a shiny new rare Roadhouse exhaust system for my birthday.