Is it an Indian?

[greenbarn]

I think the new Polaris Indians have made the snubbing by the HD riders even worse.  It seems (to me) that now when they see a Drifter, they just assume it's a Polaris Indian, and have bad feelings right off the back (jealous, they are).

Personally, I look at the Polaris Indians as a "Drifter Tribute" bike, LOL...

[DC]

I tell them it's a legal Indian Tribute bike.

[tgoelz]

I just usually tell 'em that it is a "Tribute" to Indian.  Usually they just let it go at that but if they ask, I tell 'em it is a Drifter Motorcycle and then they just smile and, usually, say they like it.

[jmbo]

I know I have said this before in the is site but living here in Harley country typically means I get little quarter from the HD boys. It doesn't matter if I road a new Indian or my Drifter or anything else for that matter. If it is is not a HD then it doesn't exist.

I went to a bike blessing a few weeks ago. Nearly two thousand bikes, 99% HD and one Drifter...mine.  My bike might just a well be invisible. Mind you I am not trolling for compliments, but you think one in two thousand might raise at least one eyebrow.

I'm a bike guy. I also like hot rods, streets rods, and street machines.  I don't care what you ride.  If it is cool looking, custom, rare, or unique, I can look at it and appreciate it for what it is. For the life of me I can not understand all these guys who ride bikes yet have no interest or appreciation for bikes other than their own.

Chief is right.  I too remember the days when riding a bike meant you constantly road and wrenched but you appreciated what others rode.  Today all you see is showroom glitter.  Today the closest thing to a bike tool kit is an extra key fob and a customer service hotline. Sure I appreciate the fact that I don't have to dig out my wentworth wrenches and retighten my rocker cover bolts every time I want to ride, but it is a small price to pay for the lack of enthusiasm or appreciation from others.

Here endeth the rant.

[CDNRatMan]

    I am not as old as Chief, so I can not remember those days of yore. But I can weigh in here. I don't care what a person rides or what they think they ride. You can do as you please, but please do not alter the outward appearance of the Drifter, that is just plain sacrilege. Keep those fantastic lines and looks of the fenders, single solid colour, 2 tone colour scheme what ever suits you.
People will come and look, they will comment, those that are knowledgeable or want to learn they will listen the twits will just walk away and that is not a big deal because they can not understand and never will. So much fun when a group of Drifters go motoring past, really draws attention......

[chief]

I'm old enough to remember WHY we harley guys didn't like Japanese bikes. But, we loved Brit bikes. We built choppers -  we didn't buy them.

These new HD people have no clue. Now it is simply mindless ignorant prejudice. These guys think you can buy "cool". It's not the bike that makes you what you are. A twit on a harley is still a twit.

Personally, I judge a bike by its looks and engineering, not by the brand. But that is not news to Drifter riders.

[2beers]

Hubby and a friend were at the gas pumps last week, 2beers on Blue and friend on his 'new to him' '03 Honda VFR.  A Harley dude approached saying, "wow, nice Indian!".  2beers replied 'Thanks, but it's not an Indian, it's a Kawasaki Drifter...a tribute bike Kawasaki made for some years."

Harley dude turned heel and walked off.  Friend said, "I've never seen a conversation end so fast!"

Can't please everyone lol!

--The Bride

[jmbo]

i get "is that an Indian?" quite a bit.  In fact last Saturday a guy ON A NEW INDIAN said to me "nice Indian". He must have thought it was a Gilroy.  Funny thing even though I chose not to "indianize" my bike to the point of creating new Drifter tank emblems, people still think its an Indian. Most are non-bikers who normally think anything on two wheels is automatically Harley.  To them I smile and say "thanks". But to those who really take an interest, I tell them "No, it's a Drifter. This is a relatively rare limited production Kawasaki made back in the late 90's.  It's much more interesting story.

[Troll]

Just smile and say thank you. They wouldn't know it from a '53 Chief, anyway. How can you define a "real Indian" ? Are the ones being made today "real" or are they just clones...From what I can see, the only "real" ones came from Massachusetts.

[mittico68]

Well, you should just say "yes, it is", since you've added all that Indian stuff... so you asked for it!

[CDNRatMan]

  Depends on the person, sometimes you just have to nod and say "right". Some people will tell you that it is not a real Indian, then act all surprised and tell them you paid for an Indian....and watch their faces. But most times your right you say no it is a Drifter a Kawasaki Drifter......and they wander off.....so get used to it....

[Trooper Jeff]

With nice weather, I'm getting out on my Drifter 800 much more often. At many gas stations, rest stops, lunch breaks, etc. I get non-riders asking "is that an Indian?" or the comment " nice Indian. " ( I have the after-market Indian features, including the Indian head tank decals and Indian head fender ornament.) What do you say?  I've tried "it's a Drifter," but they glaze over and wander off. I'm thinking of just saying "Isn't it great?"