Looking at a 2001 Indian Chief

[KsDrifter]

congrats!

[TripWire]

Looks like I am pulling the trigger on a 1500 Drifter this weekend.  Found a 2001 a few hours from home base and the plan is to pick her up Saturday.  It's a brave new world all over again.  Now I have to go back and read all the 1500 posts I have been ignoring the last couple of years. 

[TripWire]

Well, I might just bite the bullet and drive down to Illinois this weekend to get a 2000 1500.   Still haggling over the price and a little concerned the bike has almost no miles on it.   It's a dealer selling the bike so a feel a little better but a 12 year bike with no miles means the tires will need to be replaced, possible some issues with the rubber parts from lack of use and dried out gaskets.  Anything else I missed?  If anybody in the Decatur, IL area that wants to swing by and give a look over that would be great.

On the plus side its the blacked out version, the wife has ok-ed the purchase (happy wife, happy life) and I have cash in hand.

[49Reo]

Well no decision to make anymore.  At 10k I didn't think it would last long and it's gone already.  Back to plan A - keep watching for a 1500.  Only saw 1 1500 show up for sale in this area last year and it was beat pretty hard so I had to pass.  It had been laid down on both sides, needed a fair amount of work and the seller was asking way to much.   Maybe tomorrow a Turquoise Green 2000 1500 in great shape will show for sale locally. 

Check the "For Sale" section on this site; there is a 1500 for sale on there, $6000.00, located in North Carolina.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[alamogeorge]

It took me probably 6 months to find mine and it was 200 miles away. I did set up an RSS feed using searchtempest.com. Don't ask me how again but there were instructions on how to do it on the site and the web. This gave me alerts when a preset distance/criteria came up on craigslist. I paid about $4900 for a 2005 loaded.

[TripWire]

Well no decision to make anymore.  At 10k I didn't think it would last long and it's gone already.  Back to plan A - keep watching for a 1500.  Only saw 1 1500 show up for sale in this area last year and it was beat pretty hard so I had to pass.  It had been laid down on both sides, needed a fair amount of work and the seller was asking way to much.   Maybe tomorrow a Turquoise Green 2000 1500 in great shape will show for sale locally. 

[ratze]

Get the drifter, you wont be dissapointed.

[marshalldoll]

On this I too will chime in. I was looking for an Indian when I found my 1999 1500 and I have not looked back since. Why spend so much money on a kit Indian ( Gilroy ) when the Drifter will give you such great pleasure with the same looks. Buy the Drifter.
Dan

[aclone]

Buy the 1500 drifter,  It looks great,  runs great and they are priced great. My wife and I have been from Key West to Booth Bay Harbor Maine on ours, and a bunch of  places in between, without a problem.  Why spend more money on something that won't do as good a job!

Mark

[chief]

It might be worth half that price.  I'd buy a new Kaw Vaquero if I were spending $13.5 on another bike.

[Troll]

Here, check these pics out... it doesn't even try to hid the fact it's a SofTail
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Indian-indian-100th-year-anniversary-INDIAN-CHIEF-clean-low-miles-/251006221875?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3a7122fe33

[Troll]

You could get a SofTail pretty reasonably, and hang all the "Indian" tin off it, just like the "factory" did....no matter how you slice it, it's still just what it is, and not an Indian.

[chief]

Personally, I'd hold out for a 1500. The 2001 Indian had loads of problems. The upside, its an S&S engine, engine parts would be available. If its REALLY cheap, I'd consider it, but would still be looking for a 1500.

[TripWire]

Well I have been watching out for a 1500 in my neck of the woods and today I spot a 2001 Indian Chief for sale and now I am thinking about it.  Currently have an 800 and she has been serving me well and always puts a smile on my face but I have been thinking about doing some longer rides and an 800 and fat butt might not be the best solution.  By longer I mean - 1000 mile Iron Butt ride around lake Michigan in June, a trip to The Keys for vacation, etc...  Just thinking I need something bigger without giving up "the look".  So anyone out there have any experience with the Gilroy Indians or should I just hold for a 1500?