are we strange people

[Gerhardberger]

It does happen a lot!

+1

[pcarrell]

It does happen a lot!

[FloridaDrifter]

I'm in the grocery store parking lot last week, firing up the bike (its Florida) and a woman comes up to me and says "Nice Indian".  I've got a couple of "Indian Drifter" decals so I explain about drifters.  She says "as long as its not a Harley", so I ask her why the resentment.  She says her grandfather used to work at the Wigwam in Springfield.  I'm a big fan of classic Indians so we chat for a while.

Its getting so I'm surprised when I'm NOT stopped in a parking lot by someone who wants to talk about this bike.

[Gerhardberger]

We're not strange...We're unique....Even in Spain !

[CDNRatMan]

  I am not strange, I just march to a whole different drummer and to my own pace......yup but you are strange I have marked today on the calander that you admit the fact to the world....lol.....

[pcarrell]

Alright, I'll just come out and say it......I'M STRANGE!

(Ratman, you might want to quote that and add it to your signature )

[Troll]

  And that, Chief, is a good thing.

[chief]

Some folks are more comfortable with what they know. They don't mind "cookie cutter". Then there are those who occasionally need another shot of adrenaline, something DIFFERENT.  That's what happened with me... looking for new thrill (not too radical) I checked out all the new Harleys... then looking through a magazine I saw my first Drifter... it was one of those THAT's IT moments. Sorta like when I first met my wife.

The Drifter isn't for everyone. If you are hung up on brands, price tags and think you can buy "cool" you aren't likely to be riding a Drifter.

[smokey422]

No, we are not "strange", we just have unique tastes in our bikes. I ride with a lot of H-D riders and none of them has ever given me any flack about my '99 1500, several have commented favorably on it. I have gone through about all the phases a biker can go through: go fast stage; Ironbutt stage; Harley stage; full dresser stage; plus all my dirt bike stages. i'm happier now with my Drifter than I have been with any other of my bikes and to me that's what it's all about.
Smokey

[jmbo]

Never bothered me to be "strange".  My last bike was a '95 Triumph Thunderbird.  In the five years that I owned it, I saw a total of three other T'birds.  Realizing that I live in Harley country (30 miles from Milwaukee) it's not hard to figure out what the bike of choice is in this area.  Not a lot of sport bikes so we are used to seeing the fat tire slower style riders around here.  The Drifter fits right in that is until you run into a Harley snob who thinks any v-twin that is not a Harley is some kind of wannabe.  Doesn't bother my one bit. I just hop on my Drifter leave them in the dust knowing that everyone of them paid at least five times as much for their rides and still don't look as cool.

[45 Bravo]

Yes we are strange, I LIKE MOTORCYCLES.
I have owned many, and have liked them all.

BUT, I think I have found my last one.
It is the Drifter, I don't know why, It may be the Classic Indian Styling, coupled with the reliability of a Kawasaki.

I have had Ninjas, Honda's, Yamaha's, and Harley's and others.

Once you get past the sportster size, the Harley's all start to look the same, same shape hard bags, same faring, same headlight design.same fender shapes.

The Vstar, long, low, but just doesn't look pleasing to my eye.
The VTX? same as the vstar.
The Victory? don't like the look of the HUGE cylinders.
Goldwing? I have owned 2, and would like to own another for long cruises with the wife, has armrest, cup holders, trunk, stereo, and intercoms, things i would NOT want to put on my Drifter as it would mess with the aesthetics of the bike.

The Drifter is unique, reliable, and turns a lot of heads.
I like the attention it gets whether it is parked or cruising the roads.
I don't intend to get rid of mine anytime soon, and if i could find a reasonable priced 800 i would pick up one for the wife.

Honda had a saying in the 70's that we need to change and adopt.

"You meet the nicest people on a Drifter"

45 Bravo

[45 Bravo]

I agree with all the observations in here so far, and have experienced most when riding with others.

I have ridden with others in benefit rides, the speed limit means nothing to them.
65mph in a 55, 80mph in a 70.

When you get a large group of people riding in close formation, it is stressful enough without adding extra speed to the equation.

The local groups that promote charity rides around here are the 20-40 mile then stop & brag about their money spent on Harley Merchandising, then do the same thing again for all the stops on the poker run. (but substitute beer for coffee)
I don't like to add alcohol to the high number of bikes, close formation, and excessive speed combination.

But i don't complain as they are members of one of the Nationally known organizations of Veterans that ride for funerals of fallen Soldiers, and they have EARNED   the right to ride as they wish. By serving their Country. (but be prepared to pay the tickets..)

I have 2 friends that I do like to ride with, Tweety (nickname) rides a 800 vulcan classic, and Eric rides a Heritage softtail.
We all don't mind going until someone's "Bingo Fuel" light comes on (i know that means you have just enough to return to base, but it is what i call the low fuel light..
The 800's comes on first at about 100-140miles, mine about 40 miles later(i fill up when he does) and the Harley will go over 240 miles on a tank

Tweety's wife has hip problems (as does my wife), so when they come along we may stop after 50 or 60 miles to stretch their legs.

Where we LIKE to ride..

The Natchez Trace is a road from Nashville Tn. to Natchez Ms. (Louisiana/Mississippi Border) it is closed to commercial traffic, has a speed limit of 50mph, and has limited places to enter & exit it.
So it is perfect for motorcycles that want to enjoy an easy cruise with out worrying about 18 wheelers, and lots of traffic.

And enjoy scenery, it has frequent picnic, rest facilities, and areas of interest about the Native Americans  and Civil War History that used to travel this route in the past.

When not on the trace, I enjoy an easy cruise on the back roads, at an easy speed, looking at what is going on around me, stopping visiting with people along the way, just exploring the area and meeting new people.

Not the head down, speeding through the curves, getting to the next watering hole as soon as you can style.

Just me

45 Bravo.

[DC]

Drifter's are meant to be ridden slow and with class and enjoy the day out and relax....not to mention look super cool

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ T H I S  ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[49Reo]

we have about 40 riders on the Wing, yesterday a young Capt was walking past my desk and stopped to look at my desktop which has a pic of my Drifter on it. (See below). He is a pudgy little dude who is very arrogent, he points to th compouter and say's is that your peice of shi!. I said yup.  He say's well perhaps this summer you might want to come for a ride with us, and names a couple of the young lads he rides with, then he asks almost as an after thought what size is your bike, says I it is an 800. Oh he say's we will tell you were we are going so you can follow us, and met us when we stop ( they all have 900 + crotch rockets)......now I know this group of 5 to 6 lads, their idea of a ride is from the Wing to Tim Hortons for a couple cups of coffee and a few smokes, about 2 miles, then to the out look for a few more smokes, about 2 miles, thento the truck stop for a coffee and a smoke, about another 2 miles and then home....this will take them about 4 hours, because they stand around smoking and drinking coffee.
So I smiled at him and said that perhaps I would not be able to ride with them because I can not stop that often, I am used to riding about 2 hours or till I hit reserve before I stop and I am out for a ride and to enjoy the time out and relax and not rush around. So I asked him when he got his M endorsment and he said with a puffed up chest he got it this past summer, so I asked him waht was his favorite flowers, he looked at me like I had a third eye in my head....so I just let it go.....
Drifter's are meant to be ridden slow and with class and enjoy the day out and relax....not to mention look super cool

This is why I prefer to ride alone....seems like too many people just want to ride to the coffee shop and sit around bragging what big bad-a$$es they are, then go as fast as they can to the next water hole so they don't cut into their bragging time with too much riding. Wish there were a few people around here that don't mind RIDING when we go for a ride.

My beef for the day.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[CDNRatMan]

  like I have said we have 40 riders on the Wing and the bikes range from a 250 Rebel to a 1600 Harley, most of the people are a really fun bunch to ride with, I have group ridden with almost all of them since I bought my bike, albeit in small groups of 3 to 9 I think was the largest, funny part is the Wing Padre owns the 250, we have gone on a 5 hour ride with him, and we have a couple of girls on 250 crotch rockets and they have been with us on a ride on a few major highways were the speed limit is 90kmh or 55.924936 mph, if I am lead I do the 90kmh and they have never had any issues in keeping up with us. How ever the Padre needs to stop at 170kms for fuel and that is just fine with most people for a break and a rest. So we go out and have fun. But PC it is hard to find people you are comfortable with and enjoy riding with them.......

[pcarrell]

I rarely find myself "getting into it".  Matter of fact, it's not uncommon for me to notice the cages getting a little to big in my mirrors and I have to step it up a little.  I've also noticed that I have trouble finding riding buddy's that actually want to ride.  My friend Bobby (you saw the pic of his Harley parked in my garage next to Nadine earlier) is an exception.

[ChilliDrift]

LOL 

[CDNRatMan]

  we have about 40 riders on the Wing, yesterday a young Capt was walking past my desk and stopped to look at my desktop which has a pic of my Drifter on it. (See below). He is a pudgy little dude who is very arrogent, he points to th compouter and say's is that your peice of shi!. I said yup.  He say's well perhaps this summer you might want to come for a ride with us, and names a couple of the young lads he rides with, then he asks almost as an after thought what size is your bike, says I it is an 800. Oh he say's we will tell you were we are going so you can follow us, and met us when we stop ( they all have 900 + crotch rockets)......now I know this group of 5 to 6 lads, their idea of a ride is from the Wing to Tim Hortons for a couple cups of coffee and a few smokes, about 2 miles, then to the out look for a few more smokes, about 2 miles, thento the truck stop for a coffee and a smoke, about another 2 miles and then home....this will take them about 4 hours, because they stand around smoking and drinking coffee.
So I smiled at him and said that perhaps I would not be able to ride with them because I can not stop that often, I am used to riding about 2 hours or till I hit reserve before I stop and I am out for a ride and to enjoy the time out and relax and not rush around. So I asked him when he got his M endorsment and he said with a puffed up chest he got it this past summer, so I asked him waht was his favorite flowers, he looked at me like I had a third eye in my head....so I just let it go.....
Drifter's are meant to be ridden slow and with class and enjoy the day out and relax....not to mention look super cool

[DriftinGirl]

It happens. When I was bike shopping hubby vetoed everything I looked at until I told him I was getting my Drifter then it was an immediate OK. (and he still rides a Harley  )

[49Reo]

Uhh, you got smart?Lol, just kidding. I felt the same way, I have not been without a Harley for more years than I care to think about, and after buying the Drifter, I felt I could be without a Harley any time and it wouldn't bother me. Of course now that I triked it, I will be keeping it for some time. I think these Drifters are such a great bike, both to look at and ride, we just feel an affinity to them; could be worse, though, you could be wanting to get rid of the Drifter in favor of the V-Max!

Regards and such,
49Reo

[John Hopkins]

A short time ago I owned a Vmax..now I own an FJ1200, two Honda shadow VT700s, a VT1100 and the slowest of all my 1500 Drifter..

If I had a Vmax that only did 110 mph I would hate being passed and yet I love my Drifter..What has happened to me..I'm seriously considering getting rid of everything except the Drifter..

John.