Harley owners and DRIFTERS, comments?

[Old Dog]

Well it's Christmas Day over here in London. Snow and ice everywhere, so no ride out to the traditional meeting places today. There are several places I take my Drifter. One of them is a Harley dealership. Some of the Harley riders will not even speak to me, or even look at the bike! They are mainly older guys with very narrow views about most things, not just bikes. They clean their bikes, ride to the shop, ride home and clean their bikes again. Not many of them wear kit that looks used. Some of them run extremely loud pipes.
There are a few others who absolutely love the Drifter. These guys are proper riders. Bikes are high mileage and used for their intended purpose. I see them at other locations, they often do 3/400 miles on a Sunday. A couple of them pointed out how the Drifter is so well designed, with clean lines and a real get down to business type of machine that you can use every day.
The Drifter engine sounds tame compared to the loud Harley motors, even with my Roadhouse 2-1 (beautiful pipe), but it's faster and there are not many Harleys that look better in my opinion. Plus, Harleys are more common!
Nuff said, Merry Christmas to all the Drifter people in the North American paradise.
Rod - former member, rejoined.

[Troll]

I sold both of my H-Ds last year. '78 Superglide with a 98" S&S engine and a 1980 FLT. Been riding since 1963, and except for one Moto Guzzi and a BSA 650 lightening, always been H-Ds....Replaced the Superglide with a 2000 Kaw W650, and the FLT with an 01 Drifter. Not looking back (I would own another Guzzi, though).

[chief]

I think about all the great rides I would've missed had I been brand slave... makes me feel  "superior"...

[TripWire]

Ride what you enjoy, enjoy what you ride.  I got my Drifter to make me happy not the people I ride with.  In my circle of friends we seem to spend more time talking about our rides not our bikes and yes more than half ride Harleys.  I think Harely riders are like every other demographic out there, a few making a bad name for the rest of them.

[scwilli]

Just got back from a rally in Galveston, TX.

Nothing but good comments.  The highlight was going to the biker bar and having people ignore my friend's 100th anniversary harley and ogle my drifter.  Some asked if it was an Indian, but when told it was a Kawa most replied with a version of "looks damn good"

Also got to rub my hydraulic clutch in my friend's face while we were in Houston traffic. 

[VN1500]

I live in [deep] H/D country, so mostly I just get snubbed? on either my Drifter or my Nomad.....OK I can live with that. One guy thought my Nomad was a newer version of a V-Rod,..of course that was after he assured me of his vast motorcycle knowledge.<BG>

I did get a comment from an H/D rider one day when I was riding a BMW few years back.

He said nice little BNW ya got there. When ya gonna move up to a Harley?

To which i replied,..my first motorcycle was a Harley,...& I've been moving up ever since.

he didn't respond............

[chief]

LOL... yeah, reminds me of one of those nature shows... look at all the rugged individualists in this pic...

[jveley]

For monty python fans who have seen "Life of Brian," kind of reminds me of the Harley-or-nothing folks:

"Yes... we're all individuals..."

[chief]

First, let me state this is not an indictment of all Harley owners... I'm one of those sometimes myself. This is only concerned with that minority who can't see past their dark sunglasses and skull masks.

It ticks off some of my harley buddies when we park someplace and it becomes obvious my drifter is getting all the attention from the citizens. One guy has spent about 40K on his custom harley... this in itself has halted any remarks about the Kaw brand name with this bunch.

You know back in the 70's we created the "jap crap" moniker for the bikes Honda and others were dumping on our economy. I rode a Triumph, Norton and later a Harley. Made in Japan once meant it was crap... truly crap. There were no "sport bikes"... unless you meant dirt! And AMF/HD was fighting for its life.

When I toyed with becoming a member of a particular unnamed club I was told I would have to dump the trumpf and get a harley... it had to be kickstart... it had to have this and that... I had to attend every meeting... had to wear certain articles of clothing... rules... rules... I'd had enough of rules so I bailed.

But times have changed.

Now, in this age of Lexus, Toyota, etc when some of the best cars and bikes on the planet are coming from Japan... we still hear this "jap crap" stuff out of some hd owners... not for any of the very good reasons we had, but simply because they have bought into HD advertising. Its easier to be a parrot and spout only what you are taught than to actually know what you are saying. Its part of being in the Harley club, one of the herd... along with the black leather, tough guy attitude and refusing to return a wave. Rules.

While pride in one's machine is understandable, owners who spout such nonsense demonstrate their own ignorance and I truly feel sorry for them. There are far too many fine machines to limit yourself to one brand. And, I don't need no stinkin RULES ruining my time in the saddle!

[jveley]

Around here, it's pretty much Harley or nothing, so I stick out in the crowd.  The harley guys love my bike until I tell them that I have 2, done all of my mods,  and still haven't spent all the money I got for my Road King when I sold it.

[marshalldoll]

I too have had quite a few other makes of bikes prior to purchasing my 1999 1500 drifter. For me the best and most trouble free ride so far. There is a donut shop that is a Harley hangout and last Sunday afternoon I decided to take my Drifter and go to Harley Haven. I pulled in and parked in the middle of maybe 15 Harleys and went inside for coffee. When I cam out a gang of Harley guys were all around my bike and the spokesperson said " So is it a Chief or Scout?" I had the pleasure of saying "Look at the neck tag !" He in turned yelled at all the other bikers " Its a Kawasaki" " I never knew they made such a nice bike!" Then they all wanted to know all about the machine. I had a great time and had no ill remarks from any of them. I rode off a very happy guy and yes years ago I too rode a Harley but never again.

[1999 Drifter]

I saw a 1946 Indian for sale in Toronto Canada and I much prefer the look of my 99 1500

[ski.dive]

HARLEY owners in DAYTONA BEACH, hate anything that is not a HARLEY...
They said my DRIFTER was JAP JUNK.

[chief]

Yeah, when I rode a harley I had a full toolkit too!... now I carry about a tenth of that... just essentials. AND... I have only had to use it once on my bikes... but have used the various tools several times for other folks...

Cheers.

[bubbabland]

I enjoy riding places where people ride everything.  Coolest thing I ever saw was on US129 (the dragon) where an 82 Suzuki GS850, a new Goldwing, and 2 hard core Harley's were all stopped in a corner helping a 20 year old kid reattach his front sprocket on his Kawasaki crotch rocket.  Everyone thought everyone's bike was cool.  I stopped first (on the old suzuki) but had no tools, then the wing.  But you should have seen the kid's face when the 2 Harley's stopped.  He looked pretty scared, but one of them pulled the t-bag off his bike and unrolled it...FULL TOOLKIT!  He had everything in there!  Got him back on the road in no time.

[49Reo]

 You are right, Chief; a lot of Harley riders are loyal to the point of rudeness; I have lived in Canada longer than I care to think about, (I am originally from Montana, born in California, but my job [also for an American company] dictates that I live in Canada; however, I have not forgotten my roots, I am VERY Patriotic and loyal to the U.S.A.).  Don't get me wrong; Canada is a great country and I have done well living and working here; but I am getting way off subject. Loyalty to any particular brand of anything regardless of where it was made is a good thing as well as a great way to promote what you like. However,whether it is companies in foreign countries or domestic, it is PEOPLE that design, build, and produce these items. Here in Canada, all bikes are imports; saying " yeah, but it isn't American made" just doesn't wash up here; in reality it shouldn't wash anywhere. all bikes have strong points, all bikes have weak points. I think the Drifter is a fantastic bike, but also think my Harley is pretty dang good too; the wife and I have put on many a long mile on it, and likely will do many more. I have been riding most of my life, my first Harley was 1976, second 1988, third and present, 2005; I have seen many bikes of many makes that I personally liked, and the same goes for those I didn't like; however, it is solely up to the individual what he rides; I draw the line at attitude; THAT is what people should focus on, not what they ride. Well, enough of my carrying on; time for someone else to have their say.
Cheers, Regards, and such;
49Reo

[chief]

I owned a harley RK when I bought my Drifter... the next summer I got rid of the RK. I've ridden harleys since 1977. That means more than 1000 comments from hd owner who have never ridden a drifter.

Fact is, I was looking for something "exciting" in 2001 when I saw the Drifter. The Indian didn't cut it... old technology, etc. The Drifter was the right bike at the right time for me.

Unfortunately we still have the harley "parrots" who say the same crap about japanese bikes that we said back in the 70's when we were trying to save harley and punish honda for dumping bikes onto the American market. The world has changed since then, but some of these guys haven't. Add to that the mindset that you are a "bro" when you are on the harley, but not one when you are on some other brand... us greybeards know what a bro is... and it has little to do with which bike you are riding today.

I get the same crap about my Goldwing (made in Ohio) and my Tundra (made in San Antonio). The tundra is #6 in the top ten "Most American Vehicles". More parts on if are American than most other vehicles in the US.

But don't lump all HD riders in together - many love a good looking bike regardless of the brand.

[49Reo]

Some off the guys in the local HOG chapter say "it's still a Kawasaki" to which I say " at least it's not a Harley!!" Most everybody who sees it says what a beautiful bike it is, no one ever gets that excited over my Harley Ultra Classic.
Regards and such,
49Reo

[Slick]

I had an HD owner of a 1200 Sporty nearly drool over my Drifter when he saw it ! He could not believe how beautiful it was or how fast it went or how good it sounded. He had seen the bike in the neighborhood , had heard it a few times and saw me running her out once. I meet him getting gas. He was very impressed with the bike. This is the only reaction I had from a guy . Two differant HD riding Lady's have had positive comments and admiration for the bike.

[Kempy]

Here in New Zealand have had the same answers as well as you , also   ''never heard of them , but what great lines and styling ""
awesome bikes , how comfy they are to ride
even from a 2008 Indian owner , he is now selling his to buy a Drifter

[bubbabland]

The two harley owners I ride with said, and I quote..."That bike is Friggin Awesome". 

[ski.dive]

OK:

What kind of 'remarks' have you heard from HARLEY-DAVIDSON owners about your Drifter?