I picked up a 2001 Kawasaki Drifter on a whim in Plymouth Ma. I saw this bike (exact colors of the one in this video) outside a restaurant in Plymouth Ma. Spoke to the restaurant owner who was loading it on a trailer and 20 minutes later handed over a wad of cash and was the new proud owner. The bike only had 20,000 miles on it and was maintained it's whole lifetime at a local Kawasaki dealership that had all the maintenance records. It did need a back tire due to some dry rot, but that was all. It drives like a dream! Everywhere I go it turns heads and lots of pics when stopped, and no one believes its a stock Kawasaki.
I’ve got a black 2001 and everybody comments, even non riders are all over at gas stations. She gets lots of love every time I ride. Mine has 50 k and besides a Corbin backrest seat all Is original. And white walls are mandatory. And yea I’ve got the tassels.
I bought this bike from SRK over 2 years ago and I have to tell you that I'M still in love with this bike! I also have a completely custom 2011 Street Glide merlot sun-glo that is absolutely beautiful and i get more comments on my Drifter! If you get a chance to buy one ... BUY IT!!!! These bikes have a super smooth ride and a great sound! I will never sell mine!
I worked in a Kawasaki shop then and the drifter owners were so dedicated to their bikes. They were there to ride. They were all older guys, every one I talked to was married and the single seater was their way to escape.
They made only 9000 total Approx 50/50 1500's and 800's WORLDWIDE Awesome reliable bike. Vulcan based so parts and performance mods easy to come by. I own 3 1500's Think of the attrition rate of bikes and you can see just how rarer and rarer these are becoming. I've had Harley for 30+ years and I ride my Drifter almost exclusively. Not gonna lose it in a sea of 'Black' Harleys. and it looks more like a real Indian than the new Indians. I call mine Kindians. The distant Asian cousin to Indian. You know Kin.
The tank shifter was made for the Drifter by Ted Struble, Teds Designs, The Saddlebags are by Dave at Osprey LTD. I have two 1500 Drifters, a 1999 and a 2000.
Just got an 800 last week had never seen one. Only rode it about 3 hours but it was so sweet. Has several mods. I love it. I've been riding sense 1980, own several different types of bikes this definitely one great bike.
I'm an old man that rode foot clutched right hand sifted Indians Harley's even climb up a six-inch-wide ramp in and out the shop doors to the showroom and back then you can understand why the British bike got started in the USA foot sift and hand clutching of those British bikes, Triumph, BSA, Norton, Matchless, Royal Enfield, and still others I'm sure like Henderson for the late 1940s and early 1950s. For many riders found them saver to ride than Indians and Harley Davisons with foot clutches and hand sifts but I'll say this those bikes had to make them better to offset the foot clutches hand sift awkwardness at the start-off to rolling and coming to quick stops until you have gotten used to the feeling at such operations, which took some doing.
I remember reading an article in one of the main mc mags back when kawi discontinued this bike. It said the reason was because of legal, infringement issues.
I remember seeing the Drifter when it first came out. I was having some work done on my bike at the local Kawasaki dealership in Waynesville NC at the time. It was a solid dark maroon color. Beautiful bike. A great vintage look!
Just sold my 2005 Drifter 1500. I knew at 68, it would be my last bike. Sad to see it go. It started to get scary out on the road. Had a lot of bikes in my life, but this was the best looking and the best driving bike I ever owned. I now race mountain bikes. Go figure! Once an adrenaline junkie, always an adrenaline junkie, I guess. I think my life's more in danger now!
Freezing cold is when you can't get the shed door open to see your bike because it is frozen solid, the lock is frozen, the door handle is solid ice - that is "Freezing Cold" Sean.
No freezing cold is when you get home, you don’t feel anything and you have to have your “Old Lady come out and help pry your hands off the grips because our can’t open them on your own. And when you teeter totter into the house cause you can’t bring your legs together. That’s “COLD”, been there done that, two years, only transportation was my bike (bad divorce) in Maryland, rode all year round, freezings rain snow storms, watched cars pull over, while I passed at 5 & 10 mph thinking I was crazy (better then sitting there and getting drenched. 😜😝👍🏼🤠
@@Threewolfs- I rode all year my first year and got stuck in a snow bank in the dark, in the middle of the road coming home from work. It was only then that I questioned my sanity and yes it was cold.
I owned two Indians a 46 and a 48. Indian had the throttle on the left so you can shite with your right hand like a pickup truck with three on the tree. I switched both my Indians to left hand shift right hand throttle like my Harley's. I did that because I had a 1933 Haley at the same time I had the 48 Indian. For safety reasons I wanted both bike to operate the same. I sold both bikes to finance divorcing my first wife money well spent. She is now divorcing her 4th husband. This Kawasaki is way cool I would ride it with pride. I looked for one but didn't find one for what I am willing to pay for a Japanese bike.
I've got a Drifter coming any day now 800 he's in Arkansas I'm in southern Missouri Ozarks we tried last year and the weather turned cold he still holding it for me he just called last night we were going to get together today but now the weather turned like 29° from 80° yesterday😅
...I have a real one sitting in boxes in our garage.. a 1946 Chief. We don't have the fenders though, and it needs FULLY restored and almost everything replaced. My late grandfather helped my dad buy it in Mississippi in 1993 because he worked on them during WW2 in the US Army. Needless to say I don't ever want to sell it, even though I may never have the money to restore it, it should stay in the family. Unfortunately being a MS bike it was a solid chunk of rust and there's still damage to the underside of the frame that I need to fix. All the internals of the engine and trans were rusted and all the gears were trashed long ago. I still have the pistons but they need replaced. The tanks though are in perfect condition and hang on our wall in the garage. I'd love to build it on my channel if I got the chance/funds and probably do some upgrades to make it more rideable, like a 5-6 speed trans so that little power could actually move my 6'10 300lb self, disc brake front end so it will stop and maybe some engine upgrades. I think I'd probably run bobbed fenders too just because the stock ones would be hard to find and expensive. I'd also put pegs on it instead of floor boards as I just feel like you have more control with them.
The bike is amazing. I've had mine since 2004. Gets more conversation than my Harley limited. Insane. The downside, no after market. The rear wheel pivots like a sport bike and the fender travels with the wheel. The passenger seat hovers over the wheel, not attached to the fender.
Dealers loved the Drifter. Their core customers, however, were a lot younger and knew nothing about Indian. They were puzzled by the blackout touches and lack of chrome at a time when chrome was king, and they thought the maroon paint was weird. First-year Drifter 1500s collected dust. A dealer in my neck of the woods took their stock of Drifters and painted them red, yellow, and black. They still collected dust. The second year, Kaw added the chrome, and buyers started showing up.
Im a Harley "Road King" kind of guy, But this "Rice burner" would look great beside my Road King. All I could say when I saw it and heard it fire up was .......Dang, SWEET!!
I picked up an 800 about 6 months ago. Ever since it came out I loved it. Only way to get the Indian look with out dropping major bucks back then. With Polaris buying it there isn't the same rarity having that look. But it's a work horse that is dependable as hell. I love mine.
I ride a 2001 Drifter 800. Absolutely love this bike. Just got back from riding the Tail of the Dragon which I managed to break the muffler off. A little welding and it'll be good. If you can find one, get it.
I’ve been looking for one of these for sale, I was hoping this was gonna be for sale on your website. I’ll keep hoping and checking one shows up. Great video as always!!!
If you're still out there my friend I'm buying a 2000 Drifter 800 as soon as the weather warms up we're going to meet we've been trying to work this deal since last year he's in Arkansas I'm in southern Missouri Ozarks and after reading all of these reviews I'm getting excited again like I was last year but then the weather turned cold and things fell through but he held the bike for me and just notified me yesterday I said yes😅
80k miles on my 2000 suzuki intruder 1500. Clutch plates replaced about 5k miles ago. And a few hours labor for a shop to find some faulty short after I rode in the rain.
The Nomad and Vulcan are good bike, only thing is the cam adjusters wear to quick. I have some sets of the cam chain adjuster extenders to get more life out of it left.
Dude I love your tube. Check out original Indians from whenever to 1953. As I recall Indian Chief had left foot clutch, left hand throttle, right hand shift. Opposite HD. My favorite is 1948 Springer Pan Head with polished and balanced 80" Flat Head flywheels with Shovel Head top end and of coarse suicide clutch with dead man shifter. On the left handle straight off the trans. I knew a man in Escondido California that had a Chief back in 1969. Robert was a great rider. God Bless Brother
A customer of mine has a 2004 1500, black and silver with 16k in flawless condition for 4k. I think im gonna move on it.. Was looking at a VTX1300R but i really like the look of these in person..
Back in the day....way before Sean was born, Harleys had heel-toe foot clutches and tank shifters (on the left). A lot of chopper guys cut the tank shifter off and just stuck a handle on the end of the linkage where it came out of the transmission - under your butt. Thus, the "jockey shift" term was coined. There was no clutch lever as we're used to today. The clutch was a foot pedal with a kind of an over-center arrangement. Engagement was rather abrupt. You couldn't really "feather" the clutch. If your extended fork chopper didn't have a front brake (most did not), stopping for a red traffic light on a hill was...interesting. You needed one foot to hold the brake, one foot to hold the clutch in, and one foot to balance the bike. Thus, the term "suicide shift" or "suicide clutch" came into being. It's why, in hilly cities like San Francisco, you'd often see Harley with two guys on them. The rear guy was there just to balance the bike at stoplights. At least...I *think* that's why he was there... ;-) Obviously it was in everyone's interest to connect the clutch to a cable and put the lever up on the bars. Seems so very basic and logical now, but not back when braided cables as we know them hadn't been invented yet. This Kawasaki Drifter has a cutesy tank shifter. It's really just decorative, a throwback look that happens to also work but has no practical application. Great bike, though! Wouldn't mind owning one (and I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Harley guy).
Just pick one up for dirt cheap . Guy had in in a bar for display for about 6 to 7 years. Cabt wait till i get her running and on the road . As a fan of the Indian brand but the funding of a grom 😅 the drifter is the next best thing 😋. God bless Crash from sons of glory mm
I own one. I bought it last year. It is a 2002 drifter 1500 with only 8,000 miles. It is a real looker and a great bike. I have the same exhaust on mine and it sounds great.
I almost bought one of these about 3 yrs ago, but it was the 800cc model and they wanted too much. If it was the 1500cc model I would of jumped on it because It was a great looking bike. I was very surprised Kawasaki was allowed to make and sell this bike. The seller told me Kawasaki used to own Indian, which blew my mind, but I found out later in research that Kawasaki just made the bikes to look like Indians during a time that the Indian company had gone under and basically didn't exist anymore...until a new company finally bought the Indian name and sent a cease and desist order to Kawasaki to stop making their Indian look-a-like bikes. Interesting history behind these bikes.
Have a Red 800cc, I did the same thing in Black leather and a nice faring instead of a windshield, w/all the “Indian” stickers and fender light. My “lill Indian” favorite bike (own four).❤️🤙🏼🤠
I'd imagine the only time the shifter is on the left side is when they have a foot clutch, which definitely makes more sense than the right side in that instance. With the hand clutch though yeah you'd definitely want it on the right. Awesome bike.
800 looks better IMHO, but the significantly reduced maintenance on the 1500 (No chain, self adjusting valves, Fuel Injection) makes it a better choice (again, IMHO).
I love this bike and always wanted one, but I'm spoiled with efi so I went with a vulcan 900 and put a drifter fender on it. This is what a cruiser is supposed to look like. A classic design that is as striking now as it was back in 1948
So. I have an 800. Saw that you can get the fenders for a 900. Any way you have pics of your setup. I've been really curious as to how that setup looks.
My Dad had a 48 Indian Chief, when he got it, it had left hand throtle, because it was a police bike (so they could ride and shoot, at the same time). I have some of his pictures of it, probably around 1960. He still rides motorcycles, and currently has a new Honda 750 with automatic transmission, a new 18 KLR 650, and a Suzuki 650 Burgman.
Had one of these in Teal and rode it across the country and back. Great bike and got lots of looks and comments. Used to be an online owners group called VDOG (Vulcan Drifter Owners Group) and many people went all out modifying these bikes.
Not bad prices in the UK either... cool looking bike, real head turner and what I love about Kawasaki is the parts, super fast delivery and cheap... I've got a Harley and often have to wait 4 weeks for parts that are 10 x the price.. kwaks next day for most
I have this bike, standard model with 9 thousand on the clock and hoping to get it back on the road this year! Fantastic to ride and plenty of power when needed. 👍👍😃
Finally got me a Drifter this spring in the end of June of 2024 and I'm loving it it's a 2006 800 Drifter 5400 original miles where can I buy a jockey shift and crash bars for the rear saddlebags get stickers in other goodies thank you how about a rear bracket for a luggage rack etcetera?
Jockey shift? That's the first time in my life I've ever heard it called that. Literally everyone I've ever met, heard, or watched calls it a "suicide shifter" and occasionally a manual shifter. Don't be afraid to use to say "suicide," it's just a word.
KlingonCaptain long before the snowflake PC woke world we live in the term jockey shifter was a thing. But I do agree with you, call things what they are... dont censor yourself just because some ppl are afraid of the word suicide
KlingonCaptain Well I do believe the suicide shifter would be with the foot clutch. There’s really nothing suicidal about this, especially considering the foot shifter is still there and the clutch is on the bars.
What were you asking for this motorcycle and what did you get when you sold it? This is October 2023 and I'm reviewing these Kawasaki Drifters really like to have an Indian and can't afford one maybe I can afford a Drifter I want one to set up like old time as much as possible
I’ve always had this strange fascination with the 1500 kawi. I’ve never owned one, never ridden one but there’s that ticking sound in the back of my head. I’m hardly the expert, this particular example has more hanging off of it/dangling in the wind/beating my forearms to death than I would care for but that’s just my taste. Cool bike, cool vid, when are you opening up the sister shop in Daytona?
I bought a new one in 2001 and it was the best bike I ever had and rode! It was great! I rode it 46,000 miles then sold it and got a 2006 Vulcan 1500 which has the best seat I have ever sat on on a motorcycle!
There is one for sale where I live, dealer said it's a carb and a 1500, but everything I have found says its supposed to be FI. Did they make the 2002 in both???? Can anyone help me?
Cool bike , like the set-up tough looking bike , the back ground on the drifter is cool but a different light on the bike , it is a cool bike thanks kid'o
@Brown Green What makes you the gospel truth teller? I was engaged to the daughter of one of the oldest Harley dealerships in Canada. We sat in his backyard and talked about the same issue. The suicide clutch you are referring to is called the mousetrap clutch. I have been riding Harley's since 1972. The suicide shifter placement was by the tank on the left side, It had a gate shifter. So in order to shift, left foot disengages the clutch, and your left hand shifts the gears.This was the suicide shift because during turns it became kind of tricky.
I currently have three drifter 800 and three drifter 1500 --I have been looking for a jockey right side shifter --do you know where this one came from.
![[Докатились] Тест драйв Kawasaki VN 1500 Vulkan Classic tourer](/img/n.gif)
I picked up a 2001 Kawasaki Drifter on a whim in Plymouth Ma. I saw this bike (exact colors of the one in this video) outside a restaurant in Plymouth Ma. Spoke to the restaurant owner who was loading it on a trailer and 20 minutes later handed over a wad of cash and was the new proud owner. The bike only had 20,000 miles on it and was maintained it's whole lifetime at a local Kawasaki dealership that had all the maintenance records. It did need a back tire due to some dry rot, but that was all. It drives like a dream! Everywhere I go it turns heads and lots of pics when stopped, and no one believes its a stock Kawasaki.
I like the way the 800 Drifter looks with the hidden rear shock, more authentic hard tail look.
Its one of those bikes that even if its not to your taste, you watch it down the road like "yes brother, do your thing ✌"
I’ve got a black 2001 and everybody comments, even non riders are all over at gas stations. She gets lots of love every time I ride. Mine has 50 k and besides a Corbin backrest seat all
Is original. And white walls are mandatory. And yea I’ve got the tassels.
I've wanted that type of bike because of the Art Deco look and the reliability of the Kawasaki. This one is a beautiful example.
I bought this bike from SRK over 2 years ago and I have to tell you that I'M still in love with this bike!
I also have a completely custom 2011 Street Glide merlot sun-glo that is absolutely beautiful and i get more comments on my Drifter! If you get a chance to buy one ... BUY IT!!!! These bikes have a super smooth ride and a great sound! I will never sell mine!
That’s cool to hear from the guy who got this. I just bought a 1999 drifter 1500 with 11k miles, picking up tomorrow, hope to love it
@Jkp367 well, are you loving your Drifter?
I am by no means a cruiser guy, but I can't lie, this thing is pretty sweet
O I agreed and sounds so good
Kawasaki did a good job designing these.
I worked in a Kawasaki shop then and the drifter owners were so dedicated to their bikes. They were there to ride. They were all older guys, every one I talked to was married and the single seater was their way to escape.
I have a 2001 Drifter 800. Absolutely love this bike.
The Drifter is one of my favorite motorcycles. Not just in style but just the fact a company could be so cool to go ahead with a project like this
They made only 9000 total Approx 50/50 1500's and 800's WORLDWIDE Awesome reliable bike. Vulcan based so parts and performance mods easy to come by. I own 3 1500's Think of the attrition rate of bikes and you can see just how rarer and rarer these are becoming. I've had Harley for 30+ years and I ride my Drifter almost exclusively. Not gonna lose it in a sea of 'Black' Harleys. and it looks more like a real Indian than the new Indians. I call mine Kindians. The distant Asian cousin to Indian. You know Kin.
The tank shifter was made for the Drifter by Ted Struble, Teds Designs, The Saddlebags are by Dave at Osprey LTD. I have two 1500 Drifters, a 1999 and a 2000.
Just got an 800 last week had never seen one. Only rode it about 3 hours but it was so sweet. Has several mods. I love it. I've been riding sense 1980, own several different types of bikes this definitely one great bike.
I'm an old man that rode foot clutched right hand sifted Indians Harley's even climb up a six-inch-wide ramp in and out the shop doors to the showroom and back then you can understand why the British bike got started in the USA foot sift and hand clutching of those British bikes, Triumph, BSA, Norton, Matchless, Royal Enfield, and still others I'm sure like Henderson for the late 1940s and early 1950s. For many riders found them saver to ride than Indians and Harley Davisons with foot clutches and hand sifts but I'll say this those bikes had to make them better to offset the foot clutches hand sift awkwardness at the start-off to rolling and coming to quick stops until you have gotten used to the feeling at such operations, which took some doing.
I remember reading an article in one of the main mc mags back when kawi discontinued this bike. It said the reason was because of legal, infringement issues.
I remember seeing the Drifter when it first came out. I was having some work done on my bike at the local Kawasaki dealership in Waynesville NC at the time.
It was a solid dark maroon color. Beautiful bike. A great vintage look!
been riding around one of these since 2009 , never gonna go , great bikes
Just sold my 2005 Drifter 1500. I knew at 68, it would be my last bike. Sad to see it go. It started to get scary out on the road. Had a lot of bikes in my life, but this was the best looking and the best driving bike I ever owned. I now race mountain bikes. Go figure! Once an adrenaline junkie, always an adrenaline junkie, I guess. I think my life's more in danger now!
Freezing cold is when you can't get the shed door open to see your bike because it is frozen solid, the lock is frozen, the door handle is solid ice - that is "Freezing Cold" Sean.
No freezing cold is when you get home, you don’t feel anything and you have to have your “Old Lady come out and help pry your hands off the grips because our can’t open them on your own. And when you teeter totter into the house cause you can’t bring your legs together. That’s “COLD”, been there done that, two years, only transportation was my bike (bad divorce) in Maryland, rode all year round, freezings rain snow storms, watched cars pull over, while I passed at 5 & 10 mph thinking I was crazy (better then sitting there and getting drenched. 😜😝👍🏼🤠
@@Threewolfs- I rode all year my first year and got stuck in a snow bank in the dark, in the middle of the road coming home from work. It was only then that I questioned my sanity and yes it was cold.
Cool Man LUKE Bike. Love it. Neatly transformed Vulcan , INDIAN. Keep on Crushing. 🍵🍩
I owned two Indians a 46 and a 48. Indian had the throttle on the left so you can shite with your right hand like a pickup truck with three on the tree. I switched both my Indians to left hand shift right hand throttle like my Harley's. I did that because I had a 1933 Haley at the same time I had the 48 Indian. For safety reasons I wanted both bike to operate the same. I sold both bikes to finance divorcing my first wife money well spent. She is now divorcing her 4th husband. This Kawasaki is way cool I would ride it with pride. I looked for one but didn't find one for what I am willing to pay for a Japanese bike.
I have a 1500 drifter and love it and I’m workin on finding a 800
I've got a Drifter coming any day now 800 he's in Arkansas I'm in southern Missouri Ozarks we tried last year and the weather turned cold he still holding it for me he just called last night we were going to get together today but now the weather turned like 29° from 80° yesterday😅
...I have a real one sitting in boxes in our garage.. a 1946 Chief. We don't have the fenders though, and it needs FULLY restored and almost everything replaced. My late grandfather helped my dad buy it in Mississippi in 1993 because he worked on them during WW2 in the US Army. Needless to say I don't ever want to sell it, even though I may never have the money to restore it, it should stay in the family. Unfortunately being a MS bike it was a solid chunk of rust and there's still damage to the underside of the frame that I need to fix. All the internals of the engine and trans were rusted and all the gears were trashed long ago. I still have the pistons but they need replaced. The tanks though are in perfect condition and hang on our wall in the garage. I'd love to build it on my channel if I got the chance/funds and probably do some upgrades to make it more rideable, like a 5-6 speed trans so that little power could actually move my 6'10 300lb self, disc brake front end so it will stop and maybe some engine upgrades. I think I'd probably run bobbed fenders too just because the stock ones would be hard to find and expensive. I'd also put pegs on it instead of floor boards as I just feel like you have more control with them.
"nearly 20 years ago"
"2001.."
Wait a minute that's not . . . oh :(
The bike is amazing. I've had mine since 2004. Gets more conversation than my Harley limited. Insane. The downside, no after market. The rear wheel pivots like a sport bike and the fender travels with the wheel. The passenger seat hovers over the wheel, not attached to the fender.
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バルカンはハーレーに訴えられたという情報がありました。
ハーレーが「vツインエンジンを使いたければ商標使用料を払え」と言ったそうです。
@@なつかしベリー Harley can stick it they've gone too far when they sue somebody for building their own V-twin engine that's crazy
I had the 800 in black and silver. Rode great and got all kinds of people giving the thumbs up!👍.
Need to make a historical video on why Gilroy Indian failed. I know I want to know . . .
Dealers loved the Drifter. Their core customers, however, were a lot younger and knew nothing about Indian. They were puzzled by the blackout touches and lack of chrome at a time when chrome was king, and they thought the maroon paint was weird. First-year Drifter 1500s collected dust. A dealer in my neck of the woods took their stock of Drifters and painted them red, yellow, and black. They still collected dust. The second year, Kaw added the chrome, and buyers started showing up.
Im a Harley "Road King" kind of guy, But this "Rice burner" would look great beside my Road King. All I could say when I saw it and heard it fire up was .......Dang, SWEET!!
Nice bike...keep up the excellent work with the videos and just bought a pair of the gloves yesterday....
cool bike review and test spin. Thanks!
I picked up an 800 about 6 months ago. Ever since it came out I loved it. Only way to get the Indian look with out dropping major bucks back then. With Polaris buying it there isn't the same rarity having that look. But it's a work horse that is dependable as hell. I love mine.
Those pipes are joyful singing to my ears
I have the 1700 cc Vulcan , handles sweetly just getting a bit heavy to push around now at 70 years young also got faser 1000 for ripping it up a bit
I ride a 2001 Drifter 800. Absolutely love this bike. Just got back from riding the Tail of the Dragon which I managed to break the muffler off. A little welding and it'll be good. If you can find one, get it.
Great video. I have a 99 drifter 1500. Turquoise and man it turns heads. A bike I'll never part with
Second best Indian ever made.
I’ve been looking for one of these for sale, I was hoping this was gonna be for sale on your website. I’ll keep hoping and checking one shows up. Great video as always!!!
I have 1 for sale
@@williamborden6378 do you have any pictures/info
Never Heard of These... Wow
I had a 2005 Drifter 1500 for 15 years. Loved this bike. Stopped riding after 50 years on the road. It was time, too many a-holes on the road.
If you're still out there my friend I'm buying a 2000 Drifter 800 as soon as the weather warms up we're going to meet we've been trying to work this deal since last year he's in Arkansas I'm in southern Missouri Ozarks and after reading all of these reviews I'm getting excited again like I was last year but then the weather turned cold and things fell through but he held the bike for me and just notified me yesterday I said yes😅
80k miles on my 2000 suzuki intruder 1500. Clutch plates replaced about 5k miles ago. And a few hours labor for a shop to find some faulty short after I rode in the rain.
The Nomad and Vulcan are good bike, only thing is the cam adjusters wear to quick. I have some sets of the cam chain adjuster extenders to get more life out of it left.
Dude I love your tube. Check out original Indians from whenever to 1953. As I recall Indian Chief had left foot clutch, left hand throttle, right hand shift. Opposite HD. My favorite is 1948 Springer Pan Head with polished and balanced 80" Flat Head flywheels with Shovel Head top end and of coarse suicide clutch with dead man shifter. On the left handle straight off the trans. I knew a man in Escondido California that had a Chief back in 1969. Robert was a great rider. God Bless Brother
A customer of mine has a 2004 1500, black and silver with 16k in flawless condition for 4k. I think im gonna move on it.. Was looking at a VTX1300R but i really like the look of these in person..
Back in the day....way before Sean was born, Harleys had heel-toe foot clutches and tank shifters (on the left). A lot of chopper guys cut the tank shifter off and just stuck a handle on the end of the linkage where it came out of the transmission - under your butt. Thus, the "jockey shift" term was coined.
There was no clutch lever as we're used to today. The clutch was a foot pedal with a kind of an over-center arrangement. Engagement was rather abrupt. You couldn't really "feather" the clutch. If your extended fork chopper didn't have a front brake (most did not), stopping for a red traffic light on a hill was...interesting. You needed one foot to hold the brake, one foot to hold the clutch in, and one foot to balance the bike. Thus, the term "suicide shift" or "suicide clutch" came into being. It's why, in hilly cities like San Francisco, you'd often see Harley with two guys on them. The rear guy was there just to balance the bike at stoplights. At least...I *think* that's why he was there... ;-) Obviously it was in everyone's interest to connect the clutch to a cable and put the lever up on the bars. Seems so very basic and logical now, but not back when braided cables as we know them hadn't been invented yet.
This Kawasaki Drifter has a cutesy tank shifter. It's really just decorative, a throwback look that happens to also work but has no practical application. Great bike, though! Wouldn't mind owning one (and I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Harley guy).
Hmmm 2 guys on a Harley in San Francisco, I think we all know what was going on there 😉
Just pick one up for dirt cheap . Guy had in in a bar for display for about 6 to 7 years. Cabt wait till i get her running and on the road . As a fan of the Indian brand but the funding of a grom 😅 the drifter is the next best thing 😋.
God bless
Crash from sons of glory mm
I own one. I bought it last year. It is a 2002 drifter 1500 with only 8,000 miles. It is a real looker and a great bike. I have the same exhaust on mine and it sounds great.
I almost bought one of these about 3 yrs ago, but it was the 800cc model and they wanted too much. If it was the 1500cc model I would of jumped on it because It was a great looking bike. I was very surprised Kawasaki was allowed to make and sell this bike. The seller told me Kawasaki used to own Indian, which blew my mind, but I found out later in research that Kawasaki just made the bikes to look like Indians during a time that the Indian company had gone under and basically didn't exist anymore...until a new company finally bought the Indian name and sent a cease and desist order to Kawasaki to stop making their Indian look-a-like bikes. Interesting history behind these bikes.
Have a Red 800cc, I did the same thing in Black leather and a nice faring instead of a windshield, w/all the “Indian” stickers and fender light. My “lill Indian” favorite bike (own four).❤️🤙🏼🤠
They made an 800 drifter from 1999 only available in limited markets with Canada being one of them.
Reliability of a Japanese bike with Looks Of Old School
I'd imagine the only time the shifter is on the left side is when they have a foot clutch, which definitely makes more sense than the right side in that instance. With the hand clutch though yeah you'd definitely want it on the right. Awesome bike.
I ride a 99 Drifter I've had for 12 years. Absolutely love it but the question is always "what year is your Indian?"😆🤘
I had the 800cc. It did fine. Around
Town it was very comfortable.loved the the looks. The way it rode 3:31 Loved it miss it
The 800 is THE model to have. Total runner.
800 looks better IMHO, but the significantly reduced maintenance on the 1500 (No chain, self adjusting valves, Fuel Injection) makes it a better choice (again, IMHO).
I love this bike and always wanted one, but I'm spoiled with efi so I went with a vulcan 900 and put a drifter fender on it. This is what a cruiser is supposed to look like. A classic design that is as striking now as it was back in 1948
The 1500's are efi and shaft drive. The 800's are carbureted and chain driven.
So. I have an 800. Saw that you can get the fenders for a 900. Any way you have pics of your setup. I've been really curious as to how that setup looks.
That's a awesome Motorcycle! Very nostalgic look raped up in a Kawasaki Vulcan platform. Definitely a bike I'd really enjoy riding.
big fun from NAIROBI KENYA...Cheers !
I own two 1500 Drifters. One is my Black and White and the other I customized into looking like a Army Indian Military Bike
I bought my 1999 1500 Drifter brand new and still love riding it 25 years later.
I have a chance to get on right now has high mileage, but it's so pretty.
Woo a new video! Bike looks cool as!
El mejor tributo a una marca legendaria hecha por Kawasaki. Esos Harleylistas mueren de envidia
Nice, I remember them. I don't like the fender skirts. Now the Kawasaki 1700 classic is nice too!
My Dad had a 48 Indian Chief, when he got it, it had left hand throtle, because it was a police bike (so they could ride and shoot, at the same time). I have some of his pictures of it, probably around 1960. He still rides motorcycles, and currently has a new Honda 750 with automatic transmission, a new 18 KLR 650, and a Suzuki 650 Burgman.
Am seriously considering buying one! Ive been watching 2 of them on sale! I love them
Had one of these in Teal and rode it across the country and back. Great bike and got lots of looks and comments. Used to be an online owners group called VDOG (Vulcan Drifter Owners Group) and many people went all out modifying these bikes.
The group still exist's and is very active.
Teal was the best colour IMHO.
I would do anything to own this bike !
Not bad prices in the UK either... cool looking bike, real head turner and what I love about Kawasaki is the parts, super fast delivery and cheap... I've got a Harley and often have to wait 4 weeks for parts that are 10 x the price.. kwaks next day for most
I have this bike, standard model with 9 thousand on the clock and hoping to get it back on the road this year! Fantastic to ride and plenty of power when needed. 👍👍😃
It really has an awesome sound
That bike needs a Fabio commercial ....
*"I can't believe it's not Indian"*
Finally got me a Drifter this spring in the end of June of 2024 and I'm loving it it's a 2006 800 Drifter 5400 original miles where can I buy a jockey shift and crash bars for the rear saddlebags get stickers in other goodies thank you how about a rear bracket for a luggage rack etcetera?
Jockey shift? That's the first time in my life I've ever heard it called that. Literally everyone I've ever met, heard, or watched calls it a "suicide shifter" and occasionally a manual shifter. Don't be afraid to use to say "suicide," it's just a word.
KlingonCaptain long before the snowflake PC woke world we live in the term jockey shifter was a thing. But I do agree with you, call things what they are... dont censor yourself just because some ppl are afraid of the word suicide
KlingonCaptain Well I do believe the suicide shifter would be with the foot clutch. There’s really nothing suicidal about this, especially considering the foot shifter is still there and the clutch is on the bars.
Called a tank shift in the North East US
Suicide shift is different a suicide has foot clutch jockey usually has the clutch and shifter on the same hand shaft this one is definitely different
The 1500 Drifter is one the bikes I would like to own some day among many others.
I’ve had a ‘99 Drifter 1500 for about 3 years. Great bike! Serial #119. All comments on the bike are “Nice Indian”, I usually replay thanks.......😎
Shit I have the 399 love the bike the only no Harley bike I have ever owned.lol
All black, here in the U.K, as I remember, very rare, but a good machine..
Toyota and Chevy are doing a truck together. It's gonna be called a TOYLETTE!!
The 2nd was not a suggestion IT'S THE LAW Horrible, horrible joke. Thank you. Must tell the kids....
That 750lbs is without the 300lbs of leather, right???
It's without the fuel and oil too
they are nice looking big bikes in person and the 800 model is also.
I’m not into that style of motorcycle, but this one is absolutely beautiful
I like how you always read a bible verse before you ride, a friend of mine has a 800 drifter also. Take care God Bless
Youre the type of extremely old person sean trys to impress so stuff like that is for you
@@jacobbelter9141 I'm not old, and I love it.
@@usmcvet0313 youre a marine or wannabe marine so you dont count as a human. Youre a robot not allowed to think for yourself
I actually only watched the whole video to listen to that bike, it truly sounds good.
I enjoy watching your videos. Watch them all the time. Quick question how long should I test ride a bike if I am buying it?
uooo cool and the pipes are better, I love it
2:42 highlight of the video!
Absolutely!
What were you asking for this motorcycle and what did you get when you sold it? This is October 2023 and I'm reviewing these Kawasaki Drifters really like to have an Indian and can't afford one maybe I can afford a Drifter I want one to set up like old time as much as possible
I’ve always had this strange fascination with the 1500 kawi. I’ve never owned one, never ridden one but there’s that ticking sound in the back of my head. I’m hardly the expert, this particular example has more hanging off of it/dangling in the wind/beating my forearms to death than I would care for but that’s just my taste. Cool bike, cool vid, when are you opening up the sister shop in Daytona?
I bought a new one in 2001 and it was the best bike I ever had and rode! It was great! I rode it 46,000 miles then sold it and got a 2006 Vulcan 1500 which has the best seat I have ever sat on on a motorcycle!
Do you like the 2006 Vulcan better if not for the seat?
Kool I thought I was the only one who remembered the Kawasaki Indians
Broke Wing , I wanted one but never found one close enough at an asking price close to what I was willing to pay so I bought a mean streak instead.
Broke Wing I always liked them too. But, now I can just go buy a reliable Indian that looks old school but modern reliable! Thanks Polaris.
RIDEwithGNR , not as reliable as a Kawasaki. Polaris is getting better, but still have a way to go based on what I read on the Indian Forums.
There is one for sale where I live, dealer said it's a carb and a 1500, but everything I have found says its supposed to be FI. Did they make the 2002 in both???? Can anyone help me?
Hey Sean,
What exhaust does it have.. Stock or aftermarket?
If aftermarket, what brand?
It sounds great..!
They are Vance and Hines long shots and they are loud haha
Your website is down. Can't look at inventory
Cool bike , like the set-up tough looking bike , the back ground on the drifter is cool but a different light on the bike , it is a cool bike thanks kid'o
How could you operate the clutch and a jockey shifter both on the left?
Hand Clutch On the Shifter
Deffintly a triple take looking at this bike. I bet i would fool 99% of the guy's in my Town
I tried to find this on your site, couldn't find it . How much are you asking for it if it isn't gone?
Jockey shift is located behind your leg and butt. That is a hand shift.
Suicide shifter they are known as here
@Brown Green Nope.. in my town that's what people call em
@Brown Green I have heard them called suicide shift. I have never heard of a suicide clutch.
@Brown Green Oh for Christ's sake, it's a suicide clutch. Take from me I'm older than dirt!
@Brown Green What makes you the gospel truth teller? I was engaged to the daughter of one of the oldest Harley dealerships in Canada. We sat in his backyard and talked about the same issue. The suicide clutch you are referring to is called the mousetrap clutch. I have been riding Harley's since 1972. The suicide shifter placement was by the tank on the left side, It had a gate shifter. So in order to shift, left foot disengages the clutch, and your left hand shifts the gears.This was the suicide shift because during turns it became kind of tricky.
I currently have three drifter 800 and three drifter 1500 --I have been looking for a jockey right side shifter --do you know where this one came from.
Why isn't this in your inventory on you website?
Hi from Montana we enjoy riding these style of bikes keep the dirty side down
Montana? Sheeeeit, I ride my Drifter out of Missoula🤘