DRIFTERS

[Cajun]

yep thats the one with the filled in guards,a real one was on trade me,in three hundred and forty two thousand pieces, still looks like it sold for 16billylids,they are around 25-30k us$. drifter is a hell of lot cheaper.

Good bikes mad max vice presdient of local uylsses has one, he done tons of milage, goes good, father in law did have the vn1500 before it(same motor)

[bugsonteeth]

It's cold and grey, can't ride my bike so I went looking what other people in the world are up to with Drifters.
Shocked to hear that you cannot get the 800 in NZ, what a shame! I would never ride a 1500, unyielding, waterlogged buffalo of a motorbike.
The 800 on the other hand, woohoo! Had it for 2 seasons, modded out suspension and engine, and it eats Harleys for breakfast now!
It doesn't do really well on the insanely long stretches of highway, but who wants that anyway? Through mountains and canyons, it's just a blast, very quick, nimble and good brakes too (came off the Ninja).
But it as a "first" cruiser, sort of a temporary solution, but now that it's all dialed in, it's definitely a keeper!
http://photobucket.com/albums/y37/bugsonteeth/

[murhf3]

I hav a 2004 model with add on single leather seat,p.c.u, vance and hines pipes and extra 20hp,its brillant and I had two harley pieces of shit prior.

[bugsonteeth]

hi there scooterboy,
congratulations, wise choice to dump the Harley POS! It's getting just ridiculous here in the US, way overrated and especially way too expensive with quality control on permanent vacation and pisspoor service.
But the Mean Streak, now that is a nice bike and I seriously thought about getting that instead of the Drifter.
However, the wife remarked that I am plenty mean enough and don't need a bike with a name like "Mean Streak". No Toyota Tacoma either, sounds too much like "coma". No, she's not weird, just a sweetie from Thailand!
Anyway, over here the Mean Streak was sold in a seriously underpowered version (just over 60 hps I think it was). So even though they can be modded out to about 80 hps fairly easily (you found out), it's still not too impressive for an engine that size. My Vulcan 800 Drifter puts out that much stock.
So do tell, I am curious to hear how well she takes to twisties and mountainroad? Another friend is seriously considering getting one, but NO RIDES here when you buy a bike! You just gonna have to do your homework very carefully....

[crazylittleshit]

I got a ticket for drifting once.
$600 driving with intent to cause alarm?

[crazylittleshit]

F**ken Evil pop ups

[bugsonteeth]

Hey Fry, evil has popped up here years ago, when Bush stole the presidency the first time!
Just for the record, in case somebody wants one of the Drifters, do NOT get the 1500, that was an afterthought by Kawa marketing to sucker american buyers into getting a bigger "version" of the 800. (Here people think "Harley" and "Sportster").But they are two entirely different bikes, and in my opinion the 1500 is a good highwaybike, but that's about all it is good for.
The development of the "retro" Indian was not some idea of Kawasakis, but the brainchild of a very devoted fan of the old Indian Chief. So it's not a coincidence that he chose the VN800 platform, since it meets most of the criteria that were employed by Indian back in the 40's: good power and torque, solid with good handling and decent looks, reliable and incorporating all the latest technology AND affordable too!
If you just bolt on swept mudguards on any bike, what you get is the "New" Indian which failed a couple of years ago, and a good thing too. Just what we needed, another overpriced, Harley-like cumbersome unreliable POS "honored" due to its history.
There is only one "Drifter", and it's a sleek machine, not a friggin' walrus with wheels.