SPOT THE FAKE - AN INDIAN CHIEF VERSUS THE KAWASAKI DRFITER

Рет қаралды 6,061

Күн бұрын

Dave asks, how does the Kawasaki Drifter measure up to the original Indian Chief?
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Video produced by Dave at Bullpen Cycles

Пікірлер: 55

@silverback802 10 ай бұрын

I own a 2002 Kawasaki Drifter 1500. It is 64 horsepower. I just bought a right-hand side hand shifter for it. It is a great running bike.

@bullpencycles 10 ай бұрын

Right on!

@silverback802 10 ай бұрын

@@bullpencycles you have a great channel I'm glad I found it.

@bullpencycles 10 ай бұрын

@@silverback802 thank you so much

@markeverson5849 Ай бұрын

Where can I buy the hand shifter for my Drifter 800? Also can I buy brackets I can't find them that will come off of the main frame I searched all over the Internet nothing for a rear cargo rack and sissy bar attachment

@chiefjoseph8154 3 ай бұрын

The Drifter isn’t fake. It’s a tribute motorcycle.

@bullpencycles 3 ай бұрын

I would think a tribute motorcycle would not be mass produced and sold for a profit.

@glengerdes4158 7 ай бұрын

I have three vn800’s. They are excellent bikes. Reliable

@markeverson5849 Ай бұрын

I've just bought one an 06 800 indian Drifter with only 5400 original miles and it seems a lot bigger and heavier of a bike than what I had imagined I have had a lot of motorcycles but this is my first what I will call Big cruiser bike and it takes some getting used to I guess I'll have to build my own cargo rack bracket that comes off the main frame and will also support a sissy bar to hold and carry fishing poles a backpack and or a long gun but I haven't found anything online it's got the solo seat Indian style with the metal handle on the back and Indian style Fring saddle bags. I'm going to put some more cool stuff on it it's very loud with the Vance and Hines exhaust system

@glengerdes4158 Ай бұрын

@@markeverson5849 I removed the big fenders, and seat on one of mine. Dropped about fifty pounds and I have not even done the exhaust yet. Enjoy your bike!

@michaelwilliams6292 Жыл бұрын

I owned a 2002 model for 7 months. It needed a final drive gearing change (dropped 2 teeth in back) for the riding I was doing in Texas at the time. Above 70, it felt “busy” with stock ratios. I raised the preload on the rear shock too. Putting bags on was a nightmare. (Those beautiful fenders are plastic) Fun bike, but so-so handling in the curves. Good looker,and as you say, much cheaper than any Indian.

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

I didn't know they were plastic fenders

@dariojimenez708 9 ай бұрын

What can I say? I'm in love with my sky blue 800 drifter, crhistened "Sweet Caroline", because is as sweet as my wife Caroline.

@bullpencycles 9 ай бұрын

It is a good color

@paulgrogan8032 Жыл бұрын

Great topic, I love the concept of this machine for pennies on the dollar and much less oil on the garage floor🤭 in comparison to the actual. Now "For me" it would have to be a second or third bike as apposed to a number 1 daily. Great content Sir.🤝

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Thank you Paul

@wolfeyes9357 7 ай бұрын

50 grand for an Indian from the early 1950s or a Drifter with Japanese quality for a few grand....i will take the Kawasaki and save 45 grand!

@bullpencycles 7 ай бұрын

I understand that!

@NoNameNoFace-rr7li 3 ай бұрын

i have the 1500 and 800... the 800 is more beautiful and the 1500 is more powerful and faster. both are excellent bikes. I could never afford the real deal and am perfectly happy with these bikes. I like the 800 a little more.. i also have a vulkan 1600..great bike.. i have a softail too which is the same length as the 800 and has the same tire size

@bullpencycles 3 ай бұрын

Totally agree

@izaak.salomon5048 3 ай бұрын

Jesteś szczęściarzem! To piękne motocykle! Zdrawiam z Polski! 🙏🇵🇱👍

@glbaker5595 Жыл бұрын

Hi Dave I was trying to tell a buddy of mine he moved down from Connecticut he's putting my place and down around clear springs or something I can't remember where he said he was at but what town are you in, I know he would like your shop you can cut sort of the same type of stuff going on so anyway glad see you doing okay have a safe weekend

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Hi. Yes, I'm just south of Daytona on the east coast. Edgewater FL

@tracylinder8503 Жыл бұрын

I love the white super 90 I saw in one of your videos, is it gonna gonna be sold

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Yeah, that was sold. I think it went somewhere near Atlanta

@kopynd1 Жыл бұрын

its just a vn with plastic indian style mudguards thats it, 50 to 52 tele forks on the indian, swinging arm on the 1500 vn drifter, the very first drifter had a mint exhaust simular to the harley panhead but because of the cost they changed to the standard exhaust same as the 1 your viewing but in all the kawasaki is a bike that can be ridden without problems, i had a drifter which i built from frame up with vintage leaf spring forks and bars looked well

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Yeah, the plastic mudguards say alot.

@markeverson5849 4 ай бұрын

I'm trying to buy one in a few days soon as the weather warms up we're getting together down here in Ozarks 800 Drifter but I'd like to see a picture of your bike

@Phuc_Socialist_You_Tube 14 күн бұрын

@bullpencycles Plastic mud gards say a lot? Really? Like they won't rust or dent like metal? They won't rattle or echo every stone thrown? I own a 2002 vn800e. The fenders have proven to be damn near indestructible. Boring you say? That's damn near every motorcyle made. They are all, if nothing else, predictable. Granted, the six ton stock muffler practically sterilized the bike. I installed staggered fishtail straight pipes on mine. The engine sounds amazing. Turns heads everywhere it goes. Build quality is exceptional. Especially when compared to a Yamaha Turd Star (I own one. XVS 650 loaner bike) or a Honda Shadow.

@kevinfaherty9887 5 ай бұрын

Good video

@bullpencycles 5 ай бұрын

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it

@claybornlewis276 Жыл бұрын

You call The Drifter of fake Indian it's not a fake Indian it's an Indian Drifter built by Kawasaki designed after the Indian it's not a fake fake is definitely the wrong word to use it is a custom motorcycle I own one and I love it it never claimed to be an Indian it's an Indian Drifter

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Yes, but at the same time I gave it a good review. I figure, if there was no Indian, there would not be a Drifter. What word would you use?

@claybornlewis276 Жыл бұрын

@@bullpencycles just what it is Indian Drifter that's the model of the motorcycle it's not pretending to be an Indian it isn't Indian Drifter

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

There is a small army of Drifter owners that put Indian decals on their tank, and even the Indian fender ornament.

@silverback802 10 ай бұрын

I call mine an Indian Tribute.@@bullpencycles

@Geriatric_Gaming 8 ай бұрын

I own a 1999 1500 Drifter and a 2017 Indian Chief Roadmaster. The Drifter is a Kawasaki knock-off of a 1948 Indian. It is NOT an Indian Drifter as Indian motorcycles had nothing to do with its production but merely inspired its design on a then current production Vulcan 1500 which it shares many parts including the drive train. Cobra's prototype was called the 'Super Chief' but Kawasaki received a cease and desist order as Indian motorcycles filed a class action suit against them for copyright and trade mark infringement. Besides the suit, withering sales, and the limited competition by Indian "Gilroy' motorcycles, Kawasaki pulled the plug on the Drifter in 2005 which in hindsight was a wise move. It wouldn't be until 2010 that Indian would be resurrected and produced by Polaris with the current production runs in 2014 powered by the Indian Thunderstroke engines thus reducing the Drifter into a footnote of Kawasaki history. Still a very cool looking bike just wish the fenders weren't plastic, but then again it is a cheap bike. Very cool video showing both motorcycles side-by-side. Thanks for sharing!

@tracylinder8503 Жыл бұрын

There is a 77 maico in Houston area on market place guy name is John Shockley ,selling because of health very nice bike very nice price see if you can find it ,

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Thank you, but well gee. I got so many bikes already!

@tracylinder8503 Жыл бұрын

If I knew how to send pics I would he is asking 4500, but I've seen same year go for 12 to 15 k in this condition

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

I'm not in the market, but you can always reach me at dave@bullpencycles.com

@randy-pk1rb 11 ай бұрын

what`s the name of that indian manual again

@bullpencycles 10 ай бұрын

Let me go look. I keep forgetting to do that

@bullpencycles 10 ай бұрын

www.amazon.com/Indian-Motorcycle-Restoration-Guide-1932-1953/dp/0615251501

@delray06 Жыл бұрын

Hey Dave, love your channel , but man it’s time to let go the hair style, 👍

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Man, I'm not really sure that's gonna happen, balding mullet for better or worse I'm afraid.

@markeverson5849 Ай бұрын

Worry about your own haircut what's wrong with people that you judge people? What's with that crap I thought I whooped all the Rednecks years ago already I suppose we have to shave our beard too right to match your agenda just saying

@tracylinder8503 Жыл бұрын

Maico is a GR500

@bullpencycles Жыл бұрын

Sounds really cool