800/1500 Drifter

[Coodeville]

I thought Iwas starting a new thread...............sorry!

[Kawy Kevin]

No Prob....this thread is for general DRIFTER conversation.

On the note of oil, I have been using full synthetic on all my bikes for years.

Mobile One make one specific for Cruisers called Mobile One V-Twin.

Kawasaki oil filter for the Drifter is very expensive but I didn't know any other manufacturer even make on for our bikes.

I guess in the grand scheme of things, the investement is small to keep our engines clean.

I change oil and filter about every 1,500 to 2,000 miles. That comes up quick for me as I ride often and a lot of miles.

[Coodeville]

Originally Posted by Kawy Kevin

Kawasaki oil filter for the Drifter is very expensive but I didn't know any other manufacturer even make on for our bikes.

I paid 12 bucks for it. I never neard of the one on the bike. The oil was about 7 a quart. I'm just glad I didn't go to the stealer. He would have hit me for 200. The thing that made a huge difference was the bolt tightening. Bike rides quiter in the sense of no rattles. What I can;t understand is why my riser bolts always loosen up? Next, I get the sparks plugs.............If I'm goingto take them out to check them, I might aswell put in new ones. Turns out I can get thoise at PEP BOYS.

For warranty reasons.............I guess I'm covered if I keep all receipts?

[Kawy Kevin]

I have Samson pipes on my bike and they sound great. NO baffles.

However, they are beginning to brown a little on the rear extensions.

I don't know if I can get replacements or if I need to get all new pipes.

Either way, what do you other Drifter riders have and do you like them??

I like LOUD pipes !!!!!

[zuzuman03]

i have the sampson slasher pipes on my 1500. ive been told they're extremely loud. when i ride with the group, they make me ride in the back. its louder then my dads screaming eagle harley. i pulled the baffles and took one trip. the guys i rode up with stayed about a mile behind me coming home. they couldnt take it. it hurt my head, so i put them back in. i was able to set off car alarms though. i love my loud pipes. if its too loud, you're too old.

my pipes are starting to blue/brown as well. ive tried everything and cant bring them back. im probably just gona get a new set of pipes.

[Kawy Kevin]

I have always like loud. I was at a Police escorted ride last summer and I asked the local Indianapolis motorcycle officers their stance on bike exhaust.
They all said, and I quote, the louder the bike the safer you are.

Anyway, the browning on my Samsons are just in the rear sections behind the junction. If I cannot replace just those, I will shop for new pipes.

One of my options will be cross-over Dual exhaust with a fishtail out the back on both sides. I love the looks of those, however I really would like to hear them prior to purchasing. My biggest fear is that they would not be loud enough.

I guess if anyone with a Vulcan has installed those type pipes, what was the outcome on the sound note????

[Coodeville]

Originally Posted by Coodeville

Funny you mention this..................this broad wanted to take a ride on mine with the solo seat. I'm 6'2" and 260. She's 5'1" and 125. No way in hell did we both fit on the solo seat. I'm not much for the two up thing. A lot of guys I know who went down did so becasue of the passenger. My homeboy here dropped his HD softail becasue this chick went ballistic ansereing her cell phone at 30mph. He was OK..............she needed 15 stitches

It was a short romance. I got rid of her Friday night. She's into cocaine...............not for me.

[Coodeville]

Originally Posted by notmeofficer

guys.. the hard bags came off of ebay...imports... they are a hard durable plastic..so far as good as fiberglas,, they are relatively small.. but given the fact they have to hang like sails on the bracket they carry larger bags wouldnt be good.. they match the drifter fender contour perfectly.. they have nice locks... I cant say they are waterproof but I havent ridden in the rain to test them.. they have a lip but no gaskets.. they open to the side
They have clear lense lights with amber bulbs built into them that could be wired as turn signals or running lights.. IIRC they cost about 150.00.. which is cheap when you look at hard bags
I bent some Stainless to act as road rash guards for the bottoms.. and to act as a heat shield for the exhaust side.. that idea works perfectly

in one side I carry
my gun bag, registration, manual, wallet with room left over

they fit in the other side.. (for the gym)
a pair of shoes and a change of clothes...

as we all know the drifters suspension isnt set up for bags and the mounts come off of the frame and seat mount
I ordered up a set of scootworks drifter bag mounts and they arrived.. I installed them and was very unhappy.. the saddlebags had all kinds of flex and vibrated.. so I sent them back.. they were constructed out of 3/16 mild steel (scootworks claimed "we've sold millions of thses without one complaint".. yea right... if you sold millions you wouldnt be talking to me...)
I fab.. so I built a set of mounts out of 3/8" stainless steel.. (in the pics they arent polished yet.. winter project) they are 10 times better than scootworks but there is still some flex because the mounts are two piece ..like scootworks.. and there is a lot of moment out there on the back end... my brackets are completely acceptable but Im going the next step
I am going to build a one piece bracket out of 1/2" aluminum.. that I will break at the appropriate angles so they follow the lines of my original brackets... by going to one piece and heavier material Ill take out 95 percent of the flex.. once I lighten them they will be the way to go.. then maybe Ill engine turn the finish on them and finally polish them out.. that would be the trick way to make them nice




I havent grampasized it.. Im still tricking out my other Kawasaki.. a KLR...

I purchased the SCOOTWORKS brakets. MAybe they have improved them since you got them. If not, how much do you wantto make me a set?

[Kawy Kevin]

WOW those hard bags look absolutely stunning !!!!

I have never seen bags that run the lines of a bike like that on a Drifter.

Very nice

[Kawy Kevin]

I ride the 2004 Drifter 1500. I would like to install a good drivers backrest and have not been able to find on online. I have the stock solo seat.

Any suggestions ?????

[zuzuman03]

i think corbin might have one with their solo..but im not sure. i know ive seen one somewhere though....just cant remember.

[zuzuman03]

does anyone have an extra set of seat brackets lying around? i wanna get another set so i dont have to take the set i have off one seat and put them on the other everytime i wanna put my other seat on. they are the 90* brackets that attach the seat to the frame on the 1500.

[ratfink]

[attach][attach][attach]Attachment 10032[/attach][/attach][/attach]

[ratfink]

anyways my above bike has been lowered about 4", jetted and hypercharged, homemade chain bars and jockey shift, also did a front and rear sprocket change.

[ratfink]

kevin...i think scootworks.com now offers drivers backrests for drifters...check it out...

[azchick]

Nice bike rat!

[ratfink]

thanks chick...have you seen the new limited edition mean streak on the kaw main websit?....it has red anadized frame and red rims with flat black tank fenders and exhust, and a two tone seat...it looks bad-***......i love it...also how do i post larger pics? thanks

[Kawy Kevin]

Ratfink,

AWESOME bike !!! I love the Maltese Cross and those handlebars are RAD

[ratfink]

thanks....i checked the scootworks site and yes they have bolt-on drivers backrests for drifters with the stock solo saddle...the backrest is sold seperatly and use your stock seat...great idea...log on "scootworks.com", then "metrics", "kawasaki", then on the list go to "drivers backrests"....ps the sprocket change kit for $75 for the 800 drifter is the best $75 you'll ever spend on your bike....lower rpms at higher speed, when i run 85 now the engine rpm feels like about 70 or so...much better crusin...

[Kawy Kevin]

Thanks, I am going to get one. Even though my Drifter is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever owned, I am always looking for another add-on.