The real reason why I hate Indian motorcycles 

The click bait its getting old.

Words of wisdom: thou shall not click-bait.

kawasaki didn't put the indian badge on it, it's a custom.

Every title has to be "click bait". That's wearing thin. Not much integrity when you lie making the title….right? WORD OF WISDOM…Proverbs 14:5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. :)

Why I hate Indian motorcycles *intro* “Actually I don’t hate Indian motorcycles” Wtf?

Nice Kawasaki model! My favorite I may say. If you see any Indian indication on Kawasaki Drifter, it means the bike was customized. On stock Drifter units Kawasaki NEVER put a single Indian logo, emblem, sign or word that says "Indian". There are three engines for that model - 400cc (especially for Japan due to some restrictions there), 800cc (both 400 and 800 got chain final drive) and 1500cc (shaft final drive). The Drifter models were in production between 1999 and 2006.

"Why I hate Click Bait?" Kawasaki Indian tribute....ends video.

I’m 52, and I remember when a 750cc bike was a big bike. I had a 1978 Honda 750 four K model, when I was 16 years old that I regularly took long highway trips on. I actually crossed the country at age 22 on a Kawasaki LTD 1000, from South Carolina to Los Angeles California and back. I left Gulfshores Alabama on a 1200 Harley Sportster and ended up In Canada before I turned around and went home. We are spoiled with the bikes we ride today.

One of these was my first bike, which I rode on Maui. It could take all the way around the island and did ok on the dirt road out to Hana. I road it many times on a 35 to 45 mile an hour twisting road loop between the coast and the upcountry where I really got to appreciate the nice balance of the bike. It was a bit weak taking the fast highway up the mountain and the blasting wind out by the airport made me dream of a heavier cruiser. All in all I wish I could have kept it forever. I would recommend it to anyone but maybe a smaller bike would have been a better choice for my very first motorcycle.

All those Indians badges and logos were added later. The bike didn't come like that.

Hey Sean I'm the Guy you met when I came past your shop on Saturday when you were closed on the goldwings thanks again for the tour and that is a great looking bike keep on doing what you're doing bro God bless.

You seem like a good guy man. I've learned a lot. Thanks for your videos.

I got a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan drifter 800.. it was never badge a Indian... it came with Vulcan badges new. Only one headlight. The windshield and extra lights and badges and bags are after market. It’s hard to find aftermarket part for them now. But they are still Popular!

Indian Chief Replica - 2005 Kawasaki Drifter 800 In 1994, Denny Berg worked with Cobra USA to take a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 and create an “American Classic” custom. It was a success on the show circuit, and the next year Kawi released a “Classic” version of the Vulcan. The next year, Kawasaki went back to Cobra, Denny, and Don Emde (son of the legendary racer Floyd Emde). Don wanted to build a bike that looked like an Indian Chief for a feature in Rider Magazine. Starting with a Vulcan Classic, the team came together with the thought of what Indian might build if they were building bikes in the mid-90s. It got such positive attention that Kawi decided to make a limited production model called the Vulcan Drifter. -Bike Furious In Cruiser, Japan by Abhi / February 21, 2017

Seems interesting how theres clickbait on every bike then we hear that its for sale :)

My dad had a 1500 and my mom had the 800. They loved their drifters.

I ALWAYS , find it odd when people think that cruisers must have a big motor to cover long distances . especially when we are talking about non american made cruisers with water cooled small blocks. the 800cc on that bike delivers enough power ( most times even more than a HD or a modern indian ) to take you places , let alone that they are extremly reliable

Sean .I have three vn800's. Two drifters and one bobber. My friend Don Emde thought up the idea. Modern bike , vintage feel.Don won the Daytona on a Yamaha and dad Floyd won on a Indian. I wish my 883 Harleys were this good. See Cycle World june 2001.

The 800cc Drifters are great running bikes. I know a guy that rode his all over the country, for a solo bike its stellar.

I had a "99 1500 Drifter in the early 2000's. They did not come with the Indian logos, someone added those to complete the Indian look. The Drifter 1500 had rear shocks, the 800 version had a hidden rear suspension, it looked like a hardtail rear end. One of the odd things about the Drifter was the seat. In the early years the 2-up seat was stock, and it looked atrocious. The reason was that the rear swingarm, wheel and fender were one unit, and the seat was attached to the frame. The rear end, including the fender, moved up and down under the seat. The passenger pearch hovered high above the fender to allow the rear assembly to move without hitting the seat. It looked really good with the optional fringed solo seat, the the 2-up seat? Meh. Later the single set was standard. Later Harley made much ado about how "revolutionary" their Rocker was. It's seat was independent of the rear fender, the Rocker had the seat attached to the frame, and floated over the rear end. Just like the Drifter years before.

I had a 1500, which was a shaft drive. From the factory it came with Kawi Vulcan badges.The seat you is the stock seat. I put zero Indian stuff on mine. I had a windshield, bags, AND a jocky shift. It was turquoise with pearlescent white lozenges on the hard bags. I put 200,00+ miles on it and an Iron Butt. It was, mechanicaly bullet proof.

They certainly did not have "Indian" anywhere on the bike. The tank badge (missing) was the typical "Vulcan" raised chrome emblem. The 1500 was shaft drive similar to the Nomad. Excellent bike.

I think Kawasaki wanted to make sure that design didn't fade away and as Indian made a come back ( through Polaris ) phased out the Indian copy design style. but if indeed Indian had failed... I think Kawasaki would have kept the trend going...and that still would have been fine had it went that way...and this is not saying anything bad about Indian ...I loved that look since I was 15... 65 now..still riding...would not mind owning one of these copies...

Finally! A riding video! ❤️

So why do you hate Indian motorcycles? It seems that your titles have nothing to do with the content of your videos.....

Kawasaki did get sued by Indian for copyright infringement, mostly due to that front fender shape. I remember reading an article in one of the big cycle magazines at the time. Kawasaki ended production of the drifter as a result.

Okay, you got me. I'm a subscriber. I didn't realize your shop was less than two hours away. I'll be visiting soon! God bless you!

I love the zipper on the gloves. Where would I find them? I'm gonna be on the market for a bike next year. I really want a Ducati 950 so. Have you done a review on it?

Did you fix the oil leak on that bike?

I have had my 2005 Drifter 1500 for several years. Best bike I have owned! Great for a cruise!

"Never heard of a tribute bike." He obviously never watched Orange County Choppers....LOL

Love my 2000 Gilroy indian chief but before the indian i had a 1500cc drifter really good bikes

i had an 800 regular vulcan and it was a nice bike, very reliable but i thought the 5th gear could be higher. now i have an 02 harley heritage which is nice but wicked heavy.

Kawasaki put no INDIAN badges on the bike from the factory, its a DRIFTER. They were made from 99 to 2006 until Indian told Kawasaki to cease production which they did.

“I could throw my wife on the back, or I could throw my lady friend on the back...” 😱😂🤣 Here’s to wives and girlfriends... may they never meet. 👍🏼

Many of the Vulcans have weak clutch plate springs. Check the load capacity before you buy if you're thinking of carrying a passenger and/or gear or tow, FYI, cause the clutch WILL damage if you overload.

I ride a 800b since new. 1996 with 61,500 miles on it. I will be on it today. I did install a belt drive system on it. Great motorcycle

I’m glad that you cleared up the Indian thing. I have A 2016 Chief Vintage and I love it. I enjoy your channel.

Love the bike the look but what is up with that windshield is that Bulletproof

In your PRO opinion which would you have between the HD & Indian motorcycles?

Super comfy cruisers. I just didn't like sitting so high when I rode the drifters. Loved the floor boards and smooth ride though.

From what I remember Indian was passed around by companies and lawyers trying to revive it. At one point they were being made by Royal Enfield and a few other foriegn countries. Each one going defunct or selling off the Trademark. All the while Kawasaki's Drifter tribute bike floated under the radar until 2006. I think it was when Polaris bought it.. Or maybe once they had their eye on buying the trademark as Gilroy went under, Kawasaki backed off production and eventually stopped... Also in 2006. I couldn't find anything about a lawsuit... But it may have been implied behind closed doors between Polaris and Kawasaki.

6:02 that moment when you realize you just snitched on yourself

I went into a dealer to check out the Yamaha Bolt. They had a bunch of new Indians. The clutch pull was super heavy. The Indian name has changed hands several times.

The 1500cc Drifter that I had was fuel injected, shaft driven and had more hp than the regular Vulcan 1500cc. Nice bike, but it never satisfied that soul touching feature that my Softail Heritage Springer does. My 1997 HD Softail Heritage Springer vibrates my teeth out at 65 mph, wheezes when I start it, flops the handlebars off center, is hard to control the rear brake (too close), is slow as a two toed slough and leaks oil... But, I still picked it over my 99 Drifter 1500 because, "It's not what you ride, but where you are going." You missed that saying on this video Sean...

i love you guys i wish i lived closer so i could buy a bike from you. its rare to find anyone who spreads the word like the boys at srk. i have to drop in for my words of wisdom any time i see an upload. good luck on your future endeavors. keep them shiny side up guys!

I think Kawasaki was taunting with that bike 😂🤣 I love it!!

Should have taken the instrument plate and flipped it over and put the sticker on it (what I did with mine, minus the sticker). Replaced the air filter shield with a Indian head cover. Got a lot of Indian stuff (cheap) when the company went belly up. Got the cover, fender light, stickers, etc. 👍🏼❤️🤠

I always liked the looks of the drifter

The Kawasaki Drifter 1500 was the best Indian ever made.

Yes you can ride small bikes on trips ok and you and I have both done it. Rode my old 883 from state to state back in the day when that was all that I could afford!

Cool gloves. Pretty steep price for my budget but if I ever decide to fork over that much for gloves it'll be m1s fo sho.

Nice bike if you like the classic Indian look.

I remember when these came out. I was wondering how they got away with the Indian look and Indian (who ever the owners were at the time) didn't come after them. At least I never heard that they did. I'd love to own this bike.

I have a drifter 800. Taking it from Utah to Arizona. Great bike.

Where can I get parts and aftermarket parts for my 2006 800 Indian Drifter 1st of June 2024 be safe

Well if you can't sell it one of my good friends got on drugs for awhile and stole my bike about 3 years ago. I gave him a choice to got to jail or rehab and now he's clean for almost two years but still no bike for me. Thanks for all the great content and daily words of wisdom God bless you...

An honest review of highway worthiness would be how it acts at 75-80 mph. Does it act like it is holding back, screaming for another gear etc. Most in the middleweight v twins are going to behave as such unless top gear is extra tall.

A friend of mine won a restored Indian Chief, I think a 52. He thought it was not too good and took a lot of maintenance. He was a great mechanic but eventually he sold it.

Do you still have?I am interested

Can you do a video on the importance of due dillagence buying a bike as is? I’m going through a hard lesson an experience. Bought a bike from an Indian dealer as is and from the day I bought it it hasn’t run. They’ve tried to fix it 4 times in 5 weeks and when I asked what my options were they told me I’m screwed. No option. As is. Got me for 30k

Love this channel, I live in South Carolina, but grew up in Mechanicsburg, between Harrisburg and Carlisle... you guys are Awesome, and thank you for “the word”

Love these videos. Keep them coming! My only subscription on the tube😎 Amen...

So what ya end up selling it for?? I still own my 2000, 800 Drifter. Cheers....

Hey Sean have you ever checked out a Suzuki intruder 1500 talk about a comfy ride and the weird part is the gas tank on early years are fake the tank is under the seat the 'tank' is plastic and air box is under it check it out

I'm keeping up with traffic *gets passed by half a dozen cars flying by*

Hey! I’m brand new to the motorcycle world. I’m looking to buy a bike and think I found a good deal. I’d like to get your advice on buying one, this one specifically. It’s a Yamaha Bolt, one you’ve mentioned as being a good starter you can grow in. I know you’re busy but if I send you the listing, follow your checklist for buying one and give you the details to make a video on a brand new buyer, would you be interested in offering your wisdom in exchange for my help in making a video? From a new buyers perspective of course.

wow..love todays invocation

What up do a video on a pros and cons on a Harley Davidson please

Did a 1200 mile trot into the mountains on the 900 Vulcan classic was good

The Drifters were made from 99-06. The production was rather low on the bikes. Its not really clear how many were exactly made but if you can find one hold on to it. I have a 99 1500 and its beautiful. Its a shaft drive bike. As for all the Indian logos and Indian stuff those were put on by someone else. The 800s have plenty of power but the 1500s are amazing.

The drifter didn’t do that badging the owner did.

It's not it's not clickbait, he's basically saying he likes Indian motorcycles that aren't actual Indian motorcycles. He likes how this Kawasaki represents what Indian should be better than Indian itself

That took some testicular fortitude for kawasaki to move forward with that idea!

i just watched srkcycles for the last time, .. geezus.

Thank you for another great video. Taking a long trip on an 800cc bike should not be difficult. I live in Viet Nam, where many people, especially foreigners from America, Australia and UK, often travel over 1,000 miles between Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Sai Gon, and Ha Noi on 50 to 150cc bikes. They CAN make the trip and continue working after the journey. The necessity of a large engine for a trip is a myth.

I had the 800 Drifter it was smooth but on the highway only average at 70

Anyone know what this sold for?

Are you in up state NY? Look’s like Niagara County.

This bike was interesting. I see them all the time in the SF Bay Area, but yeah it's not factory. Owners modify their Drifters to become Indian Tributes. It's no different than people making street fighters out of sport bikes, or cafe racers out of standard bikes.

Those “Indian” logos & ornaments are after-market custom add-ons. The new bike didn’t have those.

Indian Tribute bike by Kawasaki? VERY INTERESTING

I won't mind owning it, I would like to have it for my collection. I can see it becoming a collectors item. I would have kept it for my collection.

Don't see it on the website.

If you like your cruisers to have the 1940s retro look, then there’s no finer flattery than the Kawasaki Drifter. With its strangely huge mudguards - sorry, ’fenders’ - wide handlebars and curiously curvy saddle, the Drifter is a close homage to the Indian machines of the past. Underneath however, it’s a Kawasaki Vulcan cruiser, with a massive V-twin 1500cc motor, or the smaller 800cc version, both set in a low slung, softly sprung chassis. A lifespan stretching back to the late 1980s makes the VN Drifter series bikes one of the most tried and trusted in the big K range. ‘Is your engine running?´ leered the grey-bearded Harley rider with the mirror shades, grinning broadly and looking across at the Drifter as we sat at the traffic lights. I laughed, and gave the throttle a couple of blips, which only provoked the Kawasaki Drifter into making a rather feeble thubba-thubba noise from what must have been the only efficiently-silenced exhaust system in the whole of Daytona. Still the Harley bigot wasn´t finished. ‘There´s rice underneath it,´ he shouted, pointing below the Drifter´s engine, and cackling even louder to his mate alongside. Naturally, I made sure the Drifter upheld Kawasaki´s honour by leaving both their leaky old Hardly-Movingsons for dead when the lights changed. But somehow I doubt whether that made the slightest difference to their opinion that a Japanese motorcycle dressed as an ancient American bike is not to be taken seriously. Kawasaki was obviously very serious indeed when it decided that the way to enhance its VN1500 and 800 cruisers was to restyle them to look like an Indian Chief, the legendary V-twin that was produced until Harley´s last great American rival ceased trading in 1953. You´ve got to give the Japanese firm ten out of ten for sheer cheek, and a pretty good nine mark for efficiency in not only making the Drifter so closely resemble the old Chief, but for giving the new bike an old-style look even above its use of the heavy ‘skirted´ fenders for which the Chief is best remembered. It´s ironic that just as the Drifter is launched, Indian itself is finally reawakening after a 46-year slumber, as a long series of legal battles has ended with one firm finally establishing ownership of the famous old name. It´s also rather expensive for Kawasaki, which agreed to pay $75,000 to the Indian receiver for hijacking the old firm´s traditional (and apparently trademarked) heavy-fendered silhouette. Kawasaki had a pretty good basis for this new bike in the VN1500 cruiser, whose watercooled, 1470cc, 50-degree V-twin engine was tweaked for the job. The sohc, eight-valve unit gains higher-lift cams, increased compression ratio, twin spark plugs per cylinder and a digital fuel-injection system to boost its peak output to a claimed 66bhp at 5500rpm. More to the point, the shaft-drive unit´s maximum torque figure of 85ft.lb arrives at just 2800rpm. The Drifter´s basic chassis is totally unremarkable, consisting of a twin-downtube steel frame, pair of 41mm Showa forks, twin rear shocks adjustable for preload, and a single disc bolted to each of its wire-spoked 16-inch wheels. But the parts draped around that framework give this bike a look totally unlike any other bike to come out of Japan, unless you count the smaller, visually near-identical 800cc Drifter that is also being introduced this year. Kawasaki´s designer’s didn´t hold back, giving the bike a look that is overwhelmingly retro even to those unfamiliar with old Indians. From the rounded black headlamp, via the wide, pull-back bars all the way to the buddy-style dual seat and the long fishtail silencer, the Drifter is a two-wheeled homage to 1940s America. Deep maroon paintwork and a minimum of chrome add to the period effect. Throw some dust over this bike and it would look as though you´d just dragged it out of the barn where it had spent the last 40 years. Which is presumably just as Kawasaki intended. America is definitely the best place to ride a bike like this (some would say the only place), but on reflection maybe Daytona Beach during Bike Week, when two-thirds of the vehicles on the roads are open-piped Harleys, is in some ways not the best part of the States. The Drifter is an unashamed copy, and a good one too. But when let loose among all the brighter, louder, genuinely American V-twins, the Japanese bike couldn´t help feeling a bit underwhelming. That impression began when the big V-twin motor fired-up, with a well-silenced watercooled rustle and not much vibration from the balancer-shaft equipped V-twin engine. And it continued when I accelerated away, the Drifter pulling strongly from low down, and short-shifting eagerly through its slow but positive five-speed gearbox as I stamped down on the heel-and-toe lever. Seconds later I was cruising down Atlantic Avenue in the middle of a gang of the ubiquitous Harleys, feeling pretty damn cool, but at the same time slightly detached on my quiet, smooth-running Japanese machine. (If Kawasaki are serious about selling this bike in the States they´re going to have to produce a straight-through exhaust system pretty quickly, or put a hacksaw in the tool-kit.) Performance wise, there´s no doubt that the Drifter has what it takes to match the average American-built V-twin. There´s no tacho, just a speedo in the tank-top, and you don´t need one either as the big Kawasaki lump rumbles forward pretty eagerly, despite its 302kg of weight. The fuel-injection´s response is crisp, the shaft-drive unobtrusive, and the big bike rumbles up to 75mph in an effortlessly relaxed fashion. Revved harder, it starts running out of breath approaching a top speed of about 110mph, but few owners will bother to try. More importantly the Drifter works pretty well at the lower cruising speeds for which it was designed. The wide handlebars and big footboards combine with a broad, low seat to make the Kawasaki as comfy as your favourite arm-chair. A pillion is well treated, too, with a similarly generous amount of seat room plus a solid grab-rail to hold. The seemingly big fuel tank holds only 16 litres, but at the speeds this bike is likely to travel that will be good for a range of well over 100 miles. Suspension at both ends is fairly soft, but well-enough damped to give a stable ride. Forks are 41mm units, and worked pretty well. Occasionally the Drifter lurched slightly as its air-assisted shocks hit a larger bump or dip in the road, but the rest of the time the bike felt very solid. So it should, given its laid-back steering geometry and long, 1655mm wheelbase. It´s very much a big, slow-steering machine that takes some effort to manoeuvre in town traffic, but feels unshakeable on the open road. Daytona Beach and the surrounding bit of Florida did suit the Drifter in that there are very few bends to interrupt the big bike´s stately straight-line progress. In fact, despite dragging its footboards at modest angles, the Kawasaki cornered competently, provided I didn´t get carried away. It’s front brake, neatly hidden behind the big fender, is a single 300mm disc gripped by a twin-piston caliper. Provided the lever was squeezed hard, and given some help from the rear disc, the Drifter could be made to stop fairly hard. Of course this talk of how the Drifter handles and brakes is all very well, but this bike, as much as any American-built V-twin, is really all about image. For my money, and at £7175 this bike costs a fair bit less than most Harleys, let alone the new Indian Chief that has just been launched in the States, Kawasaki has done a great job of capturing the look, if not so much the feel, of a Forties classic. Of course, there will be some people for whom a Japanese bike pretending to be an American one will never be a patch on the real thing, especially when it substitutes smoothness and efficiency for the more basic, rough-edged appeal of most rival V-twins. Fair enough. But for those who are more interested in style, cruising comfort and price than character or country of origin, the VN1500 Drifter is good enough to be taken very seriously indeed. That's what Kawasaki had to pay Indian motorcycles all the best Deadhead Dave

You need screen stabilization. I’m getting motion sickness. I bet I’m not alone.

Will the REAL Indian Motorcycles please stand up? Half of the room stands up. It gets confusing to many people. Kawasaki is a brand you can trust.

Thought the bigger one was a 1100,not 1500

That's a kawasaki Drifter, with a custom paint job on the tank

It has completely nothing to do with an Indian ,....and who wants to be seen on a fake bike ?

When stock it did not say Indian anywhere on the bike.

I wanted a drifter , was told they didnt sell well. I thought they were cool Nd easier to buy

I love to own one 🤗👍🏼

How much.

Unless I am mistaken Harley moved a bunch of manufacturing jobs from Wisconsin to India. Indian Harleys?

It is hard to get buffering at 35mph.

A Polaris Indian chief has an 1800 cc Engine? Compared to the Kawasaki 800...kind of missing the point?

This guy knows very little about a Drifter.,

Because it made by Polaris?

PLUS WILL PUT IT ON MY BIKE FOR ADVERTISING AS WELL!