Fuel injected, shaft driven, water cooled, and startlingly reminiscent of a 1940 Indian Chief: The Kawasaki 1500cc Drifter is one of those bikes I always wanted. They were only made from 1999 to 2005, I think, and other than what I’ve read on the Internet, I have no idea if they were any good. The most common complaint seems to be that the plastic gear that drove the water pump was prone to failure (Kawasaki used a plastic gear on at least one other model that was also problematic; these guys were slow learners, I guess). But in my eyes, they hit a home run in the styling department. They just look cool.
I spotted this one in a San Francisco Bay marina parking lot, and I instantly wanted it. Don’t get me wrong: Doug Bingham notwithstanding, I have absolutely zero desire to own a sidecar. If I had this bike, the first thing I’d do is lose the sidecar and sell it. But ah, that motorcycle. That I would keep. And ride, and ride, and ride.
The later years had different colors; the first year, I think, got it right with the deep burgundy, red pinstriping, and those beautifully valanced fenders. Kawasaki got a little weird from what I’ve read with the rear fender design; it pivots up and down with the rear suspension. Ah, what’s a little unsprung weight between friends, especially on a motorcycle that no one bought because of the handling. I also read that the fuel economy was abysmal on these bikes, but other folks said it was okay. Whatever. I wouldn’t buy this bike to save fuel. But I would buy it if the price was right, even though I could get a used Sportster for the same kind of money. I like it.
Kawasaki made both a 1500cc and an 800cc Drifters. The 800cc version came in a pastel blue that was stunning. When one of my friends first saw these photos, he asked if the bike was a 1500 or the smaller 800. I was pretty sure it was the 1500, but I wasn’t sure. Then I remembered one of my photos caught the VIN label and I was able to zoom in enough to know.
I shot these with my phone, and I guess that iPhone 12 does a good job. It’s a 1500cc Drifter, as you can see above.
If I owned this bike, I think the only thing I’d do (other than a regular service and a good detailing) is to maybe get the seat redone. It looks just perfect to me as is.
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Hey, how about this supercool World War II US Navy Indian 30-50?
You can see the Indian 741 featured in the above video in person at the Chino Planes of Fame Museum, and you can read our feature story on it in Motorcycle Classics magazine.