Launched in 1999, at the same
time as the Drifter 800, the Drifter 1500 looks very similar to its smaller
sibling. Underneath the retro styling however, it is a very different
machine.
Using the liquid-cooled
eight-valve engine from the VN1500, the Drifter has a slow-rewing, grunty
power delivery, helped by its electronic fuel-injection system. A
maintenance-free shaft drive transfers power to the wide 40cm (16in) back
tyre and a five-speed gearbox is changed by a heel and toe shifter pedal.
The chassis is similar to the
VN1500, with a hidden rear suspension system.
But it is the Drifter's styling
which is most important. Taking its cues from the American Indian marque of
the 1940s, the Kawasaki design team committed fully to the concept. At the
front of the bike, a massive, deeply valanced mudguard shrouds almost the
entire wire spoked front wheel, topped off by a small headlight and fat fork
shrouds. A seamless teardrop fuel tank leads back to the well-padded solo
seat, and another bizarrely deep mudguard.
The whole arrangement is
underlined by a snaking, chromed exhaust pipe which ends in a fishtail
slashcut pipe. The Drifter has less chrome plate than other cruisers - 1940s
Indians didn't have much chrome either, and many metal parts are finished
with a gloss black paint.
Riding the Drifter is much like
riding many other large cruiser. The engine quickly revs out, and changing
up at 3500rpm gives the best progress. Top speed is around 185km/h (115mph),
but the wide bars and no wind protection makes keeping this speed up hard.
There's little ground clearance, and the suspension and brakes are rather
unsophisticated.
Kept in town or on slow highway
cruises, however, the Drifter is a civilized ride. Many riders customize
their Drifter with some of the extensive catalogue of factory and
aftermarket custom parts available.
