Funny Observation

[Finallygotmine]

I'm new here, but I thought I would just relay something that I have found interesting. I've been riding motorcycles for most of my life and always wished to own a great muscle car. I was able to buy my first Harley in 2004. Nice low Rider with red and silver accents. Spent lots of money to make it as custom as possible with all the things I could to make the ride and power better.
This winter I bought my Roadrunner without really researching what kind of people owned classic muscle cars or what kind of things people did to them. I just knew I always wanted one.
Then I bought one.
In the following time span, I joined this forum and have enjoyed it quite a bit. But, It struck me how diametrically opposed these two communities are. If you own a Harley, you are encouraged to make changes and take it as far away from as stock as possible, Paint, motor, fenders, pegs, windshields, lights, tires, grips, braided cables, aftermarket brakes covers and caps just to name a few were and are considered "cool"
In this community (cars), most, but not all, want to keep the cars as stock as possible to the point that if something goes bad, find the correct factory replacement from the correct year to make it as factory original as possible. Even if you put a stripe on the wrong year, you will hear about it from someone.
Not that either of these thought are wrong, I just found that the opposite goals among these two different collector/mechanical communities of American iron, was very interesting.

 

[Ron 73]

Ill bet you really enjoyed that Harley, The work and time, all the parts in it. I know i would, and I have to myself do the same with my cars, if I CANT enjoy it because of others then its not my ride. Some love to take there cars to shows where there scrutinized By other owners and judges hoping for the best one to be there's. All needs to be correct specs, which is fun to do i imagine. If you don't enjoy your ride it kind of takes the fun out which ever way we think. Hope how ever you go you enjoy it as much as im sure you do, your bike.

 

[1badgtx]

Most guys here are purist...There are a few like me that still want a cool car with all the chrome and billet stuff too..For me,it,s my dream car...Never gonna sell it or trade it away..So it,s built for me...Still when I go to local car shows i have the only 67 gtx out of 300 plus cars...
Petty Blue 67 GTX

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Depends on the individual,I can't have a stock mopar.Look how I butchered this factory original '63 plymouth:tongue3:

 

[Coronet 500]

It's almost like time travel to get in that creeky, lumbering 40 year old car regardless of performance level. Then just climb into the modern vehicle with all the electronic conveniences that almost drives itself. It was really neat when I showed my 13 yr old son, at the time, the headlight dimmer switch on the floor, he had never seen such a thing and thought it was the coolest thing ever invented. Go figure.

 

[Finallygotmine]

Ill bet you really enjoyed that Harley, The work and time, all the parts in it. I know i would, and I have to myself do the same with my cars, if I CANT enjoy it because of others then its not my ride. Some love to take there cars to shows where there scrutinized By other owners and judges hoping for the best one to be there's. All needs to be correct specs, which is fun to do i imagine. If you don't enjoy your ride it kind of takes the fun out which ever way we think. Hope how ever you go you enjoy it as much as im sure you do, your bike.

Well, my car does not have a fender tag. so, No matter how original I make it, I wouldn't be able to prove it. So I'm going to make it custom and cool and to my liking. I've never really danced to other peoples drum.
I had a refrigerator delivered once and the guy asked me if i had done it on purpose. I asked him what he was talking about. he pointed out that I had bought all of my appliances and NONE were the same brand. I had never even realized I had done it. I just bought the ones that I liked with the features I wanted. I am not brand loyal I guess.

 

[Finallygotmine]

Depends on the individual,I can't have a stock mopar.Look how I butchered this factory original '63 plymouth:tongue3:

That sir, is NOT butchered.. LOL very nice, and I bet a blast to drive.

 

[696pack]

Actually I think that you are comparing apples and oranges even in the Harley community. Yes, it is true that with the newer bikes and with a select group or nostagia people that do OLD choppers (old school) that custom is the thing to do. However the older Harley owners are just as much into the originality thing as the old car guys are.

I had a 1981 Sturgis Low Rider, one of the first dual belt drive bikes and all blacked out by the factory (hardly no chrome) built by Harley. When I got it the second owner had chromed up a lot of the bike, put drag pipes on it, different seat, etc. but had all of the original parts. One of the first things I did was convert it back to all original.

I have an old friend back in Illinois that has a motorcycle museam / bar (sp?) that is full of antique Harleys, Indians, etc. and most of them look just they way they did when they were pulled from the barns they were found in. he has them back to 1906 as in the old board track racers. That is the way they are worth the most money.

I would love to have both a 1957 Sportster and an old full dresser pan head and if I did they would both have to be done back to stock original.

OTOH, my A12 69 six pack Super Bee is being do in a somewhat resto mod. 440 strocked to a 523 with original intake, carbs, etc., 4 speed overdrive manual, (originally an auto trans car which I still have the oringinal) pistol grip shifter, (not correct for 69) factory A/C, (not available on a 6 pack car) original AM radio converted to AM/FM with under seat amp and 4 speakers in the car, added a vinyl top, AND I may convert it to power windows. I have no intentions of ever selling the car and could car less if people think I have cannibalized the car.

 

[Propwash]

That is an interesting observation...Having growing up around Harley Davidson's and owning one till recently, I definitely see where you are coming from. I'm quite sure a lot people modified their muscle cars back in the day. Pretty sure we've all seen our share of those cannabis induced creations roll through this site. Harley's are still being made everyday and I think one of the big reasons people throw on all the add on's is to set themselves apart.

I think the culture of the old bikes are pretty much like the muscle car's. I mean you really don't see too many Indian's rolling around with Sampson oval's and a S & S air cleaner, along with tassle's dangeling from the grip's. Best stab I got at it is, being they're not rolling off the assembly line anymore and you don't hardly ever see them on the streets, you don't need any extra bell's and whistle's to set them apart. I'm guessing people actually respect them more for what they originally came as, and also respect the technology and era they came from. It's not just a old car/bike..It's a time capsule. Something that bring's back all those great memories of yesteryear.

Now I wasn't fortunate enough to be around when muscle cars were ruling the streets, but I'm still fortunate enough to be able to enjoy this american steel being either from Detroit or Milwaukee. Some of the greatest folks I know or have known, have been part of the car or bike culture. I think they both share the same common ideals of man, machine and the road..... In my opinion, it doesn't get much better than that!

 

[Finallygotmine]

I guess I can see your point. Just curious, you putting that bee back to an auto? ;)

 

[Propwash]

Still hunting for the 70' Bee, but I'm guessing you're referring to my 69' Roadrunner.
Sticking with the auto on that. A TCI Super Streetfighter is taking the place of the old 727, but I don't mind the console auto at all...If it was a column shift, there would probably already be a 4 speed hump welded in place...lol Just my preference.

 

[Finallygotmine]

That is an interesting observation...Having growing up around Harley Davidson's and owning one till recently, I definitely see where you are coming from. I'm quite sure a lot people modified their muscle cars back in the day. Pretty sure we've all seen our share of those cannabis induced creations roll through this site. Harley's are still being made everyday and I think one of the big reasons people throw on all the add on's is to set themselves apart.

I think the culture of the old bikes are pretty much like the muscle car's. I mean you really don't see too many Indian's rolling around with Sampson oval's and a S & S air cleaner, along with tassle's dangeling from the grip's. Best stab I got at it is, being they're not rolling off the assembly line anymore and you don't hardly ever see them on the streets, you don't need any extra bell's and whistle's to set them apart. I'm guessing people actually respect them more for what they originally came as, and also respect the technology and era they came from. It's not just a old car/bike..It's a time capsule. Something that bring's back all those great memories of yesteryear.

Now I wasn't fortunate enough to be around when muscle cars were ruling the streets, but I'm still fortunate enough to be able to enjoy this american steel being either from Detroit or Milwaukee. Some of the greatest folks I know or have known, have been part of the car or bike culture. I think they both share the same common ideals of man, machine and the road..... In my opinion, it doesn't get much better than that!

On the other hand, the easy rider bike is anything but stock. LOL I see where some of you are coming from. I guess if there were someone making replica knuckle heads with new internals, there would be more people saving old harley frames. Or if the old Harley motors produced more HP than new engines.

 

[Finallygotmine]

Still hunting for the 70' Bee, but I'm guessing you're referring to my 69' Roadrunner.
Sticking with the auto on that. A TCI Super Streetfighter is taking the place of the old 727, but I don't mind the console auto at all...If it was a column shift, there would probably already be a 4 speed hump welded in place...lol Just my preference.

no, I was responding to 696pack, we just posted about the same time.

 

[Propwash]

no, I was responding to 696pack, we just posted about the same time.

OIC...sorry, crowded room

 

[Finallygotmine]

OIC...sorry, crowded room

no problemo

 

[696pack]

On the other hand, the easy rider bike is anything but stock. LOL I see where some of you are coming from. I guess if there were someone making replica knuckle heads with new internals, there would be more people saving old harley frames. Or if the old Harley motors produced more HP than new engines.

That is what I am talking about regarding nostalgia choppers. There are still a lot of old knucklehead bikes that got chopped back in the 60s and 70s and they will never be brought back to original but ARE being or have been freshened up. It is kind of like a resto of a chopper craze that happened 40 years ago and guys are reliving their youth with it.

My Bee had already been converted to a 4 speed when I got it. The numbers matching auto trans came with it and I will always keep it but it will never go back in the car.

 

[scotts74birds]

Been riding for nearly 25 years. Nobody is afraid to chop or alter anything new, cars or bikes. To me, a new Harley is a blank-canvas for me to make it what I want. My '97 Softail Custom is modded to what I want it to be. My 53 rigid FLH is my true custom. Lotsa rake, +6" forks, 18" apes, sissy bar, king-queen seat, speedmaster tires, 73 Shovelhead, belt-drive primary. All flat black and bare aluminum. Nobody gives a **** about chopping a new Chally either! Unless something is a one-of-none, or other rarity, feel free to make it yours. My 74 RR is a 318 car, and nobody gives a **** what I do to it.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Here a few scooters that showed up at the Oyster Bay tuesday night cruse last year.:sleepy2: