Riding 30 years ago
Login  | |
|
Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 8:31:31 AM
|
|
|
Acobia66
Posts: 103
Joined: 4/10/2008
Status: offline
|
This is sort of a takeoff on my sounds of the seventies thread in the off topic board. I'm interested in hearing from the ol' timers what it was like to ride H-D's "back in the day". That would be long before the harley craze took off and bikers stood out more. What were the main bikes on the road, were there more MC's, etc...Let the history lesson begin
_____________________________
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, F**k 'em"
I may not know much but I can Google with the best of 'em!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 8:46:45 AM
|
|
|
R1Geezrglide
Posts: 1569
Joined: 12/17/2005
From: The Woodlands, Tx-Prev Chicago
Status: offline
|
I wasn't riding HD back then-didn't get my first HD until '92. However, not much has changed except traffic is worse and people have even less consideration for others than ever. I ride pretty much as I did in the seventies, alone or with a couple of close friends. The whole 'HOG' thing came about later to create the 'biker club' image without really being a HA or Bandito. That alone is probably the biggest change to motorcycling, bringing it out of the dark corners of a hole in the wall bar turning it into a socially acceptable activity. Of course, I don't miss cleaning and resetting points on the side of the road....
_____________________________
05 FLHT
95" Carb
.030 Cometic
204 cams
VH TD Ovals
SE Ignition remapped
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 8:51:01 AM
|
|
|
tpgun10
Posts: 73
Joined: 5/13/2008
Status: offline
|
Alot of guy's did'nt have the money the yuppie types do today-They rode older bikes-bikes they built, worked on and wrenched themselves....nothing always fancy-just good solid bikes to ride. Guy's knew how to tune a carb., make shit work by figuring it out. Black was the color-no real fancy paint jobs. A good half helmet and a leather jacket and boots-chain wallets.
Ride your bike everyday-for alot that was their transportation. Alot of Sportsters-You could do alot to em. More sissy bars not backrests. Hell, there were less bikes on the road so it seems as today you have so many week-end warriors-it's the only time they ride and they ride for pleasure-short rides plus they don't know how to really "ride". Back in the day guy's rode more, harder, longer, better and it was more a lifestyle-another topic within itself.
Get the book Choopers by Mike Seate published 2003 by Motorbooks-good read on this. Great stories and excellent pic's etc. Worth tracking down at the bookstore or online-buy it.
Thumbnail Image
Thumbnail Image
 Attachment (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 8:52:55 AM
|
|
|
Phlipper
Posts: 61
Joined: 5/11/2008
From: North Carolina
Status: offline
|
I'd say cagers are actually more bike-aware than 25 years ago. At least that's been my experience over 26 years at it. They'll still run yo azz over, though.
There was a tighter brotherhood back in the day among HD riders, but the average rider is more 'open' today to new faces and often more friendly. A tighter brotherhood is a different situation than lots of friendly HD riders like we have today. That can be a good, or bad thing. 
You didn't really miss anything except more bar fights and more patches riding and more hassle with police and rednecks. 
_____________________________
"Like da fish ... but wid a PH"
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 9:03:03 AM
|
|
|
dog155
Posts: 4625
Joined: 11/5/2006
From: Windham,Maine--God's Country
Status: offline
|
I bought my first Harley 80" Flathead in 1962 for $35.00,rode it for a yr.Traded for a 74" Knuckle,rode that for a yr,etc.Since then have had many Harleys,the differences today happened slowly.The price of bikes has gone crazy,traffic has gotten a lot busier.It is hard to find a road that has little traffic,unless you really know an area.That I do! We have fabulous rides up in this neck of the woods.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 9:19:37 AM
|
|
|
R1Geezrglide
Posts: 1569
Joined: 12/17/2005
From: The Woodlands, Tx-Prev Chicago
Status: offline
|
Back in the day, many of the HD riders in my area were patch holders or on the fringes. In my area the HA and Outlaws that were vying for territory and club voilence was not uncommon. Eventually, the Outlaws went away leaving HA. Me-I just rode my Honda that I built in my apartment dining room from a box of parts. It wasn't pretty, but I rode it daily for over 2 years before I bought my first car. I was a constant fixture at the local shops always looking for NOS parts to keep my scoot going. Back then, if you rode a bike, you fixed it as well. It only went to the shop for the 'major' stuff.
_____________________________
05 FLHT
95" Carb
.030 Cometic
204 cams
VH TD Ovals
SE Ignition remapped
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 9:40:45 AM
|
|
|
DeJavu
Posts: 2824
Joined: 6/29/2007
From: Bellville, Tx
Status: offline
|
We had a "no patch" loosely knit club. Centered around a salvage yard that held a wealth of old hog parts. Our "pres" had a shop on the outskirts of town and most of us lived in a 1st floor dorm that had burned and we had made a deal to clean up the mess for rent. On runs we mingled freely and respectfully with several patch clubs in the region. Hassles were mostly internal, couple of bar fights, a knifing or two and a shooting incident(leg wound) over a stolen bike. A run would bring out everything from Aeromacchi to Zundapp, about half were hogs. Lots or parties, drugs, alcohol and young eager women.
That lifestyle would probably kill me quick now, but I do enjoy the long weekend "adult" rallies. They bring back the craziness of the old days for atleast a couple of days.
I can't say riding is more or less dangerous these days.
PS. Any Carbondale, Ill.,"Sons of David" club members here? Just a shot!
_____________________________
You find out who your bros are when you ride a kick only bike.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 10:17:46 AM
|
|
|
TwiggyAZ
Posts: 1358
Joined: 10/16/2007
From: AZ
Status: offline
|
My parents were adventurers. There were scooters, motorcycles, dune buggies, racing cars,etc always around. Father was a back yard mechanic. He had 4 girls and 1 boy. I turned out to be the tom boy and wanted all the boy toys. I rode scooters till the early 70's. I lived in San Berdo in the early 70's. HA was heavy there and one tried to get me to be his OL. Not on your Fin life. Was not into that. Very independent woman. I rode alone. I was shunned by the male riding population, so I rode with family and friends. Dirt bikes, street bikes, Harley choppers. I was always the butt of jokes, and always the talk of the ride. Who cared, when you grew up around it, you learned to ignore it.
I can remember in the mid 70's riding around Detroit with some boys and got kidded pretty heavy at a few bars. The boys finally had enough and there was a big ol bar fight! WOW! Just because I was riding a motorcycle!! WTF??
I didn't fit into the Women on Wheels organization either. I was and still am probably right in the middle. I have no desire to be bad azz, and a lot of the organized motorcycle groups were too political and boring for me.
I do remember being a lot stupider on bikes in the 70's. Never a helmet, never thinking about safety. Blasting down the road thinking I (we) owned it and were cooler than any cager. And I remember having so much fun going everywhere on bikes (or in the psychedelic van!).
In the 80's I saw things change in the Harley world with the inception of H.O.G. The H-D family was bent on making Harley a family oriented sport. While the pre-H.O.G. people held to their meaning of what it was, a new image did come about, and that's what's here today. I think it's great. I love progress, I love to see things evolve.
It's been hard for women, and now a lot of women are in this sport and I have been waiting for that all my life!! I'm loving riding with other women, other people that are just starting, or been riding all their lives. The 70's were fantastic...no doubt. And I love these days just as much.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 10:43:01 AM
|
|
|
Lucky66
Posts: 181
Joined: 6/19/2007
Status: offline
|
Grew up around bikers back then....my Dad rode....my Uncle was a patch holder (R.I.P. Unc).
Them old choppers and scoots were the coolest things you'd ever see! I wish I could go back, being around it so much back then I just didn't seem to appreciate it like I should have. You know what I mean?
Now it seems everybody and their brother has a Harley.
_____________________________
If you can't baffle them with brilliance....riddle them with bullets.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 10:53:28 AM
|
|
|
Sammi
Posts: 1944
Joined: 3/13/2006
From: Connecticut
Status: offline
|
Been riding since 1973 and Twiggy is pretty much on target.
Less bikes on the road, Harley very popular anlonmg with Brit bikes like BSA, Norton and Triumph (which is what I rode). Not many posers - people who had bikes rode them.
Brit bike owners had fingers that smelled of gas because we had to prime the carbs before start-up.
Honda became popluar when they introduced the 750cc 4-cylinder model with electric start and virtually maintenance free riding. Honda grabbed a large part of the Brit sales and even hurt Harley for a while.
Gas was a lot cheaper, although the average income was a lot less too.
The peace sign or clentched fist was the wave of the times.
650cc to 1000cc bikes were the Cruisers of the day.
Seems like ages ago!!!
Sammi
_____________________________
...and so it goes.
2006 Low Rider
Black - the Fastest Color!!!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 11:01:59 AM
|
|
|
FastHoss
Posts: 333
Joined: 12/28/2007
Status: offline
|
Been at it since the seventys,like others you made your own parts and sprayed them black,no money for chrome.All different bikes were chopped,mostly Harleys and Hondas,some Triumphs.Never any mention of what you wore or rode.That's why I get a kick out of some of these topics,even started some myself,just for fun,I can't believe anyone cares if they look like a mushroom head or if someone wears chaps or not,I found if you have a real problem you don't get much help might as well have some fun.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 7:55:28 PM
|
|
|
goodbirds
Posts: 1275
Joined: 4/27/2006
From: St George, UT
Status: offline
|
There were a lot more local motorcycle clubs in existance. It was they that put on poker and benefit runs. The dealers might do one a year. This was pre HOG. Now, the HD clubs are mostly local chapters.
Accessories were still scarce, although my 1977 came with a tour trunk and batwing fairing. It was still a 74 c.i. , four speed bike. I fashioned a back rest out of a secretary chair back, and mounted a CB in the trunk with speaker and mike on the cover over the handlebar attachment point. I put a Pep Boys air horn in the right saddlebag with the trumpets underneath. Rear shock adjustment was with a hinged spanner, that pinched your fingers. We still were running 530 chain drive with oilers that messed up the back fender and the rear wheel. Stock tires came from Goodyear and lasted about as well as now, except that the front and rear wheels were interchangible so you would put the new tire on front, move the front to rear, so you got about 20,000 out of each tire.
You either rode Electra Glide or a chopper if you were a Harley rider. Honda was just coming out with the CB 750 which cleaned HD's plow for smooth performance. My 77 didn't handle near as good as my 07 does, and we were still using drum brakes.
We did have oil coolers that mounted on the right rear crash bar, but no thermostat at first so we had covers for winter use. We still ran 50 wt oil in the winter, and 60 wt in the summer.
_____________________________
Goodbirds
2007 White Gold Ultra Classic
IDS (smooth.....)
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g288/Goodbirds/
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 8:21:02 PM
|
|
|
61panhead
Posts: 643
Joined: 9/6/2007
Status: offline
|
Receding hair line, sagging, wrinkling face, back surgery,....I just wish I had my 20-something body back! 
_____________________________
"A golf course is a willful and deliberate misuse of a good rifle range."
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 8:43:00 PM
|
|
|
Cognizant
Posts: 472
Joined: 3/7/2006
Status: offline
|
Bought my first Harley in 78, a new sportster. I had just moved to west Texas (Odessa).
In the spring of 79 I strapped my old seabag to the sissybar and dressed in a leather jacket, levi's, boots and helmet with shield, rode that bike to St. Petersburg Fl. in 3 days. If I remember right, that's about 1800 miles.
Somewhere in Mississippi, off I-10, I pulled into a truck stop, parked the bike between a bunch of rig's, handcuffed myself to the frame and got my first 4 1/2 hours of sleep before heading down the road again.
Between Pensacola and Tallahassee it rained so hard that cars were pulling off the interstate to wait it out. I didn't have rain gear and was soaked and freezing, so I pushed on to Talahassee where I stopped and got a room, took a hot shower, slept about 6 hours, then finished the trip.
I was in pretty good shape back then, but it still took me 3 days to recover, so I shipped the bike back to Texas via freight and returned on a Delta Airlines flight.
I still have that leather jacket and wear it frequently when riding.
In 1980 I traded the sportster in on a new FXB Sturgis---Harley's first belt drive.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 8:52:20 PM
|
|
|
JKK
Posts: 80
Joined: 4/22/2008
From: Republic Of Texas
Status: offline
|
30 years ago when you met (or saw) someone else on a Harley it was a relatively rare encounter compared to today (and they usually werent accountants and IT professionals)
sadly my brief HD experience from 1974 involved more wrenching and pushing than actual riding, and a lot more swearing and throwing of stuff...
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/19/2008 10:04:01 PM
|
|
|
sharkey
Posts: 530
Joined: 5/14/2007
Status: offline
|
Up here in western Canada, there weren't many HD's; clubbers on real old stuff and cops...my first "big" bike was a BSA 650 Spitfire MKIII; fast in it's day. Remember taking a Super Glide for a spin; it was heavy and sure didn't handle like my BSA but it had awsome torque...but it was real expensive and had a gross back fender. I seem to remember the Harley was near 2 grand while I paid about 1300 for my new 71 BSA. Was earning 300 a month in the Navy then. Gave it a rattle can/masking tape/lace paint job and fabbed up some muffler shop pipes. Lots of Brit bikes, more different clubs up here then; club scene has kinda been "consolidated" these days. Everyone I encountered bought bikes to ride, not for garage trophies. Still have my first leather jacket; wish it fit like it used to. Sure enjoy my 103" Dyna; reliable, fast and smooth. Gonna get one hell of ticket one of these days, though.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 6:04:29 AM
|
|
|
xmarine
Posts: 654
Joined: 7/31/2007
From: Louavul, KY
Status: offline
|
I got out of the Marines Jun77 in CA, went straight to Westminster Harley and bought a new XLCH.
900 Kaw's were all the rage back then and it seemed like every single one of them HAD to prove that they had the badass bike. Most of the Harley riders that I came across were patched greybeards, so I was most definitely the odd man out.
Riding was harder back then, because the public mentality was, EVERYONE on a Harley was HA.
Don't recall there being a 'wave' back then, but, there was 'the nod', and ONLY Harley riders got it!
I saw more chopped 350's - 750's with sissy bars as tall as stop signs, and Harley's with huge thrones that looked like LaZ Boy's!
The BEST THING.......................gas was like 60 cents a gallon!
But gas rationing was a bitch!
You could only buy 10 gallons every other day, depending on the last number of your license plate.
It was during the rationing period that gas finally went over a dollar a gallon, and cars were running out of gas all over the place. People pushing cars to the station, only to have lines 4 blocks long.
I recall siphoning being a major problem also.
Ah....................memories!
xmarine
_____________________________
06 Street Bob
V&H Big Rad
SEAC
V&H Fuel Pak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 7:06:24 AM
|
|
|
Geoff
Posts: 1744
Joined: 10/24/2007
From: Illinois
Status: offline
|
Good topic. I started riding street bikes in '73. Japanese bikes were the rage, not Harleys. I rode a Sportster with an ironhead motor. It sounded better than the current generation bikes. Harleys were unreliable and leaked oil, so most owners were pretty good wrenches.
As with cars, the ability to wrench is fast becoming a lost art. Nowadays, I laugh when I read or hear about someone spending big coin on bling and not a dime on a shop manual.
Old school dealers were small and personable. The owner would remember your name, treat you fairly and sell you a new bike below msrp. The old dealers were true bike shops, not boutiques. When you walked in the door, you smelled oil and solvent. Besides bikes, the only items for sale were parts, accessories and tee shirts. These were no frills shops with people who knew what they were talking about. I like the latest generation bikes, but I miss the old school dealers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 7:11:45 AM
|
|
|
jimrs
Posts: 49
Joined: 1/27/2008
Status: offline
|
The early 70's were when biking got big. Honda with the 4 cyl 750's and 500's were everywhere. Still had a lot of BSA's and Triump around. I think that the Honda's were the ones that got everyone riding due to Gas shortages and Honda's advertising budget. Harley's were considered junk after the bowling ball company took over. So I never saw that many on the road with the exception of a few Sportsters.
Traffic was a lot less and ridding was easier. There were fewer superslabs and the ones we had were new and lightly used. I could ride on any street and feel pretty safe that I would not be killed by an Idiot on a cell phone or playing with his GPS or IPod. I miss the 70's except the pay checks. But My Honda 500/4 only cost me $1,500.00.
_____________________________
2003 FLHTC
Louisiana
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 7:14:28 AM
|
|
|
glebo
Posts: 1925
Joined: 5/6/2006
From: SE NC
Status: offline
|
My dad had a 71/72 something Honda CB350 he would ride to work, and sometimes I would ride on the back. I found it interesting that when fellow bikers would pass, it was the raised fist salute, I guess the prelude to "the wave".
Boy, if the forum fashion police saw what they wore back then, there'd be a whole lotta threads
_____________________________
Outa all the places I’ve been......this is one of ’em!
Just why in the *&\\;%^ do i have to press "\\;1"\\; for English
If you don’t stand behind our troops, PLEASE, feel free to stand in front of them
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 7:19:05 AM
|
|
|
EasternSP
Posts: 5457
Joined: 6/26/2006
From: Stafford, VA
Status: offline
|
I seem to remember more oil and grime on the engines, Mikuni, Weber and Lake injector carbs, wires hanging loose, improvised metal straps to hold things together, kick starting that took longer in the winter, loose chains and worn sprockets, no front brakes or fenders, newspaper under the leather for winter riding, wrinkle finish paint, broken spokes that didn't matter, colors on jean vests and Coors beer.
_____________________________
Ken
2006 Silver Road Glide with this & that
and a get back whip
Marine Corps 1968 - 1993 GySgt (Ret)
JFFJ
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 7:21:45 AM
|
|
|
*J*
Posts: 74
Joined: 5/16/2008
Status: offline
|
Im thinking 30 years ago riders didnt worry about where to plug in there cell phone on a bike.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 7:45:52 AM
|
|
|
Nomad X
Posts: 1331
Joined: 2/16/2008
From: Central FL - for now
Status: offline
|
AMF Harleys,the first 1000cc Goldwings,Vetter fairings to make other bikes look like a wing. The "Beast" beer,Roadrunners,Novas,everybody had a kicker (or a combo),the street two strokers were still noisey and smoking. Lite beer was kinda unheard of,cops didn't have radar,no mc endorcements on your licence,most hogs ran straight pipes,tats were only on military,1%er's,and prison guys. Truckers were cool (Smokey and the Bandit),bikers (Harley riders) were trash/trouble. Archie Bunker was king! Coor's beer was illegal in some Eastern states. And Farrah was the babe!
< Message edited by Nomad X -- 5/20/2008 8:16:34 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 7:57:34 AM
|
|
|
gs34doc
Posts: 182
Joined: 4/3/2008
Status: offline
|
I started riding in 61-62 school year, when I turned 16. Here in Pennsylvania, motorcycles were few and far between. I had saved all my money and bought a flatty in pieces and spent the winter putting it together, with the help of my Great Uncle.
He was a real hoot. Retired from the PA. State Police, and was one of the original troopers that transitioned from horseback to motorcycles. That man could tell some stories!!
There were no such things as helmet laws, or special license requirements for motorcycles at that time. Everybody who rode was familiar with most everyone else, and when you were out for a ride, lots of times when you saw another bike, you would not only wave, quite often you would stop to BS for awhile and checkout your rides. Seems that all pretty much stopped when the Jap bikes started getting more plentiful
I owned and rode Harleys and Triumphs all my life and never had an electric start till 1996. (new FLSTF) When they passed the helmet law I was riding a 67 Triumph TT Special with 15"Apes....see, they are nothing new, we always called them armpit coolers then....anyway, my neighbor said, you're going to need a helmet and I've got one I'll sell you. I bought this football helmet looking thing from him for $3.00, and wore it till they finally repealed the law a few years ago.
Never held a patch, and never rode with anyone much. Knew all the club riders, and they knew me...We all pretty much grew up together. We had the Pagens, and the Outlaws around this area in the 70's and 80's and a bunch of the boys I knew met with bad ends.
Damn, I feel like my Grandpa!! What's up with all this "back in the old days" stuff!!
_____________________________
For those that have fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Riding 30 years ago - 5/20/2008 8:07:25 AM
|
|
|
|
| | |
Printable Version
