Times Have Changed
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
That didn't happen till late '73 or early '74. In the 60's, you could blast across Nevada as fast as you wanted; I loved cruising triple digits. Same for Wyoming or Montana, maybe both, I forget which. Lot of folks busted the 55 limit on a regular basis. In '76 I did right about 700 miles in 9 hours, about 8 hours on the bike. Two lane backroads were faster than Interstates, wouldn't get far on Interstates at those speeds, State patrols were sticky about 55.
Back then we had service stations - gas stations with maintenance bays instead of convenience stores. If they had an awning out front, were good places to get out of the rain or take a late night snooze. Pulled into one just getting ready to close one night, asked the guy there if he minded me taking a nap under the awning; he saw my military sticker and said if I wanted to spend the night, I could pull the bike in the bay and sleep in there. There were folks that gave soldiers a hard time back then, but most folks were good to us.
One thing I really miss is all that open unfenced country we used to have. Even with my street bikes, did lots of off road wandering, follow animal trails, logging trails, or just open country that wasn't too rough for the bike. You could ride miles away from roads and civilization, just had to give cows and some of the larger carnivores some room, they tended to not like bikes. Most of the places where I did that are fenced off now. I rode through a big drain pipe that ran under an airport once, can you imagine getting on airport property with a bike now?
Back then we had service stations - gas stations with maintenance bays instead of convenience stores. If they had an awning out front, were good places to get out of the rain or take a late night snooze. Pulled into one just getting ready to close one night, asked the guy there if he minded me taking a nap under the awning; he saw my military sticker and said if I wanted to spend the night, I could pull the bike in the bay and sleep in there. There were folks that gave soldiers a hard time back then, but most folks were good to us.
One thing I really miss is all that open unfenced country we used to have. Even with my street bikes, did lots of off road wandering, follow animal trails, logging trails, or just open country that wasn't too rough for the bike. You could ride miles away from roads and civilization, just had to give cows and some of the larger carnivores some room, they tended to not like bikes. Most of the places where I did that are fenced off now. I rode through a big drain pipe that ran under an airport once, can you imagine getting on airport property with a bike now?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Know what you mean. First ride deep into the occupied territories (yeah, some of them actually used that term), saw 2 drinking fountains and 3 toilets at a lots of gas station in Alabama and Mississippi, finally asked a guy what the extras were for (were labled "other" most of the time). He looked at this clueless naive Northern white boy like I had two heads and explained... The South I experienced in the late 60's was every bit as bad as you've probably heard, but I did occasionally run across black riders that were still enjoying the ride.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Hmmm.,,, I've been riding since 1965... in a Med-small (80,000) town in mid central IN..
I can say back in 60's, when anywhere from 15-30 of us guys on Scramblers and 305's SuperHawks would meet everyday at our local Frisch's and then ride --- somewhere from 1Pm to 5-6pm.. Thing is--- I have to say the LEO's Never Hassled us at all for the 2 yrs I rode like that.
We were all HS'ers. and we didn't race through town,, well most of the time we didn't...
Yes things was a lot diff back then.. but the LEO's didn't have to worry about us kids Robbing, raping, Selling Drugs or stealing anything back then either
A lot of things have changed for the better.. mostly Medicine, But people in general I think have been depressed, repressed and taken a turn for the worse Vs what the world was 50 yrs ago.
I can say back in 60's, when anywhere from 15-30 of us guys on Scramblers and 305's SuperHawks would meet everyday at our local Frisch's and then ride --- somewhere from 1Pm to 5-6pm.. Thing is--- I have to say the LEO's Never Hassled us at all for the 2 yrs I rode like that.
We were all HS'ers. and we didn't race through town,, well most of the time we didn't...
Yes things was a lot diff back then.. but the LEO's didn't have to worry about us kids Robbing, raping, Selling Drugs or stealing anything back then either
A lot of things have changed for the better.. mostly Medicine, But people in general I think have been depressed, repressed and taken a turn for the worse Vs what the world was 50 yrs ago.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 8,680
Likes: 2,279
From: South Carolina
Didn't get my drivers license till 1970 but had a beat up '53 Ford flat head V8 sedan and a two speed moped bike before that. I used to put an old tag on the Ford I got from my sister's BF so I could drive it around sometimes at night when my mom would be out.
Never got caught but one night I passed a cop right at the crest of a hill and he must have read the fear on my face as we passed each other and I saw him do a U-turn just before he went out of sight on the down hill slope. I ducked into a road on the left and pulled into the driveway of a house and shut of the engine and lights and ducked down in the seat. I guess no one was home at the house because I waited there for a good 20 minutes before I headed home and parked that Ford in the barn.
LOL the good old days ... when you could fill up your tank for a few bucks.
Never got caught but one night I passed a cop right at the crest of a hill and he must have read the fear on my face as we passed each other and I saw him do a U-turn just before he went out of sight on the down hill slope. I ducked into a road on the left and pulled into the driveway of a house and shut of the engine and lights and ducked down in the seat. I guess no one was home at the house because I waited there for a good 20 minutes before I headed home and parked that Ford in the barn.
LOL the good old days ... when you could fill up your tank for a few bucks.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3,790
Likes: 3,770
From: Monticello, Florida
Didn't get my drivers license till 1970 but had a beat up '53 Ford flat head V8 sedan and a two speed moped bike before that. I used to put an old tag on the Ford I got from my sister's BF so I could drive it around sometimes at night when my mom would be out.
Never got caught but one night I passed a cop right at the crest of a hill and he must have read the fear on my face as we passed each other and I saw him do a U-turn just before he went out of sight on the down hill slope. I ducked into a road on the left and pulled into the driveway of a house and shut of the engine and lights and ducked down in the seat. I guess no one was home at the house because I waited there for a good 20 minutes before I headed home and parked that Ford in the barn.
LOL the good old days ... when you could fill up your tank for a few bucks.
Never got caught but one night I passed a cop right at the crest of a hill and he must have read the fear on my face as we passed each other and I saw him do a U-turn just before he went out of sight on the down hill slope. I ducked into a road on the left and pulled into the driveway of a house and shut of the engine and lights and ducked down in the seat. I guess no one was home at the house because I waited there for a good 20 minutes before I headed home and parked that Ford in the barn.
LOL the good old days ... when you could fill up your tank for a few bucks.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 503
From: Garrote, California
Me and a buddy of mine were talking about this very subject a couple of weeks ago.
We were laughing about how cool it was when we'd pull into the parking lot of a motel and the "No Vacancy" sign would come on as soon as they saw us.
We were reminiscing about the good times when you could pull into a closed gas station late at night and drain enough gas out of the hoses to fill a peanut tank.
How people used to stare at us like we were a tourist attraction when we stopped at a rest area.
How if a cop saw you going by he would drop whatever he was doing and come after you to hassle you about stupid bullshit.
How when you moved into a neighborhood everyone that lived there would freak out.
How if you walked into a bar that wasn't a "Biker Bar" you would probably have a hard time being served....and so many other little things that used to happen back in the day.
Those were good times, bikers (Real Bikers) stuck together and had the common bond of being outcasts.
If you bought a new bike and it had "issues" you didn't whine and moan about it, you just set about fixing it and went on with your life, and sometimes the repair session would turn into a pretty good party.
We knew that Harleys new and old were pieces of **** and didn't care be cause we liked them and we figured out how to overcome the problems and make them better and more reliable.
Back then you didn't leave on a run without a chase truck or two because you knew that someone would break down at some point and that in some cases we wouldn't be able to get him running again and would have to load him up.
Don't get me wrong here, I kind'a enjoy my super dependable modern day Harleys that never let you down on the side of the highway, but there were lots of cool things about the old days that were way more cool that things are these days.
I miss those days...They were fun.
We were laughing about how cool it was when we'd pull into the parking lot of a motel and the "No Vacancy" sign would come on as soon as they saw us.
We were reminiscing about the good times when you could pull into a closed gas station late at night and drain enough gas out of the hoses to fill a peanut tank.
How people used to stare at us like we were a tourist attraction when we stopped at a rest area.
How if a cop saw you going by he would drop whatever he was doing and come after you to hassle you about stupid bullshit.
How when you moved into a neighborhood everyone that lived there would freak out.
How if you walked into a bar that wasn't a "Biker Bar" you would probably have a hard time being served....and so many other little things that used to happen back in the day.
Those were good times, bikers (Real Bikers) stuck together and had the common bond of being outcasts.
If you bought a new bike and it had "issues" you didn't whine and moan about it, you just set about fixing it and went on with your life, and sometimes the repair session would turn into a pretty good party.
We knew that Harleys new and old were pieces of **** and didn't care be cause we liked them and we figured out how to overcome the problems and make them better and more reliable.
Back then you didn't leave on a run without a chase truck or two because you knew that someone would break down at some point and that in some cases we wouldn't be able to get him running again and would have to load him up.
Don't get me wrong here, I kind'a enjoy my super dependable modern day Harleys that never let you down on the side of the highway, but there were lots of cool things about the old days that were way more cool that things are these days.
I miss those days...They were fun.
Last edited by Mountain Cruiser; Oct 27, 2015 at 06:15 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 15,400
Likes: 19,455
From: Upstate N.Y.-Rochester Area
I first started riding in the early 60's too.
Lot's of good and bad from those times, but these days I mostly remember the good unless someone or something reminds me of the bad.
Seems like the bad memories happens less and less these days.
But it's tempered by the fact that there are also fewer of my old friends being still here with us.
Interesting times to come of age. Glad I was there. Glad to have made it this far as well.
Lot's of good and bad from those times, but these days I mostly remember the good unless someone or something reminds me of the bad.
Seems like the bad memories happens less and less these days.
But it's tempered by the fact that there are also fewer of my old friends being still here with us.
Interesting times to come of age. Glad I was there. Glad to have made it this far as well.
Last edited by RaSh; Oct 27, 2015 at 07:37 PM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
In the 50's I rode Whizzers then moved UP to a Simplex. I would go to a down town indoor range operated by some WWII vets above the drug store. I carried a Stevens 22 single shot with Redman peep sights that cost triple the rife. I had no case for the rife. I walked right past the stores and then back home after shooting. No one thought anything about it. If a 15 year old were to do that today in the same town, squad cars would come from four directions and and if not shot I would be thrown to the ground and prosecuted to the extreme. Might even make the national news as to the horror of children with guns.
Those were the days.
Those were the days.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,821
Likes: 38,673
From: Post Falls, ID
A blue haze and a two-stroke ring ding from my '68 kawasaki 350 avenger is all I remember. I easily smoked the rear tire on that bike. No helmet either, oh those were the daze.
Wasn't a lid of stems $40?
Wasn't a lid of stems $40?
Last edited by upflying; Oct 27, 2015 at 07:54 PM.