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Oh man that brings back some memories was the early 90's last time I got to play the "Who are you, what are you doing here and do you have any weapons on you ? " game on the side of the road like that complete with pictures and finger prints going into the big book the nice policeman had in the trunk.
Did my share of leaning on hot hoods back in the day.
Great times riding with hometown party animals in the 70's. Some of us still get together and share stories, but sadly not many still ride. My oldest friend still has his 57 pan, but it hasn't been on the road for years. In 75 three of us rode from CT and toured Nova Scotia for two weeks. Two Triumphs and my 71 Honda 750. Best time ever despite major hassle at the border both crossings and one local Maine cop. Two of us made it home, got the van and back to Maine to pick up the broke Triumph. Partied the whole time and also hooked up with my future ex wife. Wouldn't change a thing.
Today, I'm really enjoying my bike. Just miss the ol'days with youthful craziness and cool girls.
Being born in '69, I obviously wasn't riding then, but the old man was. Sold his '48 Pan before I was born (& regrets it to this day).
That said, I took my 1st ride on the tank of dad's BSA 650 Lightning at 18 mos & was a regular passenger on the tank of his Yamaha 650 till I was big enough to ride pillion, coincidentally about the same time he bought his '75 FXE.
Went everywhere with the old man on that Shovel, along with his heathen friends on their Pan & Knuckle chops, stroker Shovels & hot-rodded XLCHs. Crazy parties, epic runs, beaucoup laughs & great memories.
My old man & his 2nd wife at their wedding in '82-
Remember when chicks got a free t-shirt at the dealership, if they tried it on in the showroom? Sigh...
I miss the days when being a biker wasn't "socially acceptable". I know hindsight is always viewed through rose colored glasses, but it seems the brotherhood of bikers has gone the way of the dodo & everything's turned into some overpriced, commercialized fashion statement.
Hell, I dunno. I find that the handful of folks I ride with are either my age & raised by bikers (hell, my OL is a biker's kid & her brother, one of the coolest ***** I've had the pleasure of meeting, rides as well), or my dad's age & riding since way back.
That Shovel hasn't been ridden since '87 & with the passing of my step-mom, the old man's been itching to get back in the wind. I'd love to get 'er back up & on the road, just so that I can ride with the old bastard.
The "old days" are sadly never coming back, just hate that the old ways seem to have disappeared with them.
The "old days" are sadly never coming back, just hate that the old ways seem to have disappeared with them.
Well, I was born in '48, so I was riding in '69, and I'm going to offer a more positive outlook on things today.
The "old days" are gone, but the same kind of people who made them the good old days are still here. The guys and gals that were your best friends back then, all in their (for example) 40's at the time, the ones that would party with you, ride with you, have your back, are all still here. The new crop, that is, in their 40's today.
The only difference is that today we aslo have the much larger group of riders that are following the marketing; the "dentists in chaps". 40 years ago, when the bikes were all kickers, it was different. But the riders today who will look you in the eye and shake your hand are the same guys from 40 years ago.
You just have to be able to pick them out of the crowd of riders in brand new vests and trailered in bikes.
All the 305's, the Scrambler, Super Hawk, and the Dream, are all seriously collectible these days. Like everybody says, I wish I still had mine.
"Seriously collectible" unfortunately doesn't mean valuable! I see restored Dreams selling for $1500 to $3000 and replacement mufflers alone are $2200! That's why I haven't gone "factory original" on mine.
I'd rather have had a Superhawk but couldn't find one at a sane price.
"Seriously collectible" unfortunately doesn't mean valuable! I see restored Dreams selling for $1500 to $3000 and replacement mufflers alone are $2200! That's why I haven't gone "factory original" on mine.
I'd rather have had a Superhawk but couldn't find one at a sane price.
You've got my first ride in the back. Rented one, guy told me push that button, twist that, step on that lever... and away I went with no experience. Think I hit top speed before I ever tried the brakes. Only thing I didn't like about it was it wouldn't break the speed limit. Hell, it wouldn't go the speed limit...
About the only thing my old man did after WW2 was drive trucks and party on his Indian. Got some old pics from the early 40's of him and his buddies on their bikes. On weekends they used to blast around side by side passing a whiskey bottle back and forth.
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