Back when....???
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 934
Likes: 3
From: Northern California
I started riding forty-eight years ago on dirt bikes and bought my first street bike - see picture below - back in 1972 when I was twenty. Back then all you needed to be in the club was two wheels and a engine. I remember guys riding Triumphs, BSA's, and Norton's riding along with Harleys and nobody thought twice about it. Back then we rode hard and enjoyed the ride. Now you got a bunch of riders asking "can I wear fringe with my *** less chaps" and **** like "do any of you put your feet down before you stop", I mean who gives a rats ***. Back then it was about the ride and not about what we were wearing. The bikes were easy to work on and you didn't have to go to a dealer for anything. Back then people rode because they loved riding, and that's still why I ride today.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,529
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
2 things....
1)We used to have to kick start bikes... and anyone with an electric starter, parked on a hill... because they didn't always work
2) didn't matter what you rode... you were going be on the side of the road and FIXING something....sure there were mechanics, back then.... but they were never around when you were riding.. so you fixed the bike yourself
On the flipside of #2 we used to always have a van, or a truck follwing us on any sort of ride.... because parts would come off, or someone would break down... and we needed that chase vehicle
1)We used to have to kick start bikes... and anyone with an electric starter, parked on a hill... because they didn't always work
2) didn't matter what you rode... you were going be on the side of the road and FIXING something....sure there were mechanics, back then.... but they were never around when you were riding.. so you fixed the bike yourself
On the flipside of #2 we used to always have a van, or a truck follwing us on any sort of ride.... because parts would come off, or someone would break down... and we needed that chase vehicle
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
I started riding forty-eight years ago on dirt bikes and bought my first street bike - see picture below - back in 1972 when I was twenty. Back then all you needed to be in the club was two wheels and a engine. I remember guys riding Triumphs, BSA's, and Norton's riding along with Harleys and nobody thought twice about it. Back then we rode hard and enjoyed the ride. Now you got a bunch of riders asking "can I wear fringe with my *** less chaps" and **** like "do any of you put your feet down before you stop", I mean who gives a rats ***. Back then it was about the ride and not about what we were wearing. The bikes were easy to work on and you didn't have to go to a dealer for anything. Back then people rode because they loved riding, and that's still why I ride today.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
We bought basket-cases and modified them with our own ideas and hands. That is what I call true "pride in what you ride." Nowadays, especially most HDForum members/owners, "they" buy Harleys just to brag about their incomes making it possible to purchase $30,000 touring models and $50,000 pick-ups to haul them to Sturgis.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 970
Likes: 1
I pretty much agree with all of the responses so far. If I had to pick one thing that strikes me the most, it would probably be that the percentage of riders who understand their machines is much lower today. My memory is admittedly a little fuzzy (another difference, various different, um, controlled substances were commonly consumed back then... 
), but my recollection from 30-40 years ago was, if someone owned a bike, they probably knew how to work on it. They had tools, and spare parts. They knew what was likely to break, and when something broke, they knew what it was and how to fix it. I remember knowing a few guys who just "had" bikes and didn't know squat. And those bikes sat in the garage most of the time...broken. And I thought the owners were kind of dorky. But only a vague kind of way. Because that's the other big difference, I don't think there was as much stupid "fashion" thinking, or concern with appearances and stuff. So I just thought, "well, those guys probably shouldn't have bikes, they don't know anything about them."
Today, most of the riders I meet know little to nothing. I know some Harley riders who couldn't tell you the size of their engine, and don't know which is an air cleaner cover and which is a horn cover. I guess it shouldn't bother me...but it kind of does. I think we've lost something....
), but my recollection from 30-40 years ago was, if someone owned a bike, they probably knew how to work on it. They had tools, and spare parts. They knew what was likely to break, and when something broke, they knew what it was and how to fix it. I remember knowing a few guys who just "had" bikes and didn't know squat. And those bikes sat in the garage most of the time...broken. And I thought the owners were kind of dorky. But only a vague kind of way. Because that's the other big difference, I don't think there was as much stupid "fashion" thinking, or concern with appearances and stuff. So I just thought, "well, those guys probably shouldn't have bikes, they don't know anything about them." Today, most of the riders I meet know little to nothing. I know some Harley riders who couldn't tell you the size of their engine, and don't know which is an air cleaner cover and which is a horn cover. I guess it shouldn't bother me...but it kind of does. I think we've lost something....