Back when....???
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 4
From: WA
The biggest differance of today vs. back when..... the cops are a bit more hmmmm cautious about pulling a harley over compared to then. Now days it might be a business man or lawer that ilk riding compared to back when. we had maps and s sense of adventure when we headed out(if we took maps) we wertnt so PC as they are today.... hell for me the list is endless of the bikers "back when" and of the riders oof today
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 21,949
Likes: 6
From: My house
40 years ago I just wanted a motorcycle, any motorcycle finally got one, we rode dirt, street, cold, hot, winter, spring, summer, fall, wet or dry. a big bike was around 500/750 cc, most folks rode whatever they could buy as long as it had two wheels and ran, not a lot of dealers back then,,, remember a bud had a 68 model Yamaha 180 two stroke twin, smoked like crazy fouled the plugs, but he liked the old ride, you were liable to see a Norton, BMW, Harley, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, street/trail, and all out dirt bikes, all riding together having a good time.
I don't think the love of motorcycles has changed if you really enjoy them. Like said biggest change is number of riders and number of increased cagers and highways, back then there weren't any freeways or not all of them were completed yet.
Like said there weren't as many motorcycles back then, or as many riders, so I think that's the biggest change is the huge number of motorcycles and riders now along with the technology the bikes have changed over the years,,, will be probably the same kind of change 40 years from now, but I'll be riding somewhere else besides earth so I won't have to worry about it!!
I don't think the love of motorcycles has changed if you really enjoy them. Like said biggest change is number of riders and number of increased cagers and highways, back then there weren't any freeways or not all of them were completed yet.
Like said there weren't as many motorcycles back then, or as many riders, so I think that's the biggest change is the huge number of motorcycles and riders now along with the technology the bikes have changed over the years,,, will be probably the same kind of change 40 years from now, but I'll be riding somewhere else besides earth so I won't have to worry about it!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
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....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46,845
Likes: 22,534
From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
Okay...I have a question Question:
In your opinion, what is/are the differences with today's motorcyclist the motorcycling community compared to 30 -40 years ago?
I'm sure there are going to be some things that are better now, and some that were probably better then, but that's not really the question as to better. Just the differences with the judgment left to the each reader's mind.
So to the graybeards who are long in the tooth..thanks in advance
In your opinion, what is/are the differences with today's motorcyclist the motorcycling community compared to 30 -40 years ago?
I'm sure there are going to be some things that are better now, and some that were probably better then, but that's not really the question as to better. Just the differences with the judgment left to the each reader's mind.
So to the graybeards who are long in the tooth..thanks in advance
I think this was on a Saturday night, But he said.you guys can stay at our place and sleep on the floor till you get your bike running. Cool we did it.The next day I found the voltage regulater was fried and the Guy says, there's a motorcycle junk yard in Ashville NC but it won't be open till Monday, That's an hour drive from there, each way.
So finally I get some $$$ westeren unioned to me, Monday morning we go in their cage and get the part I needed. Put it on and away me and the OL go!!
I will never forget the folks that have helped me over the years. We didn't have $$$ and still don't. Those people were broke too.. And didn't ask for a dime, all though I gave them all I had left over cept gas $ to get home.
We did stay in touch by USmail for a year, but I have never seen them again.............
I wish it was still that way today.........But I don't think it is.....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,450
Likes: 4
From: El Cajon Ca.
I have been riding on the street around 34 years. Back then we rode in the rain all the time. It didn't matter. I had an Uncle that raced flat track so I was in the parts like no other. I was getting his left overs and loving every minute of it. Used tires back then were what I seeked out. That and drive chains. And traffic there was very little and you never had to worry about hitting any.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
From:
I bought my first Harley in 1977 when I was 20 years old and in the Army. It was a rather noisy, oily, crappy Sportster but I rode the hell out of it for a couple of years. Back then there were few Harley riders on the road when you went anywhere. You better know how to work on the SOB because sure as sheeeet it's gonna break down. Very few parts and accessories available from the HD dealer. I think the bikes today are very dependable and one helluva lot safer to ride. I believe I appreciate it much more today than back then. I like having a cell phone, HOG card, GPS, ABS, Ipod, heated grips, cruise control, etc. on my new Limited. I can call and have a trailer on the way in minutes if needed compared to thirty-some years ago having to walk or ask someone to call for you, and hope your buddy was home to answer the phone ( who has a pickup truck ) You gotta let go and change with the times.. Just my 2 cents. Jr.
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
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 1
I can remember when you saw riders with leathers (assless chaps, fingerless gloves, and that all too familiar motorcycle jacket with so many zippers you'd take forever tryin to count them), they weren't shiny and they didn't look like they just came off the shelf with the fold creases in them still. They were scuffed, worn, dirty and cracked even. You had to earn every scuff on them. And when you saw them you knew you were lookin at a BIKER, not joe and betty "I'm better than you" out on a sunday cruise.
Just last week, at the local dealer gettin some parts, my brother and I rode in at the same time as a group of 6 or 8 guys who had just ridden up from out of town for the sale we didn't know was goin on. Every one of them had shiny leathers on, and it just struck me funny the way they all reflected the sunlight so well. Inside, I heard one of the eldest in the group talkin about how many dealers they had hit on the way up, and which ones they were going to hit in the next few hours.
This also brought to mind, that when I bought my bike from the previous owner, he was kind enough to give me all the reciepts he had kept for work that was done on the bike since he bought it. Nice gesture, and I was very appreciative. When I got home and read through them, half the reciepts were for jewelry and t-shirts, little doo-dads purchased just to show he had been to here or there.
Yeh, I guess I miss the good ol' days when what you owned didn't mean as much as what you did with it...
Just last week, at the local dealer gettin some parts, my brother and I rode in at the same time as a group of 6 or 8 guys who had just ridden up from out of town for the sale we didn't know was goin on. Every one of them had shiny leathers on, and it just struck me funny the way they all reflected the sunlight so well. Inside, I heard one of the eldest in the group talkin about how many dealers they had hit on the way up, and which ones they were going to hit in the next few hours.
This also brought to mind, that when I bought my bike from the previous owner, he was kind enough to give me all the reciepts he had kept for work that was done on the bike since he bought it. Nice gesture, and I was very appreciative. When I got home and read through them, half the reciepts were for jewelry and t-shirts, little doo-dads purchased just to show he had been to here or there.
Yeh, I guess I miss the good ol' days when what you owned didn't mean as much as what you did with it...
Last edited by CroK; Jan 20, 2010 at 08:50 PM.