I am forty years older

 

Better bikes now!

(My opinion, of course!)

 

Better, more relliable and with electric start.

 

 

besides just the sheer numbers of riders now days, "back in the day" you didn't see as many new bikes. The baggers you seen were mostly own by the "brothers" and had a zillion lights on them. if you did find an ole knuck, pan or shovel you didn't even consider a restoration, only a chop. our weekend trip bedroll was just that and nothing more except your tools rolled up in it. clothes were chippawa engineer boots w/a master link attached to a top buckle, oil soaked levis, chrome primary chain belt and black sleevless t-shirt if you wore one. vest back then were cut off levi jackets

 

well because of the more user friendly bikes there are people now that ride and don't need the mechanical knowledge that we did back then even little things like chain adjustments,changing tires wheel bearings,and even a simple valve job,,,another thing is the aftermarket parts offered today,doing away with alot of the fabrication of parts,,,,,and the clothes offered,man i had a leather jacket and long johns,,,i don't even remeber seeing a pair of chaps till 76,,,,,the way we are treated by the dealers,,,back then the mechanic would explain and show you what was going on,,,,now the bike is locked up in some space where the insurance gods certainly wouldn't give the dealership permission to let some idiot back there to see whats happening,,,,and you used to deal with the owner of the franchise,,,helll they were so close to going out of business the just about kissed your ***,,,,the sad part is some of the same guys own the same franchises today and couldn't care less if you bought a bike or not,,,,,harleys cuctomer service sucks today,but thats true of about 75 % of us companies....years ago you couldn't just walk in any bar or resturaunt and expect to get served,,,,we dont allow leather jackets,,,,,get the bike outta the parking lot,,,it leaks oil all over...now holy **** bars ,dealers ,resturaunts all want u there...i'll think of some more but thats the basics,,,,,but damn i couldnt ride my shovel 800 miles in a day,,,,my glide eats the road,,,what a beautiful thing

 

The biggest difference is your reading this in print , used to be we'd just punch you in the mouth for saying something that stupid in person . Have a nice day .

 

and there weren't so many clubs

 

I'm 52. My dad rode. He rode with my older sisters friends. It didn't seem to matter what year or brand anyone was on. The bikes were all quirky and COOL

 

The only money you put into it was just to keep it running.