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'53 chp

Old Jun 10, 2022 | 01:11 AM
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Default '53 chp

Hey guys. I'm just curious what you think about this bike. This is one of my favorites. Do you think it's legit? Is there anything more you can tell me about it from the pictures? Thanks

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1953-Harley-Davidson-PANHEAD-5021528778
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 06:38 AM
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https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/...EAD-5021528778

Added the link.
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 06:49 AM
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It's Cycle Trader, take it from there. Lot of old bike specialists here can pinpoint good and bad from the pics. I'm sure they will chime in.
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 08:30 AM
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The provided the VIN # in one of the pictures. Call the HD Museum and ask them to do a VIN check for you, tell them you own the bike, do not make it complicated with a long story. They "MIGHT" be able to tell you if the bike started life as a Police bike and not just someone's dream.

As far as the bike, the bags look the part but where is all of the radio equipment? I would assume a real PD bike would be all batteries and radio receivers and other "stuff" filling up the bags.

Good luck.
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 08:34 AM
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I found it curious that the left tank has a dent but the paint and star decal look pristine. That's all I got, don't know much about panheads.
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 09:13 AM
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I would think that the department would strip all the radio equipment before an auction. Looks legit. Has correct fan cooled generator for police bikes.
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 10:03 AM
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Police bikes had black mufflers for the most part and it wouldn't look that good this many years later in chrome or black, the muffler would look like the rest of the exhaust if it was original. No biggie though. I like it.
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 10:06 AM
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The other issue is the term original. Its like that axe where you replace the handle at some point then the head and still call it original. If it was a police bike that went into service it would have been repaired endlessly with several parts being replaced with what fit and worked with no concern for originality.
 
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Old Jun 10, 2022 | 03:46 PM
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No parts for a siren at all in place and no fender mods front or rear - my guess its a part built machine to look like a police

the money is too high anyway
 
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Old Jun 11, 2022 | 08:52 AM
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Money is way too high without documentation.
 
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