This is not a post meant to criticize anyone; I am just curious. I have always been on the getting by side economically, hence I have been a do the best you can with what you have, make do with what you got, etc kind of guy. My bikes go close to rat bike at times. Partly because I am pretty rural and like the older stuff, but mostly because of finances. I do like stock or mainly stock bikes.

Those of you doing the meticulous restorations have done some wonderful things with old iron. I believe that these are done for hobbies and the self-satisfaction of accomplishing something. I am quite sure they are not made as investments, or rather money makers. They certainly are an investment, but they will never show a profit or even come close to breaking even.

My main question is once you get those bikes as perfect as possible, are you ever going to ride them and destroy all of your work? Keep bringing it back to perfect? Being satisfied that you made it perfect and then just let it go to normal wear and tear and ride the heck out of it? I know Troy Montoya rides his restorations. Again, I am not critical, just curious. I would have no problem owning one of those restorations and just drooling over it daily in my living room, but I most likely would ride the heck out of it!

A friend (RIP) once had a Ford 427 Thunderbolt motor that I always admired. I had tried to buy it from him numerous times. Well, he was killed a few years ago and his father told me that he knew about my desire to buy that motor and that how much he knew I admired it and told me that I could have it. He asked me what were my plans for it? I told him that I was just going to put it on an engine stand in my living room and admire it. When I went to pick it up it was gone! Stolen!

 

I'm pretty much the same way as you are and because of the questions you put out there I'll be reading the responses. I've had some financial set backs so I haven't been able to get back to my failed engine rebuild yet but my view on the subject is that I love the bike so I would rather spend $10,000 on a bike that I love than give up and buy another Harley that will be just another bike.

 

Mike, my plan was always to restore my 82 FXR to as close to original as possible, then ride it to next year's Yankee Chapter AMCA meet for judging to see how they like it. Once that was done, I will add it to my rotation of bikes that I ride, and live with normal wear and tear. Their motto is "Ride 'em, Don't Hide 'em".

My 79 FXS was also rebuilt down to the frame, and I've put a few thousand miles on it since, including a 1000 mile ride to the Baltimore area from CT last year.

My projects are definitely more expensive and time consuming than they are worth financially, but give me great satisfaction doing a job as well as I can. Plus they keep my mind and hands occupied. You all understand "getting in the zone" while working on some aspect of the job.

ps: sorry about that 427, it would have made a great coffee table base!

 

Restoring them is therapeutic for me, the challenge of getting it right is both frustrating at times but very rewarding too. As silly as it may sound Im one of those that sees us as caretakers of these cool machines and it's my responsibility to not screw them up. None of my bikes are for display but Im not going to drive a number 1 bike into the ground and go through that process again. Jay Leno does that because he can and he's not the one doing all the grunt work from beginning to end. For me the only way is to have multiple bikes. Each one gets used and I select 3 (maybe 4) that I'll use in any given season and the others are for my viewing pleasure that season because insuring them all at the same time for road use doesn't make financial sense. I also have a go to modern bike.

 

Those are the responses I had hoped. The satisfaction of doing something yourself is a huge reward. I shoot collectible guns as well. I look at "not shooting guns" or "not riding bikes" pretty much like not screwing your girlfriend to keep her tight for the next guy. But as I said I wouldn't mind having a perfect example to just admire! (Bike, not woman!!)

 

I just love all bikes and everything to do with them. I work on all my bikes. When I had a 2012 fatboy I hated the fact that I had to bring it to the dealer to plug it in. Now my main bike is my 94 Roadking and I'm restoring my 75 glide which is my favourite model Harley.
My dad is a retired mechanic who has no interest in bikes but likes seeing a job done right. It keeps him busy and it's something for us both to work on together.
It will never be my commuter but it will be used. No interest in expensive ornaments.

 

Cycocycle I know exactly what you mean! I had a 2006 Softail Standard Fuel Injected. The bike was maintenance free. I never had to adjust the rear belt. All you did was turn the key and go, no fuel valve, no nothing, just go. But and that is a big but, I was no longer independent. If it broke down I was going to need a tow to the dealer. It was a beautiful bike. I often told people as far as handling, this is a Ferrari and my 1984 Super Glide FXEF Shovelhead is a '57 Chevy. I did do something to the Softail that made it handle like a dream and really romp. I got rid of the 200-55-17 rear wheel / tire and replaced with a laced 130-90-16 rear wheel. It looked better and definitely handled better!

 

Two trains of thought on the old iron as well two different mind sets for the owners. Well 3 maybe if you count those of us who take a machine and make it ours in whatever form it takes at the end.

There's the guys who do the grind and restore a bike to as close to factory spec with OEM or refurbished OEM parts as it can get. Those owners will ride the machine but it won't be the hard daily and it'll get regular love to keep it close to that pristine state. I can only admire the commitment and dedication of those who do.

Then there's the other group, they'll do a rebuild and try to keep it right but the bike will get some improvements or tweaks with aftermarket stuff to cure known issues with various models or years. This is the bike that's going to get ridden regular and it will show in time.

Then there's guys like me who mostly stay in the second group but have zero issue winging off and going full on Frankenstein on a beater or a pile parts and build something completely unique making it ours.

Some will be a hard rode daily others will sit more as this guy tends to have a few machines to play with.

It's a shovel thing but the evo boys are getting there too, age is about right for them now

 

For the Shovelhead project I'm into now it's about a connection to another time in my life and the perspective age now delivers. I'd probably fall into TwiZted's second group with the dedication of the first group in the upkeep. My bikes at over 30K, even one I sold at 50K+ look showroom if I bought them new or close to it. It's not about making money but enjoyment. I was **** with my 1969 427 Corvette, matching numbers and NOS parts except for upgrades to the KYB gas shocks, fiberglass transverse leaf spring, 2.5” pipes from manifold to tips, plus it had a Hurst Competition Plus 4 Spd. I had the original shifter too. At idle It had soul you could feel through your feet standing next to it. That car was driven, even to work. I was ordered to halt and put my hands up after work one day. State troopers patrolled the gov't garage I parked in and caught me under the hood....reconnecting my coil wire! I usually pulled it and took it with me as a theft deterrent. I thanked them for their dillgence once I proved I was the owner with employee parking authorization.
I typically keep my bikes a long time except for my first two bikes, Yamahas I owned...pushing on 43 years ago - but never without a motorcycle. I like all motorcycles but would only own certain ones. Money is a lot easier now than when I was working and married to my first wife. So the Shovelhead fell into my lap, I actually walked away from it the first time I checked it out June 15 (spent 2 hours) without making a firm offer, it was parked 12+ years ago and left as is. The widow texted me 2 days later saying it had to be out in 3 days "how much will you give me".... With a purchase price of $1000. I had choices. I'll be easily be $12,000 into this thing before I even throw a leg over it late next Spring. It's hobby, fun, cool and I get to do some minor maintenance that I used to on my first shovel. The best part is wherever I park it next year I won't be next to something like it and it will sound like my first shovel, same pipes.
sbrmike - Man that is a sad story about the Ford 427, legendary engines.

 

That bike sitting 12 years has caused me to share something else. 150 yards from my front door sit a 1977 FX of some type, a 1975 FLH with Sidecar, and a Buelle (spelling). They are out in the weather in the mountains of north-central Pennsylvania. Not covered, not anything! Rotting away. I have tried to contact the owner but he doesn't respond. They are in my friend's yard and he wants them gone as the owner moved out a few months ago. I have been waiting for a good snow to take a more dramatic pic. The 1977 has so much paint on the frame that the serial number is hard to read. There is a very distinct D but I cannot make out the number in front of it. The motor number is present and in the proper font but un-readable. Perhaps I will go down there with a magnifying glass and check closer. I know most 1977 FX models do not have the tabs for forward controls on the frame. I can't tell as this one is buried in the weeds somewhat. It has dual disc brakes up front. It, actually both are hand shift conversions. The sidecar has a Harley-Davidson step on it. It is attached with U-bolts to the frame. I don't know much at all about sidecars and their mounting. The steering stem looks to be adjustable. I was recently asked if I hit the lottery what motorcycle would I buy. I replied I would buy a mid 1970's AMF 1200. I put more miles and have so many memories from my 1976 FXE. My 1984 isn't going anywhere because I have worked on it and know what I have. I don't have near the mileage or memories with it though. It has 50,000 plus miles and I put over 30,000 of them on it. We do have history. I would like to get my hands on one or both of these and bring them back to life. Not anything like the Concourse Restorations that I see here and admire, but just bring them back to life!

ETA: Reference my affection for Ford 427's. Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's my friend fielded a 1968 Mercury Cyclone in then Nascars top series, the Grand National Series. In my opinion it should have remained that. Horse racing's top series was the Grand National afterall. He bought the car from Holmon and Moody in North Carolina and fielded it through 1972. I remember the last year he used it we had to put a new grill and tail lights in it to turn it into a 1969 to be eligible to compete that year; the reasoning was the car was not wrecked so may as well get another year out of it. That had the 427 in it. He bought a new Cyclone or Torino in 1973 with the 429. It is amazing what memories will do to a person, or what we will do to relive them. I saw 427's with giant holes in the side...minor damage; weld up the hole, put a new cylinder sleeve in it and race it!