Where are all the Old Schoolers
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 239
Likes: 2
From: California
Bit of a newbie here myself, but been riding HD for 20 years now. Bike stores are not too common over here in Ireland, so I've learned the hard way ,how things work and how to fix them on my Bikes. A stock bike with bolt ons can look good, but any bike with one of a kind custom parts will always pull the crowd. The bikes here are mine and built by me.I know them,and trust them.Just got a Cross bones. It is being worked on. You are not alone
Nice builds there.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 512
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
As enthusiast we all love our bikes. Each one of us has their likes and dislikes as to style. But as anyone who hangs here much knows. The majority of us like to do our own wrenching. The Fatbone has never been in the dealership for any type of work. With the exception of me dropping the wheels off to have tires mounted. If I ever have a major mechanical issue, I'd let someone else rebuild the motor or tranny. I'm just not set up to do it. But one of the best parts about owning this bike is the knowledge I gained doing all the wrenching to get it back on the road after the crash. Of course one of the few demands i had during the purchase process was the inclusion of the Service Manual into the deal. The owner said that that was the first time that was requested. I simply told him I didn't need a helmet or jacket or such. But I did need the Manual. I just wish I had added the Parts Book to the deal. But they have treated me very well any time I needed info.
Last edited by dc4stroke; Jan 31, 2010 at 09:23 AM. Reason: spelling
Banned
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Halfway to Hell
As enthusiast we all love our bikes. Each one of us has their likes and dislikes as to style. But as anyone who hangs here much knows. The majority of us like to do our own wrenching. The Fatbone has never been in the dealership for any type of work. With the exception of me dropping the wheels off to have tires mounted. If I ever have a major mechanical issue, I'd let someone else rebuild the motor or tranny. I'm just not set up to do it. But one of the best parts about owning this bike is the knowledge I gained doing all the wrenching to get it back on the road after the crash. Of course one of the few demands i had during the purchase process was the inclusion of the Service Manual into the deal. The owner said that that was the first time that was requested. I simply told him I didn't need a helmet or jacket or such. But I did need the Manual. I just wish I had added the Parts Book to the deal. But they have treated me very well any time I needed info.
It's a 50/50 spread. Half the folks that I've met from here, in person BTW, do their own work, but the other half take their bikes to the dealer for oil changes.
I think what keeps some people from doing their own work is that they intimidated by the bike and how much they spent on it. The more you work on bikes the easier it is to see the bike as a piece of metal as opposed to a big shiny pile of cash.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 13
From: Northern UTARD
Good point Jack, I've got a few friends who were intimidated by doing ther own stuff. After you've showed them how they say fvck I can't belive I've been paying harley for this. Of course anything below a topend job i'll leave to the professional indy wrenchs.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,477
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
I do know how to wrench but I'd rather be riding. What is old school? Did they know how to wrench because it was necessary to ride? How many actually wrenched and how many took their rides to a mechanic that did it for them? I look back 30 or 40 years and the good old days don't really look that good to me. Today the average guy can buy a bike and just ride. I think in that respect things are much better. Do you want to build a custom? Look back and try to find custom compared to stock in the old days. Most then couldn't do what you're referring to. Some bought bikes and couldn't even get them home without something breaking on them. Today you can buy a harley and ride without worrying about whether or not it's going to get you home. I'd rather have todays rides than the custom of yesterday. Same goes for the hot rods of yesterday. Give me disc brakes and the handling capabilities of todays go fast cars. Yesterday is nice to look at but don't make me use it as an everyday vehicle.
For me, "old school looks" means simplicity in design and function.
Nothing in those two approaches means I can't have disc brakes, reliable electrics, or the better metallurgy of today's engines, etc.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Ya know mentioned earlier, the wrenchin was a neccesity to many of us,but lets explore why. its been mentioned and keeps gettin skipped over. 1st alot of us couldn't afford the shops, 2nd some times things would break more than once prompting you to figure out how to fix it better. 3rd old bikes stock were slow as crap, and someone figured out how to makem faster. but 4th and in my opinion most important was the gatherings at your garage. the never ending, I think you should do this and I want to do this kinda thing, and when ya didn't have an answer everyone had a problem that needed figured out cause the only thing worse than your ridin buddies ride being down was your ride down. there was a commarodity amoungst friends that kept everyone in the wind and enjoying being in the garage. believe me, noone appreciates that bikes have gotten more reliable than I do, but that just means, in MHO, that I can focus on cool things to do to my bike now instead of puttin my pennies together to keep it runnin.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
you guys that remeber the shovels will understand how when I got my first evo I thought I had died and gone to hog heaven. but even the shovels now can be more reliable. infact I want to start a fresh build with one as my 900 iron head sporty has been done and running great for some time now. I just had an offer on it thats going to be hard to turn down, but the thought of a new build , soon as my current evo is back together, may just be in the cards. I've been goin to sleep at night with a open belt 93 inch shovel in my head an well I just don't have enough passion yet for the twin cam. great motor, nothin bad to say about it, but just hasn't stirred my juices yet. maybe in another 20 years or so. hehe.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
Yeah, back in the mid 60s we would get together and help each other work on their bikes, and they needed it. None of us had a Harley, (couldn't afford it then) but we would tune, mod, clean shine whatever on whatever. The group had it all, Kawas, Yammys, I rode a BSA, that really needed a lot of "fixin". We all learned about the different bikes, 4 stroke, 2 stroke, and the occasional no stroke. Then we had kids, different jobs etc. but a lot beer was downed and good time for all.
