What Does "Old School" mean to you?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 6
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
old school to me means chains with missing rollers, gasoline dripping from carbs., adding a quart of 90W oil every 200 miles, fouled spark plugs, oil leaks everywhere, burnt out clutch plates, shot coils,condensers,and points, loose spokes, pitted head steering bearings, shot wheel bearings, adjusting pushrods except flat head 45's side valves and spending more time keeping the old school working most of the time instead of riding. Of course, this was true of the old english bikes that always quit in the rain with a wet magneto.
My new school 02 FXD went 63k miles with only gas, tires, and oil changes every 5K, and new FXDB 5K miles with only gas and a little air in the tires. New school is ride baby ride.
Greatgrandpop
My new school 02 FXD went 63k miles with only gas, tires, and oil changes every 5K, and new FXDB 5K miles with only gas and a little air in the tires. New school is ride baby ride.
Greatgrandpop
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 1,165
From: No where near you, OH
Im 43 but have a friend who just turned 60. This dude is way old school! He hates my King with a passion! After careful conversation with the grumbling old bugger, his idea of a perfect bike is one with a jockey shift and absolutely NOTHING else! No mirrors, no signals, no fenders, no bags, no sissy bars, no winshield, just nothing! As bare bones as they get.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 189
Likes: 4
From: Aspen, Colorado-living in a trailer, 4 part time jobs & a 15 yr old HD
Old school is a state of mind from a range of time from the past. Can be 30's,40's,50's 60's etc. I can tell you what old school is not, feel free to add to my short thought out list, What old school isnt: not the new breed of Harley rider, not a poser, not a $35K Ultra, not a 500 watt stereo, not LED lights, not cat converters, not diamond accented engine bling, not gel seat pads, not headphones/Ipods, not heated clothing, not a trailer, I could go on. I assume you get what Old school means.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
Almost as much time working on it as riding
Getting ready to ride and having to clean the plugs
Carrying a chain kit to repair the chain
Spending the day trying to true the spokes again
Fixing another flat
Trying to stop with drum brakes
Never going anywhere without a tool kit and plug wrench.
Making it a hard tail because you can't afford shocks
Wishing there was something other than sealed beam lights.
Getting ready to ride and having to clean the plugs
Carrying a chain kit to repair the chain
Spending the day trying to true the spokes again
Fixing another flat
Trying to stop with drum brakes
Never going anywhere without a tool kit and plug wrench.
Making it a hard tail because you can't afford shocks
Wishing there was something other than sealed beam lights.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
to me, it means where I went to Kindergarten.. back in 53....
or it's how my Heritage kind of looks with all the leather and spots...
or it's how my Heritage kind of looks with all the leather and spots...
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 213
Likes: 10
From: Las Vegas
Old school to me is a bike that could be made without using a catalog, instead making or repurposing parts to make a truly unique motorcycle. Indian Larry had a look similar to what I'm talking about.
Last edited by Unclesams_Slim; Feb 15, 2016 at 07:43 PM.
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