So You Want To Own an Old Harley? Realities of Vintage Motorcycle Life.

Today we do a motovlog and shop talk episode about the realities of owning a vintage Harely

[vernleroyson]

1. If you want to own and ride a vintage Harley, you need to learn how to work on them(there are plenty of us old guy around that will teach you for free). 2. You need to get familiar with your bike while riding and doing regular maintenance. 3. Once you are familiar with your vintage Harley, you will know when it needs adjustments or mechanical maintenance before it breaks. 4. Once you have completed this task, never give up on it or yourself.

[winterwolf]

I love older bikes. Much simpler to repair, no computers, etc. They also feel so much better to me to ride

[chipmartin]

Amen, brother, preach on! I totally agree with all that, that's why I ride a shovelhead. New is boring; old has character. I will never see someone else riding the same thing I have and I like that.

[SoyBnz]

This video makes me realize I have no idea what a new Harley/motorcycle feels like

[djangor]

What an excellent video about the biker lifestyle! You've really captured the spirit of what motorcycling is all about. It's something that the modern generation of motorcycling knows nothing about. "Bigger equals better, faster equals better", is the lie being peddled by motorcycling companies these days. We dont need full face fairings and all the bells and whistles to maximise the motorcycling experience. This video has won me over and I'd love to have an old vintage Harley with all the inherent problems that go with old bike ownership. Thanks for this. enjoyable video

[SonicMegaUltra]

My Dad told me years ago; “if ya wanna ride a motorcycle ya better know how to turn a wrench.”
He was Silent Generation and I’m Gen X. Gen X is probably the last generation that knows how an willing to turn a wrench.

[bbivens]

66 FLH here. Stripped down some, no windshield (I hate them), no bags, solo seat. Totally gone through, no oil leaks. When you learn to work on them, you learn how to keep them from leaking. Running 3.5 fatbob`s, until I fix the crack on my original 5 gal tanks. All black furniture, engine is bare with jugs painted aluminum high heat. S&S Shorty. Andrews 1st and 2nd gears. I can ride this bike forever, day after day. My Dad`s best friend bought it new, having rode a 46 Knuck since he came home from the War after fighting from D-Day to the end.

[ivancounsell]

Here in the UK I ride my 1972 Shovel with a grin on my face, Hear no evo, see no evo, ride no evo. Your tee shirt say's it all.

[olafjensen]

I had a 78 T140V Bonnie. Long rides involved a small rucksack half full of tools. Plenty of breakdowns. i loved that bike. So much character. It was worth the pain.

[davebrookbank]

Now I am the old great channel, thank you.

[jacknbeckyvancil]

Great video. I have a '83 fxrs 80" shovelhead, along with a '05 springer classic, and a '14 Street glide. The shovel by far has the most character and brings me the purest riding experience of the three. I love riding all three of them at different times for the different experience of each machine.

[daveco]

To me the newer bikes just feel like transportation, rather than an experience. There's never been a better time to own a vintage motorcycle. There's amazing educational videos and forums on line and with the internet, parts are way easier to find. The internet spurred on the aftermarket parts market. I can't imagine how people did this 25+ years ago. I don't know if I would have had the courage to attempt half the things I've done if it wasn't for Youtube. I have manuals for my bikes (and I do read them) but mostly everything I've learned has come from watching videos on Youtube and then diving in and doing it. Sometimes the manual is confusing...then you find a good video with Todd from Lowbrow Customs and it all makes sense.

I've found that I tend to bond with the troubled bikes more than the trouble-free bikes. When you have to work to get them running and riding well you appreciate them more. I got my first vintage bike 6 years ago and learning to work on it has been half the fun of owning it.

[BachelorHarley]

Vintage Harleys possess a beauty all their own. Like rolling sculpture gleaming in the sun of a mid-summer evening. Sittimg there parked with the right stance, big chrome headlight nacelle, colorful split fatbob tanks and long chromed upswept fishtail exhaust with the bold, masculinly displayed kickstart silently suggesting this bike isn’t for posers. Listening to the slow lumpy thump of the “potato-potato” exhaust note. Watching the motor shake inside the frame rails as the front wheel bounces in rhythmic vibration only to pause momentarily with the wick of the throttle.

[garygullikson]

I don't ride anymore at 85, but my '48 Indian Chief had almost nothing to go wrong. Kick start, ignition points, battery, hot right leg on a hot day, vibrating mirrors, noisy valves. An old pan head would be similar. You'd think that there would be more old Harley repair specialists and replacement parts sellers.

[stanleybaker]

Absolutely spot on Paul. I have an 82 Shovelhead Sturgis which I have owned for nearly 30 years now. It has a soul that the modern bikes lack. Yes one must be in tune with this older stuff. Thanks. Cheers from down under 🇦🇺 Stan.

[BachelorHarley]

I love this channel! This guy has Harley Davidson in his blood!

[michaelsekiya]

Good channel young man. I have 2
shovels, 1974 other things. Registered and running.

[gatorback]

That's exactly how I feel about my 84. Nothing sounds better!!!

[lqhxved]

I rode a stripped down 1973 FLH to 2004!!! She had original bottom end and i had the top end rebuilt, new upgraded charging system!!! SS carb!!!! And tode 60 to 70 mph and some 80 Every one else that rode in our pack had twin cams and my bike was the loudest and i sometimes rode in the back!!! She never left me broken down but i kept everything tightened and the adjustments done!!!! Finally bought twincams but i really enjoyed the old bikes

[xsb]

My bike i ride was built in 1975. I've owned it for 40 year's this October. I have yet to run out of fuel. Real good video! I have no plans on getting a new bike.