Youngsters In The AMCA

[D.A.Bagin]

Sorry Eric, I disagree. I will do good to a younger member to see that the hobby survives. I never sold anything until Oley this year. Sold a 48 offset front end to a late 20s guy that was using it on HIS bike for a give-away price. Guess I have a different philosophy on this hobby. It's not ALL about the money, is it??? Pay your dues??? Prove your worth??Sounds like some other kind of club. Something I gave up years ago.

[c.o.]

"I was addicted to old iron way before I found this club but it only made sense to join up and participate with likeminded people."

Fanatical Grease Monkeys!

You can say that again!!

The way I see it... It doesn't matter whether you're young or older, if you want an old bike bad enough you'll get your hands on one eventually and by that time the bug will have set in and more will follow.

[Robert Luland]

Let's get some reality going here. As a vender, I do ten meets a year. Most of the time I don't even cover my expenses but that's ok because I do it out of my total up session to be with you guys and drink, bullshit and have fun. Now let's just take Oley for instance. I always stay until Saturday afternoon. I'm lucky, I only have a three hour drive home. Clete Borchert has to make it back to Georgia, Tom Faber and Easy-Russ are going to Northern Michigan, Lloyd Benson to Erie NY, Rat back to Vermont and Jim back to Vegas and that's only to mention a few. How long do you expect these people to stick around. Even if I leave Oley at 2:30 on a Saturday, by the time everything is unloaded and the door is locked. I still don't see my wife until 7pm. I don't care if your young or not. If you're serious about this hobby you make the time to be there on Friday. Being a vender is work, a lot of work for something that most time, doesn't put food on the table. Bob L

[portagepan]

I'm not worried about the prices. The market determines that, and I will only pay what I will pay. I have some nice stuff that I have spent many hours, and much money and time on. If I can't get what I want, I will sit on them until the market is there, or just take a loss, and move on. But I draw the line at advertiising a swap meet on certain days, and that not being fully truthful. I will make no more comments on this thread because it is old hat now.
Mike

[exeric]

This hobby was the same 35 years ago. If you think older members are going to sell you something for half it's value because you're young, and poor; you're outta' your tree. It's never been like that in this hobby, or in this world. That's not to say there aren't very generous members who have helped new, inexperienced members. However, there is a process of paying your dues and proving your worth and many of us did this by building our own bikes, and wheeling and dealing to make our collections better. In every pursuit of my life; be it this hobby, or career, I never expected anything for nothing. I've worked hard for what I have, as have my friends in this hobby. Motorcycles are a luxury item that belong to the rich, or the hard working poor. I have no pity for someone that cries because they don't have a motorcycle.

[D.A.Bagin]

Guess I'm a pariah too. I've said the same thing for years. Most people in this economy and if they are in the younger crowd have to WORK 6 days a week to try to afford that elusive part.

[portagepan]

olddaze You are now a pariah. I said the same thing years ago.
Mike

[olddaze]

The club wants to cultivate younger members. The first thing it has to do is quit "taking care or it's self first". I've been to Davenport and a regular at Wauseon swap. From what I see most of the advertising that there is a swap happening it's located in places that only current members will notice it and even worse most vendors evidently only want to sell to other members. Because by the time the gates open up Saturday to the public (and hopefully future members) vendors are packing up, calling the weekend a wash. Heaven forbid John Q Public that drives 2 hours to go to the swap on Sunday only to find out 80% of the vendors are gone. G Whiz I wonder why he don't want to join?

[Robert Luland]

"I was addicted to old iron way before I found this club but it only made sense to join up and participate with likeminded people."

Fanatical Grease Monkeys!

[c.o.]

I know a lot of people in the AMCA, both young and old (mostly old) and regardless. . . None of them come here. They all love to talk about the AMCA but that's all they do. There is very little support for this forum and I think they are missing out on one of the best ways to keep the old bike affliction alive.

I know people say there was too much venom and animosity here but I think that's baloney. If people didn't like conflict, and muck raking, they wouldn't watch the Jerry Springer show. I think this forum is anemic because our own members won't support it. Why ? I've thought about that and even asked my opinionated AMCA friends who never seem to be at a loss for words and I get excuses. . . Work, family stuff, working on bikes, etc. etc. In other words; Bull $h!t.

This forum could, and should be the bellwether for what's going on in the AMCA; regardless of age. I still don't think age and youth is an issue in the AMCA. I contend that people of every age love motorcycles, and if they love old motorcycles, they will find the AMCA. Obviously 51FL loves old bikes and I'll bet he loved old bikes before he found the AMCA. I have no fear that the AMCA will die because this is an addictive hobby. Even if the next generation shuns old bikes, the generation after them will re-discover it.

Well said Eric!!! The winters are long up here and this forum has been a blessing for an old bike freak like me. Prior to signing up on the board I was pretty much computer illiterate but with some gentle urging from a fellow member I gave it a try. This place for the most part has been a positive experience and I can only imagine how much better it could be if more folks in the club bit the bullet and gave it a try!! By the way, I was addicted to old iron way before I found this club but it only made sense to join up and participate with likeminded people.

[harley1]

You all make great points here, and thanks 51fl for your post. This is exactly why we need to get more youngsters involved with the AMCA. Everyone's opinion matters. Hang in there 51fl, you might be on the board someday.
How bout some pictures of you machines.

Good day, Long may you ride!

[exeric]

I know a lot of people in the AMCA, both young and old (mostly old) and regardless. . . None of them come here. They all love to talk about the AMCA but that's all they do. There is very little support for this forum and I think they are missing out on one of the best ways to keep the old bike affliction alive.

I know people say there was too much venom and animosity here but I think that's baloney. If people didn't like conflict, and muck raking, they wouldn't watch the Jerry Springer show. I think this forum is anemic because our own members won't support it. Why ? I've thought about that and even asked my opinionated AMCA friends who never seem to be at a loss for words and I get excuses. . . Work, family stuff, working on bikes, etc. etc. In other words; Bull $h!t.

This forum could, and should be the bellwether for what's going on in the AMCA; regardless of age. I still don't think age and youth is an issue in the AMCA. I contend that people of every age love motorcycles, and if they love old motorcycles, they will find the AMCA. Obviously 51FL loves old bikes and I'll bet he loved old bikes before he found the AMCA. I have no fear that the AMCA will die because this is an addictive hobby. Even if the next generation shuns old bikes, the generation after them will re-discover it.

[51FL]

My , writing wasnt necessarily targeting the price everyone knows you got to pay to play , but if you hustle theres deals out there heres mine . I was at a local non amca meet , and began b/s it with a older guy (not a vendor) that was looking to sell an early shovel motor , i told him i was intrested and we began wallking to the lot where it was in his car , on the way im scouring as we walk making a note of where i need to go . Were at the first line of cars in the parking lot and i continue looking and i spot a knuckle jammed in the back of the volvo i walk over and notice a phone number with an ad . the older guy says ehhh thats prob a 30k Knuckle (we both knew it wasnt worth that but we knew what there worth) He walks away i grab my cell enter the number and walk away . On my way home i call the guy no answer , no return call . I figure he must think young kid looking to ''steal it '' Decide on my way to lunch the next day try one more time . He picks up , i ask how much and well the rest is history as they say . i picked it up 2 days later and now its on it way into my Wishbone frame. So if you hustle and dedicate time to reasearch you can find deals . It takes time not money lol i built my 45 for about 6k but it took 5 years . again im just hoping the way we can change the way we market to my age group , no getting your hands dirty and dedicate years to put a vehicle takes a special breed .

[bill campbell]

Hey 51fl the best way to get info on the heron meet is to come to the Yankee x mass party (DEC 4th VFW oxford ma) pot luck dinner and the meeting that everything for the next year is disused its always a good time,and a great place to find parts.couple years ago one of the guys brought in a box of knuckle parts and sold them at a reason able price
I work in the home remodeling business so its always hit or miss,Ive lost relationships and jobs because of the meets.And when you go to davenport with you wife 9 months pregnant and ready to drop but you know it won't happen this week end because its davenport (he waited till I got home 8/13/89 my son Will) you know your addicted to antique bikes.
keep up the good work on the family hope to see you at Keene or Stafford spring (this meet was started by my Good friend Jim Darby,AKA THE PANMAN sadly we lost Jim in Nov 2002 ) Good luck on the search

[fillibuster]

So 51, you're a techie, huh? Good! That's what the average-age member (60?) needs, more techies, like we need social security payers from your age group!
One of my pet peeves here is the anemic classifieds. Why should e-bay rate? So how do we get our vendors' resources recorded for our consumption?
I guess it's easy to say, but if I were selling anything I'd advertise it here first.
And are we not allowed the magazine's classified posting because of an access disparity?