Old bike shops in Vegas

[Magic]

Well said Fillibuster and yes we wonder why there isn't much younger involvement in our Club. Yes it has grown considerably in membership numbers. But when we attend meets it's middle age on up. Prices of our love for earlier motorcycles controls who can enter in unless related to a current member. Well that's a whole other unsolved subject. The Hunt continues and is the best part of this infatuation of earlier Motorcycles. Keep Riding em

[skidshoe]

Guys, thank you for your considerate input. You're right, I haven't been in the game for a really long time, I'm 32 but grew up working on old Harley racers with my dad and grandfather. All of their basket projects, which we are still piecing together, were acquired in the 70's, 80's and 90's, and in part, by simply asking around. Obviously those were different times and the market was much different. Sure can't buy WR and KR basket case/roller projects for $150-250 anymore, so damn I'm glad dad and gramps did! I'm simply carrying on the family passion for old Harleys and thought what the heck, why not ask if there's an old shop I could check out and talk old bikes. That's how I found a rusty old '33 VL chassis in a farmer's scrap yard, and tracked down my first knucklehead last winter. "Rubone" was discarding my comment as idiotic and I guess it kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but I know it sure doesn't promote AMCA membership growth, especially for younger people trying to get in the game.

[exeric]

I sure hope you become a regular contributor on this forum Mike, and I hope I didn't offend you in any way. I think guys like you have the drive, and desire to still make things happen. As you well know, it's a matter of getting out there and beating the bushes. I know there are still great bikes left to find, and will be for years to come, which reminds me of a dream I had. I dreamt that my car overheated so I jumped over a fence on the side of the road to look for water. I walked through some woods and came upon an abandoned junk yard full of teens, and 20s vintage motorcycles. What woke me up was the logistical nightmare of getting them getting them out of the woods, over a fence, and into my overheated car. That dream was so vivid that I always thought it would come true. So far it hasn't; but you can't give up

[MMasa]

Eric
This is creepy. That EXACT thing has ACTUALLY happened to me,....... TWICE.
Weird!
I came back with my trailer.
Mark

[exeric]

Eric
This is creepy. That EXACT thing has ACTUALLY happened to me,....... TWICE.
Weird!
I came back with my trailer.
Mark

Now that ain't fair Mark; it was my dream

[Steve Swan]

Mike, i hope you stick with the group. i'm an old dog myself, but left antique circles in the late 80's and returned a couple years ago when i stepped off the diving board with a 27 JD in pieces. reading your post, when i read "old shop," i immediately thought of the shops i'd been in in the early 70's through the 80's. "old" is a relative term, Robbie or Eric can attest to the fact. i remember when i was 32 (in a month i'll be double that) and at 32 i took everything very earnestly, from the standpoint of revering, learning about, finding and preserving old machines. i knew a number of the guys back in the 60's, 70's and 80's who were then aging motorcycle men who'd purchased, ridden and worked on their machines during the 20's through the 50's. besides the fact old motorcycles were beyond totally cool and i loved hanging with the old guys, i really enjoyed hunting down, finding and buying some old bikes of my own in that time. as an "old dog, when it comes to this group, i am still a johnny come lately, i was at the same meets altho of these guys were at in the 70's and 80's, but we've never met. when not having met face to face, cyberspace has a way of depersonalizing relationships. i will say from my experience, this internet group of is a great bunch of guys. they've been nothing but helpful to me. when i read Robbie's post, i understood exactly where he was coming from. all of us old dogs have watched and even been part of the demise/dismantling of an old shop. so, we have watched father time take cool old shops and great old people away from us as well as watched and ourselves felt the prices of bikes and parts become what seems to be only a dream of what we'd hope to enjoy ourselves. experiencing the loss of the men before us and the demise of old shops first hand, there is a certain amount of sadness and sarcasm us old dogs go through. i'm going to guess a number of the guys on this board, could not afford the collection of motorcycles they bought at "yesterdays" prices if they had to purchase them at today's prices. but, you have patience, persevere. the fact you've got a father and a grandfather who enjoy old bikes is something not all of us may have had, so that's really neat. as others have said, please do stick with the board and if you can, attend meets and get to know people. in old dog days, all we had was letters and telephones. now i'm sitting in my bathrobe typing something to a bunch of guys i've never met and don't know me, but as i've said before are very helpful and best intended. i'm sure a number of the guys n this forum have personally met each other and have known each other for years. the hard part with some forums, is there is one person who dominates a forum or has his cadre of followers who pleasure in skinning newbies to the forum. i've never seen that here. like i said, a good group of guys who have done alot with and given alot to old bikes. the tip of advice i would give you, when it comes to getting in to old bikes, don't limit your interests. Collectable Japanese bikes are still waiting to be found, parts at somewhat reasonable prices are still out there and profit can be made in reselling a bike as a means to get in to an even older bike. anyway.... more than i have written in a while. driven through las vegas twice. never actually stopped there. imho, the only thing that could get or be "old" there is loss of hard earned money, prostitution and lots of lights. probably vegas has a hard rock cafe with an old motorcycle in it.

[D.A.Bagin]

There are old bikes and parts EVERYWHERE!. The main problem is finding them, and after finding or hearing about them, is being allowed to see or purchase them. I have been playing around with bikes for a long time. So long, that my 12 year old Panhead at the time I purchased it, is now 58 years old. The benefit is I still own it. Steve is correct when he states that many could not afford to purchase the bikes they have accumulated at today's prices. I know I sure couldn't. I think that what needs to be done is, literaly, every elder person you can talk to, ASK THEM if they happen to know anyone that has, or where an old bike may be at. I do that on a regular basis. Has it worked?? Well, not as well as you may think. I have talked to a lot of people that do know where something is, however, just getting to just look at it has been difficult at best. Couldn't get to see the supposed Indian in the garage for the last 45 years, the original paint 1911 Reading Standard, (That bike is still around, I've seen that one), or the perfect 39 Knucklehead in the basement there for 50 years. But, if you don't ask, you won't have ANY shot at something.
Within the last month however, I happen to ride to the semi-local dive bar on a Sat. afternoon on my 57. Some guy on a AMF shovel happen to be there. He stepped outside with his friend and saw my bike. His friend immediately said, "That trans looks exactly like the one you pulled off that scrap truck last week." Well, a week later, that complete, including the early type clutch and gears, late 36-early 37 trans in excellent condition, was in the back seat of my car for 600 bucks. You never know. Sure wish he knew where the rest of it was!!

[skidshoe]

Thanks for the input! I'm totally committed to AMCA. Great group, and from the two meets I've been able to attend, a tremendous group of guys. I enjoy nothing more than speaking with the older guys about what my dad and I are working on and my own projects. I'm glad I paid attention in the shop growing up and I am like a sponge when I get a chance to speak with other guys with the same interests. The AMCA members have been nothing but helpful for me, even those that are members on facebook as I've even asked for information and searched for parts there. I'm glad to be a club member and hope to become a more active member in the future....You don't know unless you ask! I ask a lot of stupid and random questions, but they've led me to two of my own pretty sweet projects and have located some parts for our flat track bikes as well, so I'll continue to ask. Thank you all for your input. AMCA is a great club I'm proud to be part of.

[Steve Swan]

Mike, imho, if one truly does not know, there is no such thing as stupid questions. if one thinks they know and they actually do not know, that's another topic.