35 year rule has this finally reached a limit of what is an antique? 1985 is it?

[KNUCK]

I went into a few antique stores last weekend and really, I did not see anything that was newer than say the 70's, and that was not worth much. I think as I stated Class 8 is enough! If not then just call this the Motor Cycle Club of America ..................

[T. Cotten]

In the not-too-distant future, Electric Harleys will be 35 years old, judging them will be exciting . . .
. . . no?

*yawn*

Seriously, Folks,...

Perhaps two years lately at D-port, there was this DeWalt or whatever screwgun-driven bicycle, this year close enough to witness a heavy payload and chassis issues, but went down the fairgrounds like it would go all the way to the big city.

Ain't gonna need to restore one of those screwguns.
(..if ya got wifi...)

But it showcased knucklebusting that will only be a keyboard disease some day.

....Cotten

[frichie68]

In the not-too-distant future, Electric Harleys will be 35 years old, judging them will be exciting . . .
. . . no?

*yawn*

[T. Cotten]

Cotten's observation, "Is the AMCA sustainable?" is a very good one. ...

Thanks Steve!

But my question still needs an answer.

I need to hone my career 'exit strategy'.

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

Cotten's observation, "Is the AMCA sustainable?" is a very good one. i don't think it's going to matter much, if any at all, what we think, what we decide, and what we do as it affects things 100 years from now; i can only hope the AMCA will still be around in the year 2118. It sort of makes sense that any chance of the AMCA's existence 100 years from now stands a better chance if interest in old bikes is inclusive not exclusive. Either that or seriously look at what the word "antique" means to the existence of the AMCA after we and all the young folks in 2018 are gone in another 50 or so years. What we decide today stands a good chance of revision or being done away with all together in the future. As it stands, the AMCA's cut-off year for a bike being an "antique" is now 1983. If the AMCA is a club for "antique" motorcycles, then it makes sense (at least to us living in 2018) to use 1983 as a cutoff date for what motorcycles we thnk can belong to the AMCA. 100 years from now, if the AMCA is still exists, there's a reasonable probability those members might feel differently about motorcycles built in 2018 being excluded. I think what we are talking about is handing down the legacy of what enthusiasts of motorcycling's heritage is about and at least somewhat assured. I don't have a clue what that will look like in the year 2118.

[T. Cotten]

Don't confuse me Folks,...

All this "class" and "as it came from the factory" noise is just 'microcosm' judging perspective.

(Don't get me started on that.)

Is the AMCA "sustainable"?

....Cotten
PS: Thanks again in advance if there is ever an answer.

[RichO]

I disagree simply for the fact that though there may be many more units manufactured today how many stay unmodified in even the smallest way. Hard to find a pristine "as it came from the factory" example of anything today or yesterday.

[jorrow]

Excellent point Tom.

[jorrow]

I beg to disagree. I'll guarantee you my 1996 road king is no more similar to whats new on the showroom today than a knuck is to a shovelhead. Its all a matter of perspective. The days of 2 guys in a wooden shed building machines for the public is gone. Time has marched on. If the youth is going to be able to afford an antique the 35 year criteria must remain the same. Personally I find changes that occur in the 80's and 90's very interesting. On another note, there was a 1913 Flying Merkel at Davenport for sale at 200K. How many of us would have loved to take this home? But its just not realistic for club expectations. I have old as well as newer bikes, and they all amaze me. There is a real danger here that youth will no longer care for these oil dripping underpowered machines that we adore, why compound it with more rules. Let people enjoy what they can attain.

[T. Cotten]

When I started this thread it was to open our eyes to what the club is really about from the start. Great that there was such good input as to what is an antique. I think from what has been said here is that there has always been change to the club, and really most of the time for the good.

The time for another change is now. So to give us all time to settle in with the thought of a fixed time to say what an antique is here is my idea. Class 8 should be the end of it. Just that simple. No need for a class 9,10,etc. Anything beyond would be a pointless mockery to the club founding.

With mass production of today nothing will ever be an antique or unique for any reason. Judging value in the future will mean nothing. It will be like another show in the parking lot of a fast food dive. Everybody gets a participation award just drive on in.

I call upon our board to move on this as soon as reasonable to preserve the future for our club. Class 8 is enough already we really don't need a carbon fiber adorned motorcycle class some day.

Just curious, Folks,..

Why should the next generation need the AMCA anyway?

Thanks in advance,..

....Cotten

[KNUCK]

When I started this thread it was to open our eyes to what the club is really about from the start. Great that there was such good input as to what is an antique. I think from what has been said here is that there has always been change to the club, and really most of the time for the good.

The time for another change is now. So to give us all time to settle in with the thought of a fixed time to say what an antique is here is my idea. Class 8 should be the end of it. Just that simple. No need for a class 9,10,etc. Anything beyond would be a pointless mockery to the club founding.

With mass production of today nothing will ever be an antique or unique for any reason. Judging value in the future will mean nothing. It will be like another show in the parking lot of a fast food dive. Everybody gets a participation award just drive on in.

I call upon our board to move on this as soon as reasonable to preserve the future for our club. Class 8 is enough already we really don't need a carbon fiber adorned motorcycle class some day.

[Steve Swan]

Interesting thread.
Yea, I find myself scratching head when looking at styling, construction, and technology of an early 80s bike and trying to fit it into a classification called "antique". To recognize or classify machines recently coming into the 35 year old mark as "antique" it just doesn't fit. A small few may be collectible, but that doesn't make them antique.

I know we need to be careful anytime exclusions (4 letter word today) in a club are discussed but at what point does the integrity of any "antique" club become too compromised by adding machines/items that an overwhelming majority of people would look at and say "that's not an antique" because the technology is so similar to today.

This doesn't help much to clarify;
Webster's definition of antique
-existing since or belonging to earlier times
-being in the style or fashion of former times
-made in or representative of the work of an earlier period

Peace

Really good point. AMCA is the ANTIQUE Motorcycle Club of America, maybe letting in newer bikes is one thing (since we already have and do) but never losing sight on the importance of keeping emphasis on the bikes of our forefathers.... in the context of motorcycles, when i think of "antique" my brain automatically goes to something really old and usually that's something at least before WW2 if not earlier.

[Skirted]

I know this comes up often and some people will say the club has to grow and prosper. But seriously is a 1985 Honda 750 or a 1990 Kawasaki ninja or even a 1994 Harley sportster collectible? I will say no, never will be because they just made too many and they just don't have anything special about them. Is my 2003 Anniversary Softail going to be special, nope.

I have seen this in most automobiles past about 1978, it's just a car nothing special. Many classic car clubs drew the line at 1975. Here we are at 1983 and still going! Can't we just draw a line somewhere to preserve the whole purpose and integrity of the club. Go ahead and hit me with your best shot if you disagree.

Interesting thread.
Yea, I find myself scratching head when looking at styling, construction, and technology of an early 80s bike and trying to fit it into a classification called "antique". To recognize or classify machines recently coming into the 35 year old mark as "antique" it just doesn't fit. A small few may be collectible, but that doesn't make them antique.

I know we need to be careful anytime exclusions (4 letter word today) in a club are discussed but at what point does the integrity of any "antique" club become too compromised by adding machines/items that an overwhelming majority of people would look at and say "that's not an antique" because the technology is so similar to today.

This doesn't help much to clarify;
Webster's definition of antique
-existing since or belonging to earlier times
-being in the style or fashion of former times
-made in or representative of the work of an earlier period

Peace

[D.A.Bagin]

i'm guessing not those horrid singles, but the twins definitely have a loyal following

My son has a 2004 XB12 Buell that we picked up for a song with 3100 miles on it 4-5 years ago. Only bike he has owned and doesn't have anything to compare it to but he seems to love it. I laid my fat little belly on it and took it for a short ride and thought it was a fun bike. He certainly did not buy it for any investment value but it was an affordable, good handling, good braking machine that he could have some fun on.

[AdvenJack]

Phooy...

Below is a DARN SAD story...

I went to an amca florida chapter meet a few years ago and brought my 1911 flying merkel in the back of my truck. I thought it would be good to bring a bike for people to look at, talk about, and have something to reinforce the old motorcycle hobby we are suppose to be sharing. About 3 guys thought it was the funniest thing they had seen that day, joked about the ignorance, and stupidity of the early 20th century, and thought it was dumber than a moped. I could understand that response from a group of morons at an auto zone parking lot, but from amca members? Awareness of old motorcycles should go before the post war era; and that was always my appreciation of the efforts of amca members that brought rare, and unique motorcycles to a national, or regional meet. You can look at pictures of old bikes, but there is no substitute for the real thing.