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

[AdvenJack]

How About "ANCIENT" ?

As a new guy to the club, and being 58 years old right now, I submit that I'd like to see the words
COLLECTIBLE, CLASSIC, VINTAGE, ANTIQUE & ANCIENT correspond to specific spans of years.
Say COLLECTIBLE is for manufacture years 1999 and older, CLASSIC means manufactured from 1979
and older, VINTAGE means manufactured from 1959 and older, ANTIQUE means manufactured from
1939 and older, and the new descriptive term ANCIENT meaning manufactured from 1919 and
older. This way COLLECTIBLE is the all encompassing word, and each subsequent word gets more and
more specific regarding production year. In the future new terms could be added of course, or ex-
changed with the COLLECTIBLE term. Maybe COLLECTIBLE would always be the term for twenty to forty
years old. But the other terms that I've suggested for the manufacture years I think should be steadfast.
Is it really so important, the name of the club? What's terrible about CMCA - Collectible Motorcycle
Club of America ?

[Steve Swan]

Just think how valuable an AMF produced bike or a Buell will be worth as a collectable.

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

[Peter Cooke]

but, do you realize many high school students have never seen a rotary dial phone? Its all relevant folks.

That is so true. My 10 year old niece recently jumped into the back seat of my 23 year old Ford and asked where the button was to get the window down. I told her it's pre electric windows so grab the handle and start winding.
Apparently that's the most ridiculous thing she's ever seen...

[Paps]

Just think how valuable an AMF produced bike or a Buell will be worth as a collectable.

[exeric]

This thread is the epitome of what our AMCA forum is all about, and shows what we can be as a club, and national organization. We don't have to agree, but the civil exchange of ideas is enough to give people new ideas to think about.

[jorrow]

I have much older bikes, but feel my shovel is just as kool but in a different way. And looking for parts is really enjoyable as they aren't priced out of reason, and can be just as challenging to find. I do realize the difference in what Eric is referring to as "true antiques", but, do you realize many high school students have never seen a rotary dial phone? Its all relevant folks.

[RichO]

That's why we have National judging classes from 1 to 8, We and other clubs have titles like antique, classic, vintage, modern, etc. One size does not fit all. It was called the Antique Club because in 1954 not much of what we see at meets existed. If you just had pure antiques for judging and show at chapter or National events there wouldn't be much on the field these days. People who are ignorant and have their head up their, oops, you know what I mean show up but wouldn't know a cool old bike from squat but someone will and that's the one you brought it for. The others are there to try and chew gum and walk at the same time.

[Steve Swan]

I want to say that I love all motocycles, and I have made a real effort to expand my interests in Japanese, British, and German motorcycles; however, I am a bit militant about what I consider an antique motorcycle, and die cast, CNC machined, robot assembled motorcycles don't fit into my criteria for an old bike. I have a story that sums up my attitude about disappearing 'true' antiques. 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.

people such as you describe, Eric, have no appreciation for the history of early machines, the ingenuity of making a machine that could go down the road under its own power, and the persistence, patience and perseverance, much less courage to defy all odds. i think at least part of the problem we are discussing has to do with the definition of antique, and perhaps the amca not realizing what was happening during the 70's into the 80's,as newer yet classic machines in their own right were demanded by young owners to be included in the amca; while i did not demand my British bike be recognized, my case, in part, is an example of the amca trying to be all things to all people with all machines, hence the focus on a particular era of machines was intended but lost. i certainly cannot disagree with a clear line drawn in the sand purist this is what we are about and this is what we are not about. that's why there are many other different clubs and why some Ducatisti with an F1 Montjuich might never join AMCA. and, i would suppose if that Ducatisti want to expand his range of interest or passion for anything other than Ducati, he will look for older motorcycles and undoubtedly find the amca. as you'll note my thoughts on the matter are evolving in my efforts to gain a new perspective.

[T. Cotten]

Its also relevant, Folks..

Where do insurance companies draw the line?

....Cotten

[exeric]

I hate to say it but we may be the antiques if we close our minds off and make rules as to what might interest others.

I want to say that I love all motocycles, and I have made a real effort to expand my interests in Japanese, British, and German motorcycles; however, I am a bit militant about what I consider an antique motorcycle, and die cast, CNC machined, robot assembled motorcycles don't fit into my criteria for an old bike. I have a story that sums up my attitude about disappearing 'true' antiques. 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.

[RichO]

Steve, No, the founding fathers didn't display any early fifties motorcycles at their first meet. I know because I have the Cycle magazine story of that meet. When I first joined the club the cut off was 1954 the year the club was founded. It took awhile before they voted it to be thirty-five years or older. When I first started riding club functions and National road runs I would see a few pre-sixteeners, and quite a few twenties and thirties machines. That eventually changed to a few thirties machines but more forties and fifties units. This year at the Catskill National road run I was blown away by how many seventies cone shovel AMF machines were there in mint original condition with those paint schemes we all laughed at back then but I swear are so damn cool today. A vendor at Rhineback this year had about twenty of those cherry tanks for sale on his table. I feel lucky to have my 1981 FXB in stock condition. Last of the AMF machines year wise. Time rolls on and so do we. And so does our machines whatever the vintage!

[T. Cotten]

The State of Illinois, Folks,...

Says motor vehicles, including motorcycles, must be more than 25 years old (Firefighting vehicles must be at least 20 years old) to qualify for antique registration.

....Cotten

[Kozy]

I hate to say it but we may be the antiques if we close our minds off and make rules as to what might interest others.

You're right and continuing with that attitude an antique could evolve into a fossil!

[Steve Swan]

I hate to say it but we may be the antiques if we close our minds off and make rules as to what might interest others.

ha! nice! i ditto that!

[jorrow]

I hate to say it but we may be the antiques if we close our minds off and make rules as to what might interest others.