Mr. Covington- I lived in Clarksville, Tenn. back in '68, during my enlistment in the US Army.
Here's my take... Almost any reliable runner, that is, a complete running bike, dependable yet not all stock or correct, a good starting place might be around $7-10K, depending on year and model. With things like valve jobs/ pistons, trans rebuilds, wheel hub/bearing rebuilds, carb improvements, etc. you could easily add another $2-5+ thousand dollars, depending on your budget. You could find a bike thats already been through the "works" from a previous owner, but you wouldn't have the experience or knowledge of doing all that work yourself. (or with your son).
Add a sidecar, and tack on another $3-5K. A sidecar is a bit of a novelty, I've built and rode one. Long term use with a sidecar is extremely taxing on a M/C for practical use, and will wear out your bike in short order. They are alot of fun, however !!
All in all, you could be looking at an investment of close to $20K+ for something really nice.
My recommendation would be find a low mileage, fairly stock panhead, or early shovelhead, '50-'68, pre-AMF Harley. A full dresser, not a chopper or bobber. An estate sale, or an auction. E-Bay as a last resort effort.
Be patient and selective in your efforts. Don't settle on something cheap. (cheap=needs work, in most cases). '58-'65 FL's are readily available, beware of high mileage bikes (unless documented engine/trans work). You'll find the old saying... 'you get what you pay for'... is a fair statement.
Remember this... the antique community isn't at all like the modern biker lifestyle. Its much more addicting, and certainly more financially demanding. But, once you've been bit, its hard to get the hook out of your mouth. yes, its a lifestyle that could take a lifetime.
Good Luck, C2K
Here's my take... Almost any reliable runner, that is, a complete running bike, dependable yet not all stock or correct, a good starting place might be around $7-10K, depending on year and model. With things like valve jobs/ pistons, trans rebuilds, wheel hub/bearing rebuilds, carb improvements, etc. you could easily add another $2-5+ thousand dollars, depending on your budget. You could find a bike thats already been through the "works" from a previous owner, but you wouldn't have the experience or knowledge of doing all that work yourself. (or with your son).
Add a sidecar, and tack on another $3-5K. A sidecar is a bit of a novelty, I've built and rode one. Long term use with a sidecar is extremely taxing on a M/C for practical use, and will wear out your bike in short order. They are alot of fun, however !!
All in all, you could be looking at an investment of close to $20K+ for something really nice.
My recommendation would be find a low mileage, fairly stock panhead, or early shovelhead, '50-'68, pre-AMF Harley. A full dresser, not a chopper or bobber. An estate sale, or an auction. E-Bay as a last resort effort.
Be patient and selective in your efforts. Don't settle on something cheap. (cheap=needs work, in most cases). '58-'65 FL's are readily available, beware of high mileage bikes (unless documented engine/trans work). You'll find the old saying... 'you get what you pay for'... is a fair statement.
Remember this... the antique community isn't at all like the modern biker lifestyle. Its much more addicting, and certainly more financially demanding. But, once you've been bit, its hard to get the hook out of your mouth. yes, its a lifestyle that could take a lifetime.
Good Luck, C2K
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