Poll: Value of Restored vs. Original Condition Bikes?

[Ohio-Rider]

exeric..... I agree completely. Well stated. Thanks....Steve

[miker]

I decide to fully restore my 35 vld ( picture in Hello under post practice) but the "period modified "bike was too far gone mechanically...

All the pieces were there, so we decided to go "all in". I hope it does well in showing and rides as good as it looks, because riding it is why I did it. I sure would love a Originl Paint bike though! I hope there aren't oo many for sale in Davenport this weekend.

Miker

[HarleyCreation]

Thanks for your opinions and viewpoints.

In the "antique" bike realm there is apparantly no hard and fast rules like there are in the gun collecting world. For antique firearms original-original-original condition is everything.

The world of "old" bikes is vastly different it seems depending on ones viewpoint. Nothing appears to be written in stone and like somebody said, the marketplace is defining value for us.

Maybe the marketplace is the only standard for "old" bikes in 2007, whether they be authentically original, new/shiny restoration, older restoration, forced patina, or replica bike.

[miker]

Poll: Value of Restored vs. Original Condition Bikes?

I guess it is in the eye of the beholder.
I am not sure about the forced patina issue, something seems too phoney to me and I imagine the unscroupulous will have an advantage of the uneducated, it however, just my opionin.

Repro bikes serve a purpose to the owner and I surely would not mind a repop Indian.

Restored or better yet rustored bikes, to me, appear to be the best of both worlds. I tried to keep as much of the original equipment on mine and had some minor deductions during Judging to prove it ;-)...It now rides as good as it looks.

Miker

[jurassic]

1913

so heres a question.you have an older restoration,someone has painted everything,rather poorly.but none of the nickel was touched.the engine is totally original and runs like a watch.the hubs and even the spokes are original patina.obviously this was a nice original paint bike,but only half its soul has been destroyed. so in order to "preserve history" what is the best course of action to take?should i spend 20 grand ,and over a year to blast away the final remnants of this survivor?only to have it disappear into a sea of "shiny gray fellows" .and never get noticed again,and probably be called a repop anyways.

[c.o.]

Wow that's a toughy and I'm sure your going to get a whole slew of different opinions on that one. I'd say either leave it or do a match up on the tin with the rest of the bikes patina ?????? It doesn't really matter anyway....when your all finished someone's going to tell you that you should have done it another way. Your damned if you don't and damned if you do. Either way, cool bike and I'm sure it'll turn out allright. Oh, by the way I stopped in at your shop on the way to Davenport, but you'd already left. Very cool facility and awesome machines! I was particularily interested in the strap tanks.........Great stuff!!!

[bmh]

I would personally leave as is. From the photo the original parts look pretty good andthe paint , while obviously re done doesn't look like a bad job either, and like it or not , the repaint is part of the machines history. So I guess we still have the same question. To preserve history or to recreate it? And everyone asked will have their own answer .... and thats OK. Whatever you decide is fine as long as it is right for you. Bye the way very nice machine.
Brian

[silentgreyfello]

I would go with the "patina" paint job. The paint looks tacky the way it is and like you mentioned, would look out of place if you repainted it without restoring the rest of the bike. I had a similar dilema on my '14 racer... original tanks painted red, some new parts, some old parts, engine completely overhauled but not cosmetically restored. I didn't want a pound of bondo in the tanks, nor did I want to buy repro tanks with solid original ones, so patina job it was. It will be on ebay later this week to fund other projects. Everyone has a different opinion so do what suits you.

[Kojack]

I wonder if someone who does soda blasting could remove the new paint and leave what's underneath intact?

[miker]

Re: 1913

Originally posted by jurassic
so heres a question.you have an older restoration,someone has painted everything,rather poorly.but none of the nickel was touched.the engine is totally original and runs like a watch.the hubs and even the spokes are original patina.obviously this was a nice original paint bike,but only half its soul has been destroyed. so in order to "preserve history" what is the best course of action to take?should i spend 20 grand ,and over a year to blast away the final remnants of this survivor?only to have it disappear into a sea of "shiny gray fellows" .and never get noticed again,and probably be called a repop anyways.

Wow, I did not give that much thought...What a quandry...I guess the patina artist could restore the bike to match its wheels n hubs...I see your point about as shiny new bike too...Search deep and make the decision right for you...soda blasting may reveal something...I used 3m safe stripper over several months to reach the oem color but it too was damaged. Best of luck whatever you decide.

Miker

[yhprum]

This is like when someone finds an old painting in a garage sale, then finds out it is painted over an old picasso!

Seriously, someone might be able to remove that top paint layer. I'm sure the technology exists.

Steve

[bmh]

I'm sorry but I find yhe whole "patina" resto deal, for lack of a better word ... dishonest. If you like you may preserve history by keeping the machine as you found it, with all its history intact. Or you may recreate a point in history with a proper restoration. But to create a false history for a machine? Just because it would be more pleasing to the eye? even if no attempt is made to deceive, it still don't feel right .
Brian

[silentgreyfello]

I guess I don't see any difference between patina paint and someone using repro parts on their bike during a restoration. In fact, the paint is not even a part... just a covering. Nothing against repro parts... you gotta have them in some cases, but there are a ton of Indian chiefs out there with a LOT of repro parts. Are these folks dishonest, since others down the road may not know that it has a repro part on it? Hardly! To me, these old bikes are just that... old bikes. Great hobby, but not worth worshipping. There are far more important things in life than that!

[Pete Gagan]

Well said, Silentgreyfellow. I couldn't agree more.
My take on "original paint" is simple. It tells us what the right color, striping, etc. is to use in a restoration. No self respecting motorcyclist would have been seen on some of these scruffy old bikes in the era. My take only.
Pete Gagan

[miker]

Originally posted by Pete Gagan
Well said, Silentgreyfellow. I couldn't agree more.
My take on "original paint" is simple. It tells us what the right color, striping, etc. is to use in a restoration. No self respecting motorcyclist would have been seen on some of these scruffy old bikes in the era. My take only.
Pete Gagan

That is why I had mine restored, too scruffy and painted over.
All I could do to remain honest to myself and the bike was to repaint in the colors found underneath. They were apparently police B&W...I hope not to be penalized for it because of restoring it to what it did look like to best of my ability and knowledge...It sure is a good runner, most importantly.

Mike