1908 H-D Racer on Ebay: Rare Article or Total Fake?

[Markz]

This time it is a full scale replica. What a pile.

While other replicas may be strictly ornamental, this replica was built to be a fully-functioning motorcycle.

Yet no attempt was made to run it.

This Harley replica would make a nice display piece for a Harley dealer, a good office piece or a nice conversation piece for a Harley enthusiast.

Ask the last guy who took a bath on it if he would like to talk about it.

Markz

[HarleyCreation]

Beware Ebay!

Just back from a trip and see that this total fake has resurfaced. (Thanks Earl). This time it sold for a "mere" $4000. Last time it went for nearly $17,000!

This appears to be the same seller as last time, so the story that the first buyer of a few months ago got "most" of his money back when he found out what a fake this thing is was probably true. Poor opie7 snapped this gem up at the last minute it would seem.

Here is the full description this time around. IMO the story is transparently BOGUS. The photos of this contraption prove it. Several disclaimers appear to have been added to the original description. Bidding history folllows:

>1908 Harley Davidson Motorcycle REPLICA
Vehicle Description

>1908 Harley Davidson Motorcycle Full Scale REPLICA

>The Story:
An old motorcycle was found behind a barn in Olathe, Kansas in 1999. It had probably been sitting there for 75 years. The elements had taken a toll on the bike. The metal was rusted and pitted (an original unrestored piece has been saved to show the condition). Using the few pieces that could be salvaged combined with pieces obtained from period Harleys and bicycles along with newly fabricated pieces, the bike was fully restored to resemble what it would have looked like when it was parked behind the barn in the 1920’s. We speculate that the original motorcycle had been modified to be raced on the board tracks in Kansas City due to the slope of the handlebars, the cut-off exhaust and the lack of brakes.

>The Result:
What we have now is a 1908 Harley-Davidson motorcycle full scale replica. Everything on this replica motorcycle was built to work: engine, throttle, levers, pedals, etc. While other replicas may be strictly ornamental, this replica was built to be a fully-functioning motorcycle. The engine does generate compression when the crank is turned, but the crankshaft pin where the belt drive attaches is missing, and there is no battery. We have not taken the engine apart, so we cannot confirm the presence of internal engine components, and we do not guarantee that the engine will run. No gas or oil has been put in the tanks, and no attempt to get the engine to run has been made. It would make a fun project for someone to try to get this engine to run. There are functioning levers and knobs for the belt drive engager, throttle, choke, oil drip knob, gas petcock, gas lever, timing pull and compression pull. The plate with the number 4A33 was taken off the original crankcase and placed on the replica crankcase. Model 4 was from 1908 according to Harley records. The bike is 38” high to the top of handlebars and 86” in length. According to The Encyclopedia of Harley-Davidson, 450 motorcycles were produced by Harley in 1908. These were single-cylinder engines with 26.8ci (440cc). This Harley replica would make a nice display piece for a Harley dealer, a good office piece or a nice conversation piece for a Harley enthusiast.

>Terms of Sale
This piece is being sold strictly as a REPLICA, meaning that we do not guarantee the originality or authenticity of any of the pieces on this motorcycle. Many pieces were remade in the restoration process and are not original to a 1908 Harley motorcycle. Many pieces used in the restoration are not from a Harley and some are not even from a motorcycle. This replica is being sold with AS IS with no title and no warranty of any kind. All sales are final.

>Shipping:
Buyer will pick up this replica in Overland Park, Kansas or arrange for the transportation of the motorcycle from our location. There are several motorcycle moving companies that will ship this bike for a few hundred dollars anywhere in the country.

>Payments:
Payment will be made by check, money order, cashier’s check, bank wire transfer or Paypal. Payment is expected within 3 business days.
Click here for 18 additional pictures of this motorcycle.

(Bidding History):

opie7( 17) $4,001.00 Jul-27-03 14:44:21 PDT

bottlesnmore( 295) $4,000.01 Jul-27-03 14:45:03 PDT

hottatts( 19) $3,522.00 Jul-26-03 12:35:44 PDT

hogsrme( 7 ) $3,500.00 Jul-23-03 15:34:54 PDT

hottatts( 19) $3,322.00 Jul-26-03 12:34:01 PDT

gt_forty@hotmail.com( 47) $3,222.00 Jul-24-03 15:31:25 PDT

hottatts( 19) $3,100.81 Jul-24-03 12:48:21 PDT

hottatts( 19) $3,000.81 Jul-23-03 14:43:51 PDT

hogsrme( 7 ) $3,000.00 Jul-23-03 15:34:13 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $2,600.00 Jul-23-03 09:19:36 PDT

wrongpart( 45) $2,500.00 Jul-22-03 10:02:10 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $2,500.00 Jul-23-03 09:19:23 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $2,400.00 Jul-23-03 09:19:09 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $2,300.00 Jul-23-03 09:18:59 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $2,200.00 Jul-23-03 09:18:42 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $2,100.00 Jul-23-03 09:18:28 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $2,050.00 Jul-22-03 08:08:39 PDT

sean6948( 11) $2,000.00 Jul-21-03 23:18:55 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $1,800.00 Jul-21-03 11:31:57 PDT

kctorque@birch.net( 109) $1,750.00 Jul-21-03 05:20:17 PDT

randyrodder( 1 ) $1,700.00 Jul-21-03 11:31:43 PDT

sean6948( 11) $1,600.00 Jul-21-03 04:30:16 PDT

gendrea( 0 ) $1,500.00 Jul-20-03 19:31:19 PDT

jermouni31( 4 ) $1,000.00 Jul-20-03 18:47:39 PDT

gendrea( 0 ) $1,000.00 Jul-20-03 19:31:05 PDT

internsrvc( 34) $630.00 Jul-20-03 19:11:38 PDT

steph153@aol.com( 8 ) $425.00 Jul-20-03 18:50:42 PDT

red_r6( 52) $400.00 Jul-20-03 16:48:17 PDT

jermouni31( 4 ) $350.00 Jul-20-03 18:47:03 PDT

jermouni31( 4 ) $160.00 Jul-20-03 18:46:39 PDT

cars4ed( 137) $150.00 Jul-20-03 16:55:59 PDT

cars4ed( 137) $65.05 Jul-20-03 16:55:42 PDT

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http://www.atthecreation.com/

[oldmc]

Originally posted by AFJ


It seems that Antique motorcycling is catching up with the regular antique and art fake market where "reproductions" or "in-the-style-of...... art" is made innocently enough for those who commission it - and then turned into "the real thing" by ignorance or chicanery in pursuit of the almighty dollar.

AFJ


This has been going on for years with motorcycle memorabilia.


I have not been here in awhile but got a good chuckle out of this thread.

Maybe HD bought it for their showroom. lol