Basket Case

[Jerry Wieland]

I will never forget my first experience with the Knucklehead/Chief argument. In 1977 A good friend of mine had recently purchased a Knucklehead chopper that I was absolutely mesmerized by.

In 1978 I had a chance to sell my chopped up 49 Panhead for big money ($1000) and was looking to buy a knucklehead. I went to a antique bike auction in Bloomington Illinois. A skirted Chief came thru the auction ring and brought $1400 and a few bikes later a barn fresh 1942 Knucklehead that oil fogged up the whole arena when they started it and had really old if not OEM paint. I'm thinking that I might be able to buy it because the nice Chief brought $1400 and this crusty old thing will bring a lot less - and you got to remember that this was before patina was even a word. Wrong - the old knucklehead brought $2200 well above the money I had brought along.

The real mistake I made that day was an original paint 1958 Panhead for $1000 but I was absolutely intent on a knuckle.

Jerry

[Ohio-Rider]

These old tales are really fun stuff.

When I got back from doing my duty in 1974 a friend offered to sell me his 42EL for $1,200. and I past on it because I had my heart set on getting a new sportster so he sold it to another buddy of ours. That’s as close to owning a knucklehead as I will probably ever see again. That buddy still has that knucklehead and I still have that sporty, but it still hurts every time I see that knucklehead go by the house.

[bobdo]

Quote:
if you buy all the parts separately it will cost double. if you go to ford and buy all the parts to build a truck the parts alone will cost----well you get the picture. the idea that a basket case will be cheaper doesn't apply on most old harleys now because so many of them have been put back together that about the only parts left are in really bad shape and need a lot of work.
Awhiles,
Learn from my obsession, I have a '47 EL that I bought as a basket case (a few main mismatched parts) back in 1980 for $1000. & I'm still trying to get it correct. I built it first as a bobber/chopper & over the years have been trying to get every part original & correct to the year. I've lowered my standards a bit in hopes that I can ride it some day. I now wish that I had taken a different path & built it as a bobber, which is easier to achieve & probably more to my liking anyway. I stopped keeping track of what I have in it a long time ago because it was just too ridiculous & I will never part with it. My advice is to pay upfront on a complete Knuckle. Not only will you enjoy a ride in your lifetime, but it will be more valuable as a "from factory" bike. I needed a ride bad so I buckled & bought a new '05 Softail as a daily rider. But, my bike is my Knucklehead. If I can help with your obsession, let me know. Bob AMCA#3756

[Erdos]

I don't know about you guys but my favorite part of the hobby is going to the swap meets and hunting for parts and meeting the people. I put together a 47wl pieced together from swap meet parts. It took me 5 years to do it but it is now a winners circle bike. It was a great way to learn the hobby and the bike. I now know every nut and bolt. For the last few years I have been piecing together a 47 Knuckle. I picked the motor up at Oley a few years back. I don't want to brag about the deal but lets just say if you look for deals they are out there. I am down to my last few pieces and I just need to find the time to build it. Since I started the project I have had two kids and they are really hard to leave for the shop, but I look forward to the day when they can help in the shop and enjoy the meets. If you want a knuckle just start collecting. I never thought I would have knuckle either.

[Chris Haynes]

I can't afford to buy a motorcycle. But I can spend years dragging home enough parts to build one. It is like buying on the installment plan.

[c.o.]

Chris, your words have a ring of truth to them......I'm pretty much in the same boat....

[bobdo]

Everyone's ability, group of friends, financial state, home location & personal quest is different. For me, the difficulty was in not having another bike to ride, which is the key to happiness. I agree with you guys, I fully enjoyed the hunt for parts, the knowledge gained & the friends I made along the way. I just wish it hadn't taken 29 & counting years. That's a looong time. I've built the bike a hundred times in my mind. The cool thing is, I've changed my approach quite a few times & when its done I won't have regrets. It won't be a "correct from the factory" restoration & at a glance it will be "Bob's bike". When, the Knuckle is finally done I plan on piecing another less desirable bobber project together. I don't care if its ever completed, the fun will be in the hunt & creative freedom of the build.
Awhiles, hopefully we can meet up at Wauseon. I'm looking forward to the races Friday.
Bob

[awiles]

I hope to meet you there too. I have a '01 now that I ride everywhere but I want to have a piece of history that I can take pride in. Something that I can work on and like you said the journey and the people you meet along the way.

[exeric]

Erdos summed it up for me too. I love building bikes and everything that goes into the process. I love looking for parts, making parts, researching what's right, and learning new things and meeting new people. I do my own painting, engine rebuilding, and anything else that needs to be done that I can handle. This is a 1948FL that I worked on last year but have taken an long break from. I started collecting parts in early fall of 2007 and stopped working on it one year later. I started with the gas tanks and found everything else. The motor still needs to be thoroughly rebuilt but it's all there and the transmission core is done. I started out with the intention of using reproduction anywhere that the need arose but I have been very fortunate to find genuine stuff. Luck has been with this bike because I am into this project for less than 5 grand. When I started this project I knew very little about springer Harleys and very little about the peculiarities of 1948 Panheads. I cannot tell you how much fun this bike has been. I think one of the reasons I parked the project is because it was going to fast and I want the enjoyment to last longer.

[exeric]

This is what I'm working on right now. This is a 1916 H-D. I started this project with just a bottom end. I bought a bike from Australia that was largely a 1920J but had the '16 motor. I found a 1920 motor and finished the Australian bike as a very correct '20. I have always wanted and lusted for a '15J or '16J so I started looking for parts. This bike has been tougher than the '48 but parts are out there and it can be done. A '16J has a lot of unique one year only parts such as the rear fender, frame, transmission, engine cases, gas tanks, tool box, etc. This bike has NOT been inexpensive but the satisfaction level has been very high and worth the time, effort, and money. Building bikes from parts is not for everyone, but it is rewarding if you are willing to dedicate yourself to the project.

[awiles]

Wow... Nice looking bikes guys!

[Paps]

I'm addicted to four clases of bikes. As most of you already stated, the thrill of searching and finding parts, repairing parts, or making parts, meeting new friends, along with the classic styling of the early machines, is what drives me for factory correctness, when it comes to antique motorcycles. Death trap, 60's and 70's choppers, still thrill me. Bobbers do as well. The simularity between the chopper and bobber, when built by it's owner, is the personalizations incorporated into them. The difference between them is handling. I still dig them both though. The Rat bike ! Now here is a real piece of tossed together art ! A piece from this, a piece from that, a broken this, a wore out that. So damn ugly it is beautiful !

[flat-happy]

paps---do you live anywhere near kentucky or tennessee? i can show you a plie you would really love. problem is the guy will only sell the whole pile for one price. mostly 60-70's choppers. i don't want to put the info up on here without the guy's permission but send me a pm and i'll give you my phone number if you're interested

[Paps]

Thanks Bro. Yeah...I do. Ohio... Trouble is though...I am strapped for the extra cash at this time. Sure appreciate you thinking of me though. Maybe later ?? Paps

[c.o.]

This has ended up being a real great thread! We all have our own way of doing things but in the end we are all for the most part genuinely into these old bikes and love to put another old soldier back into action. I've found myself acquiring bikes that needed "a little work" and soon discovered that they needed a lot of work! But I do have to say that there is a great satisfaction in reviving an old relic that has sat for longer than it should. I find myself getting frustrated at times and have to close the door on the workshop for a day or two to sort things out in my head and for some reason most of the time when I get back at it things fall into place. There have been times when I've leaned on club members for advice and found that folks are more than willing to offer up a solution to help you out.

Best of luck on whichever path you choose awiles. It's nice to see another new enthusiastic member ready to immerse himself into the wonderful world of old motorcycles. I do have a warning for you though....... you picked a hobby that tends to stick. It's an addiction that tends to hang on tight!