Chopper shops

[exeric]

It must be where I live. In the past 2 months I have visited two local chopper shops to order small stuff from V-Twin. In both cases I rode my '40 Chief to break the ice and show that I'm into old bikes. In both cases the owners never looked at my bike and acted like I had made them get off the toilet to wait on me. What's the deal ? In bygone days your bike was your calling card when you went to a bike shop. I know bikers have been known to have 'attitudes' but it was usually directed at civilians and not fellow riders. As a small business owner, you would think they would want to promote some good will and encourage a new customer. . . . And, no; I did not spit on their floor when I walked in. I'm much nicer in person than I am on this forum. Personally, I think these guys have been watching too many American Chopper shows and think being a jerk is hip. . . . Maybe it's just Florida.

[Ohio-Rider]

It’s not just in Florida Eric. I’ve noticed it to. Customer service is a thing of the past at lots of places anymore. I think when you pull in on a vintage bike the guy behind the counter knows your not there to spend big money so they don’t get too excited about getting off their butts.

What’s the world coming to, when a guy rides a 70 plus year old bike into a bike shop and nobody even comes out to look at it?

[74moto]

Could envy have something to do with it ??

Just my two cents !!!

Juha

[T. Cotten]

Eric!

They probably thought your Chief was a Drifter.

.....Cotten

[LouieMCman]

Ya, what's that Kawasucki doing in my $30,000. a bike chopper shop?

No, it's like that here in GA also, I'll ride my '20 Sport or VL to the local HD shop and they could care less. I rode the '20 to a car/bike show at the HD shop (CARS TOO?) and didn't even get a second look. As a matter of fact a big dog rode in after the judging was over and won an award??? I don't even wipe up the oil when I leave anymore, I'm through with them.

[exeric]

Eric!

They probably thought your Chief was a Drifter.

.....Cotten

I always thought the Drifter was a good looking bike, more so than the "new" Indian. I would deffinately come out of my shop to look at a Drifter. I would have figured anyone that made the tremendous effort to open, and maintain a motorcycle shop would be a motorcycle lover. I like ALL motorcycles and love some of them; as most all of us in the AMCA. You seem to still have the fire Tom; do you have a theory on why some of your peers are so apathetic?

[T. Cotten]

I always thought the Drifter was a good looking bike, more so than the "new" Indian. I would deffinately come out of my shop to look at a Drifter. I would have figured anyone that made the tremendous effort to open, and maintain a motorcycle shop would be a motorcycle lover. I like ALL motorcycles and love some of them; as most all of us in the AMCA. You seem to still have the fire Tom; do you have a theory on why some of your peers are so apathetic?

Eric, Dear Eric,
again you attack me personally, when I commented about something you distained.

Do you really think that "Chopper Shops" are my peers?

After three decades in business, they can only hope to be!
And now that you state that you have a shop, they are your peers as well.

Do I have a "chopper"?
Yes.
Do I have customers with "Choppers"?
Yes.

But if a 200 bike poker run pulls in at the bar across the street, does anyone look in my door?

Rarely:
They are not my customer demographic, and now, neither are you.

....Cotten

[t-bone]

if something older than an evo pulls in i always go out to look at it. but for the most part i only see the guys that bought something from j and p or the internet and would like me to spend a couple hours telling him and his expert buddy how to install it. after a few decades you get a pretty thick skin.

[Neil74]

We only have to look as far as the antiques for sale section in our news papers, nice 1978 Ford fairmont Time to face the facts friends, all of us are growing older by the day, some of us are ahead of some but... all on the same road. Would be nice to come here and read about these machines for many years to come but slowly but surely the old ones are becoming a rarity, and I don't just mean the bikes!!! I would like to learn from everyone on this site, enough shredding each other. Please teach me, I may forget and ask a stupid question that's been asked before or that's obvious to someone else, happens I'm getting older and a bit forgetfull so please don't move the furniture around in the dark. I like this place, feels like home can we all agree to try and keep it that way? Hope so the machines need us.

[bobdo]

I'm 54 years old, unemployed & considered too old.
My bike is 63 years old. This is all starting to make sense.
Neil74, if your in the Cleveland area, I'll buy you a beer.
-Bob

[Chuck#1848]

Eric,
you need to try The Hog Farm in West Seneca New york it's a chopper shop you walk in with an attitude you will get tossed on your ass Grott vends at oley and down in Eustes along with Daytona,Sturges,Laconia etc,etc............oh he also fought the "factory" and won.

[Neil74]

Hey Bob thanks for the offer I'll buy the wings I live in Florida but I do visit my brother in Berlin Heights every now and then, he also lived in Sandusky for awhile.

[BigLakeBob]

Eric
Well I guess the same thing happened to me 2 weeks ago but totally in reverse. I own a small machine shop and also sell V-Twin parts. Guy comes in (driving a truck) and orders a part for a 199?-200? Indian. When he comes to pick up the part, he is on his Indian. I did not go outside to look at his bike, probably as he would have liked for me to do. I didn't realize that I probably should have, until I read your post. I'm only in my mid 40's, I like all bikes and wish everyone rode, but I just don't have any interest in looking at too "new" of a motorcycle. Next time I will probably go out, business is building customer relations. For what it's worth, maybe it's not the shop owner's fault, it may just depend on preference and which side of life's window you are lookin through. And Eric, thanks for getting me involved in the club about 17 yrs ago at an H&B swap meet. It's been great!! Met alot of great people.
Bob Rice 6738

[Chris Haynes]

What’s the world coming to, when a guy rides a 70 plus year old bike into a bike shop and nobody even comes out to look at it?

Bruce Linsday rode his 1905 to the Juneau Ave headquarters of H-D for the 100th. The dip shits in the archives wouldn't come out of their offices to look at at.

[Neil74]

I remember when 2of the new owners to Harley Davidson in New Port Richey, Florida first opened shop. These guys owned it three owners ago, I polished my 47 EL up an rode down to check them out. I pulled right up to the window sideways so they could get a good view. They was telling two customers all about how good them old Panheads were, four of them and not a one knew the difference between a Knuckle and a Pan, I can only imagine the confusion they face with a motor like the one Chris was talking about.