Pushing the 35 year rule: a 1990 Harley Electra Glide Sport (FLHS)

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

Actually, the 35 year rule may keep this club afloat. Who can afford these (very) old bikes anymore? Younger people can actually afford an old EVO and participate in the club and it's activities.

[chuckthebeatertruck]

Actually, the 35 year rule may keep this club afloat. Who can afford these (very) old bikes anymore? Younger people can actually afford an old EVO and participate in the club and its activities.

Agreed.

Most folks can save up and do just what I did, for less than 3500.

I’ve now put 150 mikes on the FLHS. It will just keep rolling along. . .and I wish I had a shot at such a nice bike 25 years ago. In real dollars, it would have been more like 2500 on the road. I spent more than that on basket cases!

This 1990 is basically change the oil and enjoy.

[chuckthebeatertruck]

Here’s some after clean up and riding shots. The nos wind deflectors were lovely for 60 degree riding.

i am going to replace the clutch. At 70 plus whilst passing I could induce a bit of slip. Otherwise, it’s holding fine.

I think fall riding is in order.

[chuckthebeatertruck]

And, here’s some close ups.

And, with that, I think this “build” is done.

over the next year I will hunt up nos switches and nos derby/fuel tank covers to replace the eagle iron bits.

with that done I believe my biggest judging deductions are then the tires, non-stock breather, and mufflers.

I might just enter it for judging to find out.

Why not? I’m not invested in the outcome and sorta curious.

In the meantime, it is a hoot to ride. I forget people are not used to seeing a non-moto officer slow walk a big bike or pull fast, one-lane u turns. In reality, you can do all sorts of dumb stuff with these bikes. It’s currently sitting next to my 1969 Guzzi, another common police bike. They are surprisingly similar in size and geometry, but obviously not weight! They are equally quick and equally relaxed around town or cruising to 55. Above 55 the flhs is smooth, but you have to throw it around in fast sweepers. The goose is way noisier and working harder, but handles so much better at higher speeds. Keep in mind the goose is a 750 and 550 pounds with circa 45 rear wheel hp, the flhs is 1340cc, 725 pounds, and circa 65 rear wheel hp (my butt dyno guessometer on this bike)

it’s all fun ;-)

[chuckthebeatertruck]

Well, I added heated grips and have continued to roll the bike, putting almost 600 miles on this past month. I even started using it for commuting through Chicago traffic. Whether rolling at 75 or 7, it just purrs along.

the shinko tires are very good. Rain grooves, steel plates, gravel, and diesel fuel have yet to unsettle them and I can deck the floor boards. Double parking space u turns at 10mph are a breeze. Yippee.

[hacksaw01]

what is being missed here is not every over 65 yo member can handle pushing a barge out of the garage much less ride it. so smaller bikes are a much better deal for many. i have had many big harley's. i got rid of all but a 79 FXE. as to 35 years i feel its BS. a 34 yo sportster is the same as a 36yo sportster. so the model rather than the model year is the relevant thing here. plus there are likely many 35yo bikes that imho are extremely modern which means including them onlyserves to degenerate our brand. i believe that any bike newer than 1990 needs to be evaluated in respect to whether the machine exhibits traditional antique specifications. ex: a 2001 Enfield Bullet may be acceptable but a 2001 gold wing may not.
to keep including newer and newer year models just to maintain membership rolls is perverse. we may as well just become the AMA (no thanks) and drop the reference to antique from our name.

[chuckthebeatertruck]

Across the world, clubs with narrow definitions are failing.

Conversely, events and publications focused on "modern" classics from the 1970s and 1980s are growing and thriving.

Whether we like it is of little matter.

Folks are fully interested in old bikes -- they are not interested in joining the AMCA.

It's cool if you don't believe me; just check out two things:
1) the number of people registered with and participating on the AMCA's facebook page. You'll find it is about 4 times the number of AMCA members
2) the Barber autumn show attracts more people in one swoop than all the AMCA events put together in a single year -- and the Barber meet keeps growing.

It seems placing further limitations than what already exists within the club, at a time when the sport of motorcycling is in decline worldwide, seems a poor idea.