After market wishbone frame

[Robert Luland]

I like all the references to the price of original frames. Get real! This is a big boy hobby. Maybe not twenty years ago but it sure is now. If the club allows the use of an aftermarket frame during judging. It degrades all of us and the values of our bikes. The more I pounder this the more pissed I become. Bob and Katie the super beagle.

[D.Mac]

Bob,
If all parts are required to be OEM, this will turn into more than just "a big boys hobby", it will be a rich mans hobby (already seems that way sometimes). There's only just so many original parts out there, and every year some are used-up or wrecked etc- if the old bikes are ridden- and that is the point, right? I believe in trying to use OEM parts as much as possible, but I'm just a working stiff, and if a CORRECT repro is available, sometimes thats the best way to go to keep on rollin' down the road.
Doug.

If repro parts are outlawed, only outlaws will still ride. ( Sorry, couldn't resist!)

[portagepan]

This forum needs a REAL moderator to take care of this problem I see. I put in a queation about real Panhead Harley's a while back, and received no answer, which is not unusual, but this thread about aftermarket stuff has gone on for days! This whole forum just seems to be floating whichever way the wind blows, with no direction. Kind of like the whole AMCA right now. The last issue of the mag was a travelogue. I already get "Rider" magazine. And yes, the big money, big player thing has really turned me off. It is the "I got it" and if you are rich, you can too kind of attitude that could drive me away. I have been known to be completely wrong about many things in my life, but biking is a feeling to me, and I am not getting it here. Oh well.............. I guess we need to just keep trying to make it better, but I am tired of politics, and the AMCA looking more and more like a vendor organization. OOps, I better go now.
Mike

[Rubone]

So, are you volunteering??

[DaveSwanson]

Mike, your description of the activities in this forum is a pretty accurate description of what goes on in any forum that I frequent. Aftermarket parts are a hot topic so I would guess these topics would generate a lot of responses and sharp opinions. That is exactly what is good about this forum, IMO. Just my two cents which won't buy anything these days.

[jmanjeff]

I have just read this post from the start to finish and do not see any thing that is out of hand or off topic , but for the 2 of mikes that have nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

[Robert Luland]

Doug my point here is that you can’t allow one third of the motorcycle to be fake. And that is what the frame makes up. Sure I got nothing about the use of an aftermarket brake lever etc but the club has to draw the line somewhere. It’s not like there are no 48 frames out there but why should the club allow the improvisation so someone can save a buck and some sweet. There has to be a line drawn. I personally feel that the frame, engine and sheet metal must be on the up and up (That’s right Tom. I left the word handle bar out just for you. lol). As far as this thread goes. It’s great. I hope there’s two hundred more just like this one in the month of January. Now for the big boy thing. I didn't make it that way. Harley-Davidson did. For the first time in thirty years I feel my old ladie will get back what I put into these bikes when I croak and thats a big deal. It's not like the parts aren't out there. Do as I suggested in another thread. Print those cards and start to network the way it used to be with friends and swap meets. Screw Fleese-Bay. You want to go head to head with those guys on a weekend you better be rich! Bob and Katie the super beagle.

[portagepan]

New made parts are nice, and I have nothing against them, but shouldn't there be a separate thread for them. I just wonder, in a few years, when all these new parts, including Olsen's mufflers, etc. have been antiqued by someone, out to sell a $18,000 bike for 50 grand, infiltrate the meets, fleece bay, and everything else, what will the AMCA stand be on these bikes? Personally, I am going to keep enjoying my 1965 Harley Davidson Electra Glide. That is the only reason I got it, and have spent years trying to get it right, with original parts. And do I have original parts that I have bought, and worked on to make a little money? Your damned right I do.
Mike

[bmh]

I just gotta say that there is a lot to be said for original parts. In a lot of cases I refurbish old wore out junk because the repo quality just isn't there. I also enjoy doing it. I can also truly appreciate those who can make high quality authentic reproduction parts. Without those folks a lot of the real early restored machines we see today simply would not be any thing more than curious piles of parts and not motorcycles. Original bikes nedd to be all original as far as I'm concerned. Restored machines however are a different animal. I gotta go with if a judge can't tell it's not OEM that's good enough of a job for me and I'd like to shake hands with the guy who did the work. However I do fell this blade needs to cut both directions, if a judge can spot the difference between your part and an OEM one by lack of casting hallmarks or other differences then you should recieve a deduction. As for saving $$$, in my experience good quality reproductions and restoring your own old junk usually work out close to the same.

[billpedalino]

I'm with you Brian. Who are we restoring these bikes for anyway - for ourselves and the love of or life-long obsession, or for the AMCA?

NOBODY works harder than I in networking, finding old parts, and re-working old parts. I can't tell you how much time, effort, money, heartbreak and joy went into finding and fixing my '53 FLE frame. But my abilities only go so far, and I thank my good friends and fellow AMCA members like Richie Brown (the generator guy) for the invaluable help. However, had I not found these resources, should I have stopped work on one of my old bikes because of my limited capabilities, or the AMCA judging rules? NO WAY!

The Rulebook clearly states that aftermarket parts can be used if indistinguishable from OEM, and in my humble opinion, its a damn god rule as it allows more and more old bikes to become roadworthy. Sometimes you really have to buy aftermarket, like it or not - or shelf the projet. Unfortunately, quite often, If you really do it right, as much work goes into 'repairing' an aftermarket part as an old OEM part. And the final result is the same - a part that is indistinguishable from one that came from the factory. If the judges don't like it - fine. They have a tough job and I'll understand their decision and I'll respect the associated deductions beause I really don't care all that much about that end of my addicton. I build these bikes for me, so in the end, I'm the only judge that really matters. If some guy found that same part as OEM and restored it, then he should be rewarded. I DO care about about building my bikes as accurately as I can and making the several piles of parts that I own into running motorcycles. I'm only 59 years old - If something is wrong, I have many years of running the machine to fix it - if I want to.

I feel better now.....

Bill Pedalino

[Glenn]

if indistinguishable no one except the owner would know. that being said if they are available and restorable its the way to go on frames. but if you have a motor and trans and nothing else well maybe it is not a restored bike the major components should be original

thats my story and I'm sticking to it

[Chris Haynes]

The Rulebook clearly states that aftermarket parts can be used if indistinguishable from OEM, and in my humble opinion, its a damn god rule as it allows more and more old bikes to become roadworthy.

Actually what the Judging Handbook says is,
"Accurately reproduced parts count the same as original while judging a restored category. However, in judging an original condition
category the part must be original."
It says nothing about indistinguishable.

[Glenn]

chris I agree but if you can not tell the difference how can anyone say it is not original with some making the bike original

[Chris Haynes]

What repop part is made that you can't tell the difference?

[Robert Luland]

Good point!