Food for thought from chefmoto

I was asked the other day by someone why am i always working on older bike's. They say things like couldn't you buy a new bike for all the money you have invested in these "projects". So i replied because i like them. So then i get the, Your bike is older then you response. So finally i put out on the line and said building these old bike is like rebuilding an old musle car to me this is my Hot rod. Your dream ride is a 1967 camero mine is a cr500. Sure iam 27 years old but i just love old iron.
Now what keeps you in the vintage/post vintage game.

I used to get the same thing from most of my friends.Plain and simple I am faster on my Evo bike than I am on a modern? makes no sense,but at this year's Elsinore GP My best lap time was 40 seconds faster on my 82 430,than my 02 YZ 250.Same track,one day later,and the track was more beat up?I've wondered why that is for a long time?My theory is that OLD BIKES have Soul!And there is nothing like smoking someone on a new bike when your riding an antique,that right there is one of the best feelings in the world!

Same exact feel about them myself. Which is the same way I feel about the musclecars I've owned.

They are works of art.

They are works of art you can use, and have a huge amount of fun useing, not just looking at them.

Did I mention they are works of art!

They were the top dogs, or a top contender in their day, and some of them were so good, they can still impress.

Then there is the aspect where you always wanted one. I have alot of those, a whole lot. With the cars, I never could seem to afford to own them all at once. Two at a time, a few times, but never all of the ones I'd love to have. Fortunately the bikes are smaller than early 70's american muscle, so I've already pulled off more than two, as well the investment is far less ofcourse.

But yeah, when I started to think more seriously about getting back into riding, it never even entered my mind to get a newer bike. I felt like the bikes from my last heydays, back in the 1980's, were the last of the bikes that were frequently raising the bar for the competition not just a little bit, but in big huge jumps. The oldies just have so much character, each and every one. Like a specialized tool, if you will, in my eyes. Plus, I'm just not into the appearance of the new bikes. They lost my interest by the very early 90's for some reason. Just all the crazy angles, like they are meant to be futuristic or something. Way to noisey with the colors, and crazy plastic shapes, for my tastes. Little to much focus on form, before function, on the bikes after my heydays. I think they were alot more about function, with some thought to form, back in the good ol days.

Did I mention they are flippin rolling art! LOL, just really dig em. Certain bikes, and certain cars, I can stare at for a long time, and never seem to get enough.

Yes restoring and riding old iron keeps us young!

being a gunsmith by trade, i restore vintage WW2 US weapons,
i never get rich doing so,,but im happy doing it.
my love for old cars, trucks, guns and bikes.
im no big fan of mass produced crap that wears out in a couple years..
i like hand made steel, built by a craftsman that took pride in his or her work.
i see these tuners, making rice burners fast by using Nox, they sound like crap, and dont last very long..
same thing for modern bikes, yea, your fast,,,but how long is gonna last..
i put a 454 in a lil 77 short box GMC truck...fun as hell to drive, and will likely last more then a few years.. and smoke most muscle cars around..
old bikes?? yep, i love em...they are very simple, basic, and easy to work on compared to most bikes made today.
dont get me wrong here, i like having a modern bike to ride, but jump at a chance to ride some of my old iron..
ride it like you stole it say.,..

I sold my 80 OR 390/420 when I got out of college in 88, yes, I was stupid. I was going to buy a new Husky when I got a good job but settled on a 90 XR600 as Husky's "health" was making me nervous. Never liked that bike as it was the first "stroker" I ever had, other than a XR75. Rode my cousins brand new 98 Honda CR500 and liked it but it beat me up. Destroyed my back at work in 2001 and sold the XR600, which hadn't moved in a long time anyway. Back was better in 08 and I bought a really nice 06 CRF450R. First lap was "I hate this thing", fiddled with suspension, better, different seat, better, gearing, better. Replaced it with 82 430XC, priceless Then needed a trail bike, 83-84WR250, MX'r 82 CR250 and now building a 82-CR500, they say its a disease, I say its a healthy addiction

We will always be faster and wreck less on something we are comfortable.

My wife has hounded me to get a newer pickup, I like my old 72 K-10 Chevy. It fits and do think a new Chevy is ever going to be some colllectors item?

Nice, I have been watching 70's K10 Subs recently. Have the old Dodge Sportsman, so don't really need something that big again. Now thinking of my first Jeep/AMC product, a 70's Wagoneer. Working a deal on a '76 401 Waggy right now actually. Will be a few before I get back into the oldschool muscle, but I was just sounding a guy out with a '71 C code 429 Mach. Trying to resist going that direction though, as I want a 4wd a bit more. Funny, I feel vulnerable without a 4wd nowadays.

Sorry to hear about the truck, with the neighbor kid. Teens should never have a nice vehicle, for a first set of wheels. Or atleast not a collector type. And some even shouldn't for their second or third lol.

Having old cars and trucks around takes time and $$$$ away from riding. Give me a modern car and a vintage bike!!! A mountainbikers badge of honor is a $4000 bike in a $500 truck........

One could easily say, everything takes away time from riding, and most things take away money. Your lucky, if this is your only obsession/addiction. But, it is a great one, regardless if it's the only, or one of many. Unfortunately for myself, my vintage addiction doesn't end with 2 wheels. Can certainly understand the thought, as a result. Could be worse

mountain bikers=traction

I really like the way this thread is going and it really makes me feel like iam not the only adictied one out there.

That one made me laugh out loud, no lie. Political correctness to the wind, that's a good one! Bumpy squeeling traction, but traction.

Me too. I'm a newb in here, what does HVA actually stand for again? Can't seem to remember that. Husqvarna ??

Maybe this thread should have been called the HVAA thread, but not so anonymous.

for a while, i used to be kind, and pull over and let mountain bikers ride by, and no matter how nice, i was i got the mad dog looks, crustys, ect...and then i thought..
yea know, us dirtbikers are the ones who made these trails, what a bunch of ungreatfull F&^ks, then one day, we passed a group, and when we were taking a breakm they finally caught back up with us, and one dumbass, say...you guys are ruining our out door experiance,....really? go back to what ever flat land state you came from...your ruining mine, and i pay taxes here.
since that day...
mountain bikers..make great traction...get the hell out of my way yea granola eating dipwad, or ill use your helmet for a port a potty.

I like these vintage bikes, because they are what I grew up with. I understand them "better".. by "better"... I mean I am no mechanic.. I am on of those who asks alot of questions, and then need to look at what I was tol..then ask more questions like "which end of the screwdriver do you hold"?...LOL..
All kidding aside, the vintage bikes kick ass... I think it was Malcolm Smith who commented on the Husky 250....if you lose or can't win on this bike & think you need another or more power, consider more practice...
Overall these bikesare built well, easy & relatively cost little to maintain.
This is a good article about repair costs on newer bikes;

http://articles.superhunky.com/4/94

(article for older 2 stroke costs)
http://articles.superhunky.com/4/104

I think that's an interesting statement. You CAN make the old "BETTER THAN NEW". That's a good reason for fixing up something old that maybe had a few weaknesses. My old 66 Chevelle 396 had such crappy brakes I used the dragster turnoffs. I'm sure you could improve those easily today with disc brake kits.

what exactly is a mountain biker?.
I have ridden my Husky in the mountain (Deckers area)....is that a mtn biker?..
is it the style?...trials?..
or the bike?..

That's hilarious. Though I can understand irritating as f**k at those times too. I haven't had those, but nobody was into mountain biking when I last rode lol, so perhaps I'll have to put up with some of that as well.
Kinda funny to hear about anyways........