As for the other pictures posted in this discussion. One must realize that many of these bikes have obviously been restored and have some reporduction parts. These bikes are not with their first owner, and how does one know what is original or correct unless they are the original owner, built or sold them, or had one way back when.
I totally agree, unless you had it since new, who knows who did what to it over the years. I have a friend that thinks that whenever he gets a new find that it's "all original"
ut:, even though the bike may very well be not.
As far as what model came with what options, I realize that these were mass produced, and at back then no one cared about exact correctness and originality. They just pumped em out the door.
I blame the corvette guys for messing everything up with "restorations". Corvettes used to be the pinnacle of American hot rods, then sometime in the 70s-80s along came the resto crowd and that changed everything. Oh, this car needs to be correct and exact, your brakelines are the wrong shade of cad plating, those are the wrong wheels, etc. The coolest vette I've ever seen (and I am NOT a vette guy) was up in on Cliffton hill in Canada and I think it was a 62. It had aftermarket side pipes, steel wheels up front, HUGE meats out back on old magnesium torq thrusts, a killer rake, no top, the interior was filthy, it had scratches, and a hole cut in the hood for the tunnel ram. The guy that was driving it had a smile from ear to ear. :smile: I'm sure it made the purists sick.:thumbsup:
The resto madness continues. First the Vettes, then the muscle cars, and it's starting to spread to minibikes now too. Having restod a handful of cars (before it was cool) I can totally appreciate all of the work and TIME someone puts into their machine, and your right, the redone bikes in this thread are absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I say who cares what is "correct", if it is yours and you like it thats all that matters. I love my 442, and I built it for myself, so the guy that tells me that my steering wheel is the wrong year can go pound salt.
Ultimately it's up to the owner on what to do, it's a shame that this stuff is starting to become investment material. It brings out the people who don't really care about the machine, it's all about money.:thumbdown:
By the way Markstienhilber, I remember when you got that funky red chopper and everyone gave you crap for it, but you stuck to your guns and paid what you thought was fair. Do I think that $3500 one is worth it? hard to say, if money was no object and time was a factor, maybe. But someone sees that and all the sudden they think theirs is worth the same.
ut:Just like the Barret Jackson effect.
