Topic: How do you find it?

[Don R]

 What I'm wondering is, there's an old bike somewhere, and I'm sure it exists because there are bike loving guys that have a brain and then some. But the quest is, how to find the bike that a Dumbass never owned?
 
  I know there must be more than the one I got because it's a great bike but then he (po's kid) screwed up, because now I bought it after he didn't want it for free (long story) And recently I had to tell his kid (great people really, tried to avoid telling him) who wants to pay whatever price to buy the bike from me that it's really rare and he can't afford the bike his grandpa bought new. Yeow, I bet that stung. Anyway that's a different story I guess.
 
 But back to the broken bolt, stripped out threads, sure didn't look this bad, pinched wires, loose swingarm, rusty tank, drilled in a 5/16" head bolt, wouldn't buy a right control so he spent 3 days wiring toggles and making panels,  the sprocket only had 3 teeth left and they looked like fish hooks, POS. Owned by a dumbass, But you save it anyway because the bike deserves a better life.

 Well recently I bought a bike but I think I bought it because the bike deserved better and it's owner seemed too dumb to own it. I guess in my heart I think they are like puppies that need a better home. 

 Anyway, I need to find a way not to look at bikes owned by that guy because I'll probably keep on dragging them home and then making up for all the things he never did. Recently though I gave up on a few and sent them off to a parts breaker and I still have guilt. And I guess that's why I wrote this.

 Wait, wow that beer's empty already? 

[seanbarney41]

Thing is, Don...the bikes you are looking for sell for more than $600 because everyone else wants them too...that is unless you are Ekpent, just pm him and ask him how he does it, I doubt you will get any better answer than I have though because I actually hang out with him in real life and I still don't know how he did it.

[754]

Wasnt it Ekpent that came from a family of pickers ? That would be the difference right there..

[ekpent]

  When I was a kid Frank back in the 60's my Mom had an antique shop in the basement. She would toss me in the pick-up truck and go knocking on doors looking for stuff. They were collectors as well. I was dragged to many auctions and shows. Later on even though my Father worked a full time job at our power company and I was working a factory we would buy heavy and do at least 3 antique shows a month. I eventually opened a furniture repair/refinishing business to compliment the family biz and we also opened a used furniture and antique store. Very good times traveling together out east to Brimfield and other places 'hunting'. As they got older their fire still burned but i took a job as a truck driver/repairman for Sara Lee because of having a child etc.. Luckily that got me to even more places to shop and people to meet throughout Michigan/Indiana/Ohio and was always dragging more stuff home in the truck     I still dabble in the junk,hitting estate and garage sales,auctions and still getting house calls, but the market can really change and shift quickly. Once the pickin' bug is in your blood your hooked for life and there is no cure 
   I was lucky to find original owner bikes around at one time but as those guys have now got older and changed lifestyles already through downsizing etc they don't seem to be popping up as much as they used to.  Luckily though as seen here and E-bay and other places there still out there to be discovered.

[754]

 That is what I thought you grew up with.
 The big part though is you know how to read a bike owner and how to steer him into a deal.. and that a lot of people are not used to..

Continue on... it's really all about the thrill of the hunt..