When my Dad was young (in the 1950s) he had a 1949 Hydraglide(?) - it was the first year they made them (<1949 was the springer front suspension). It had a full race cam and some other hopped up stuff. He let my Mom drive it one day with him riding pillion and they spilled it when a dog ran out in front of them. Man... I'd love to have that bike... but he sold it a long time ago.
He loved that bike. He always said that if I ever rode a Harley, I'd never want to ride anything else.
Well, he bought a 1996 Heritage about 2 years ago. The bike had less than 2000 original miles on it, but the damn thing broke down. Don't ask me why, but the HD dealer said that he'd have to replace the engine! So... he did. At his cost (about $3,000). That raised the cost of his purchase from $9,000 to $12,000. I felt terrible for him. I wish he'd have let me try to fix the bike. I still don't understand why they had to replace the engine. I think they took advantage of him.
Anyway, I felt terrible for him because of the cost of the repair. But I felt even worse because all those years since he sold his '49, he talked up HD as the best thing since sliced bread. Now that glitter in his eyes for HD is gone. It's like he got heartbroken by a first love. Or like realizing you've been living a lie for so long.
Like I said, I'd love to get my hands on that old '49 that he used to own. But who knows what ever happened to it....
