Topic: old finds and where?

[73hutch]

for me, alot of the fun of these old motorcycles is the actual hunt for them. who doesn't like an old barn find? i love driving out in the boondocks to pick up a bike or some parts.  it seems like there's a concentration of old bikes in a specific part of indiana, around the anderson/muncie area. one of the bikes (an old dream) had a dealership sticker. it got me wondering how prevalent dealerships were back in the late 60's/early 70's. was it the kind of thing where every major city had one or were they scattered about? has anyone found regions where there seems to be a higher number of bikes? does it have any correlation to where old dealers were?

[jscro73]

i too am intrigued by the hunt. i was just over in south carolina for the holidays and noticed how many people had old cars parked outside their houses and barns. i could only imagine how many bikes are out there. I was actually wondering if there was an old dealer in the low country area of south carolina from the 60's and 70's. I think you'll find most bikes where there were big dealers, or a big scene in the old days.

check out the book "vincent in the barn."

jason

[mgbgt89]

Hey that's where i am!

You're absolutly right though, It seems like this area is a hot bed for old motorcycles, dirt cheap.

I'm not complaining.

[westondc]

I've found and purchased 3 different 70's Honda CBs over the last few years. two were barn finds and another was a one owner that had been sitting in a garage for a few years. all of the bikes had dealership stickers on the rear fender. each dealer was located in random small town in Nebraska (Honda of Brainard NE?) some of which no longer have a car or motorcycle dealership. makes you wonder how many of these old bikes are still hiding out in some old barn just waiting to be found!

[ekpent]

WAAY back in the day our local Honda dealer in Kalamazoo had a very small shop and also was a dealer for Schwinn bicycles.Just down the street the Yamaha and Bridgestone dealer also sold chainsaws and lawnmowers.My how times have changed.

[fmctm1sw]

Yeah, it's a treasure hunt of sorts.  When I was working a part time gig at a hotel in the early 00s, one of the front desk clerks had me come over to her parent's house and look at her van.  She took me to the shed and I found an old 360 twin.  Looked all original.  That was before I got the CB kick so I didn't realy say much about it.  I have half a notion to go back there and leave something in their mail box.  I also scoped out two old bikes (not CBs) in a fenced area on a route where I ride.  It's in a field full of old boats and stuff.  I keep forgeting to take a camera and figure out what they are...

[Blasbo]

Seems to me, and others have commented also, that there is a low concentration here in the southeast. I thought it might be due to the fact that you can ride pretty much year round? Bikes would accumulate more miles in less time so there aren't as many old ones still around. Also with the damp climate if a bike gets left out in the weather it will deteriorate quicker.
Seems like there are a lot of reasonably priced bikes up in Michigan and Minnesota.

[d3buttz]

Here in Denver my best friend of 15 years has an uncle who owns Honda of Auroara Co.  My friend John goes thru his uncle for nos parts and we went by to get a few things he ordered for his 350f.  So his uncle takes us in the back of the shop and the guy still has goldwings,cb750s, blackbombers(no joke) etc all in factory crates tucked away in his personal warehouse attached to the main building.  it is a sight to be seen. Racks and racks with 60's and 70's street bike parts still in plastic bags/boxes no longer considered to be "in the inventory." i even saw a 1960's international semi with almost no miles.  This guy is a character though, he wont let anything go-nothing-no matter how hard we try.  He always says he has a plan for them or "oh thats no good" when i point to a perfect cl350 with flat tires and 68 miles on it-hoarders man. oh well it his stuff...............

[fmctm1sw]

Seems to me, and others have commented also, that there is a low concentration here in the southeast. I thought it might be due to the fact that you can ride pretty much year round? Bikes would accumulate more miles in less time so there aren't as many old ones still around. Also with the damp climate if a bike gets left out in the weather it will deteriorate quicker.
Seems like there are a lot of reasonably priced bikes up in Michigan and Minnesota.

I commented in another thread it may be because people down here have the option of boating.  At least along the coasts...

[tortelvis]

I see them popping up often on craigslist; just this week there is a Twinstar for $50 and an XS650 for $400. Yard bikes/cars are usually not for sale IMHO. There is a '58 Chevy pickup quietly rusting away nearby and the owner has been approached many times but refuses to sell. When I had my '49 Chevy pickup I needed a new wheel to replace the rusted out spare (hung underneath). I passed one rotting in a yard every day on my commute. I asked the owner and got the standard reply; "Hell no! I couldn't sell that! It's a collector's item and will be worth a fortune some day!" or "No I can't sell it, it belonged to my dad." Well then, why don't you do something about it sitting out in all weathers and disintegrating? People think that anything 10 years old is a "classic" and "worth a fortune".

[Magpie]

I've had good success with "Parts & Bikes Wanted" ads but don't tell anybody! A sandcast motor found me that way. Got 2 parts bikes for $1.00. A small ad in the classified ads in the newspaper or on a free website can do wonders. A friend has a website for his classic bike business and people email from all over offering him bikes. It's a great site at  http://robinsclassicmotorcycles.com/ 
Cliff.

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

I see them popping up often on craigslist; just this week there is a Twinstar for $50 and an XS650 for $400. Yard bikes/cars are usually not for sale IMHO. There is a '58 Chevy pickup quietly rusting away nearby and the owner has been approached many times but refuses to sell. When I had my '49 Chevy pickup I needed a new wheel to replace the rusted out spare (hung underneath). I passed one rotting in a yard every day on my commute. I asked the owner and got the standard reply; "Hell no! I couldn't sell that! It's a collector's item and will be worth a fortune some day!" or "No I can't sell it, it belonged to my dad." Well then, why don't you do something about it sitting out in all weathers and disintegrating? People think that anything 10 years old is a "classic" and "worth a fortune".

Not everybody is entitled to buy any old vehicle they find that seems to be 'rusting away'. After my dad passed my mom spent twenty years turning people away who wanted to buy his 49 Chevy panel van so I'd have the chance to decide if I wanted it or not. I did.

[hoodellyhoo]

Speaking of old bikes with dealer stickers, a friend of mine has this S65. You can see how old the license plate is. It still has the sticker for Mike's Cycle in Menasha (where the bike is located). Kinda neat to think that this old bike is still in the same town where it was sold. I might buy this bike and if I do I want to go over to Mikes Cycle and se if they have any of those old stickers left.

[Queeg]

Yeah, it's a treasure hunt of sorts.  When I was working a part time gig at a hotel in the early 00s, one of the front desk clerks had me come over to her parent's house and look at her van.  She took me to the shed and I found an old 360 twin.  Looked all original.  That was before I got the CB kick so I didn't realy say much about it.  I have half a notion to go back there and leave something in their mail box.  I also scoped out two old bikes (not CBs) in a fenced area on a route where I ride.  It's in a field full of old boats and stuff.  I keep forgeting to take a camera and figure out what they are...

 sorry in advanced.   this should have started with. "dear penthouse.. i never thought this would ever happen to me!"

     now back to your normally scedualed insanity

 but really i love the hunt too, getting hard to find them in socal anymore
but i keep my eye open, maybe ill try a goldwing next thou.  something just hits me after seeing one cafe`d out

[73hutch]

Hey that's where i am!

You're absolutly right though, It seems like this area is a hot bed for old motorcycles, dirt cheap.

I'm not complaining.

this is the dealer sticker from anderson. i haven't found out anything about them. like how long they were around or how many they sold.  that region was booming back then with all the manufacturing/factory jobs, so you have to think they sold alot.

[fmctm1sw]

Yeah, it's a treasure hunt of sorts.  When I was working a part time gig at a hotel in the early 00s, one of the front desk clerks had me come over to her parent's house and look at her van.  She took me to the shed and I found an old 360 twin.  Looked all original.  That was before I got the CB kick so I didn't realy say much about it.  I have half a notion to go back there and leave something in their mail box.  I also scoped out two old bikes (not CBs) in a fenced area on a route where I ride.  It's in a field full of old boats and stuff.  I keep forgeting to take a camera and figure out what they are...

 sorry in advanced.   this should have started with. "dear penthouse.. i never thought this would ever happen to me!"

     now back to your normally scedualed insanity

 but really i love the hunt too, getting hard to find them in socal anymore
but i keep my eye open, maybe ill try a goldwing next thou.  something just hits me after seeing one cafe`d out

yeah I thought I might be leaving myself open with the "she took me to the shed" part.  At least I left out the part where she was looking for the tools...

[Duke McDukiedook]

Here in Denver my best friend of 15 years has an uncle who owns Honda of Auroara Co.  My friend John goes thru his uncle for nos parts and we went by to get a few things he ordered for his 350f.  So his uncle takes us in the back of the shop and the guy still has goldwings,cb750s, blackbombers(no joke) etc all in factory crates tucked away in his personal warehouse attached to the main building.  it is a sight to be seen. Racks and racks with 60's and 70's street bike parts still in plastic bags/boxes no longer considered to be "in the inventory." i even saw a 1960's international semi with almost no miles.  This guy is a character though, he wont let anything go-nothing-no matter how hard we try.  He always says he has a plan for them or "oh thats no good" when i point to a perfect cl350 with flat tires and 68 miles on it-hoarders man. oh well it his stuff...............

So where is this place exactly? I might have to come by there and liberate some of these parts from their incarceration on my next ski trip.

[Nikkisixx]

i too am intrigued by the hunt. i was just over in south carolina for the holidays and noticed how many people had old cars parked outside their houses and barns. i could only imagine how many bikes are out there. I was actually wondering if there was an old dealer in the low country area of south carolina from the 60's and 70's. I think you'll find most bikes where there were big dealers, or a big scene in the old days.

check out the book "vincent in the barn."

jason

I love the smell of 30 year old gasoline, smells like a project!  I bought my CB350 in SC after it had been sitting for a few years, still had the 1976 tag and the dealer frame on it!

[Zaipai]

I see them popping up often on craigslist; just this week there is a Twinstar for $50 and an XS650 for $400. Yard bikes/cars are usually not for sale IMHO. There is a '58 Chevy pickup quietly rusting away nearby and the owner has been approached many times but refuses to sell. When I had my '49 Chevy pickup I needed a new wheel to replace the rusted out spare (hung underneath). I passed one rotting in a yard every day on my commute. I asked the owner and got the standard reply; "Hell no! I couldn't sell that! It's a collector's item and will be worth a fortune some day!" or "No I can't sell it, it belonged to my dad." Well then, why don't you do something about it sitting out in all weathers and disintegrating? People think that anything 10 years old is a "classic" and "worth a fortune".

Not everybody is entitled to buy any old vehicle they find that seems to be 'rusting away'. After my dad passed my mom spent twenty years turning people away who wanted to buy his 49 Chevy panel van so I'd have the chance to decide if I wanted it or not. I did.

That's awesome.. My Dad let some really nice old cars go for a song rather then see if I wanted them.. Its good she did that for you. It will be worth more to you once you have completed it. Its nice looking. Those new tires and riims?

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

I see them popping up often on craigslist; just this week there is a Twinstar for $50 and an XS650 for $400. Yard bikes/cars are usually not for sale IMHO. There is a '58 Chevy pickup quietly rusting away nearby and the owner has been approached many times but refuses to sell. When I had my '49 Chevy pickup I needed a new wheel to replace the rusted out spare (hung underneath). I passed one rotting in a yard every day on my commute. I asked the owner and got the standard reply; "Hell no! I couldn't sell that! It's a collector's item and will be worth a fortune some day!" or "No I can't sell it, it belonged to my dad." Well then, why don't you do something about it sitting out in all weathers and disintegrating? People think that anything 10 years old is a "classic" and "worth a fortune".

Not everybody is entitled to buy any old vehicle they find that seems to be 'rusting away'. After my dad passed my mom spent twenty years turning people away who wanted to buy his 49 Chevy panel van so I'd have the chance to decide if I wanted it or not. I did.

That's awesome.. My Dad let some really nice old cars go for a song rather then see if I wanted them.. Its good she did that for you. It will be worth more to you once you have completed it. Its nice looking. Those new tires and riims?

Yeah, I'm lucky it made it this long without something seperating us. It's survived a few moves and me hauling it cross country. The wheels are original early 70's Centerlines. My grandpa bought it in '62 and hot rodded it with a new rearend, Centerlines and big 396 he built. I totally restored the chasis and built another 396 for it, the other one was long gone. Working on the (never ending) body work now.

Proof that sometimes when they say "I'm gonna restore it", it actually happens!

[72 yellow]

Here in Denver my best friend of 15 years has an uncle who owns Honda of Auroara Co.  My friend John goes thru his uncle for nos parts and we went by to get a few things he ordered for his 350f.  So his uncle takes us in the back of the shop and the guy still has goldwings,cb750s, blackbombers(no joke) etc all in factory crates tucked away in his personal warehouse attached to the main building.  it is a sight to be seen. Racks and racks with 60's and 70's street bike parts still in plastic bags/boxes no longer considered to be "in the inventory." i even saw a 1960's international semi with almost no miles.  This guy is a character though, he wont let anything go-nothing-no matter how hard we try.  He always says he has a plan for them or "oh thats no good" when i point to a perfect cl350 with flat tires and 68 miles on it-hoarders man. oh well it his stuff...............

Speaking of packrats, any of you guys from Oregon remember the "Sandy Bandit" from the Cycle Hub in Portland.  Saw the pics online of his shop.  Tons of parts.  Bikes still in crates.  Supposedly my BSA was one of the 380 bikes that came from there.

[Retro Rocket]

I new a couple of guys in the late 70's that were musicians and for a day job they would remove rubbish from peoples homes or sheds. They got a phone call from an old lady that wanted her shed cleaned out because her husband had passed and she wanted to get things sorted out so she could sell the house.
She mentioned that there was an old bike in the shed they could have as well, so when they went there they started removing the rubbish and the old lady pointed to the bike under the tarp and said that she would go inside while they loaded it up. Steve asked her why? and she said that, in the 50's both her sons went out and bought brand new bikes, they came home and showed Mum and Dad, left one bike in the shed both hopped on the oldest sons bike and went to their mates birthday party. They were hit by a drunk driver and both were killed so the old lady put a tarp over the bike and it had sat there ever since, she refused to look at it or take any money for it, in fact she paid them to take it away. It was a Vincent black shadow with just over 5 miles on the clock and apart from a little dust was almost immaculate. Steve pleaded with her to not worry about paying them and even told her that the bike was worth "something" but she said it had caused her enough pain over the years just being there in the shed.
They sold the bike to a collector  and bought a music business........

You never know what is in that old barn nor the story of why its there, never be too shy to ask, you just never know...

Mick

[jscro73]

man, that story is tragic! i'm sorry for that lady. What a great find for those guys, though.

my first cb was a 750 that a guy wanted to get out of his basement, so i slapped him $100 for a complete 75.
being newly married, i dont have alot of money, and having a project now, what money i have goes to the project and date nights. but when i finish my project, i'm gonna start a fund for finds.

jason