Define "Vintage Motorcycle"
cleveland
Steve M.
That's judging from a good percentage of the bikes @
MilVinMoto events as well as the
collectible/historical importance of homologation
specials like the '06 ZX6RR.
Mr. Foully
Big Bob
> What is the newest year you would still consider
> vintage?
Take this exam and find out for yourself:
Is my bike Vintage?
This question has been posed repeatedly on various
motorcycling mailing lists and web sites. We at
VinMoto.org have developed this questionnaire in order
to help people determine if their bike is new,
vintage, or just old.
For each question add or subtract the indicated number
of points to your score for each yes answer. A
positive score indicates that your bike may be
vintage. A score near zero means your bike is just
old. A negative score suggests you may be visiting the
wrong web site.
Is your bike still it’s original color?
Yes and it’s less than 10 years old: -1
Yes and it’s more than 21 years old: +1
No and it’s painted flat black: 0
You ride your bike to a retirement party. The guest
of honor sees your bike and says:
“When did they start making bikes again?” -2
“I had one just like that…” +1
“…when I graduated high school.” +3
Do you know the complete ownership history of your
bike?
Yes: +1
Is that because you’re the first owner? -2
But you bought the bike more than 21 years ago? +4
Does the company that made your bike still exist? -1
Is your bike still in production today (Enfield owners
disregard)? -2
Do you know more farmers that own your marque than
motorcyclists? +3
Was computer-controlled anything a part of your bike
when new? -3
Are you likely to find parts for your bike:
at a dealership? -2
at a swap meet? +3
in a junk yard? -1
in the basement of a condemned building? -1
abandoned in a back yard? 0
at a one-off custom fabricators shop? +3
Can you present an argument that your bike has
historical significance? +1
Will anyone believe you? +2
To start your bike you:
Turn key, press button, ride away. -2
rub two wires together and hope it doesn’t catch fire.
Again. 0
press a button after making certain the battery has
enough charge and the clutch plates are freed up. +1
use the kick start lever because the electric starter
doesn't work when the motor's cold. +2
use the kick start lever once or twice. +3
use the kick start lever until you're a heaving mass
of perspiration. +4
use the kick starter after first conducting a bizarre
ritual involving the phase of the moon, the time of
day, what you had for breakfast, and terms like
“tickling.” +5
depress the commencing lever. +10
Does your bike have it’s original brakes?
Yes: +1
Do they suck? +1
Are they multi piston? -3
Your suspension has:
A rigid rear end? +3
Leaf springs? +3
Visible shock absorbers? +1
A monoshock? 0
Full adjustability? -2
A cartridge front end? –2
Is your bike older than you are?
1-10 years: +1
11-15 years:+2
16-25 years:+3
26+ years:+4
Are you still paying off the finance company? -2
Are you still paying off your local old bike
specialist? +2
Is a motorcycle magazine still discussing the hot new
mods for your bike?
Yes: -1
But that magazine is Classic Bike? +3
What TV show was current when your bike was new:
The Simple Life? -3
Survivor(first season)? -2
Beavis & Butthead? -1
Star Trek: The Next Generation? 0
Mork & Mindy? +1
Star Trek? +2
I Love Lucy? +3
TV? What’s that? +4
Are you likely to see a bike just like yours:
at the local Sunday morning bike gathering? -2
sitting on the side of the road? +1
abandoned in an alley? 0
on the cover of Classic Bike? +3
in the back of the AMA magazine? +3
in a museum? +3
Buying new tires:
is a good idea because the factory-spec ones aren’t as
good as these new ones. -2
will double the value of the bike. 0
is hard because nobody makes the authentic tread
pattern any more. +2
is not possible because nobody uses the measurement
system your wheels are sized in any more. +5
Do 60 year old men look at your bike and say "Yeah, I
had one of those":
while grinning? +2
while wincing? +1
and then scream and run away? 0
“..yust after ze var.” +3
with an English accent? +4
in Italian?+5
What footgear might the original owner of your bike
have worn while riding?
Loafers -2
Tennis shoes -1
Sandals -2
Modern day bike-specific boots -3
Square toe engineer boots +1
The same jungle boots he wore in ‘Nam +3
Beatle Boots? +4
The same combat boots he wore in Korea +5
The same combat boots he wore on D-Day (any army) +7
The same flight helmet he wore in WW I (any army) +10
Does your four-wheeled transport have a ramp and
tie-downs as part of it’s basic equipment? +2
Is your motorcycle:
More valuable than the vehicle that you haul it with?
+1
Older than the vehicle that you haul it with? +1
More than twice as old as the vehicle that you haul it
with? +2
My motorcycle is never hauled, I ride it anywhere it
goes: -3
…and I have for the last 30 years: +6
Did you pick your current residence based on the
availability of shop space? +2
Your riding accessories:
GPS, mp3, PDA. -3
Can of spray paint, extensive tool kit, quart of oil,
roll of duct tape. 0
Original factory tool kit, spare fuse, cell phone,
towing insurance. +3
Has Peter Egan ever owned your model bike? +1
Has Peter Egan ever owned *your* bike? +3
Do people mispronounce the model/make name of your
bike? +1
Do the guys at the bike shop mispronounce it? +3
Is it older than the guys at the bike shop? +4
The guys at the bike shop never even heard of it? +5
Does your spouse/significant other ever say “the house
would be paid off if it wasn't for your motorcycle?”
No: 0
Yes: +2
Yes, while holding a meat cleaver: +4
Does your spouse/significant other refuse to let your
motorcycle in the bedroom?
It never came up: -2
No: +2
Yes: -3
Is your motorcycle included in:
your will? +1
Your living will? +2
Prenuptials? +3
Your wedding vows? +4
None of the above? - 3
Do your kids threaten to kill you so they can inherit
the motorcycle?
Yes: +1
No: -1
No kids: +3
Someone notices that your bike doesn’t have the stock
exhaust. Your response is:
"Yeah, but the guys on the enthusiasts website for
this bike said this pipe would sound the best and
maybe give me a couple extra HP." -2
"Man, the stock exhaust for this bike is tough to
find!" 0
"Hey – that’s a great source of personal shame for me
and I’d appreciate it if we could just change the
subject" (and then start drinking heavily). +2
With contributions from Big Bob, Mike Webner, Kevin
Lawhorn, Big Steve, Dr. “One Bike” Mike Bagby, Bruce
Hayner, John Folan, and Paul Elledge
Got something you want to contribute? Email
big...@ameritech.net
Lee Potratz
Antique Motorcycle Club of America accepts as antique any motorcycle 35 years of age or older.
Vintage Motorcycle Club in England accepts as vintage any motorcycle 25 years of age or older.
Classics are usually 20 years of age or older, and everything else is collectible based on its history,
# made, owner's speculation, or other unique features.
This has pretty much been standard for many years and I see no need to redefine it. Vintage, antique and new
should not be used in the same description. Cost is irrelevant, an antique can be worth $500 or $50,000, the
description should remain the same.
Question the value of any machine that needs to use a title to justify its value.
Cheers-Lee.
"More perfectly good motorcyles are destroyed for the sake of restoration than are ever saved by it."
Trosper Eric-WLET01
From my point of view(nothing official) I think you can just say if it's
a "Cool Old Motorcycle" its vintage!
Infact...if we limited to the 25year rule..then it would be 1982 and
prior..so none of those 1st year GSXr750 would be vintage...or 1985-6
VF1000R, or even a Mike Hailwood Ducati Mille.
I think vintage is a state of mind...or at least a point of view. Lets
not tie years to it...
I think a GB500 honda is as vintage as they come..
Later
ET
Lee Potratz
2002 was not a vintage year, but it could be collectable, certainly is not antique. The age rulings in the various clubs are mainly used to limit the bikes that can qualify to be judged. The clubs mentioned take their judging seriously. Our difference lies in the fact that the machines you have mentioned are not old. But certainly collectible.
Cheers-Lee.
MatTrat
Enfield may look, start, sound, need the maintenance
and ride like a "vintage" bike but its not. The
problem seems to be that people never want to say "NO"
its cool, maybe older but its not vintage.
I seem to be into much older bikes than most on
this list so maybe thats why i see it a little more
black and white then others. But then i also believe
you should dress in a style to match your bike and i
get people laugh at me for that. Oh and while i seem
to be on a rant, people in T's, shorts and flip-flops
on any bike is just soooooooo wrong!
Ratty
Trosper Eric-WLET01
If I owned a 'busa shouldnt I wear flipflops and a gold chain? Isnt
that the style for that bike?
Or on my 1973 Aermacchi...maybe some bellbottoms and opened button down
shirt mabye a be big beltbuckle(robertplant look)?
Anyway....vintage is what ever you want to call it brother...lots of
grey..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vintage and I believe its an inappropriate
title for a machine.
I once offered to my guzzi club that you should own a guzzi to be in the
club...or "God forbid" ride a guzzi...and got promptly shot down... I
will this year offer to rename the club to "people in wisconsin who like
guzzi" instead of MotoGuzzi Riders of Wisconsin
We would have to disband this club if it were only bikes 25years old or
older...
et
-----Original Message-----
From: MatTrat [mailto:rata...@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:20 PM
To: Trosper Eric-WLET01; bobbycl...@hotmail.com; MilVinMoto -
Milwaukee Vintage Motorcyclists
tom
http://www.extremepsi.org/gallery/albums/1975-XS500B/barn_fresh_002.jpg
I even picked up an eight track of Tommy James and the Shondells, so I can
blast Crimson and Clover through the Cycle Sound speakers on the Vetter
fairing.
It's challenging to rebuild the carbs and forks while still retaining that
barn-fresh patina.
adios,
Tom
Trosper Eric-WLET01
hard and put up wet..
You cant just use a new bolt when you need to..you got to look for that
one that has the right amount of oil, grease, paint, rust on it to
match...or it will never fit in with the look!
-----Original Message-----
From: MilVi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:MilVi...@googlegroups.com]
tom
I finally found a used, scratched up one after a few days. I'm hoping, in
typical eBay fashion, that it's in worse shape than described.
I tossed a battery charger on it last weekend. Much to my surprise the
eight track player crackled to life. It was wired direct to the battery and
was "on" with the volume cranked to eleven. The fact that it was tuned to
WKTI and was right in the middle of Huey Lewis and the News: the Power of
Love makes me think the bike may be possessed. I suppose Hip to be Square or
Back in Time might have been more fitting, but perhaps this bike is like
Christine and is trying to tell me sometihng. I honestly don't know waat's
more unnerving though, a possessed bike or the fact that I know the titles
to most of Huey Lewis' hits.
adios,
tom
motogoro
--- MatTrat <rata...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>But then i also believe
> you should dress in a style to match your bike and i
> get people laugh at me for that. Oh and while i seem
> to be on a rant, people in T's, shorts and
> flip-flops
> on any bike is just soooooooo wrong!
>
> Ratty
>
Squids at the beach in shorts. Not my problem.
Polo shirt, bermuda shorts and roman sandals on a
softtail at the brew pub? ROTFL!
If I were a snob, I'd say 20-25 years, or more,
defines vintage. However,...
I like the ChiVin vintage "test". It reminds one that
your attitude towards bikes is far more important than
equipment age.
Steve Moto...
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motogoro
--- Trosper Eric-WLET01 <Eric.T...@motorola.com>
wrote:
> I once offered to my guzzi club that you should own
> a guzzi to be in the
> club...or "God forbid" ride a guzzi...and got
> promptly shot down... I
> will this year offer to rename the club to "people
> in wisconsin who like
> guzzi" instead of MotoGuzzi Riders of Wisconsin
> We would have to disband this club if it were only
> bikes 25years old or
> older...
> et
LOL! The majority of the folks that attend meetings
don't ride much anymore. True.
But, the majority of club members are too busy out
riding to show up for a boring buffet luncheon.
OTOH, offer free beer all night and a place to pitch a
tent... well, we'd have to open county chapters.
LOL!
Steve Motot...
____________________________________________________________________________________
Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell.
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MatTrat
aint cool or that its a great bike or that you cant
ride it through hell and high water and back and be
the coolest MF on the planet but it still aint gonna
be vintage for a few more years thats all. Sorry!
Ratty
Jeff Winkelhake
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Lee Potratz
This has been fun, but when all else fails there is always Webster's.
vintage (vin' tij) 1. the crop or yield of a particular vineyard or grape-growing region in a single season, with reference to the grapes or the resultant wine. 2. wine, especially, the wine of a particular region in a specified year. 3. the region or year of a particular wine.
4. the act or season of gathering grapes or of making wine. 5. the type or model of a particular, especially earlier, time: as, a motor vehicle of ancient vintage.
To put it into perspective: 2002 is a great vintage but it is not a vintage wine. In wine the vintage refers to year the grapes where grown and in motorcycles it means from an earlier period. How early the period is entirely up to individual speculation and specific club rules.
Prosit - Lee.
Trosper Eric-WLET01
you're a vintage dude!
Viva baby
-----Original Message-----
From: MilVi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:MilVi...@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of MatTrat
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 12:37 PM
To: mg...@yahoo.com; MilVi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [MilVinMoto] Re: Define "Vintage Motorcycle"
Trosper Eric-WLET01
LOL! Your right man! County chapters! That's great!
-----Original Message-----
From: MilVi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:MilVi...@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of motogoro
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 10:13 AM
To: MilVi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [MilVinMoto] Re: Define "Vintage Motorcycle"
Steve M.
special-interest/collectible/alternative.
Mr. Foully
motogoro
--- Jeff Winkelhake <jawink...@gmail.com> wrote:
> That's funny. My brother once bought a CX500 with a
> massive Vetter fairing
> and the matching top case. My dad couldn't believe
> we were removing it. He
> considered it the most valuable part of the bike.
> Once my brother removed
> it, he stopped dropping the bike. - Show quoted text
HA! I had the same setup. I dropped that CX several
times in the 1st few weeks. Usually turning it
around. Between the tall seat height and the high COG
it was an ungainly beast at low speed.
Steve Moto...
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