Some thoughts on my way home from rally.

[iaff84]

Some thoughts on my way home from rally.
A little over 40 years ago I made some of my first cross country trips on a 62 Pan. As others in that time, it was stripped and chopped. Times were different, scoots were different and I was different.
As I rode I was thinking about just how different it is now (not just being on three)
No gauges, gas, Speedo, nothing!
Wind protection was a bed roll with extra clothes and tools strapped over head light. No faring, shield or lowers. Man, back then who would ride a BAGGER???!!!!
When the long stretched out front end started to shake, you were going too fast and slowed down, think that was around 70 MPH.
The little peanut tank held a little over 2 gallons of gas and you could use about 1.5 gallon of it. When you hit the reserve switch over you better have a gas station in site.
Motels were rest areas and underpasses for three out of four nights then a camp ground for a shower unless you were walking in tall cotton and got a cheap motel.
Remember when you had to adjust the primary chain and then the drive chain, then a little lube for the chain?
Instead of washing off bugs from a windshield, that was done when you took a shower and washed your clothes.
When stuff broke or wore out, you found other used stuff to fix it.
Remember it kicking you back and almost over the bars when you tried to start it?
What else was different for you??
Dennis Swan
(was life really easyer back then??)

[skuuter]

"Been There" too.....

[Loner]

I remember:
- piloting a hardtail panhead 600 miles each way to Daytona
- when complete chrome plating a full hardtail frame costs the astronomic amount of $175 (my latest quote from 4 years back was just over $2000!)
- nobody knew what 'trail' was on a trike, so trial and error on the frame rake was how we got one to ride comfortably
- big gas tanks were a no-no (I agree with the peanut tank idea and if you needed a bit more capacity, a sportster tank was called for)
- barnfinds were still possible - I bought complete panheads for $200, $275 and $350 (the $350 one had just been completely rebuilt, rechromed and custom painted - Dad was selling it out from under his teenage son because he was afraid he was going to hurt himself)
- my wife was comfortable on a p-pad (no more, now its the best that Mustang offers)
- a beachside room for me at Daytona ran about $40 a night, or a campsite for $15 if I was feeling adventurous
- eating at Daytona meant sometimes sitting at a table with Evel Knievel, or Willie G. Davidson, or Jesse James (before they became household names)

. . . . more to come, I'm sure.

[Ozarkryder]

Ah - the Good Old Days.

Putting together a Sporty chopper with a bolt-on hardtail kit.

Had a set of Z bars on a 6" over girder that rose the front end up because we didn't change the triple tree, and that reduced the useful gas volume in the Sportster tank. There was even less gas with a peanut or coffin tank.

Running about 15 lbs of air in the rear tire to soften the ride of the hartail rear end.

Don't forget the exhaust that went back and then up to the sky just back of the sissy bar - they were called "stacks" and mine had those exhaust flappers from a tractor.

[skuuter]

First Daytona Bike Week for me was 1971, along with four Friends....53 Panhead Frame, slightly stretched,raked a lot...67 Shovelhead Engine, 30"over AEE Springer Frontend, Spool Hub Front Wheel, Tiny Solo Seat....Everything rolled up in a Sleeping Bag....Camped on the Beach at the Old Beach Racetrack Location....."Borrowed" my Honda Dealer's Room at the Thunderbird Motel for showers....Yep, I've "lived it" in years past..... ...had fun then, still havin' fun now...it's been a GREAT Life.....

[msocko3]

I'm a little young for this thread, it looks like some great adventures.

[Oldmsocko]

Certainly entertaining reading. I am also tooooo young to have had those experiences.

[Nana]

Certainly entertaining reading. I am also tooooo young to have had those experiences.

Uh Huh.....

[icebite1]

Dennis pretty well summed up what seemed to be a more laid back time. A screwdriver and spanner to work on the bike and a match book for tune up. Used parts were interchangeable and pretty plentiful. Oil was generously used also.
Alas, are we wiser? Older for sure.

[skuuter]

I'm a little young for this thread, it looks like some great adventures.

........"cough"............

[Lucky]

Certainly entertaining reading. I am also tooooo young to have had those experiences.

Well if that is the case atleast us old folks can show you how to have fun.RIDE SAFE

[Memnoch451]

Regardless of how you got from point A to B in the past it just doesn't seem like it's as much of an adventure as it was... "back in the day".

It seems to me that when we were much younger that we did things with a fly by the seat of your pants point of view. It was exciting to take a trip and there was no guarantee that you would make it there and back with out a break down or some other form of excitement. You met people along the way that either helped you out or were mill stones. You shared a fire, a joint or a beer with a complete stranger and the next day went your separate ways with a good memory and a hang over.

Today when I travel I have a plan, a dependable means of transportation and money in my pocket and while I still meet really cool people I tend to shy away from the REALLY interesting people that I see out and about on the road. Part of that is my wife is with me and the other part is that media has painted a picture of Blood thirsty road pirates that makes me pass up the hitch hiker that I may have picked up 35 years ago.

Any way... KEEP on Truck'in those who do and those who don't... Hit the road jack!

[msocko3]

........"cough"............

, dang didn't mean to choke you up.

[skuuter]

, dang didn't mean to choke you up.

.......

[jcolson]

Msocko3, it was good to finally meet you & your dad. Wish you could have road my bike to see what you thought why it it pullying to the right. no big deal, I'll figure it out. Guess if you want it done right you have to do it yourself. Jim

[msocko3]

Msocko3, it was good to finally meet you & your dad. Wish you could have road my bike to see what you thought why it it pullying to the right. no big deal, I'll figure it out. Guess if you want it done right you have to do it yourself. Jim

Always good when you can put a face to a name, hope you can get the pulling straightened out.

[Oldmsocko]

Msocko3, it was good to finally meet you & your dad. Wish you could have road my bike to see what you thought why it it pullying to the right. no big deal, I'll figure it out. Guess if you want it done right you have to do it yourself. Jim

Like wise. There are some really GREAT folks on this forum. MV proved that. Had a great time.

[meredog]

........"cough"............

??? reminising about military physical ?

[mcdonaldroadcapt]

Hello Jim,

Nice to find your post. My wife and I were the riders on the Crystal Copper Screaming Eagle trike parked next to yours most of the time. Had fun talking with you and your friend. Let me know what you find out about the pulling to the right as I am always interested in solutions. Take care and hope to talk with you again.

Jim McDonald

[427dave]

I am too young to have had any of the ole days experiences. Yep 1963 rode my new Norton to Daytona. We camped out at a buddy's house in Pearson. No windshields or saddle bags then, just tie all your stuff across the front forks. I lived in Clearwater and it was a long way to travel. It does make one think Dennis.....