Originally posted by tim60 Before I left Australia the state premiers often talked about having laws to stop the bikies who did what Rod described. What they failed to notice was that those bikies always ride HDs these days. None ride Japanese, British or European bikes, so the solution would have been to get rid of them by banning the import of HDs and then their problem would gradually go away as the HDs in country wore out.
Well, Harleys never seem to disappear, they fade away for awhile, disappear for a bit, than many times they are discovered in barns, shed, garages and the new owners rebuild and restore.
Vintage Harleys are sought after motorcycles, and I know the local vintage motorcycle club in my area in Canada, one rider has I believe a 1911, 1915 and a 1943 HD. He also has an English Vincent V Twin, etc.
The '43 HD is a 750cc WLC, which is the nomenclature (close anyways) for WL series...C= Canadian military. In WW2, the Canadian military used a variety of motorcycles, some British...Norton, Matchless, BSA and American- HD.
HD made the 750cc V twin military motorcycle, in at least two variations. The WLA (A for American military) and WLC (C for Canadian military).
I believe the difference between the two, was the A version had a foot clutch, the C version had a hand clutch lever. Canucks were used to British bikes with hand clutch levers.
Anyway I've digressed a bit.
There are a number of people (usually men) that restore old bikes, whether they be Italian , German, Czech, Swedish, English, Japanese or American. I've missed a few countries, but like vintage cars, vintage motorcycles are popular. I have two, my English made '67 Matchless 750cc Scrambler, and my Japanese '78 Yamaha SR 500.
I'm restoring them, at a very slow pace
. I'm no spring chicken so my hope is my son will take them over, however if not, I know there will be buyers for either one, who will continue the resto process, but probably at a faster pace than yours truly.
In any group of people, there will always be a mixed group. Regular, law abiding individuals comprise about 90 %, then there are those who will go whichever way the wind seems to be blowing and if they figure they can get away with things, they will. I say they are about 7-8 %.
Then of course you'll always have the yahoos...who will not be responsible about anything...break laws, etc. I'd say they are the 1-2 percenters.
When you think about it, this is pretty well the way it is with any type of group. Motorcyclist, soccer fans, society in general.
My take anyways, after 7 + decades of life.