I just spoke to the guy who restored it (not the seller).

He told me a lot about it I did not know and it sounds like it was a garage 'restore' and not a professional job.

He said the seller (a dealer), has had it for many years before they even started to restore it, that it had been sitting in the sellers shop for a long time but that everything on it was in good shape.

He said he hasn't seen it in person in almost two years.

He said it wasn't a restore job but more of a repair job, that he fixed it right there in the sellers shop and replaced the few things it needed without replacing the majority of its original parts and that it was the seller who repainted it, he did not know why or how the original paint's shape was in though.

He said it had a rare original S & S carburetor that most other HD bikes built in 57 did not have.

He said it took him four to five months to complete everything and it took that long only because he did it part time as he put about forty to fifty hours into it all total.

He also gave me some real insight into what it takes to keep up, ride and own a vintage bike like that, although he did say it was a solid bike...

 

Considering that S&S wasn't founded until 1958, and didn't start selling carbs until (IIRC) 67 or so, not sure what he's talking about.

I don't think any HD bike ever came from the factory with an S&S carb. Certainly not a 57.

 

A '57 should have a Linkert carb, right?

 

Couldn't say for sure. I'm not familiar with the finer details of that era.

The guy I was talking about earlier....the guy who can spot incorrect parts at a glance....I'm not that guy. At least not on a panhead.

 

You got me, I never thought to second guess him on it when said, as I mentioned I'm naive to specifics like that on vintage bikes.

Maybe... but I'm only assuming, maybe he meant 'now' its got what sounded like the better S & S carburetor other Harley bikes of 1957 didn't have but I'm only theorizing.

 

First thing I thought of was kick starting.

My dad had a ‘56 Duo Glide when I was a kid. Dad was a big man, think Hoss Cartwright only bigger. He had a hell of a time getting the Duo Glide started. It was Oh Happy Day when he traded it for a ‘65 Electra Glide (electric start).

 

Don't mean to "get" you, but that does make the point.

The S&S thing struck me because I happen to be into them and know a little about them. But the same thing goes for literally every other part on the bike. The difference between them being correct and being wrong isn't just a little. It's the difference between a junk bike with an aftermarket frame and lots of incorrect or repop parts that might be worth $5000, and a great example that could be worth north of $50k.

FWIW, original paint (even if its in rough shape) is a huge deal in that world. I don't know why they painted it, but they took away value when they did.

There are guys around here that are qualified to go over this bike in detail and give you an honest evaluation of what you're looking at here. Hopefully one of them chimes in.

 

That's ok by me, I'd also be willing to do better than that, I'd pay to take an expert with me or we could meet there to go see it and tell me what its real deal is, the only problem is its 4 hours away from here, one way.

 

I only ride and own older iron (by choice). My oldest is a 1949 EL (rebuilt from a basket case); my newest is an 84 FLH, original san 32 amp charging system).

I will tell you that the term "restoration" is one of the most overused & inappropriately applied words when it comes to older iron. There is no way to judge a Panhead's value without seeing it close up and/or in person. Lots of folks "claim" to have restored a Pan but in fact it is nothing but cheap Chineze aftermarket parts (which reduces the value considerably). Then there are those who use the glitter and glamour of chrome as a selling point when in fact the factory did not chrome the parts mentioned (but they still cling to the word "restoration). There is also the consideration of finsih for things like nuts and bolts...chromed versus cad plated or parkerized.

There is a gentleman by the name of Bruce Palmer who, in may circles, is considered the godfather of how to retore your Harley Davidosn motorcycle. He recently completed a 3rd prinitng of his book. It is the best 2-volume set on the market today. His works discuss each model years from 1936-1965 and includes just about eveything you could inquire about the year in question.

Wished I lived on the east coast. I would go with you, free of charge, in order to provide an honest assesment. And to be fair, I am not a professional, but merely a garage mechanic who has been wrenching and riding older iron since 1963.

If you make the trip, be sure to take a lot of detailed pics. Do not commit to any sale until you have an outside opinion (avoids buyers remorse).

And to be clear, properly mainatined, a Panhead does just fine as far as getting you down the road without problems. Yes service intervals are more frequent, yes fasteners and such need to be checked more often, and yes on a 57 model it is a constant oil loss (which means you have to add oil because there is no oil return on the primary).

I admit that drum/juice drum brakes do not fucnction as well as disc brakes. That said I have developed a habit of proper distancing while riding my 49 and my 65. It just takes more time and distance to stop so one rides accordingly.




That said the feeling you get while getting on down the road on a Pan or a Shovel....priceless.

 

I have never owned an antique motorcycle. I have owned plenty of older cars. What are your plans? A garage ornament? It will be beautiful. To ride? If you have ridden modern motorcycles you will be greatly disappointed.