I can't speak first hand, but my Dad told me when he bought his 78 FLH they wouldn't even let him sit on the bike till he should them some cash. Forget about a test ride. This was the Dealership in Washington PA. Steel City Harley. Not sure if the same people still own it as I haven't lived in PA in about 23 years.

I think I'll keep the set up now.

 

I miss my old home town dealer. I knew the people there and they all rode. Now I have to go to a 42,000 sq ft palace. The have a cafe, a greeter, a lot clothing and chrome, and if you bike is over 10 years old they really don't want to talk to you.

 

I remember in the mid 70's the home town dealer had 2-3 bikes and the place resembled an old clubhouse.

~Joe

 

just a sign of the changing times now plug it into a computer yesterday take it down and see what is wrong. I never liked either one they charge way to much for labor now and back in the 70's.

 

I'm just wondering why most new dealerships have some skanky lookin' road Ho that looks like she fell face first into a tackle box and more tat's than a merchant marine greeting at the door? Looking at all the others there, she is usually the most charming one in the boutique.....after you get the visual of that out of your mind and hoping it didnt burn into your retinas like an atomic bomb blast the parts counter is usually the way it used to be with the stools and parts catalogs and folks hanging out shooting the bull.

 

If you were around/riding back in the 60's, the joke was the cardboard under the Harley soaking up the oil as it leaked. My father had a Suzuki / BSA / Rabbit dealership back then. Suzukis' were the light weights (250CC Hustler - fastest production bike in the world at the time), BSA's were his heavy weights and Rabbits were the answer at the time to the Vespa.

He** yeah I miss those times. Gotta admit, at the time I was looking forward to picking up an old Indian. There weren't a whole lot of them around, but I always knew that some day! Well, that day never came and I ended up here with my Road King. Harley has seen itself through a lot of tough times. I would hope that more than a legacy would be left behind.

Those days were fun, more laid back and definately less stressful. Do I miss them - DEFINATELY! Would I want to go back to them - NOT A CHANCE!

 

I don't know Skulltrainharley ... maybe not in your neck of the woods ... but I can remember going into Robinson HD ( the Original Harley dealer in Detroit at the John C Lodge Expressway and Grand River Ave ) back in the late 60's and early 70's and damn near every scooter ( granted there weren't many in the show room ) there had a "drip pan" under it. Harleys "marking their spot" was just par for the course back in the day. In fact is was a big deal if you had one that didn't leak.

 

If you had one that didn't leak it was time to add oil.

 

+1 ... Well put Stiggy !!

 

It wasn't all that long ago, that I would walk through the wide open garage door of the one mechanic shop of Wilkins Harley Davidson, and into the showroom, housed in an added on garage behind the Wilkens home in South Barre VT. Harry, the owner would great you, and he knew his customers. He would either offer you a coffee, or a nip from the well worn flask he kept in his upper left pocket. It didn't matter whether it was spring, summer, fall, or winter Harry always had on his trademark knit winter hat. If it was morning, you could hear the squeek of the houses back screen door, as Barb his wife would come into the shop from the house with all kinds of breakfast goodies. If it were closer to lunch, it would be a plate of tuna, egg and ham salad sandwiches which she prepared. The entire operation consisted of Bob the mechanic, Harry, Barbra and their son Alan. Wilkins Harley Davidson, like most others was forced to upgrade or give up the franchise. These days Harry and Alan have both passed, but Barbra, her Daughter Ann and her grandson still manage the helm of Wilkins Harley. Many including Barbra herself miss the informality of the old shop!
http://www.wilkinsharley.com/ Read the History on the web page for a little nostalgia. Its a good read!