You know how rewarding it can be to restore a vintage motorcycle if you are a motorcycle enthusiast. In addition to being a fun hobby, it’s also one where you’re actually investing your money instead of just spending it. The hardest part of restoring a vintage motorcycle is if figuring out how to find parts for a vintage motorcycle.
In terms of finding parts for old model motorcycles and rare vintage motorcycles, is that this is easier said than done. Due to the fact that the parts no longer get mass-produced, this is possible. There have already been a few motorcycle manufacturers who have closed their doors. In other words, you have to find another way of getting the parts you need to fully restore your motorcycle.
How do you restore a vintage motorcycle when parts are hard to find?
Disassembling a vintage motorcycle down to its frame is the first step towards restoring it. It is important to remove everything from the frame in a meticulous and detailed manner. Every time you remove a part, you should inspect it and take pictures of it. By doing so, you will be able to determine which part needs cleaning, repairing, or replacing.
The pictures will serve as a reference for you, as well as helping you to determine how to put everything back together again. These photos can also be used to help find the parts you are in need of.
So now that you have organized the motorcycle parts and listed out which parts need to be replaced, the next step is to order the parts, right?
Here are some of the ways on how you can get the parts you need for your motorcycle.
A great way to find it is to search for it on motorcycle restoration enthusiast sites. The Internet is full of websites selling parts for a variety of vintage motorcycles today. You have a greater chance of getting parts that you need because of this.
eBay
eBay is our favorite place to find old and vintage motorcycle parts. My brother in law can find a part for nearly anything on Ebay. Most shops that take apart old bikes have an eBay store and list the vintage parts they find on there where you can find them with a simple search. For more rare parts you will need to check often to catch one but it is entirely possible.
Swap meets
Swapmeets are a fun way to find parts you need at a great deal and even get rid of parts you no longer need. These events are often held during the riding season and most Harley Davidson stores host them in their long list of events every year.
Find a local shop
Many big cities have a local shop that takes scrap bikes and breaks them down to sell for parts. These are a great way to find parts for your vintage motorcycle. If you have one near you contact the owner and let them know what bike you are looking for parts for. If they happen to find one you will be the first person they call.
Join a club
Another way to find the parts you need is to join motorcycle clubs with a specific interest in the make and model of the motorcycle you are restoring. By joining such clubs, you may become acquainted with others working on similar projects as you and may even be able to trade parts. Perhaps even some of the parts you need will be provided free of charge if you are fortunate enough.
Here are some ways you can get the parts you need to restore your vintage motorcycle. If you follow these tips, you will be able to increase your chances of doing a good job and really enjoy the process of restoring your vintage bike. Upon beginning your project, you may want to join a motorcycle club that has a specific interest in the type of bike you are restoring.
Leave a Reply