Subject: Motorcycle History
Author: Prusnek
Date: Jul 19, 2003, 8:00 AM
Post ID: 1713832094
When I started making my decals for the loops, I contacted the
national Guzzi distributor in Atlanta (before Aprilia bought them) to
sell them my decals, thinking that they'd be really interested in being
able to fill in a gap and offer something that was no longer available.
Not only were they not interested, but they didn't seem to be
concerned that I was making them. Very different from H-D, whom I had
heard would bust guys for selling H-D t-shirts at rallies and such,
copyrighted the word 'Hog', and tried to do the same with the sound of
their engine.
When I went to the Guzzi stand at the Int'l Bike Show in Cleveland a
few years back and talked to the rep about how I restored an old Ambo
and how neat it was, his comment was "Sell it and buy a new one" just
before he turned on his heel and walked away. They just don't care,
probably because there just isn't a big profit margin in producing and
maintaining a parts supply for 30 year old bikes, when the focus is on
making and selling new motorcycles. I think that they're only legally
required to maintain a parts supply for 10 years anyway. Still, I'm
amazed at how available just about anything is.
The leg shields I got for my '69 Ambo from Moto Int'l were in a Teo
Lamers box. Don't know if they're repop or NOS, probably someone out
there has the dies and is still stamping them out, like Volkswagens in
Mexico or Argentina.
As our loops get closer to 'antique' status and appreciate in value
and available parts supplies dry up, there will probably be more
individuals reproducing the hard to find pieces. I just got back from
the national AMCA meet in Wauseon, OH (hopefully to be moved to another
weekend so as not to conflict with Mid-Ohio next year) and saw the
prototype of an Indian Chief frame that will be available soon. This was
from a company (Kiwi) who is already reproducing a complete Chief
flathead motor ready to drop into your late '40's- early '50's Indian.
The frame was the last piece that needed to be reproduced in order to
build an entire skirted fender Indian Chief from completely aftermarket
parts, which they fully intend to do, and have available for sale in a
few years. Granted it will be way over the top expensive, but it just
goes to show you what can happen if there's enough interest (and fools
with money).
John Prusnek
Charlie wrote:
| I'm not sure that if Guzzi did fold (heaven forbid) that much would change for us Loopers. Most of the parts we are buying now are either aftermarket/reproduction or new-old-stock. Don't know if it's true or not, but I've heard that all of the pre-'86 parts stocks warehoused in Italy were sold to Teo Lammers and that Harper's bought most of the same here in the US. If it is true, that shows me the parent company isn't really interested in parts support for our Loops - thank goodness someone (the aftermarket in Europe) seems to be. |