Looking For Vintage Harley Parts

By Elizabeth McDonald


For many bike owners after a breakdown or accident, replacement parts will need to be sourced and purchased. If you own a new bike this is a relatively easy task and they can be found in most auto stores. For owners of an old and rare bike looking for Vintage Harley Parts can often be tricky and expensive.

A few options are available to you when looking for spares for a classic or rare model. Searching for spares can be a time consuming process and in some cases the parts cannot be found at all. Before starting to hunt down rare items it is good practice to take a photo of the old one if you have it so that you can compare it to the replacement.

A great place to find vintage spares is on one of the many internet sites that specialize in Harley Davidson spares. Many of these sites have thousands of items in stock from very early bikes to more recent ones. The listings will normally feature a picture and description and there will be contact details so that you can speak with the sellers.

Another place to visit is a main Harley dealer or auto spares shop that deals with bikes. Many of the dealerships will hold a large stock of parts and although they may not advertise vintage parts, they may still have some tucked away in their warehouse. If they do not have what you are looking for it is worth speaking with them as they may know another location where you may find what you are looking for.

Scrap yards and junk warehouses are another useful place to have a look at for rare bits and pieces for your bike. Many bikes that have been taken off the road for some reason often end up in these places. Some firms will remove any useful items and keep them organized in their stock rooms but in some cases you might have to strip a bike so it is worth taking some tools with you when you visit.

Bikers associations and Harley Davidson clubs are another great place to go looking for those elusive bits and pieces. Members of these clubs will frequently sell, swap and trade unwanted items with fellow members at attractive prices. If you are not a member of the clubs it is still worth sending them an email or calling to see if they can be of assistance.

After locating the spares for your vintage bike it is a good idea to retain the scrap ones as they may just need repairing or re finishing. This can help other people looking for rarer spares as you can sell it on or trade it. Items such as petrol tanks, brakes and suspension components should always be inspected after repair to ensure they will operate safely.

If you are fitting replacement spares to a vintage motorbike it is always better to use genuine ones when possible. Aftermarket items can be used and they will be as good as originals but using these can seriously affect the value of an old classic bike. Clubs and organizations will also not accept non factory spec machines to be entered into competitions or shown in events.




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