Searching For Vintage Harley Parts

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.

There are a few places to look when you are searching for items to fit to a vintage motorbike. Sourcing spares can often take a long time and you may not always get an exact match to the existing component. When trying to find rare spares it is a good idea to photograph the old one so that comparisons can be made.

There are now many online spares companies that specialize in spares and components for Harley Davidson bikes. Most of these companies will have many thousands of spares in stock for even some very rare motorcycles. The adverts will normally show pictures of the spare part and a detailed description with price and specification.

Harley Davidson dealerships are also an excellent place to visit when searching for rare items. Most main dealers will have huge stocks of parts and many will have older vintage spares which are not advertised in their catalogues. In the event that they do not have what you are searching for they may still point you in the right direction and advise you where to continue looking.

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.

Motorcycle clubs and Harley owners clubs can be a useful place to try and find spares too. Many members will swap and trade unwanted bits and pieces and if you are a member of the club you may benefit from discounts and get first choice of certain items. Most of the clubs have web sites and sending an email with your request can often produce results.

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.

When replacing parts it is always preferable to use genuine Harley parts if possible. Many companies produce aftermarket spares which will do the job but fitting these may affect the resale value of your bike should you decide to sell it. Many owners' clubs will also not allow you to enter a bike into shows if it is not factory specification so this is worth bearing in mind.