Most desirable? Survivor or restored...........

[Retro Rider]

Hi
Ok, here's your scenario.
If you had the chance for a nice early bike from the 70's, what would you go for.
A nice survivor with a few non OG but period correct parts.
Or a fully restored bike costing more $$$ but losing its DNA a little from repaint etc.

Any input appreciated.

[martin46]

No brainer for me, survivor for sure

[AKGOFF]

Fully restored back to former glory. 

[Dark Diggler]

failing that, laiden with over polished , over priced parts that no one ever saw when they were a kid and mostly weren't from the same era as the bike 

[meticulous]

mint and era correct for me!

[Retro Rider]

I wouldn't buy anything crud like some of the mix and match stuff out there.
Both choices would be era correct, and then be changed to year correct stuff as and when parts became available.
It's more about the choice between spending money and time on something to still look old or to be brought back to factory freshness.
I've always loved the used original vintage look, but I must admit a few minters have turned my head in recent times.

[Spen69]

The 80's are done to death so it's a 70's challenge for me this one. Don't get too hung up on the parts as you will only end up changing them as time goes on but be warned, if you thought it was tricky finding the eighties stuff, just try finding the seventies gear...... Look on old racers as that is where the exotic stuff came from.

[Retro Rider]

I honestly don't think ,currently stateside,correct year parts are mega hard to find.
I'm looking at starting my motomag collection and only the 75 parts and indeed bikes are rare and hard to get.
'76 harder but not possible , and then '77 onwards quite readily available.
I suppose if your looking at things from a uk only point of view to source parts, then it's quite a different story.

Shipping from abroad  is steep due to the weight of these bad boys, but in my eyes that's not all bad.
Makes them even more a special and rare commodity over here in the uk.

[Spen69]

Yep. Have a look in me and my bikes - i've got all my early Geese from over the pond. Had one or two.....

[jimwise68]

for me it depends how fooked it is.

if it is totally knackered then bring it back to its former glory with all new parts.
But if it looks like its been well loved and in good condition then leave it as is.

[kungfunky]

Vintage Mongoose parts are probably the easiest of the vintage parts to locate in all fairness as so much of it was made. Things like grips, tyres and seats all in mint condition are always the hardest to find as those parts got trashed.

When you start looking for the highly desirable vintage parts thats when your problems start, lets say for example a mint set of Tuff fork..they're out there but you'll pay huge $$ if you can make the owner sell them.

Anyway for me it has to be a really nice survivor, it's too easy to strip them and re powder etc just because it has a few scratches or whatever. Yet once that's been done it's another survivor lost.
Spen's right though and like I've said before, 70's is where it's at now  

[Retro Rider]

for me it depends how fooked it is.

if it is totally knackered then bring it back to its former glory with all new parts.
But if it looks like its been well loved and in good condition then leave it as is.

That's well put and makes total sense.

[Retro Rider]

Anyway for me it has to be a really nice survivor, it's too easy to strip them and re powder etc just because it has a few scratches or whatever. Yet once that's been done it's another survivor lost.
Spen's right though and like I've said before, 70's is where it's at now  

Agreed again.

It can only be original once.

[chubby]

after doing a couple of full resto's Im now on with a survivor build. im a bit disheartened with it as you put so much work into it & it'll never have the bling factor of a restored bike...
still, gonna stick with it & see how it ends up....

[Retro Rider]

after doing a couple of full resto's Im now on with a survivor build. im a bit disheartened with it as you put so much work into it & it'll never have the bling factor of a restored bike...
still, gonna stick with it & see how it ends up....

Trust me stick with it,its worth it.
I'm heavily into my 70's classic cars and as kungfunky stated, how many bikes will be around that are in original form in the future.
Buy a car/bike fully restored without a mark on it and its just an expensive picture to look at with the fear of spoiling it.

Get something with lovely patina and you can ride and enjoy it.
Same with cars, and anything else vintage really.

'Old is gold.....'
(Hope so, cause I'm not getting any younger !!)

Well it looks like all these excellent replies have pushed me in the direction I want to go.

GET TWO ,I'LL DO BOTH LOL.

[bobbbbsy]

as said only resto it if you must or are doing something specific . there is such thing as over resto and becomes a bit vulgar !

[Devilock]

If they're done with care & love (!) then both can look mighty fine...

[chubby]

If they're done with care & love (!) then both can look mighty fine...

that's me fooked then 

[Peter J]

if its a good condition survivor then keep it as is a few battle scar's tell a story

If its trashed then restore her to her former glory 

Same applies for a woman I suppose 

[Devilock]

if its a good condition survivor then keep it as is a few battle scar's tell a story

If its trashed then restore her to her former glory 

Same applies for a woman I suppose 

And how would one restore a woman...?

I have not, as yet, been able to resurrect any of my women...

[Peter J]

Restore not resurrect

That comes under the heading necrophilia 

What I'm taking about is fake boobies and a "lift and tuck" 

Bit like a fresh powdercoat and some NOS parts 

[stuntmaster]

survivor as bored of show bike as no history behind them as all lost as no scars

[Devilock]

survivor as bored of show bike as no history behind them as all lost as no scars

Scars could have been caused recently...

[Dannywhac]

survivor as bored of show bike as no history behind them as all lost as no scars

Scars could have been caused recently...

But how many proper 'show' bikes are rider bikes? Not many I'd reckon. Only scars they'll get is in transit to be shown etc.

[Devilock]

survivor as bored of show bike as no history behind them as all lost as no scars

Scars could have been caused recently...

But how many proper 'show' bikes are rider bikes? Not many I'd reckon. Only scars they'll get is in transit to be shown etc.

I mean scars on survivors...