1965 Pan Questions

[rbenash]

Chris - again thanks for checking. I got that lead messed up and that's my fault. Sorry to have wasted your time. I was thinking of a response in the 1965 Panhead Book thread where the following info was posted by VPH-D

"Chris,
No, I have never seen any factory documentation on 51 footshifters, it's just one of those stories/myths you hear over the years.

The battery side cover is not shown in my 55-65 parts book, but does show up in 99456-67
parts supplement book, dated Sept 1966. It is shown as 65-*.
VPH-D"


My memory couldn't have been worse and I apologize for wasting your time. I do appreciate your feed back and info though.

Flat top covers and original batteries are the rule, man that's a tough one. Not so much the cover but finding an old battery case to modify that isn't cracked from being frozen.

As I look into this more and more the value of having my bike judged is rapidly becoming a diminishing interest. I beleive I can get better information regarding '65 Pans from these forums, my own research, and talking to folks like yourself and other '65 owners. And looking at other '65 restorations/runners.

I'm much more interested in running this bike. But I want to make sure that what ever I do keeps it as "original/correct" as possible.

[rbenash]

Wanted to follow up on this. I wasn't totally dreaming. Looks like there was in fact an accessories insert in the November '64 enthusiast regarding accessories for '65. Magic provided that detail on the other post running in Parkling Lot Chatter:

http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bbo...ad.php?t=14234

Thanks all!

[Chris Haynes]

Wanted to follow up on this. I wasn't totally dreaming. Looks like there was in fact an accessories insert in the November '64 enthusiast regarding accessories for '65. Magic provided that detail on the other post running in Parkling Lot Chatter:

http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bbo...ad.php?t=14234

Thanks all!

That is the Christmas accessory flyer. It doesn't show a chrome side cover for the battery. The 1965 Panhead shown proudly shows off its black battery.

[rbenash]

Yep, that's how I understand it.

[jwl]

On the battery cover thing--- you can add period accessories to your bike and they are not to be judged as long as they don't detract from the appearance of your bike. This may help you skirt the issue, maybe not.

[rbenash]

Trying to understand how that would work and when.

If you repaint your bike while it's torn down I beleive it's a restoration and accessories are handled differently? Guess I need to read/buy one of the judging books.

If you have a restored '65 Pan and you have the HD accessory battery cover instead of the '65 top only you loose some points is what I understand. Maybe I'm incorrect. That's basically why I started this thread.

Thinking that if you are being judged and you have the factory accessory ribbed cover from 1966 you may be ok for non restored, but restored you will be expected to have the 65 cover, an exposed HD Logo Battery and an exposed black voltage regualtor.

[jwl]

You make good points. This whole thing is getting real complicated. If they dock you for exposing a repop battery in place of an original case with the logo on it then it is only fair to say that you will get docked for your Coker tires too. This is not too big a deal on a 65 because NOS Goodyear Super Eagles are still around but how about an early 50's Pan. Nobody makes a repop Goodyear Eagle and NOS ones have to be almost nonexistant, just like original batteries. While the intentions behind this judging system were good I'm afraid there are flaws in the results. There is a lot left to interpretation.

[rbenash]

Yeah, before you get into it (having your bike judged) you really need to level set on the value. To me it's not for the competition aspect, it's more about getting valued/educated feedback on what's an accurate representation. '65 HD FLx model year is very unique. Parkers book is excellent but it really stops at 64 for example. To me there's a reason and a whole other topic. How many '65 owners are their that are tired of seeing their bike referred to as a shovel or seeing pan years noted as stopping at '64?

A 100 point evaluation is pretty rare IMHO and you are going to take point hits on things that just aren't available or just too hard to afford/find. That's fine, I get it.

This thing about a repaint automatically being judged as a restoration is significant I beleive when it comes to how your bike will be evaluated. You/I need to know the difference. Not that i's a bad thing, just that I need to get educated on what to expect. It will be a runner and I may have to swap some parts when I want it judged.

Does a resto get dinged if it's dirty? :-)

If I repaint using OEM original baked enamel paints and bake the finish as the factory did, do I get dinged less than someone who uses repop paints/lacquer and doesn't bake? If I get judged the same as someone using repop paint I can ignore that one as far as my personal interpretation of the judges view perhaps. He's probably got clear decisions to make and no system is perfect. When it comes to paint we can even go to a lower level of discretion than that - matching the actual pigment/ink material and making your own paint versus using "color matched dupes" vs OEM materials vs OEM finish. Keeps getting more granular. Judges have to cut if off somewhere ;-) In the end you do it they way you want, sometimes only you are the judge.

Lends some understanding that even a true off the floor out of the crate original bike may get judged as a 99 point machine depending on the judge and circumstances. It's a feedback service to me, not so much a be all/end all evaluation. If you are looking to make top dollar/sell the bike (not my case at all) then interpretation of judging take another road.

[Chris Haynes]

[QUOTE=rbenash;77451]Trying to understand how that would work and when.

If you repaint your bike while it's torn down I beleive it's a restoration and accessories are handled differently? Guess I need to read/buy one of the judging books.

A non restored machine can have the sheetmetal repainted. Many times you find a nice old bike who has had its sheetmatal repainted sometime in its life. I recently found a 1965 Sportster with 25,000 miles on it. Nice machine but tanks and fenders were a terrible metal flake blue. I repainted it original color. Repainted tanks and fenders in an unrestored class earn a six point decuction. You can earn a Junior First but never a Senior First.
A period correct accessory is one that was available during the year model the bike was sold.

[Chris Haynes]

You make good points. This whole thing is getting real complicated. If they dock you for exposing a repop battery in place of an original case with the logo on it then it is only fair to say that you will get docked for your Coker tires too. This is not too big a deal on a 65 because NOS Goodyear Super Eagles are still around but how about an early 50's Pan. Nobody makes a repop Goodyear Eagle and NOS ones have to be almost nonexistant, just like original batteries. While the intentions behind this judging system were good I'm afraid there are flaws in the results. There is a lot left to interpretation.

Judges look for original size tires. Not brands.