Wow, I had no idea this board was full of such purists! I for one am NOT a purist, and I will chop up just about anything.. being a motorcycle enthusiast is about sharing a common bond with other bikers over the thrill, the danger, and the sheer joy of riding ON the open road, not THROUGH it (such as in a car).
I've never aligned myself with any particular brand of bike, in fact the only "big brand" bike I haven't owned is a Harley - however, that will probably change in the next year or so when I finish up my Triumph and start a bobber project. By finish, I mean totally hack up and ruin.. or do I mean restore and customize? Perhaps a little bit of both, and also dependent on who's looking..
In the end, it doesn't matter because it's my bike, and if I want to light it on fire just to watch it burn, I can. These bikes aren't Brough Superiors, Francis Barnett's, or flat tank Norton's... to say ANY of our bikes are "rare" is a stretch.. my bike, a '95, the first to come back to the US, is "rare" I suppose but you know there are thousands out there so.. it isn't rare.. at all.. sorry..
Two things apply on this thread for me;
1) To each his own
2) If you don't have anything nice to say...
Anyway, I happen to dig this bike just for the sheer fact that it was made into something the rider enjoys riding.. again, for me, riding motorcycles isn't about popularity contests or pleasing other people's eyes, it's about enjoying camaraderie and that common bond I spoke of earlier.
I think it's uncalled for to openly flame this guy for modifying his bike.. I've seen plenty of bikes on here that look like total sh*t, and you know what.. the dude or gal riding it loves it, and is proud enough of it to share; just because they're asking for an opinion isn't license to be an a-hole to a fellow rider.
PS - I'm originally from Detroit.. so.. I'm pretty sure people think a lot less of that than California on any given day.
Later,
Jim