Finding a vintage motorcycle, today, is not in itself anything exceptional, if we exclude rare models, and by rare we mean motorcycles that have been produced in a few examples or of particular historical interest. To define a “vintage” motorcycle, it must have been built for at least 20 years. It is essential to start a restoration, starting with the acquisition of all possible information: technical documentation, photos, etc. The restoration of the Vintage Motorcycle is divided into two types, conservative restoration and complete restoration.
Conservative restoration is preferable, but not always possible, as the vehicle must be in excellent condition. It consists, like the complete restoration, in completely disassembling the bike, cleaning it, taking care not to damage any parts that may have been compromised by time, and completely maintaining its original state (see). we should recover original pieces of the time, (and not new or reconstructed parts). For this reason, the conservative restoration can take a long time, necessary to find such parts. The preserved bike also carries intact the original charm of the period in which it was born: paintings, hand-made threads, chrome plating and saddlery.
A complete restoration is necessary when the vehicle is in poor condition: deep rust, numerous missing parts, destroyed saddlery, etc. Undoubtedly, the preserved bike has a superior value, not only in the material, but essentially in real history due to the experience in the years it has gone through and in addition, the maintenance of its original old patina has another flavor.
This system involves, in addition to the total disassembly of the motorcycle, the complete replacement of all those parts worn by time, and the replacement of any non-original parts. Sandblasting of the entire chassis (frame, tank, mudguards, etc.), and parts of the engine that require it (i.e. non-chrome parts) This is necessary to remove any residue of old paint and clean the parts from rust.
We then proceed with the drafting of the anti-rust primer, and the anchoring primer for the final coats of paint which, after informing the type of paint used on that model, (given by ASI or any manufacturer still in business) we will apply. We will then have to re-chrome the original chrome parts, and be careful not to confuse the nickel, chrome or burnished parts. We will replace the sheaths, as per original, and the electrical part according to the manufacturer’s scheme. We will proceed with the complete restoration of the engine, then with the assembly of all parts of the bike.
