In car circles, a classic is 30 years or older, and a vintage is 50 or older. How does this translate to motorcycles?

I was of the belief that at 25 years a bike becomes a classic, yet I'm now having a few issues clarifying the terms, and even a search is proving difficult due to discrepancies and differences of opinion on the subject, plus now "antique" has also been thrown into the equasion..

My reason for asking, I was entered in a show and shine on Sunday. There were categories for "vintage, American, custom, etc" yet no "classic".

My bike's 27.................I had no idea what category to enter, didn't want to misrepresent it as something it isn't, so just bunged it under the banner of "American".

Thoughts?

 

Subscribed...My bikes an 86 FXR so am interested to see what bracket we fall into. Am looking at showing the bike on the 30th @ the St James meet.

Exactly the reason for my question..............and the complete silence in here has been amazing.

From my point of view the FXR's also have quite a bit of very pertinent history attached...possibly "historical".

Buyback of the company from AMF, brand new frame design, the birth of the Evo motor to replace the shovels, turnaround for the HD company and a long awaited level of quality control with engines that didn't leak oil and break down under warranty.....in fact I'd go so far as to suggest that without this there may not even BE a HD today, as AMF were running things down the gurgler, sales had died, quality control was as good as non existent, and the Japanese had moved in to take control of the marketplace..

So being over 25 years is it a classic, does it rate as historical, would an 84 model be scraping into the vintage era, does it come down to the individual discretion of organisers at each different event........................or is it just another old run of the mill fuckin' bike these days that doesn't rate as shit?

All a bit bit muddy regarding classic/historical really. But Classic would be my choice.

I guess you could use the club permit as a reference:

Vehicle eligibility:

A club permit can be issued to the following vehicles in the following categories.

Veteran vehicles – manufactured before 1 January 1919
Vintage vehicles – manufactured after 31 December 1918 and before 1 January 1931
Classic and Historic vehicles - manufactured after 31 December 1930, but more than 25 years before the date of the application for a club permit.

 

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/limited-use-permits/club-permit-scheme/car-club-permits

Interesting, the NRMA class Classic Vehicles as 15 years of age or more and
recognised by us as a collectable vehicle.

 

Veteran vehicles – which are vehicles made before 1919.

 

Vintage vehicles – which are vehicles made between 1919 and 1930

 

So I suppose it depends on who you ask, also depends on whose definitions you use USA or UK.

http://www.nrma.com.au/sites/default/files/SGIO_VVC_Insurance_PDS_1113_car.pdf. 
 

Interesting read and info ,,, My first bike was a 1984 FXR Super Glide , bought new .. From memory , I didn't pay over $5000.. She was a change from the old, as stated above,, but a bloody ripper .. The old story,,, should have kept it ,,, But if I kept all the bikes I fell in love with , I'd have garage full of them ,, and fridge full of only baked beans !!!!

I have many bikes from 1948 up to 2010 except for my 2010 Fatboy Lo all the other bikes are on Club Plates registered as Historic Motorcycles and called Classic Motorcycles.

 

Now that you've brought it up, it made me think about this too. Classics and vintage.. I wonder how we can really classify the bikes in their categories. Cos i am really interested in this!