When is "original", truly original ?

[Paul Danik]

Thanks for all the reply's and comments. I think I will take Steve's advice and get the oily rag out and leave everything "age gracefully", may I be so lucky:)

Paul

[TeamSunset]

Ron... The Malaguti is a 50cc Roncobilaccio CR3T.

Paul... Try some Evapo-Rust to remove rust. I buy it in 5-gallon pales and swear by the stuff. It is supposed to be used as a bath, but I simply wetted down the Rim in photo with a soaked rag. Did it about a dozen times or so, every 15-minutes, and it started taking off the heavy rust with just a little elbow grease. I did the same wipe down of the Tank and Frame also to get surface rust off... no damage to old paint or decals either. Good stuff! Then use the lightly oiled rag to preserve the finish. Tom G

[Mick Milakovic]

Tom where do you get theis EvapoRust?  Thank you,

Mick

[Steve Minor]

Mick...check this site to find suppliers. It lets you enter your zip code for the closest supplier. Looks like AutoZone carries it.

http://www.evapo-rust.com/

Steve Minor
Wilmington, NC

[454MRW]

If you have a Rural King farm supply store in your area, Evaporust is much cheaper there than at auto parts stores. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[TeamSunset]

I get my 5-gallon pales from Nebraska HotRod Shop off ebay. Ebay ID = rrrolfs. Approximately $100.00 shipped to my door. Don't know if retail stores stock the 5-gallon pales. Nice thing is, you can use the stuff over and over until it turns black and stinks... then its time to pitch it. 5-Gallons goes a long way. Tip: If you submerge a part, make sure its completely covered, or it will leave a black line where it meets the air. Works great to remove rust inside Gas Tanks too. Tom G

[454MRW]

It is around $15-$17 a gallon at Rural King. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[dirtbike]

Back to the "original" question. I personally don't mind using sprockets, cables, tires, aftermarket plastic or anything that looks original. What I (personally again) don't like at all are all kinds of race mods often in the form of billet parts on vintage and evo bikes. For example black or blue race prepped maicos. Awful!! To me is should look original but the parts don't have to be.

[acemoto]

Paul my experience with original machines is leave them alone massage the plating with rust removers like Gibbs very careful on paint gibbs or a soft compound and wax my self I put gibbs on paint as well. Your right they are only original once.
the owner has to make a determination as to can this bike remain original or does it need a restoration.
I have lots of old bikes my earliest is a 1902 Indian and yes original bikes are far far more valuable than restored ones in some cases double  or more. Think about it .
There are several hundred restored Indian  4's  but good original ones there are maybe
3 or 4 good ones that I know of.
Knuckle head 1936's there are many restored ones that range in value from 80 to 100 K but there are 3 nice original ones and they have had offers over 250K
We are just custodians of this iron and we owe it to future people with interest to leave a
bike original when ever possible. I for one look at bikes from the 60's and 70's like they are new because most of  my stuff is teens , 20's 30's and 40's so I only like original bikes of the 60's and 70's and 80's
Now if you were in the Barber Museum they seem to have most things restored but there are some nice original examples but not nearly enough.
Larry
By the way there was a guy selling a Gibbs type product at the swap meet and the product worked wonders on bringing a rusty orignal bike back to life.