Metal Garages

Owning a vintage Harley is owning a piece of history! One that doesn’t have to sit in a museum, but can be given new life and enjoyed anew in this generation. If you have a love of Harley Davidsons but aren’t sure how to go about getting started restoring your own, read this for a few tips!

Start with an old bike, badly in need of TLC

Finding a Harley to restore is the easy part. No matter how bad the condition, a Harley is not a bike that’s discarded when it falls into ruin. Across America, they’re residing in sheds, garages, and used bike shops. A quick internet search or perusal of the classifieds is bound to turn up some good options. 

Locate the Service Manual

While the manual that came with your Harley, when it was brand new, will help with a few things. You are really looking for is the OEM Service Manual. You may be able to check it out at the library, but keep in mind that your hands are going to be a mess when you need to read a page, so it’s best to spring for your own copy. You can get one directly from the manufacturer or on Amazon or Ebay. 

Consult a Mechanic

Unless you’re already an expert at repairing Harley’s, the advice of a good mechanic will be invaluable for getting you started on the right foot. Most bike mechanics will be happy to give you a consultation for a small fee. Some may even offer the information for free, but we recommend supporting them, and the bike community, by giving them at least $100 for their time. 

Plan for Parts

Once you know what you need, plan which parts you need to order and how long it will take to get them. Carburetor, gas tank, spark plugs, chain—whatever you need, try to plan for it from the beginning so you don’t end up with your bike in pieces spread throughout your garage while you wait for a part to ship. 

Have a Backup Plan

Sometimes the work doesn’t go as smoothly as you expected. You rebuilt the carburetor but it still won’t run. It happens! The key is not to throw in the towel with a plan to get back to it sometime in the future, but to know how to troubleshoot the problem so you can move past it. 

Bike clubs, forums, blogs, and videos are a great reference point when you’re in the middle of the job. No matter what problem you run into, there’s bound to be others with the same issue. From YouTube videos to chats in the comments section of articles, you’ll find plenty of helpful information and people to help you overcome the problem. 

Baby Your Finished Harley

After all your hard work, your old bike now gleams and runs like it’s straight off the showroom floor. Which means you need a protected place to store it! That’s where VersaTube comes in. You rebuilt a Harley, so you’ll have no problem building a VersaTube structure to store it in. With just a friend or two, a couple of days, and some household tools, you can construct a sturdy steel VersaTube. 

In addition to being the perfect storage space, a VersaTube shed, garage, or workshop would be a great place to work on your bike. While you’re waiting on parts and the work is in progress, you’ll have no worries about it receiving damage from the weather or being stolen. So, maybe you should bump this one to the top of the list so you’ll have the perfect space for restoring your bike from the start! 

Ready to learn more about VersaTube? See our garage models here, or design your own shop to your specifications!