REDEMPTION CYCLES - vintage motorcycle restoration and repair

To define some terms I use on this website, so we're all singing from the same sheet of music. For those of us not going to inherit our grandfather's WL that he only drove on Sundays once a month, when he was younger, that really only needs wiping off and fresh gas:

refurbish- "to brighten or freshen up". Using as much of the original bike as possible, replacing or repairing only crucial parts considered not serviceable. Would include replacing completely worn brake pads or broken control cables. Would not include replacing an original horn I couldn't fix just because it doesn't go beep or an original burned out headlight with one that is not OEM and correct.

restore- "to return to a previous state". In addition to anything that would be done during refurbishing, also repair significant damage or structural flaws, replace all badly worn or not serviceable parts (with the exception of say an original speedometer) and touch up aesthetically defective areas. Could include replacing dry rot tires, a worn chain or rusted spokes, repairing a torn saddle, a top end job for severely worn rings, and making minimal sheet metal repairs (such as large dents or significant rust). Would not include replacing a torn saddle or a bent and scratched highway bar.

rebuild- "to make extensive changes in". We're talking frame-up, completely rebuilt bike here. Museum quality everything, a national show contender. Returned to as like new and original as possible. No expense spared. Could include stripping and repainting frame and sheet metal (if not really well preserved), engine and transmission rebuild (if there are any doubts what so ever), new drive chain and sprocket, new battery, re-chroming a badly scratched highway bar, and recover or replace worn out saddle. In other words repair, replace or restore everything that's not near perfect.

Important: Parts used for repairs and replacements are New Old Stock (NOS), used Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or of the highest quality, made in USA (and occasionally, Scandenavia) reproductions as original and correct as I can find. I do not use Asian manufactured reproductions. I would rather go without!

As anyone who has wrenched on an old bike can attest, just making a simple repair risks causing significant damage to fragile components. Such as, say, headbolts or even drain plug threads. In addition to using only authentic components whenever possible and taking absolutely no shortcuts, I am extra careful to "do no harm" when disassembling and reassembling my bikes. It's just too painful if you're not.