One late Summer day in 1980, I stopped by the Harley dealer for something or another, can’t really recall now. In those days, the dealers were generally store front operations. They didn’t have many motorcycle, many parts or many employees.
When I walked in the door, I noticed a used Electra Glide that hadn’t been there on my last visit. It was a maroon 1975 beauty that had been owned by a local Shriner, I was to learn. It had all the bells and whistles. Chrome stuff, fairing, tour pack, cigarette lighter, high powered horns, and lots of lights. The fairing and tour pack was white, which was the only color available, and it had a big ol’ white ‘buddy seat’ to match with a chrome V--Rail running along it’s back. The seat was mounted on a spring post that went down through the frame’s backbone. That thing had a ton of stuff for back then. Radios, inner fairing, gauges, cruise control and all that other stuff wouldn’t come for years later.
You didn’t used to see a lot of Electra Glides. Mostly old guys rode them. Younger men rode Super Glides, pans and knuckleheads. Mostly hard tails. In fact, we made fun of old codgers on Electra Glides. Secretly though, I had been wanting one...perhaps for nothing else, just to be different.
The salesman, who was a friend, set me up with a test ride. I loved it immediately. So I made the deal...traded in my ’75 FX and rode off, grinning from ear to ear.
I hadn’t had it but a day or two, when I noticed something I had apparently missed before. Because of the fairing and windshield, my shoulder length hair no longer blew back when riding, like on my previous motorcycles, but the air somehow circled around from the back and blew my hair forward. It was like hairy fingered hands, reaching around from behind and playing peek-a-boo with me as I cruised down the road. Something had to be done..either the bike had to go, or the hair had to go. Seeing how, it was only hair and would grow back, I decided to stop at a barber shop. I didn’t have a regular barber, in fact I never let a man cut my long locks. Women always seemed to do a better job with long hair.
Mike’s Barbershop was, and still is, at an intersection here called, ‘Five Points.” I wheeled the FLH into the lot. Mike caters to the older guys and gives them a special rate. They hang out there and shoot the breeze, even if it’s not time for a haircut. As I walked in, I noticed the shop was full of ‘em, sitting around, smoking cigarettes and apparently solving the problems of the city and the nation.
As I sat down in the chair, Mike and the old fellas looked at me in astonishment as if I was some kind of freak. Not the regular type of clientele, I surmised... “I don’t know how to cut hair like that!” he exclaimed. “Just cut it to where none of it can reach my eyes,” I told him.
Calming somewhat, Mike got out his comb and scissors. As he ran the comb through the wavy locks, down the side of my head, he caught the comb in the hoop earring in my left ear... I screamed. Now, not many guys had earrings back then and he must have never seen a guy with one before, because he jumped back and yelled, “Dear God, boys...he’s got an earring!”
Thankfully, no damage was done to my ear, and we finally made it through the haircut.
I don’t go to Mike’s anymore, in fact I never went back. I now go to Joe’s.
I cut my locks after I pulled my car off the Jack Stands while changing my transmission. Front tire rolled onto my hair. I got stuck. Been close cut for a long time. I cut my own. But since I started growing it out again I get it cut by a gal. Feels better that way.
You shoulda just put it in a tail...... Question did the Fairing and Windsheild prevent yer beard from blowing up in your eyes?
I cut my locks after I pulled my car off the Jack Stands while changing my transmission. Front tire rolled onto my hair. I got stuck. Been close cut for a long time. I cut my own. But since I started growing it out again I get it cut by a gal. Feels better that way.
You shoulda just put it in a tail...... Question did the Fairing and Windsheild prevent yer beard from blowing up in your eyes?
Always kept the beard kinda short. It eventually turned gray, and I shaved it.
Hey guys, great stories, Gray you still got the 75 Electra?
Hey Steel next time you talk to your boys tell them thanks for me.
Yea, had long hair back in the late sixties, but long is a relative term, then it was over the ears got you sent to the principles office.
Short on today’s/seventies standards.
I was in Florida before I moved here visiting my uncle. Usually my sister or girlfriends cut my hair. It needed trimmed, so my uncle talked me into going to his barber.
“Buck hair cuts” walk right in.
My instincts should have told me what you get for a buck, but I was young and dumb.
I sit in the chair, “inch over the ears, same length all over, layered, you know Beatle style.”
Thirty seconds later he was done.
Yea for a buck you don’t get much.
You get “Damn Hippies, I will show you what a hair cut should look like.”
You get inch all over, REALLY short in the back, take it or leave it, same haircut for everyone who comes in my “Buck Hair Cuts” barber shop.
Last time A man has ever touched my hair.
Now I go to a beauty shop and have Karen STYLE it.
She cuts it just the way I want it, inch over the ear, same length all over, layered, you know Beatle style.
Of course now, I get it non-grayed, for my wife, and get hit on by the guy hair dresser cutting hair in the next booth.
Best Seinfeld impression, “Not that there is anything wrong with that.”
Yea things sure have changed, not sure if it is better or not, just different.
Now when I go for a haircut all I need to worry about is making sure I have an appointment, and that I wear my wedding ring.
Hey guys, great stories, Gray you still got the 75 Electra?
No, I sold it to a guy here in 1981. He still has it and still rides it. Car hit him a couple of years ago, so it looks different. Here he and it is now.
At 20: Long locks looked like they had electrical charge go thru them, complimented by slickness of rest of head due to helmet. Image conscious.
Solution: Stick head underwater...
At 30: Locks kept shorter. Result less severe. Discovered doo rag, now head looked doubly slick. Image consciousness somewhat subsiding.
Solution: Wet hair, slap on Brylcream.
At 40: Once again, locks get shorter. Even under helmet, they find a way to pester my eyes. Image consciousness non existent. Crew cut to the rescue. Problem solved....almost. Wife demands growth back, cuts me off certain....activity!!
Solution: Accept her demand. Bow my head in shame. More Brylcream
Now: Couldn't give a rat's azz what I look like. After negotiations with wife, all's good again. Hair kept real short during riding season, grows in rest of year.
Solution: Shearer set to position #5.
__________________ "Is there finally and really anything to life other than food, $hit and sex?" Bubba HoTep
Ah, the days of long-black hair...I was looking at some old pictures just this week. It's hard not to long for the "good old days." But the moment is now. My Dyna is history and I'm looking forward to many years and miles on my new Electra Glide.
Either the hair has to go,..or the Electra Glide 
Question did the Fairing and Windsheild prevent yer beard from blowing up in your eyes? 
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