1Costa Mesa

“Fat Bob,” 40, looked proudly at the $800 price tag on the 32-year old Harley-Davidson motorcycle frame in front of him and tried to explain why Harleys are the best motorcycles around.

“It’s the only bike that’s American made,” he said, lifting the stub of a cigar to his bearded lips with a forearm emblazoned with colorful tattoos.

His boss at the Brea machine shop where he works chimed in: “Did you ever see a piece of Japanese tin that lasted that long?”

Both men, who refused to give their last names because they are “security conscious,” had come to the Intershows Indoor Motorcycle Swap Meet at the Orange County fairgrounds Friday to sell the cache of used Harley-Davidson parts spread out on the cement floor in front of them. They have been coming to the monthly meets since they were started five years ago by Al Martinez, who owns auto body shops in Garden Grove and Santa Ana.

Martinez said the 5-hour long gatherings usually attract about 200 vendors, and anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 bikers.

“Sometimes people just come out to have a few beers; they see all their pals and discuss whatever’s going on over the weekend,” Martinez said. Other people come to buy hard-to-find used motorcycle parts at prices that are over 50% lower than retail.

“Some of these people plan their whole life cycles, their vacations, around these swap meets. We’ve had buyers come from New Zealand to buy containers full of fenders, gas tanks, and exhaust pipes because they can’t get them in New Zealand used,” Martinez said.

Motorcycle enthusiasts could also choose from among the rows and racks of shiny helmets, visors, black leather vests and pants, boots, posters and jewelry bearing the Harley-Davidson eagle and the logos of other brands of motorcycles.

Wayne Reiner, 36, and his wife Sandy, 24, came to the swap meet with their 19-month old daughter Heidi, who wore a pink T-shirt proclaiming her a “Harley Girl.” Although the El Cajon couple said they expected to make between $300 and $800 from selling motorcycle parts, they were also there just to take it easy and have fun.

“To me, it’s almost like a vacation,” Wayne Reiner said. “You leave town and get away from what you’re doing. We’ll probably get a hotel room tonight and go back slow and enjoy the rest of the day tomorrow.”