The Triumph Hurricane represented a paradigm shift in motorcycling manufacturing, as it was the world’s first factory custom motorcycle. The brainchild of Craig Vetter (well known as a motorcycle designer and manufacturer of custom motorcycle fairings) and Don Brown (General Manager of BSA), the Hurricane was created when Brown called Vetter up on a secret project to create a better …
1952 Vincent Comet Series C
Post Listing Update: This Comet did not meet reserve with 24 bids up to $25,100.01. A single-cylinder evolution of the famous Rapide, the Vincent Comet was one of four models using the 499cc single engine. This is one of the Series C bikes, the final evolution of the breed. There was apparently one Series D bike built but it never …
Video Intermission – Jay Leno’s Brough Superior SS100
Jay Leno’s Garage is one of my favorite YouTube channels, because of the variety of vehicles featured and the stories that Jay passes along about his cars and bikes. With that in mind, here’s his newest video, which features a Brough Superior SS100 and some interesting tidbits about ‘whip it like a mule’ and putting a drop of blood in …
1967 Triumph Trophy
Hartz Bros Custom Cycle is in the middle of a ‘stock series’ where they are rebuilding Triumph 650s. This example merges a ’67 T120R frame with a ’71 engine and has been restored to be like new with .20 over pistons, Hepolite rings, Wassell electronic ignition, a new Amal 930, and more. It seems the shop used to focus on …
Bought on Bike-urious – A Norton Tale
My favorite posts on Bike-urious are the “Bought on Bike-urious” series. It’s very rewarding to be able to help you guys and gals find the next bike of your dreams. With that in mind, I think the perfect way to wrap up my posts on Christmas is with an introduction to Jean, who regaled with me with the following story …
Desert Sled – 1967 Norton N15CS
Post Sale Update: After 19 bids on eBay, this N15CS sold for $6,601. After Norton moved production to Plumstead in the early 60s, they had a few leftover engines from the less-than-popular Atlas line. They threw those engines into Matchless frames to create a series of hybrids under the Norton, Matchless, and AMC names – possibly the most confusing time …
Best of Multiple Worlds – 1966 Triton
12-23 Update: This Triton is back up for sale after it did not meet reserve the last time at $9,300. Now it’s available with bidding up to $6,000 or a BIN of $9,500 here on eBay. Normally a Triton is just the combination of a Triumph engine with a Norton Featherbed frame – but this take on the venerable Triton …
1968 Norton Commando Drag Racer
Here’s a nifty Commando 750 that has the top end from a 850 as part of a conversion to a dragster. The current seller has had 5 years with it, when he first acquired it, it was running but it’s unclear how long the bike has gone without being started. As you’d expect, it has lots of upgrades and modifications …
1954 Panther Model 100 with Watsonian Sidecar
Post-Sale Update: This Panther Model 100 with Watsonian Sidecar sold for $5,800 – seems like a very reasonable price! Introduced way back in 1932, the Panther Model 100 kept evolving until 1963, by which point the Model 120 had taken over.
1958 Matchless G3L
Post-Sale Update: This Matchless G3L sold for $8,110 after 27 bids on eBay. Like the BSA M20, the Matchless G3L was produced for the British Army for World War II. Unlike the BSA, the G3L was extremely popular as it was the first bike that ditched girder forks. Matchless produced about 80,000 examples of this bike, and here’s a lovely …
Military Mount – 1964 Triumph TRW
Post Sale Update: This TRW sold for $4,551 after 33 bids on eBay. However, it was then relisted and sold for $5,100 after 39 bids. I absolutely adore military motorcycles, so I look forward to sharing this one with you. The Triumph TRW was built for use by the British military in WWII – only problem was that the war …
1999 Triumph Daytona 1200SE
In the early 90s, most major motorcycle manufacturers entered a gentlemen’s agreement to cap horsepower at 125. Triumph decided that when they were going to bring the bikes back from the new plant in Hinckley, that the best way for them to get attention was to ignore said agreement. Enter the 147 horsepower Triumph Daytona 1200. A year after the …
1954 Matchless G9B 550
The Matchless G9, almost identical to the AJS Model 20, was built produced for 10 years starting in 1948, and represent Associated Motorcycles’ attempt to produce the heavyweight parallel twins that seemed to be coming out of every British motorcycle company during the time. But the English firm also released a rare export version called the Matchless G9B, which had …
1980 Harris Magnum Laverda Mirage 1200
Originally a Laverda Mirage TS, this bike was converted in 1986 with a Harris Magnum II frame kit – this is one of the very rare (less than 10) examples with a full loop Laverda frame. At the time, the engine was rebuilt, and with time plenty of other trick parts were added, including Marzocchi M1R forks, Brembo brakes, PVM …
Fair Price – 1971 BSA Thunderbolt
BSA is probably best known for their Lightning, but they also had a touring complement known as the BSA Thunderbolt.