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Still in Crate – 1970 Rockford Tora 60

In America, Dual-Sport, Japan, Small Displacement by JoeLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This Tora sold for $3,000 after 20 bids on eBay – but it keeps getting relisted… Rockford Motors of Rockford, Illinois was the final chapter of the Bridgestone Cycle Company, which eventually morphed into today’s Bridgestone Corporation, the well-known tire manufacturer. The history we’re concerned with began after WWII with the production of small motorbikes and exports …

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1 Owner – 1973 Penton Jackpiner

In America, Austria, Dual-Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: After a hefty 50 bids, this Jackpiner sold for $7,000. The Jackpiner is a very important motorcycle in KTMs history of expansion to the US – this was the first Penton to utilize a KTM motor. ’73 was the first year of the model and KTM considered it to be so iconic that in 1997 that released …

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POS – 1993 Yamaha Seca II Custom

In Dual-Sport, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

6-15-16 Update: Reader Matthew J. found this bike back up for sale here on Craigslist in Excelsior, Minnesota for $3,500. Post-Sale Update: This “POS” sold for $1,850 and after 41 bids on eBay. Adorned with “POS” on the tank, this is an interesting custom “dirt fighter” based on a Yamaha Seca II.

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2007 Sherco 5.1i Enduro

In Dual-Sport, Spain by AbhiLeave a Comment

Want a high-quality enduro but think Gas Gas or Husaberg are just too well known? Maybe Sherco is the company for you. Named after a hybrid of Bultaco and Sherpa, Sherco was founded in Spain in 1998. Nowadays they also have a production facility in France, and across both countries they build trials, supermoto, and enduro bikes. Here’s an example …

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1968 Bridgestone Mountain 90

In Dual-Sport, Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1964, Bridgestone introduced a series of 90cc motorcycles – there were 9 different models based around 4 primary designs. One of the designs was the Mountain, and you can probably guess by the name that this was built to go off-road. Here’s an example with an older restoration that’s been sitting for a decade and a half. Someone needs …

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2005 Husaberg FE550e

In Dual-Sport, Less than 5k by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1987, Husqvarna was bought by Cagiva and it became part of MV Agusta. Many engineers from Husky’s development team decided to stay in Sweden and they founded Husaberg in 1988. They were competitive in racing but sales were lackluster, and in ’95 the brand was sold to KTM. By 2003, KTM was producing Husabergs themselves. You know KTM’s slogan, …

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1994 Ducati E900 Elefant

In Dual-Sport, Italy by AbhiLeave a Comment

Ducati was sold to Cagiva in 1985, and one of the things the latter did with this infusion of bikes and technology to try and compete in the Paris-Dakar rally. They created the Elefant, which won the rally in 1990 and 1994. In the US, the bike was branded as the Ducati E900 – this may give you a hint …