View Post

1965 Honda S90

In Japan, Small Displacement, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: AFter 34 bids on eBay, this S90 sold for $2,280. I think one of the rules of this site is that I have to feature a S90 every month or so – it’s in the bylaws or something. I adore mine and it still gets me to work once a week, no problem (even if I can’t …

View Post

1972 Rockford Chibi Deluxe

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

Rockford Motors was the American importer for the wonderful Bridgestone motorcycles that occasionally dotted US roads. In ’71, Bridgestone stopped selling bikes, leaving Rockford with a gap in their product portfolio. They decided to take over manufacturing rights for the tiniest Bridgestones, specifically the 100cc “Taka” and two 60cc bikes – the “Tora” and the Rockford Chibi which you see …

View Post

1984 Honda Motocompo

In Japan, Scooter, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This Motocompo sold for $2,025 after 2 bids on eBay. Sold for only 3 years, the Honda Motocompo was a tiny 50cc folding scooter designed to fit into the trunks of the subcompact cars Honda was making at the time, like the City. In fact, the City’s trunk was designed specifically to house the Motocompo. Nowadays, they’re …

View Post

120 Miles – 1966 Cimatti 160

In Italy, Small Displacement, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post-Listing Update: Despite being relisted, this Cimatti did not meet reserve with bidding up to $2,600. Two years ago, a reader let me know that a motorcycle museum in Denver was letting go of seven small Italian bikes. One of them was this 1966 Cimatti 160, which had just 10 miles on the odometer. Since then it’s gone through two …

View Post

Holland Import – 1978 Batavus MoBat

In Less than 5k, Scooter, Small Displacement by JoeLeave a Comment

Batavus is a long-time Dutch manufacturer of bicycles and mopeds. They produced several stylish moped models and began importing to the U.S. in the 1970s, including the HS-50 and this more sinister sister model, the MoBat. Like most Batavus models, these are powered by a 48cc Laura 2-stroke engine and sport motorcycle styling with large wheels and between-the-knees fuel tank. …

View Post

Cute Project – 1963 Bridgestone Surfrider Model 7

In Japan, Less than 5k, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Imported through the Rockford Scooter company, Bridgestone sold a variety of motorcycles in the US, ranging in displacement from 50cc from 350cc. Here’s one of the babies, a 50cc BS7-D, sometimes called the Surfrider. For some reason, the seller calls this NOS, even though it has 1,562 miles, doesn’t run, and is missing a few parts. Still, this looks like …

View Post

125cc MX’er – 1972 Carabela Caliente

In Off-Road, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post-Sale Update – This Caliente sold for the BIN of $2,600. File this under ‘bikes I’ve never heard of before.’ According to a period review from Cycle Guide magazine, the Carabela Caliente was Mexico’s first MX bike. They said the engine power was competitive, acceleration was surprising, and the handling was excellent. Cycle World said “Mexico’s first small bore motocross …

View Post

1958 Harley-Davidson Hummer

In America, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Hummer was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Between 1948 and 1966, Harley-Davidson produced a series of two-stroke, three-speed small displacement thumpers that were based on the DKW RT125 (blueprints were obtained as part of reparations for WWII). The Hummer was built between ’55 and ’59, but that name has somehow evolved to encompass …

View Post

Restored Mini Bike – 1970 Ruttman Wild Goose

In America, Less than 5k, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post-Sale Update: After 36 bids on eBay, this Ruttman sold for just $800. Based out of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Ruttman offered a variety of mini bikes called the “Uglys”, named after “the world’s ugliest little creatures all ready to unleash a whole pack of fun.” You could get a Pak Mule, Horny Toad, Vulture, Spyder, Grasshopper, or the Wild Goose …

View Post

1965 Montgomery Wards Riverside 150-D

In America, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Montgomery Wards offered two versions of this moped during the mid-60s, both of which were produced by Benelli. Riders had the option of the deluxe 250-D, which came with a steel leg shield, passenger pegs, tool pouch, and other features, while the base 150-D was a bit more frugal. Here’s an example of the latter that’s claimed to be in …