Post Sale Update: sold for $8,500 after 50 bids on eBay in Roanoke, Virginia. The RM500 was Suzuki’s big open class 2 stroker, and while it wasn’t much faster than the 465, the revised Full Floater suspension was a bit of a revelation.
Skoal Bandit Replica – 1987 Suzuki GSX-R750
Post Sale Update: sold for $14,200 after 39 bids on eBay in Los Gatos, California. Suzuki GSX-R750? Good. First gen? Even better? First gen that’s done up as a Skoal Bandit tribute? Very hard to pass up.
Ending Soon – 1997 Moto Guzzi Sport 1100i
Post Listing Update: did not meet reserve with 25 bids up to $5,700 in Beaverton, Oregon. More of a sport-tourer than an outright sportbike, the 1100i (i is for fuel injection) is a beautiful anomaly from the usual Guzzi fare of torquey cruisers. Don’t worry – this still packs the trademark V-Twin, but in this incarnation the motor is surrounded …
1955 Royal Enfield Indian Woodsman
Between 1955 and 1960, Indians sold in the US were actually re-branded Royal Enfields. It was the idea of an English company called Brockhouse Engineering (you may remember that they created the adorable Corgi) who owned the Indian trademark at the time. They thought they could capitalize on the goodwill of the Indian brand by selling some Brit bikes, and …
September 2020 Result Highlights
Last month we saw some great bikes – but did they sell? And if so, for how much?
Rare Project – Pranafa Playboy Mini-Scooter
Post Listing Update: This Pranafa was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Originally imported to the US by Hap Alzina, the west coast BSA dealer, the Pranafa Playboy was a mini-scooter built by Dr. Seiffert in Frankfurt, Germany. The intent was something to have something you could take to work but be so small you could park it …
Video Review – The Long Way Up Episode 4
The theme of the first three episodes was “charging issues”, but thankfully Episode 4 goes in a very different direction. It’s time to join back up with Ewan and Charley! Did you catch my recap of the first three? If not, you should probably start there.
1 Owner – 2005 Triumph Rocket III
Though Triumph has outdone themselves with the new Rocket III, the previous generation used to hold the title of largest displacement production motorcycle engine with a 2,294cc triple. The new one might be even bigger (2,458cc), but it starts at $21,900. This one’s about a third of the cost, it’s only had one owner, and it’s got a lot of …
1966 Cheney Triumph 500
Over on the auction site we’ve got a beautiful Cheney-framed Triumph that the seller describes as a “real race machine that could also win a beauty contest.”
1990 BMW K1
Post Listing Update: This K1 did not meet reserve with 27 bids up to $8,500 on eBay in Bakersfield, California. BMW keeps one-upping themselves when it comes to sportbikes as of late – they’ve just announced the M1000RR – but their history of inline-4 sporting machines starts with the famous K1.
Picture Intermission – Bikes at the Rock Store, 9/27
Last week I stopped by the Rock Store to see what was on display as it turns into an impromptu show every weekend. Here are my highlights!
No Reserve – 1996 MZ Skorpion Sport
Post Sale Update: This MZ sold for $2,200 after 5 bids on Iconic Motorbike Auctions in Santa Monica, California. Yamaha, MZ, and a British design firm called Seymourpowell all came together to create the MZ Skorpion, a rare sportbike that is now a cult classic.
1978 Yamaha RD400
In 1976, Yamaha made the RD350 a little bigger with a displacement bump up to 399cc. Thanks to 44 horsepower, the hooligan motorcycle du jour was capable of hitting the ton with a top speed of 105 miles per hour. Most people know the 400 simply for being an easier to ride upgrade over the 350, but it was also …
39 Miles – 2017 Triumph Street Cup
Take a Street Twin, then add a dash of sport with clubman bars, a mini fly screen, matching seat cowl, and a model-specific grey/yellow paint scheme, and you’ve got what Triumph called the Street Cup.
1942 Excelsior Villiers Welbike
Post Sale Update: This Welbike sold for $12,433 after 33 bids on eBay in Seattle, Washington. At the request of the British government, Excelsior developed the Welbike, a tiny single seater that was designed to be dropped into combat situations via parachute-equipped containers. The goal was that it could be unpacked and ready to ride within 11 seconds.