This year was relatively tame in terms of the gags that motorcycling companies put out for April Fools, but here’s everything I encountered – which one’s your favorite?
Retro Custom in Belgium – 2002 Ducati 900SS
We’re seeing a lot of OEMs build modern bikes designed to look like old ones – here’s a custom effort that tries the same thing, taking a 900SS ie and trying to make it look like the black/gold Darmah stunner from 1978. This generation of Ducati’s air-cooled SuperSports wasn’t particularly loved by the public from a styling standpoint. Does this …
3 Miles – 1987 Yamaha FZR750RT
Post Sale Update: This FZR750RT did not meet reserve in the auction, but it quickly sold after for $13,800 on classifieds. To homologate the FZR for AMA Superbike racing, Yamaha was obligated to produced 200 examples of their 750cc sportbike in 1987 – so that’s all they built. At the time, the FZR750 sold for $4,599. But the homologation RT …
Ex-Racer in Italy – 1994 Ducati 916 SP
The Ducati 916 was an instant classic when it was released in 1994 – as Mick Walker put it, “the 916 changed the face of sports bikes in a way that only the original Suzuki GSX-R750 had managed a decade earlier.” Even the “base” Strada model, if you could call it such as thing, was spectacular, but Ducati also released …
Restored with 890ccs – 1982 Honda CB750F
Post Listing Update: This custom CB750F did not get any interest at the opening bid of $6,000 on eBay. Did Honda’s CB-F prototype get you hankering for the original? Here’s a CB750F that’s been slightly restomodded to give you a bit of old and new.
1992 Yamaha TDM850
The Yamaha TDM 850 is definitely an oddball…a well-rounded bike in a US market that seems to prefer hyper-specialization. Sold in the US for only two years (1992-1993), there aren’t very many of these bikes still around, but the TDM definitely has a cult following. Well suited for tall riders, Yamaha designed this bike to enjoy mountain roads and also …
Video Intermission – Repairing Fonzie’s 1952 Triumph TR5
One of the three bikes used by Arthur Fonzarelli in Happy Days has been on display at Hagerty’s headquarters in Traverse City, Michigan for a year now, but it wasn’t in running condition…until now.
What 80s-Inspired Retro Would You Like To See Next?
I was having dinner with Jeff Pamer a few months ago while I had a Suzuki Katana on loan – did you see my review? Jeff mentioned that in this wave of retro-inspired bikes, the new Katana is the first one to take its inspiration from the 80s. I briefly countered with the BMW RnineT Urban GS, but eventually I …
Vintage Bicycle Pacer in Holland – 1935 Meier-BAC
Louis Bac was an aircraft engineer at Peugeot who had an interesting side project in 1925 – he built approximately 50 examples of a pacing machine to be used at bicycle tracks. The second generation was released in 1932 – it was called the Meier and just 30 of those were built.
New Old Stock – 1958 Capriolo TV 75
Post Listing Update: This Capriolo did not meet reserve despite 13 bids up to $1,711.66 on eBay in Escondido, California. 3-29-20 Update: Almost six years later, this bike is back up for sale. The seller (who is a Tom Cruise impersonator) acquired it the last time I featured it and has bumped the mileage up from 2 to 16, typically …
Video Intermission – Ducati Scrambler “World Tour”
Last year, Henry Crew made history as the youngest person to circumnavigate the world on a motorcycle – he completed the ride on a Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled. Nathan and I were inspired to do a world tour of our own, but we only had two days to spare…
1996 Ducati 900SS/SP
SP = Sport Production, and it was a variant of the 900 SuperSport that was only available in North America.
1988 Honda Hawk GT
Honda was ahead of its time when it debuted the Hawk GT, also known as the NT650. It was one of the world’s first modern naked bikes but it was a commercial failure. Over the years, many riders have fallen in love with the Hawk as used examples trade hands – here’s your chance to see what all the fuss …
Guest Ride Report – RawHyde’s Adventure Days at Zakar
RawHyde used this year’s Adventure Days to show off their new facility – Zakar. Charles Fleming went to check it out.
2010 Ducati 1198S Corse Special Edition
The 1198S was a phenomenal machine – MCN called it “one of the best V-twins ever made and “truly one of those motorcycles that everybody should be allowed to ride once in their life.” For those of you that want a dash of exclusivity, Ducati produced a special cosmetic package called the Corse between 2009 and 2011. It differed from …