The Rock Store is an institution for Southern California motorcyclists, which is why it was a relief to hear that the store was not consumed in the recent Woolsey Fire. Here’s a <5 minute interview with Rich Savko (the store’s owner) that lets riders know that the Rock Store will soldier on.
No Reserve – 1966 Honda CB450
Post Sale Update: This CB450 sold for $6,816 after 67 bids on eBay. The CB450 was Honda’s first “large displacement” bike, and it ended up becoming one of the most important Japanese motorcycles of all time. It was also quite upsetting to the British motorcycle industry, and they were put on the defensive by the Black Bomber. According to Motorcycle …
Ending Soon – 1954 Parilla 175 Turismo Speciale
Post Listing Update: This Parilla did not meet reserve despite 23 bids up to $4,505 on eBay. When it comes to Parillas in the US, the 175 motor is much less common than the 250. This specific bike was imported from Italy but it’s been brought back to life and is ready for someone to ride it as is and …
Restored – 1939 Triumph 3H
Post Listing Update: This Triumph got no interest at the opening ask of $25,000. Triumph introduced the 5T Speed Twin in 1938, and it immediately set the standard for other English manufacturers when it came to parallel twins. It was one of Edward Turner’s most notable designs, and it had a long production life – it sold until 1966 with …
Classic Racer – 1984 Kawasaki GPZ1170
This beautiful racebike left the dealer floor as a Kawi GPZ1100, but now it’s got a Sam Williams 1,170 motor packing Webb cams and larger valves fed by 40mm flat slide carbs and exhaling through a Hindle exhaust.
1 of 150 – 2007 Ducati 999S Team USA Replica
The Ducati 999S Team USA was a very limited edition of the Italian firm’s superbike of the time. Built to commemorate Ducati’s participation in the AMA, this bike was unfortunately nothing more than a cosmetic package built surprisingly around the S, and not the 999R model.
1981 Benelli 654
Post Sale Update: This Benelli sold for $3,050 after 8 bids on eBay. A rare find in the US, the Benelli 654 was available as a Standard as seen here or as a Sport model with the different bars and the fairing from a 900 Sei. Either way, it wasn’t a successful machine but they’re so hard to find that …
1980 Kawasaki Z1R
Post Listing Update: This Z1R was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The Kawasaki Z1R was the brainchild of Wayne Moulton, known as the “Father of the Japanese Cruiser.” His belief was that a solid motorcycle could be moderately tweaked to form four versions, one of which is a sport-tourer. So he took the KZ1000 and turned it …
Restored – 1973 Maico 501
Post Listing Update: This Maico did not meet reserve despite 18 bids up to $7,900. When it was released, the Maico 501 featured the largest two-stroke single cylinder engine ever stuffed into a production bike. The press ate it up, though racers were actually able to go faster on the 400s and 450s. But for pure ‘shock and awe’ purposes, …
Unusual Hack in England – 1999 Ducati 996 with Sidecar
Post Listing Update: This Ducati hack did not get any interest at the asking price of $13,626. Normally when you think of modifications made to a Ducati 996, the list includes rearsets, a tail tidy, and suspension. This one’s packing a little extra – a Watsonian Squire sidecar.
Owned by Reg Pridmore – 1998 Honda CBR1100XX
Post Sale Update: This Super Blackbird originally sold for $4,200, but it was immediately relisted and then sold for $3,003.22 after 16 bids on eBay. From 1990 to 1996, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 was the world’s fastest production motorcycle, and Team Green benefited from all sorts of press and rider excitement about that fact. Honda decided to steal the crown, …
New In Crate – 1981 Honda CBX
Post Sale Update: sold for $28,000 (plus a 10% buyers fee) after 81 bids through Obenauf Auction Service in Johnsburg, Illinois. In my recent recap of October sale prices, someone opined that “CBX prices are officially insane” because of a 3-mile example that sold for $15,100 on eBay. Well, here’s one that may go higher, as it’s still new in …
Video Intermission – Deconstructing a 1974 Harley-Davidson FXE
Wired magazine is starting a new video series called “[DE]CONSTRUCTED” in which they take apart something piece by piece and explain how it works. The first episode focuses on Matt Dawe as he disassembles a ’74 Harley Shovel. It’s 34 minutes long, arguably created for newbies, and they don’t take apart the motor (like you might see with a Hagerty …
1980 Honda CX500/CX650 Custom
Every year, retired master tech Kevin Murphy takes decent examples of Honda’s CX platform and restores them. He also takes bad examples and turns them into customs. He’s got an annual tradition of building a Honda CX custom for Daytona Bike Week, and each year a reader sends me a link when he puts up another bike for sale. This …