Post-Sale Update: After being relisted, this Indian Motoplane sold for $65,000. No, it’s not a plane. If anything, the Indian Motoplane actually represents the firm’s plummet to the ground during the Great Depression. At the time, Indian’s customer base was looking for a bike like the discontinued 101, a light 45 cubic inch bike. But the company didn’t feel like …
To The Top of Alaska, Day 6
June 9, 2014 – Vanderhoof, BC to Prince Rupert, BC ~385 miles Got an early start the next day because we had to catch the ferry that night, and the ferry system says you should be there 3 hours early.
1952 Norton Manx 40M
Post Listing Update: This Manx was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Today’s trifecta of wonderful Nortons ends with one of the most iconic racing bikes ever built – the Norton Manx 40M. Built for a whopping 15 years built in long stroke and short stroke variants. The Manx has a long, complicated history – which means that …
1961 Triton
If you don’t know what gives the Triton name, here’s a little history lesson. The term Triton came about as many private builders (and even some dealerships in London) started to take the best features of Triumphs and Nortons – the engine from the former and the frame from the latter – to make a bike that had the best …
1973 Norton Commando VR880
Post-Listing Update: Despite 18 bids on eBay, this Norton Commando VR880 did not meet reserve at $15,100. Kenny Dreer, the man who almost brought Norton back from the grave several years ago, got his start restoring motorcycles from the British marque at his shop called Vintage Rebuilds (VR) near Portland, Oregon. As the 1990s came to an end, he started …
Ending Soon – 1975 Norton 850 Commando John Player
Post-Sale Update: After 14 bids on eBay, this Norton 850 Commando John Player sold for $6,801.09. I know I just featured one of these bikes, but this Norton 850 Commando John Player is one of the nicer examples I’ve seen with an auction full of details and photos – and that’s always a winner.
Euro Spec – 1993 Moto Guzzi Daytona
1-11-2015 Update: The bike was pulled from the original listing but it’s now up for sale again 5 months later from a different seller (Automania – where they’re asking for $10,995). Find it for sale with bidding up to $3,553 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay. Dr. John Wittner made a name for himself in the late …
2011 Bennche Megelli 250R
Reader Zack B comes through with another bike I never heard of – the Bennche Megelli 250R. Based on the name, you’d be excused for thinking this comes from Italy, but it’s actually an American ATV and UTV company that dabbled importing a Chinese-made motorcycle. While Bennche is a firm based out of Dallas, Texas, Megelli is a UK company …
To the Top of Alaska, Day 5
June 8, 2014 – Pemberton, BC to Vanderhoof, BC ~435 miles
Mecum Harrisburg 2014 Auction Preview
After realizing that the RM Monterey Auction was only featuring one bike this year (though I did think it was a cool one), I figured I owed you coverage of a more comprehensive auction. With that in mind, on July 27, 200 motorcycles are going up for auction at the Mecum Auction in Harrisburg, PA. In no particular order, here …
504 Miles, 6 Cylinders – 1976 Benelli 750 Sei
Post Sale Update: This Sei sold for the BIN of $14,995. The first production motorcycle to utilize six cylinders, the Benelli 750 Sei was the result of Alejandro De Tomaso (of sports car company fame), who had just purchased Benelli and wanted them to build a flagship.
Black Beauty – 1978 Honda CT70
Everyone knows the CT70 – not everyone knws that for just one year, it was available in black. Here’s one of those rarities in “perfect” shape. Everything works, it’s street legal, and it comes with the original tool kit. You have to love those 70s decals. Find this Honda CT70 for sale here on Craigslist in Dracut, MA for $2,500. …
1989 Honda GB500
Post-Listing Update: After being relisted, this GB500 did not meet reserve at $5,500. In the late 80s, Honda took a risk and gave the world a beautiful motorcycle inspired by 60s thumper racers of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race – bikes like the Manx Norton and AJS 7R. Originally created as a 400cc bike in Japan, the bike …
To the Top of Alaska, Day 4
June 7th, 2014 – Portland, OR, to Pemberton, BC ~410 miles The next day, our primary goal was to get to the airport in Vancouver in time to pick up Vy, who was flying in from Los Angeles.
Ex-Military – 1957 Harley-Davidson Sportster XLA
Post-Listing Update: This XLA did not sell at the BIN price of $42,500. Harley produced thousands of WLA models for the US Government in WWII, but it wasn’t until ’57 that the feds would tap Harley again. This time, they wanted a patrol bike, and the company responded with the Harley-Davidson Sportster XLA. Just 418 were ever built, and Harley …