The successor to their legendary Gold Star single, BSA’s Cyclone was also a 500cc – but it was a twin cylinder.
865 Miles – 2014 Honda CBR1000RR SP
After the legendary 1994 RC45, Honda took a lengthy break from producing a limited-production special for the US market. In fact, it took two decades before Honda would try something similar – the Honda CBR1000RR SP.
Zero Miles – 2000 MV Agusta F4 750 Serie Oro
Over on the auction site, we’ve got an unused example of one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever built. The Serie Oro (Italian for gold) was the first F4 released to the public, and just 300 examples were sold worldwide.
Original Owner – 1964 Fuji Rabbit 90 S-202
Japan’s first scooter was built in 1946 by Fuji. Called the Rabbit S-1, it was released six months before Vespa’s first model. The Rabbit was the name given to Fuji’s scooter lineup, and it ranged from the top-of-the-line Superflow down to the S-202 which was later introduced as an entry-level offering for those who just needed cheap transportation.
Land Speed Racer – 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA
The seller of this example calls it a ’50s period-correct hot rod that has set several 500cc Vintage Sidecar land speed records at Bonneville.
No Reserve – 1999 ATK 490 Enduro
By sleeving down their 605, ATK created a 490 lineup around a belt-driven Rotax motor that included a XC (cross country), dirt tracker, and enduro models. Each bike was equipped with serious hardware – Paioli forks, Ohlins PDS shock, Excel wheels, Pro Taper bars, SuperTrapp muffler, and even billet hubs and triple clamps.
Cafe Custom – 1978 Yamaha SR500
Featuring an aluminum gas tank and seat cowl built by Evan Wilcox, this Yamaha SR500 looks the part and has a few more modifications to back up the style.
130K Miles – 1989 Yamaha FZR400
At a time when Japanese manufacturers were getting increasingly aggressive and race-oriented with their 400s to compete in their domestic Formula 3 championship, Yamaha introduced the FZR400 in 1986 as a bike to be enjoyed “on twisty public roads where the customers would actually be riding and enjoying them.” The US got it in 1988, and many riders preferred it …
In Canada – 2009 Yamaha MT-01
Blackfoot Motorsports in Calgary, Alberta is selling off their collection of motorcycles (including the DR800 we recently shared), and one of the more interesting finds is a Yamaha MT-01 – the original “Master of Torque.” The MT-01 was never officially sold in the US. But other lucky markets were able to buy it between 2005 and 2012, and it was …
1986 Moto Morini Camel
The Moto Morini Camel was an incredibly rare dual sport built to capitalize on the dual sport craze that flared up as the Paris-Dakar rally got popular. The Camel featured a 500cc V-Twin – its little brother, the Kanguro, got a 350cc engine.
Cycle World Build – 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R
My buddy Justin Dawes is the Senior Editor at Cycle World, and he’s letting of his personal 790 Adventure R, which was built to “narrow the gap between dual sports and large-bore adventure rigs” in a “quest for the ultimate one-bike garage.”
1955 Triumph TRW
Based on the Trophy, the TRW was a 500 twin specifically made for the British government as a military combat vehicle, the bike came with side-valves instead of the overhead valves found on other models of the era which made it more reliable and provided easier to fix in case of a failure.
2008 Suzuki Hayabusa Drag Bike
Turning the fastest production bike of the period into a drag racer may seem like a bad idea for some but others would highly encourage such ideas!
Trip Intermission – Auction for 7 Days in Costa Rica
Backcountry Discovery Routes is hosting their 6th Annual Holiday Auction, and one of the listings is for an experience I’ve done myself and can’t recommend enough – a self-guided motorcycle tour of Costa Rica for 2 people over 7 days. It’s put on by Elephant Moto, an official BMW Motorrad partner that will give you your choice of a F700GS, …
One-Off “Lady Blue” – 1973 Husqvarna 250
This Husqvarna’s got an interesting history – the seller claims it’s “possibly the rarest Husky ever” as it’s a one-off made by Edison Dye, the father of American motocross. It was apparently built as a gift to his wife Rita as a prototype for a more ‘female-friendly’ dirtbike, but nothing happened after after this one prototype.