Starting with a stock bike, the owner had this RD turned into a tribute of Yamaha’s 1970s TZ racers. it’s street legal with a California plate but it gives off some classic racer vibes.
1989 Kawasaki KR-1 Race Bike
In the late 80’s, Kawi had some success with their KR250 road racer so they released the KR-1 as a wonderful little two-stroke race rep. It was quite successful, triggering increased competition from the big 4, and it set off a 250cc 2-stroke war among the Japanese – unfortunately us Americans didn’t get to enjoy these little demons. But here’s …
322 Miles – 2004 Honda RC51 Nicky Hayden
Honda built the RC51 to compete in World Superbike, and the bike earned titles in 2000 and 2002. The latter year, the RC51 also won the AMA Superbike championship with Nicky Hayden, and Honda responded in 2004 by producing a “Nicky Hayden Edition.” The changes were cosmetic only – a sticker kit, white number plates on the upper fairing and …
1965 Tule Trooper
Jim Edwins was the man behind the J. I. Edwins Company in Issaquah, Washington. The firm was best known for the production of the “Trooper”, a competitor to the better-known Tote Gote.
Rare Project with No Reserve – 1951 Vincent Rapide
The baby brother to the legendary Black Shadow, the Vincent Rapide was sold from 1936-55 in 3 distinct ‘Series’. The final run was the Series C, which commenced in 1949. It offered the Rapide as a base model and the Black Shadow as the higher state of tune. Here’s one that’s going to need some work, but it’s offered at …
Picture Intermission – 2021 Two Stroke Extravaganza
Today I learned that Vy hates the smell of two-stroke exhaust, because as soon I as got home from this year’s Two Stroke Extravaganza, she said “oh my god, you stink.”
No Reserve – 1937 Norton Model 50
With a staggering 30 year production run (1933-1963), Norton’s Model 50 featured a 350cc single and would eventually get a Featherbed frame in 1959. The model was initially designed by Edgar Franks, who would also go on to create Norton’s oil bath primary chain case, Norton’s first telescopic forks, their famous aforementioned Featherbed frame, and even the legendary Manx model.
2002 Ducati 748RS
Ducati built between 1994 and 2002, the 748 was Ducati’s mid-sized superbike which traded a bit of top end power for lighter weight and quicker revs. It also obviously kept the 916’s defining style, as well. The ultimate offering of the 748 was the non-street-legal RS, a homologation special built in very limited numbers that featured carbon fiber bodywork, 54mm …
Box39 Guido Electric Custom
Over on the auction site we’ve got one of the craziest custom electric bikes I’ve ever seen.
1999 BMW R1100S
Post Sale Update: This R11S sold for $3,300 after 5 bids on eBay in Little River, South Carolina. I’d say that’s a steal. In 1999, BMW took the most powerful boxer engine it had at the time and made their most aggressive looking bike so far, the BMW R1100S. Over time the used market has considered it more of a …
CR500-Powered – 2009 KTM 450
This bike combines a KTM 450 chassis with a Honda CR500 motor, and the seller states that it weighs 225 pounds and makes 70 horsepower at the wheel. Good lord. Plus it’s got a Florida title, because they’ll title anything! He says that “the bike feels flickable in the air yet solid on the ground. It’s the best of old …
Guess That Bike – Amusing Phrasing Edition
Every once in a while we get a Japanese import over at Iconic branded with some sort of marketing phrase that didn’t get a proper translation. Here’s one of my favorites – do you know what it’s from?
Flathead V8 Power – Honest Charley
Want 8 cylinder power in a cruiser but think that Boss Hoss bikes are ostentatious and ridiculous? Check out this Honest Charley-branded bike, which features a 60 horsepower Ford flathead! Honest Charley was one of the original speed shops – older readers may remember seeing ads for hop-up Ford parts half a century ago. According to some comments over at …
1977 Laverda Jarama 1000 3CL
In America, Laverda offered the 3CL (and the up-spec Jota), but they renamed the former the Jarama in 1978 after the racetrack in Spain. It didn’t sell particularly well in the United States, so some dealers converted the base Jaramas to Jotas (and some people call these “Jarotas”).
4-Speed – 1971 Honda CT70H
For many CT70 enthusiasts, the “H” models were desirable as they came with 4-speed transmissions and a manual clutch (as opposed to the 3-speed semi-automatic transmission of the non-H models.