Ted Clough has been in New Zealand for the last couple of weeks, which is why we’ve been fortunate enough to share some Guess That Bike posts from a Kiwi museum. One of the reasons for his trip was to check out the Burt Munro Challenge, and he’s been kind enough to share a recap!
Sold by Radio Shack – 1961 Briggs & Stratton Powered Scooter
Most of you are familiar with the foreign-made bikes sold by US catalog dealers such as Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Wards back in the 60’s. Well, Radio Shack also jumped on that bandwagon, selling powered vehicles in their catalogs. Not foreign, but here is a 1961 motor scooter powered by the ubiquitous Briggs and Stratton lawnmower engine.
1963 Norton Electra
In the late 50’s and early 60’s, Norton produced a couple of smaller displacement bikes in the hopes of appealing to starting riders. They had the 250cc Jubilee and the 350cc Navigator, both of which were 4 stroke vertical twins. In 1963, at the request of the US importer Joe Berliner, they bumped the size of the Jubilee up to …
Rare Project – 1986 Laverda Lesmo
Here’s a project for someone who loves the thrill of the chase, looking for obscure, unobtanium parts to complete a project that will be worth – well, not much.
2002 Ghezzi-Brian Furia
View Post1957 White Shooting Star 250
White International was an American company that imported bikes from overseas and rebranded them under their own name, similar to what Sears, Montgomery Ward, and later, Harley-Davidson did. In this case, the bikes being re-branded were Hungarian-built Csepel/Pannonias.
Grey Import Pocket Rocket – 1989 Honda NSR250R MC18
The NSR 250R was sold as road-legal version of Honda’s 250 race bike, the RS250R, although in reality it shared no mechanical parts, just the overall image. It was, however a potent little pocket-rocket, powered by a liquid-cooled, reed valve inducted 249cc 90° V-twin two stroke engine working a six-speed transmission. Published specs put it at 288 pounds dry weight.
Catalog Bike – Sears Puch Sabre
Back in the 60’s and 70’s you could order motorcycles from the major department stores, like Sears and Montgomery Wards. Generally, the bikes were rebadged small-displacement singles sourced from Europe. One such example is this Puch Sabre, a 50cc tiddler sold by Sears Roebuck.
Trials Junkie Duo – 2 Montesa Cota 123s
If you are at all familiar with Trials, then you are certainly familiar with the name Montesa. Montesa is a Spanish company that has been around since 1944. Formed by Pedro Permanyer and Francisco Bulto, they flourished from the 50’s through the 70’s making small-displacement bikes for the postwar market. They produced numerous road-going models, most notably the Brio and …
Bought on Bike-urious – 2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200
Editor’s Note: 10 days ago, I featured ago a Harley-Davidson XR1200 that had been well upgraded. Turns out Bike-urious contributor Ted Clough snapped it up for himself! Here’s the tale of how it became to be his:
Yamaha Way-Back Machines
Vintage dirt bikes and enduros have become very popular lately. People have been dragging them out of their garages and barns and cleaning them up and they show up in large numbers at events like Barber Vintage Festival. Cruising Craigslist as I do (it’s a problem, I know) it appears the trend may be peaking. When you see a lot …
For a Good Cause – 1975 Yamaha RD350
For those of us of a certain age, this was THE bike to have. It wasn’t the biggest or the baddest bike of the mid-70’s but in the right hands, it could run with anything in the twisties.
Cannonball Equipped – 2010 MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR
9-8-17 Update: Almost a year later, contributor Tim Huber notes that this bike is back up for sale with a $2k discount – you can find it for $9,500 in Cornelia, Georgia here on Craigslist. The MV Agusta Brutale is a pretty powerful machine to begin with. The stock 2010 Brutale 1090RR puts out a claimed 144HP. Combine that with …
Need Some Japanese Parts? Large Collection For Sale
A collector in Marietta, Georgia (just northwest of Atlanta) is selling off his collection of mostly Japanese motorcycles and parts. He has been collecting for several years, and has amassed an extensive collection of bikes and parts. He has listed several individually on Atlanta Craigslist, and summarized them in this listing. Here are just a few of the 50 bikes …
Your Alaska Steed – 1989 Honda Transalp
Need a bike for a long trip? It needs to be reliable, comfy, and not too complicated to fix if it needs work in some far-away place. Here’s your bike. It is a 1989 Honda XL600V Transalp. While it was common in Europe for many years, not that many were sold in the US. It is a 600cc V-twin that …