Contributor Ted C. just spent some time in Rome and was kind enough to share some of his favorite finds. Let’s see what he encountered! I wish Moto Morini sold bikes in the US still…
1982 Honda MB5
“You meet the nicest people on a Honda.”
1979 Honda CBX
In 1978, Honda came out with their first production 6-cylinder bike, the CBX 1000. They had previously built 6 cylinder RC-series racing bikes, competing very successfully in the 60’s in the hands of racers like Mike Hailwood in GP racing and at the Isle of Man.
1998 Laverda Ghost Strike
Do you feel a little quirky? Like to stand out in the crowd at your local bike night? Here is the bike for you.
Chang Jiang CJ750 with Sidecar
Chang Jiang is a Chinese company that manufactured motorcycles (among other things) from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. Exact dates are hard to come by, but that is not really relevant. The CJ750 was their primary model. It was based on the 1956 Soviet IMZ M-72, which was in turn based upon the 1938 German BMW R71.
Restored – 1970 BMW R75/5
This one is for Abhi, as we all know he has a soft spot for BMW’s. This is a completely restored 1970 R75/5. I’m not a BMW expert, but this was early in the run, so I assume it is the short-wheelbase model, which supposedly had some handling issues, especially if heavily loaded in the rear. The /5 models ran …
Not Your Average Cafe Racer – 1982 Honda CX500/650 Custom
A lot of “cafe racers” these days are just a cleaned up old bike with some bodywork removed, clip-ons added, and maybe an aftermarket seat unit. Don’t get me wrong – that is, after all, how the whole genre was created back in the 60’s and 70’s. What makes one special is when you can assemble all those parts in …
Extra Special – 1968 BSA Victor Special Custom
In keeping with the recent trend in customized BSAs, here is another very “Special” BSA Victor Special. Your opinion may vary…
Some “Outside of the Barn” Finds
I’m sure there is a gem in this pile somewhere…or not. What a shame to see all these bikes sitting in the woods and snow. I’m sure none of them “ran when parked”, but maybe there is that one piece someone has been looking for…
Just Ride It – 1975 Yamaha DT125
Editor’s Note: A few days ago, Tom Wacker featured a DT250 that was in need of a restoration. Today, Ted Clough counters with a DT125 that’s ready to go!
1984 Yamaha RZ350 Kenny Roberts
Here is a 1984 Yamaha RZ350. One of the last two-strokes available in the US (other than pure dirt bikes). Yamaha put out a special Kenny Roberts Edition, with the bumblebee paint scheme and Kenny’s signature on the bikini fairing. Cycle World rated this a “Perfect 10” on the fun scale in their review of 1984. The stock RZ350 made …
Austrian Engineering, Italian Style: 2002 Aprilia RSV Mille
Aprilia has a long history of racing with small displacement bikes. They made their first foray into the Superbike ranks with the RSV 1000 in 1998. The engine was built by Austrian firm Rotax, who have built engines for several other bike companies, including BMW, Buell, and KTM. The RSV engine was a 60 degree V-twin, 998cc, putting out a …
Pilgrimage to the Isle of Man – Part 2 – The Races!
Editor’s Note: Ted Clough finishes his two part story on his recent visit to the Isle of Man for the Classic TT. Click here if you missed Part 1 – otherwise read on to enjoy his perspective on the racing!
2 For the Price of…2 – Honda RC51 and CBR900RR
These are both great, but different bikes. The RC51 was built specifically to compete in World Superbike. As a V-twin, they were allowed to go up to 1000cc to compete against the other manufacturer’s 750 4-cyclinder machines. This bike was the basis for Colin Edwards’ World Superbike Championship in 2000. It was also the championship-winning bike in 2002. In the …
Pilgrimage to the Isle of Man – Part 1
Editor’s Note: You may remember that contributor Ted Clough made his way over to the Isle of Man recently for the Classic Festival – he was kind enough to share a few photos with us last week. Now’s he got a story for you about his travels – so come along for the ride!