In the US, Hercules is probably best known as the first company to sell a Wankel-engined bike to the public – the Wankel 2000. The firm started building bikes in 1904 and was sold to ZF Sachs in 1963, eventually becoming part of the Zweirad Union. As you could probably guess, before the ’63 sale, Hercules wasn’t doing particularly well …
Restored – 1970 Triumph Bonneville T120R
Considered by many classic Triumph fans as the best year of the Bonneville, the 1970 was the last year before Triumph switched to the oil-in-frame design. This one’s been restored…though the Astral Red/Silver “color scheme on the tank was accidental but the paint laid down so well that it will ride on the bike unless the new owner wants it …
1983 Honda CB1100F
It was heavy, but it was fast. In fact, when Cycle World tested the CB1100F (an evolution of the CB900F) in January of 1983, they called it the fastest stock bike they had ever tested as it was able to hit over 140 miles per hour.
Never Ridden – 1982 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim
Post Sale Update: This Maxim sold for $7,600 after 42 bids on eBay in Chicago, Illinois. Yet another never-ridden Yamaha from my buddy in Chicago to complement the YZ80 and XT500 – this time we’ve got a XJ650!
Avonaire Fairing – 1968 BMW R69S
Post Sale Update: This R69S sold for the BIN of $22,000 on eBay in East Palestine, Ohio. From a 1962 review in Cycle World: “Whatever the BMW’s merits in a contest of speed, it is still the smoothest, best finished, quietest and cleanest motorcycle it has ever been our pleasure to ride. To be honest, we think that anyone who …
1995 Ducati 916 Varese
Over on the auction site today we’ve got a well-modified example of one of the early 916s. The first 2,663 examples of the Ducati 916 were built at the Cagiva factory in Varese – this came about as a fire broke out at Ducati’s paint shop in Bologna right as the production lines were spinning up to bring the world …
1975 Yamaha MX125B
While Honda was breaking sales records with the 1974 CR125M, Yamaha was competing with their two-stroke MX125.
Mammoth In New Zealand – 1969 Munch Mammut
Considered by some to be the world’s first superbike, the Munch Mammoth (Mammut) was revealed to the world four years before Honda opened some eyes with the CB750. It was aptly named, with a 996cc four-cylinder car engine from NSU that helped contribute to a weight of 480 pounds – that engine gradually grew throughout the run. Just 478 were …
Rare Project – 1980 Honda Cabina
At first glance, I thought this was a BMW C1, but it turns out it’s a scoot I had never heard of before – the 50cc Honda Cabina. Designed as a personal commuter ‘which combined the excellent mobility of a motorcycle with the comfort of a car.’ Honda says that this is the first mass-produced motorcycle with a roof and …
Half Harley, Half Vincent – 1984 Sportster Custom
6-30-20 Update: Another two years later and this Sportster is up for sale again – but this time it’s guaranteed to find a new home as it’s being sold with no reserve!
2006 Honda Big Ruckus PS250
The Ruckus was a surprising hit for Honda, due almost entirely to the aftermarket customization that has skyrocketed around the 50cc scooter. What many people don’t know is that Honda offered a ‘full-size’ version called the Honda Big Ruckus for 4 years in Japan and 2 years in the US/Canada.
Zero Miles in England – 1986 Suzuki RG500
Capping of today’s theme of low-mileage finds is one of the most iconic bikes of the 80s – the RG500 Gamma repli-racer. The street bike weighs 340 dry and the engine put out 94 horsepower. This example has never been ridden, and it shows just 0.1 kilometers on the odometer.
92 Miles – 2004 BMW R1100S Boxer Cup Replika
Post Sale Update: This BMW BCR sold for $9,600 after 29 bids on eBay in Columbia, Pennsylvania. The base model R11S was a wonderful all-around streetbike similar to the Honda VFR800. BMW went above and beyond with a couple of limited editions, including the Boxer Cup Replika as featured today. BMW created a spec series to race these bikes, and …
Stoner Replica Paint – 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR
Post Listing Update: This Desmosedici did not meet reserve despite 17 bids up to $37,100 on eBay in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. In their attempt to create the ultimate sportbike, Ducati created 1,500 examples of the Desmosedici D16RR. The RR stands for Racing Replica, and it was a limited production version of the Desmo racebike piloted by Casey Stoner in MotoGP. …
1975 Hercules 250 Enduro
Packing 7 speeds in the transmission, the Hercules 250 was an interesting German competitor to the upmarket enduros of the day coming from KTM and Husqvarna.