Between 1955 and 1960, Indians sold in the US were actually re-branded Royal Enfields. It was the idea of an English company called Brockhouse Engineering (you may remember that they created the adorable Corgi) who owned the Indian trademark at the time. They thought they could capitalize on the goodwill of the Indian brand by selling some Brit bikes, and …
Corbin Warbird in England – 1987 Harley-Davidson FXR Custom
The Corbin company is best known for their seats, but they’ve also made luggage and even a three-wheeled EV! Today we’re focusing on a bodywork set created for the Harley-Davidson FXR. It was called the Warbird.
Turbo Diesel Custom – 1985 Suzuki GS450
Post Listing Update: This custom Suzuki did not meet reserve despite 38 bids up to $10,200 on eBay in North Salt Lake, Utah. Sparks Motors is the shop behind the Discovery Channel show Diesel Brothers. When the builder/seller of this bike (Sam Turner of Head Turner Customs) was hired there, he decided to create a diesel-powered motorcycle on his personal …
1972 Yankee Z500
In the early 70s, John Taylor of Schenectady, New York started building the Yankee Z500, an American dual-sport designed to compete with the best bikes coming out of Europe. Yankee Motor Company started by importing machines from OSSA, the Spanish off-road powerhouse, and then moved to modifying OSSA engines in their own custom frames. Eventually, they combined two OSSA 250cc …
1 Owner For >90 Years – 1928 Harley-Davidson JD with Sidecar
By 1920, HD was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer – with dealerships in 67 countries. One of their featured bikes at the time was the 1000cc Harley-Davidson JD, which became the first motorcycle to ever win a race with an average speed of over 100 mph in 1921, on a board track in Fresno, California. Here’s an example that has …
175 Miles – 2000 Buell Blast
As most of you know, the Buell Blast was designed as an entry-level motorcycle to get people into the H-D family. This one’s barely been used and seems like it would work just fine at its intended design if a new rider wanted something less ubiquitous than a R3 or Ninja 400.
1983 Harley-Davidson XR1000
Post Listing Update: This XR1000 did not meet reserve with 30 bids up to $12,600 on eBay in Pismo Beach, California. The XR750 is one of Harley-Davidson’s most iconic motorcycles – though it was never intended to be street legal. But what if Harley took a XR motor and shoved it in a Sportster frame? Willie G himself had a …
See It At Handbuilt – 1979 Honda CX500 Custom
Post Listing Update: This custom CX sold for $6,313 after 18 bids on Iconic Motorbike Auctions in Phoenix, Arizona. 8/28/20 Update: Two years later, Obersten Regal is back up for sale…and I saw it at Handbuilt, like I said I would! Since then, the bike has covered approximately 300 miles – the seller bought it as “my first bike was …
2 Semis Worth – Pre-1983 Harley-Davidson and Indian Collection
Someone’s father spent a lifetime collecting Harley-Davidson and Indians made before 1983 – now what’s left is packed into two semi trailers (which are included in the asking price). “Hook them up and easily take them away.”
“Death Trap III” – Cadillac V-8 Powered Custom Trike
Post Sale Update: Death Trap $6,300 after 3 bids on eBay in Alpharetta, Georgia. Called the Death Trap III, the back half of this oddball custom trike is a Cadillac 350 V-8 that was originally used in a FWD platform.
1967 Rokon Trailbreaker
Post Sale Update: This Rokon sold for $3,700 after 11 bids on eBay Rokon was founded in the early 60s with the intent of developing a “moto-tractor” that featured two wheel drive. This task was achieved with a combination of shaft, chain, and belt drives, and it enabled riders to go nearly anywhere – as long as they weren’t in …
2002 Buell Thunderbolt S3T
Post Sale Update: This Thunderbolt sold for $3,701 after 10 bids on eBay in Collinsville, Illinois. Based on the S3 Thunderbolt sport-tourer, the “S3T” gained some extra touring bits to go with the extra T – taller bars, lower fairings, and color-matched hard bags.
2010 Kris Krome Board Tracker
Post Sale Update: This sold for $4,550 after 6 bids on eBay in Edmond, Oklahoma. The styling isn’t really for me, however I’m using this bike as an excuse to share a product I rarely see in the wild: the Hawg Halter Sprotor (as in a combined Sprocket/Rotor):
Ending Soon – 2014 EBR 1190SX
Post Listing Update: This 1190SX did not get any action at the BIN of $8,995 on eBay. The streetfighter option in Erik Buell Racing’s lineup, the EBR 1190SX was supposed to be a bit more than just a streetfighter – Buell called it a “Superfighter”.
2009 Ronin Motorworks #7 Kurabayashi Takeyuki
Back in 2014 I shared a post about Ronin Motorworks and their limited run of 47 motorcycles based around the Buell 1125CR – each bike was named after a member of the 47 Ronin, an impressive (and true) tale which exemplifies the Japanese samurai code of honor, which includes ritual suicide, revenge…and more ritual suicide.