Post Listing Update: This MT500 did not meet reserve despite 36 bids up to $5,101 in Costa Mesa, California. The seller relisted the bike with a BIN of $7,000 with no interest. The history of the MT500 is pretty unique. The bike actually finds its origins in Italy at the beginning of the 80’s with the brand SWM (Speedy Working …
Street-Legal Factory Flat Tracker – 1977 Harley-Davidson XR750
Aside from a handful of championship titles sporadically earned by the big four from Japan, Harley-Davidson reigned supreme throughout the majority of American Flat Track history. While the MoCo obviously employed some top-notch pilots, its dominance in AFT can be largely attributed to H-D’s XR750. Introduced in 1970 as the successor to the venerable KR, Harley would successfully campaign the …
Still New – 2015 EBR 1190SX
Post Sale Update: This EBR sold for the BIN of $6,000. I have written about EBRs before, and I will write about them again. I love them, I love what they stand for, and I cannot believe the deals you can find on what was once a $16,995 bike (according to Cycle World). The gas tank is a lie, the …
Smallest Harley Ever – 1965 Harley-Davidson M50
The conclusion of the Second World War saw a huge demand for lightweight, economical, two-wheelers, leading to an influx in the segment’s popularity. A decade or so later, and it became increasingly clear to the suits at Harley-Davidson that by neglecting this segment, money was being left on the table. The MoCo did offer a few small-displacement scoots based on …
Great “Body” – 1998 Harley-Davidson Springer Softail Custom
Riding a motorcycle can have multiple purposes. Some use it to feel speed and adrenaline. Some use it to go from one point to the other quicker than a car. Some use it because it is easy to park. But ultimately, some use it for style. Makers like Harley-Davidson have proven their ability to produce bikes full of style, but …
2018 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Scout Bobber
Post Listing Update: This Indian did not meet reserve despite 27 bids up to $12,403 on eBay. In 2016, Indian Motorcycle started a partnership with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, and that has led to an annual tradition of creating a limited edition based on an existing Indian bike. The first year celebrated the 150th anniversary of Jack Daniels with the …
2016 Harley-Davidson V-Rod
Post Listing Update: This V-Rod did not meet reserve despite 3 bids up to $6,200. As some of you may have noticed by now, especially if you read my bio here, my tastes lean towards the performance end of the motorcycling spectrum. I have always loved what Harleys stood for, but every time I rode one I couldn’t help but …
1965 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide
1965 was the last year of the Panhead and the first year of the electric starter – the latter is what led to the name of “Electra Glide”. 6,900 examples of the FLH were built that year.
American Hand Craftmanship – 2008 Confederate Hellcat
Founded by a lawyer named Matthew Chambers, Confederate Motorcycles was created in 1992 in California. By 1994, the firm was relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and on November 11th 1994, the first Confederate prototype was released. Thanks to the gathering of some talented engineers, it took only two years to release the prototype of something that had never been seen …
Ending Soon – 1964 Ford Falcon Drivetrain Trike
Post Sale Update: This custom trike sold for $4,650 after 22 bids on eBay. The owner of a custom car shop sourced a Ford Falcon that a tree fell on top of, pulled out the drivetrain, and then created this gigantic trike that he uses as a daily driver.
1971 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson SX350
Post Sale Update: This SX sold for the BIN of $4,995 on eBay. In the 70’s, while Harley Davidson Sportsters and their other cruisers were playing in a small-size market, they had to confront other makers (especially the Japanese) on smaller displacement bikes. To that extent, HD also had to play by the same rules and use similar strategies. One …
M1030M1 – 2009 Kawasaki KLR650
Post Sale Update: This diesel KLR sold for $5,736 after 19 bids on eBay. KLR fans, take a close look at that motor. If it looks different than what you’re used to, it’s because this is a diesel-powered Kawasaki built by Hayes Diversified Technologies for the US Marine Corps. Hayes actually built 3 military Kawis – a gas-powered bike based …
Tetsu Mitsuhashi-Built – 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200 Custom
Post Listing Update: This custom Harley did not get any action at the BIN of $8,000. Tetsu Mitsuhashi honed his skills working under Aki Sakamoto of Hog Killers Inc. Interestingly, Aki himself sharpened his teeth working under Jesse James at West Coast Choppers. While Mitsuhashi has worked on countless bespoke two-wheelers while at Hog Killers, this Sportster-based build is the …
Early Laverda – 1969 American Eagle 750GT
Laverda was introduced to the American market via three models called the S, SS, and the GT. The catch is that the bikes were not officially Laverdas – they were American Eagles, the brainchild of Jack McCormack. McCormack’s story is an interesting one – after working for Honda, and showing Suzuki how to bring their bikes to the states, he …
1973 Penton Mudlark
John Penton had a hell of a career, but no one’s perfect. One of his rare flops from his self-titled manufacturing firm was the Mudlark. Originally designed as a trials bike, it was called the “Penton Trials” when it was released. Almost immediately, it was met with poor reviews.