Harley isn’t exactly known for its race machines, but as far as word association goes. Nonetheless, here we have a 250cc Harley-Davidson purpose-built racer: the 1974 RR250. Developed during Harley’s time in AMF competition, this bike is supposedly one of 180, though the RR250 was made for a number of years. While this example needs its restoration to be completed, …
Pick One – Storz Street Tracker Harleys
Storz Performance make some awesome parts and conversion kits. Both of the two Storz examples have been fitted with their XR1200 conversion kit which not only looks pretty snazzy but also cranks up the Harleys performance while shaving off a total of 83lbs. Highlights of the kit include an aluminum tank, fiberglass tail-section, side-covers and rear-fender, a wider rear-tire, actual …
1981 Harley-Davidson FLH
Post Listing Update: After being relisted, this FLH still did not get any interest at $6,995. I don’t want to call this FLH restored, but it’s clearly had a lot of work done recently. The seller (Classic Motorcycle Consignments) notes that the seller has invested over $24,000 as part of a 6 year ‘renovation’ after the bike was found in …
Keystone Framed Factory Hillclimber – 1923 Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam
Hillclimbers are some of the most interesting historically significant motorcycles out there. As high-dollar auctions like Bonham’s and Mecum have demonstrated, the right hillclimber in good condition can be worth a literal fortune. One of my favorites is the 1928 Excelsior Big Bertha Hillclimber that sold at a Vegas Mecum auction earlier this year for $117,500. This 1923 H-D Twin-Cam …
1949 Indian Super Scout
America’s oldest moco has offered a wide range of Scout models in its more than 100-year history. The 1949 Super Scout would be one of the last models produced by Indian before closing its doors four years later. In addition to its Scout 250 (which is in fact powered by a 440cc Overhead-valve 4-stroke vertical twin engine, though some sources …
Vintage Folding Scooter – 1955 Argyle Cub
Designed to be stowed in your car, boat, or airplane, the Argyle Cub weighed about 50 pounds and could fold up in 15 seconds. Over time, the rights were sold to a manufacturer that sold the Cub to a variety of distributors who sold it under their own names like Argyle Cub, Dinky-Cycle or JoyRide. Whatever brand you bought, you …
In Belgium – 1913 Indian Board Track Racer
Board Track racers are fascinating machines for a myriad of reasons. For starters they’re pretty much uniquely American – which is an increasingly rare feat in the two-wheeled racing world – they possess an undeniable historical significance and they flat out exude an old-school cool and simplicity to them. This beautiful four-valve (two for each of its two cylinders) Factory …
Can I Get An AMEN? 1978 Honda CB750 Chopper
Post Sale Update: This Savior sold for $2,650 after 41 bids on eBay. Based out of Southern California, AMEN (which stood for American Motorcycle ENgineering) made a name for themselves with lots of parts for choppers – but their specialty was in frames. Their best known chassis was called the Savior (some people say because it “Saved Your Ass”) as …
One-Off Custom – 1964 Jacobsen Motorbike
Post Sale Update: After being relisted, this Jacobsen sold for $920 after 6 bids on eBay. According to the seller, this was a one-off built by a community hardware store and Jacobsen lawnmower dealer in Rolla, Missouri that was considering selling motorized bicycles. They did not go through with the idea, but this prototype eventually ended up in a collection …
1949 Indian Arrow
Depending on who you ask, the Indian Arrow was either a terrible idea or a necessary pivot in a changing post-war market. Either way, it was a failure that unfortunately contributed to the company’s bankruptcy in 1953. In 1945, Ralph Rogers and some backers bought a controlling interest in Indian, and they stopped production of the legendary Scout because they …
Two-Wheeled Threesome – 1948 Whizzers
In contrast to the heavy-weight, large displacement American motorcycles of the mid-twentieth-century, Whizzer bicycles were as lightweight and small displacement as two wheelers get, being nothing more than small power plants mounted to your average bicycle of the era. Most were sold as kits that customers would fix to a bicycle themselves but as time went on several companies started …
First Ride – 2017 Vanderhall Venice
View Post225 of 250 – 1999 Buell X1 Lightning Carbon Fiber Extreme
In 1999, Buell decided to offer two limited editions of the X1, both utilizing a Nuclear Blue frame. The Carbon Fiber Extreme was named for the distinctive carbon fiber that was utilized – it was weaved in with a blue-tinted Dupont Kevlar fiber by deBotech. It was the more exclusive option of the two, with a production run of just …
Westwind – 1990 Buell RS1200
Post Listing Update: This RS1200 did not get any interest at the BIN of $8,895. Was yesterday’s Battletwin a little too exotic for you? Looking for a classic Buell that’s a bit more street appropriate? Say hello to the RS1200 Westwood. While the Battletwin was technically Buell’s first street legal road bike, the Westwind was much easier to ride on …
Battletwin – 1989 Buell RR 1200
Post Sale Update: After 36 bids on eBay, this Battletwin sold for $19,601.50. Buell’s first streetbike was the RR 1000 Battletwin, an evolution of the Road Warrior RW750 race bike that was abruptly killed off when AMA racing ended the Formula One class. 50 RR 1000’s thanks to Buell’s relationship with Harley-Davidson – he snagged 50 XR1000 motors and threw …