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1947 Saginaw Powerbike

In America, Less than 5k, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Built by the Saginaw Products Corporation, the Powerbike was a conversion kit that you could slap onto any pedal-driven bicycle. All you had to do was remove the bicycle’s rear wheel, bolt on the Powerbike, and then hook up a fuel tank, fuel lines, and the throttle cable. They were successful enough that Sears started to offer pre-converted Powerbikes. The …

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Custom Streetfighter – 2003 Buell XB9S

In America, Custom, Less than 5k, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

Most custom street fighters you find online are born out of a lazy effort to clean-up a set of thrashed fairings more often than they’re built out of an ambition to purposefully actualize a vision of something cool. This custom Buell however unmistakably falls into that seldom-seen latter-category. This heavily-modded 2003 XB9S has had all kinds of work done to …

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1972 Harley-Davidson XR750 Flat Tracker

In America, Race by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

In 1969, an AMA rule-change would force Harley-Davidson’s then racing manager Dick O’Brian and his team to build the XR750 racer. It used a smaller version of its predecessor’s (the KR) 900cc engine. The first years of the XR had a lack of power as well as overheating issues so in 1972 parts of the engine were changed (aluminum head …

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Roland Sands Design Custom – 2005 Harley-Davidson Night Train FXSTBI

In America, Cruiser, Custom by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

Roland Sands Designs has been designing award-winning riding-gear and performance parts as well as building countless award-winning custom bikes of just about every type. To model the myriad of aftermarket and performance parts for the Harley-Davidson Softail, an engineer at RSD has built this beautiful custom 2005 Night Train Softail made up of almost two dozen RSD components. While anyone …

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Ending Soon – GT Moto Lady Brutale

In America, Custom, Italy by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

Moto-personality Alicia “The MotoLady” Elfving has teamed up with Sofi Tsingos of GT Moto to create this gorgeous, heavily-customized 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 800 that can be yours for as little as $25. Instead of just building another bad-ass build in today’s world that’s oversaturated with Instagram-worthy modern customs, Alicia and Sofi did something really cool (and admirable), they set …

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1974 Hodaka Road Toad

In America, Japan, Off-Road, Small Displacement by Tom WackerLeave a Comment

When it comes to naming motorcycle models, Hodaka might win. Rat. Super Rat. Dirt Squirt. Combat. Wombat. Wombat Combat. Ace. Road Toad. Hodaka was a Japanese motor builder for Yamaguchi motorcycles in 1963 when Yamaguchi went bankrupt. PABTCO, based in Athena, Oregon went looking for a replacement to fill the void left in their sales niche. The fact that PABTCO’s …

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331 Miles – 1983 Harley-Davidson XR1000

In America, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This XR sold for $20,303 after 32 bids on eBay. 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 similar thought, and the XR1000 was born. It …

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1960 Cushman Allstate Jetsweep

In America, Scooter by Tom WackerLeave a Comment

“Like a new 1959 car . . long, low, sleek . . smart 2-tone colors” {Quotes from the 1959 Sears Catalog Advertisement page 1066} The 1960 Allstate Jetsweep was a rebadged Cushman 722 Pacemaker offered between 1957 and 1960. Sears and Cushman had a long term relationship that saw tens of thousands of Cushman scooters sold under the Allstate banner.

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No Reserve – 1978 Harley-Davidson XLCR

In America, Cruiser, Custom by AbhiLeave a Comment

I’ve featured plenty XLCRs in the past – I dig them because they’re just so different from Harley’s portfolio at the time. In fact, the bike was a bit too different, as buyers didn’t really warm up to it. Low initial sales make them quite collectible nowadays, which is why the asking prices are high and reserves are often not …