Post Listing Update: This custom Triumph did not get any interest at the opening bid of $5,000. In 1981, Triumph created a dual-sporter based on the TR7V Tiger in response to BMW’s R80GS. It was called the TR7T Tiger Trail, and it was never officially exported to the US because of emissions regulations. It was an interesting (and very yellow) …
1995 Triumph Daytona Super III
This is one of the pricier Super IIIs I’ve seen, though that may because it’s in great shape, it’s got low mileage, and it comes with some rare extras. Is that worth the premium for you? Let’s start with what makes this bike special – in the early 1990s, famed engine experts Cosworth assisted Triumph in their quest to build …
1969 Norton Commando 750
The end of the 60’s was kind of a turning point in the world of motorcycling. British and European bikes were falling behind the Japanese manufacturers in terms of technological and mechanical innovations. In 1967, Norton-Villiers (ex-Associated Motor Cycles) released the mighty Norton Commando 750 and created a few specific Commando models until the last year of sale in 1978, …
1954 Matchless G80S
In this day and age, there are many similarities we take for granted that allow us to hop on any bike from recent history and go cruising down to the coffee shop. Some people try to stand out with modifications or custom bikes, but ultimately anyone with a license can get from A to B. However, there was a time …
1 of 136 – 1972 Rickman Enfield Interceptor
In the early 70s, an aspiring Floyd Clymer (who owned the name of Indian Motorcycles at the time) thought that the 736cc engine from the Mark II Royal Enfield Interceptor was an absolute jewel, and he ordered 200 to use in an hybrid sport-tourer to be created as Indians. Unfortunately, Clymer passed away after only approximately 15 were created, leaving …
Needs To Be Registered – 1982 Hesketh V1000
By 1981, England was almost irrelevant in the international game of motorcycle production. So Thomas Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, a Lord and Baron who had already started a racing team, decided to start his own motorcycle company. You can guess where he got the name from. Enter the Hesketh V1000
First Factory Custom – 1973 Triumph X-75 Hurricane
The Triumph X-75 is considered by many to be both the first factory custom and the very first cruiser. Designed by famed American fairing guru, Craig Vetter, the X-75 originally started out as a BSA project. After the company bet all its chips on its Bert Hopwood (and Doug Hele)-designed triple, it was left in a bad spot. The design …
1966 Triumph T120TT Special
08-03-2018 Update: Almost four years later, Tim Huber has seen that this TT is back up for sale with a $3,000 discount. You can find it at the Garage Company here on Craigslist for $13,000. A race bike straight from the factory, the Triumph T120TT Special was stripped of weight and had an increase in performance. The model was the …
1931 Sunbeam Lion with Watsonian Sidecar
Sunbeam developed their first OHV motors in the mid 20s, and their 492cc “Longstroke” motor was particularly successful in racing and street trims. The street bike took its name from the motor, and it was known as the Model 6 Longstroke until the early 30s, when the bike was refreshed and renamed to the Lion.
British Factory Custom – 1983 Triumph TSX 750
By the dawn of the 1980s, Triumph was struggling to survive. New offerings from Japan left the once mighty Bonneville looking increasingly long in the tooth, and with the British marque’s bank accounts and credit lines rapidly diminishing, the company was on its last leg. A last ditch effort was taken to spruce up the Bonnie, but with limited resources …
Trackmaster Framed – 1970 Triumph Bonneville T120
Trackmaster Frames can trace their roots back to the 1960s, when Triumph Motorcycles approached Ray Hensley and commissioned the famed race tuner and engineer to build a handful of bespoke chassis to be used in competition. Henley’s earliest frames were chromoly steel units with much more race-oriented geometry compared to the stock Bonneville chassis of the era. In the years …
Jack Simmons Restoration – 1973 Norton Commando 850
During the latter half of the 20th century, a number of key individuals in Southern California played highly pivotal roles in influencing motorcycling. One of those individuals was Jack Simmons. Over the decades he was involved in the moto industry, Simmons wore a myriad of different (proverbial) hats, making a name for himself as a racer, motorcycle dealer, machinist, and …
Cafe Racer Special – 1975 Norton Commando 850
Post Sale Update: This Commando sold for $12,000 after 7 bids on eBay. Bill Becker acquired this bike in 2004 with the intent of building a “cafe racer based on a 1970s superbike platform, but with contemporary improvements — with a ‘naked’ look fashioned after period-racers.” How do you think he did?
Mid-Century Brit Single – 1950 Vincent Comet
Vincent Motorcycles are some of the most elite and prized two-wheeled examples in existence. Back in January, a 1951 Vincent Black Lightning became the most expensive motorcycle ever sold after fetching a cool $929K at the Las Vegas Bonhams auction. Fortunately, you don’t need to shell out close to a million to get your hands on a clean Vincent example. …
1953 BSA Golden Flash A10
Post Listing Update: This A10 got no interest at the opening bid of $5,400. It was then relisted and pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. A 646cc parallel twin, the BSA Golden Flash was the predecessor of the Super Rocket. It was available in black and chrome, but also in the gold paint scheme shown here that led …