In 1956, BSA released an updated version of the Gold Star. Known as the DBB34, it featured a new head, 38mm Amal carb, swept-back exhaust, and clip-on handlebars. That year, BSA won both the Clubmans Senior TT and Clubmans Junior TT races at the Isle of Man – but the Gold Star wasn’t just successful on pavement. BSA also created …
1995 Triumph Daytona Super III
In the early 1990s, famed engine experts Cosworth assisted Triumph in their quest to build a faster version of the Daytona 900. It was a rare bird, as just 805 examples of the “Super III” were sold, 179 of which made it to the United States. Cosworth’s primary contribution was a new method of pressure sandcasting for the engine cases. …
1970 Triumph Bonneville T120R
Considered by many classic Triumph fans as the best year of the Bonneville, the 1970 was the last year before Triumph switched to the oil-in-frame design.
1972 Seeley Condor G50
Over on the auction site, I had the pleasure of writing up a motorcycle I had never encountered before. I love that kind of thing, and I figured there was a good chance some of you hadn’t heard of it before either so…come learn about the Condor that’s not a bike for the Swiss Army. Also known as the Golden …
1955 Vincent Black Knight
Designer Phil Vincent called this “a two-wheeled Bentley” – the Vincent Black Knight was built to be the ultimate sports tourer, a Black Rapide with ample bodywork to keep a rider protected from the elements.
1.1 Miles -2006 Triumph Bonneville “Live Fast” #29
4 years after Triumph’s 100th anniversary, the British fashion designer Paul Smith created 9 different T100 Bonnevilles, each with a custom paint job. Public response was strong enough that Triumph took two of the designs and created limited runs of 50 bikes each that were individually numbered on the tank. One was called “Multi-Union”, the other is what you see …
No Reserve – 1950 Indian Papoose
Post Sale Update: This Papoose sold for $4,800 on eBay. The Indian Papoose was a rebadged Brockhouse Corgi, itself a civilian version of the Excelsior Villiers Welbike – a single seat scooter designed to be dropped into combat situations via parachute-equipped containers, then unpacked and be ready to ride in less than 11 seconds.
1 of 250 – 1999 Triumph Daytona 1200 Special Edition
In the early 90s, most major motorcycle manufacturers entered a gentlemen’s agreement to cap horsepower at 125. Triumph decided that when they were going to bring the bikes back from the new plant in Hinckley, that the best way for them to get attention was to ignore said agreement: enter the 147 horsepower Triumph Daytona 1200. A year after the …
Land Speed Record Holder – 1971 Triumph Bonneville
The Triumph Bonneville got its name from the Bonneville Salt Flats – this example pays homage to its history as it earned the Production Pushrod 650cc motorcycle land speed record at Bonneville in 2018 with an average speed of 111.410 miles per hour.
Restored – 1968 Norton P11
Back when AMC owned Norton and Matchless, the latter sold a bike called the G85CS, which was competitive in European motocross. The US west coast distributor sold several but thought they were a little slow for the ‘scramble’ racing that was happening in America, before MX took off. After requesting that AMC put a more powerful Norton Atlas engine in …
1964 BSA Cyclone
The successor to their legendary Gold Star single, BSA’s Cyclone was also a 500cc – but it was a twin cylinder.
1955 Triumph TRW
Based on the Trophy, the TRW was a 500 twin specifically made for the British government as a military combat vehicle, the bike came with side-valves instead of the overhead valves found on other models of the era which made it more reliable and provided easier to fix in case of a failure.
Zero Miles – 2017 Metisse Steve McQueen Desert Racer
Founded in England in 1959 by Derek and Don Rickman, Metisse Motorcycles quickly developed a name for off-road excellence with their custom frame designs for British engines that led to wins in the Moto Cross des Nations as well as 250cc and 500cc GP motocross championships. Their success soon expanded into road racing as well, but they were best known …
Rare Project with No Reserve – 1951 Vincent Rapide
The baby brother to the legendary Black Shadow, the Vincent Rapide was sold from 1936-55 in 3 distinct ‘Series’. The final run was the Series C, which commenced in 1949. It offered the Rapide as a base model and the Black Shadow as the higher state of tune. Here’s one that’s going to need some work, but it’s offered at …
No Reserve – 1937 Norton Model 50
With a staggering 30 year production run (1933-1963), Norton’s Model 50 featured a 350cc single and would eventually get a Featherbed frame in 1959. The model was initially designed by Edgar Franks, who would also go on to create Norton’s oil bath primary chain case, Norton’s first telescopic forks, their famous aforementioned Featherbed frame, and even the legendary Manx model.