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 …
Restored – 1969 BSA Rocket 3
Post Sale Update: This Rocket 3 sold for $10,109.09 after 21 bids on eBay. From the seller of Monday’s Gold Star comes another classic BSA – the Rocket 3. The motor was a 750cc triple that was designed to extend the model line beyond 650 twins and it was specifically built for the US market (which wanted larger displacements and …
Rare in the US – 1962 Ariel Arrow Super Sport
Post Sale Update: This Arrow Super Sport sold for $3,250 after 27 bids on eBay. Bike-urious reader Dan Dutra (I’ve featured one of his beautiful Ariel’s in the past) has spent the last 6 months restoring an Ariel Arrow Super Sport (also known as the Golden Arrow). They were not designed for export to the US, so very few have …
1974 Norton Commando 850
Post Sale Update: This Commando sold for $13,400 after 30 bids on eBay. 1974 was a tough time for Norton Villiers Triumph – England’s government withdrew a subsidy early in the year, and that was just the beginning of their problems. The biggest issue was a sit in at Meriden, and it was one of the major reasons why by …
1957 BSA Gold Star DBD34
Post Listing Update: This Goldie did not meet reserve despite 30 bids up to $13,750 on eBay. Introduced in 1956, the DBD34 variant of the Gold Star is probably the most famous BSA ever built – MCN called it one of the 60 greatest bikes from 1955-2015. The “34” signified a 500cc motor (compared to the 350cc motor of other …
Hybrid 750 – 1970 Triumph TR6R
Take a numbers matching TR6R and then slap a T140 head on it to make it a 750cc motor, and you’ve got the recipe for a non-oil in frame beauty with extra power. Purists can cry but those of you that just want a good looking classic rider have plenty to enjoy here.
1970 Velocette Venom Clubman
Post Listing Update: This Velo did not meet reserve despite 33 bids up to $18,100. Built between 1955 and 1970, the Velocette Venom rose to fame in 1961 when a factory effort became the first motorcycle to average over 100 miles per hour over a 24 hour period. There were multiple Venom variants like the Thruxton, Scrambler, and Clubman – …
1969 Royal Enfield Interceptor
Post Listing Update: This Interceptor did not meet reserve despite 6 bids up to $7,400 in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. Restored between 2010 and 2012, this Interceptor is believed to be one of just 1,122 examples built before the Royal Enfield plant in England shut down in June of 1970. R-E recently announced that they’re bringing back the Interceptor as …
1962 Velocette Venom Endurance
Post Sale Update: This Venom Endurance sold for $9,875 after 27 bids on eBay. The last time I featured a Velocette Venom Endurance, Paul d’Orleans got right to the point:
Barry Weiss Build – 1973 Cheney Triumph Custom
In the past, the development of motorcycle engines progressed at a rate that markedly exceeded that of frames and suspension systems, resulting in a demand for trick, high-performance, aftermarket chassis and suspenders. Whether it was an inability to compensate for a powertrain’s oomph, an unnecessarily hefty weight, the stock frame offerings of the ‘60s gave backyard hobbyists, factory race departments, …