Post Sale Update: This Welbike sold for $10,100 after 54 bids on eBay. At the request of the British government, Excelsior developed the Welbike, a tiny single seater that was designed to be dropped into combat situations via parachute-equipped containers. The goal was that it could be unpacked and ready to ride within 11 seconds.
Restored – 1939 Norton 16H
Post Sale Update: This Norton sold for $10,601 after 32 bids on eBay. Between the impressively distant years of 1911 and 1954, Norton produced a series of bikes all around a 490cc side-valve engine. These bikes were referred to as the 16H – H stood for Home, as in a domestic model. The 16C (Colonial) was introduced in ’21 for …
British Single Replica Racer – 2004 Molnar Manx Norton
The Norton Manx is one of the most legendary race bikes of all time, and rightfully so. The British single claimed the top spot of the podium at the TT from ‘31 to ‘54 (aside from two years). The Manx was produced (and remained competitive) for more than a decade-and-a-half by the famed British marque, which offered the machine in …
Sonic Weld Frame – 1967 Triumph 750 Street Tracker
Post Sale Update: This Triumph sold for $7,400 after 36 bids on eBay. As flat track racing enjoyed a dramatic rise in popularity in the US, companies were formed to support the burgeoning scene. One popular firm was Sonic Weld, which was created in 1967 by Neil Keen. Sonic Weld would eventually be marketed under the Trackmaster brand, but no …
Championship-Winning Thunderbike – Survivor Customs’ Rotax Flat Tracker
Building a high-caliber race bike starts with the addition of race-grade, bespoke and aftermarket components, though it’s the countless hours of expertly dialing each element in that really separates pro-level racers from the rest. And that’s exactly what we’ve got here, a professionally-built competition machine from Mike Hill of Survivor Customs.
Rebuilt by Colorado Norton Works – 1975 Norton Commando
Post Listing Update: This Commando did not meet reserve despite 36 bids up to $18,362 on eBay. The 1970s Norton Commando was one of several notable products coming from the British motorcycle industry. As electric starters, disc brakes, and smooth operation became mainstays of Japanese competitors, British bike sales declined and quality stayed the same. Then, in 1975, the Mark …
1969 Velocette Venom Clubman
Post Sale Update: This Clubman sold for $15,000 after 25 bids on eBay. Introduced in 1955, the Velocette Venom had a distinctive claim to fame – in 1961, a factory-prepped Venom Clubman was the first motorcycle to average over 100 MPH over the course of 24 hours. The challenge was completed at the 1.7 miles concrete oval track at Montlhéry, …
Rare Project – 1961 Norton Manxman
Post Listing Update: This Manxman did not meet reserve despite 39 bids up to $4,450 on eBay. Built just between November 1960 and October 1961, the Norton Manxman is a rare bike that was built for export only – most came to the US, though another significant chunk went to Australia.
Water Scooter Project – 1957 Vincent Amanda
Post Sale Update: This Amanda sold for $1,701 after 6 bids on eBay. I’m stretching the definition of “scooter” here, but this “water scooter” is an interesting, if brief, footnote in the history of one of the greatest motorcycle manufacturers of all time. When Vincent was struggling to make ends meet in the 50s, they tried to diversify their portfolio …
370 Miles – 2007 Triumph Speed Triple
The fourth generation of the Triumph Speed Triple was introduced in 2005, and the big news was a was a displacement bump to 1,050cc. It also was the first Speed Triple with radial brake calipers and underseat exhaust
2009 Triumph Daytona 675
Post Listing Update: This Daytona did not get any action at the BIN of $5,300. In 2006, Triumph graced us with the Daytona 675 and the world has been a better place ever since. A 675cc triple gave the supersport world some middle ground between Italy’s V-twins and Japan’s four cylinders. 2009 brought a host of updates to improve the …
Supposed Factory TT Test Mule – 1930 Rudge Ulster Racer
Post Listing Update: This Rudge did not get any interest at the BIN of $39,900. Founded after an acquisition in 1894, Rudge introduced its first production motorcycle in 1910 — reportedly re-badged versions of France’s Werners. The marque really made its mark in 1924 however when it unveiled a new four-speed production model featuring a four-valve cylinder head. Sales of …
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 …
Rare Project – 1947 Turner Rixi
Post Listing Update: This Rixi did not meet reserve despite 40 bids up to $3,050 on eBay. The Turner Manufacturing Company was founded in 1859 under the name of Thomas Turner & Sons. They built a wide variety of products: cars, machine tools, aircraft landing systems, diesel engines, recovery winches, truck gearboxes…the list goes on. They also made light delivery …
Restored – 1965 BSA Lightning Rocket A65R
An evolution of the A65 Rocket, the Lightning Rocket was an upspec version with twin Amal carbs, high compression pistons, and an optional close ratio gearbox. Cosmetically, it had extra chrome and narrower fenders/fuel tank.