Founded by Frank Hipkin in the mid ’60s, Sprite Motor Cycles (later known as Sprite Developments) as a small British off-road motorcycle company that built trials bikes and scramblers, usually as a kit. One of their bigger efforts was the 405 Talon, and it was exported to several countries under different names: the BVM 405 in Belgium, Alron 405 in …
Left Side Shift – 1976 Triumph Bonneville 750
In 1976, Triumph swapped sides for the shifter and rear brake pedals to comply with new US regulations that required the shifter on the left. While they were at it, they also installed new petcocks with ON and OFF markings (again, a new US requirement) and swapped out the rear drum brake for a disc.
Restored – 1967 BSA Thunderbolt
In this country, when we think of a motorcycle company’s war effort we often think of G.I.s riding on the battlefields of WWII on Harley-Davidsons. The company had an immeasurable effect on the battlefields in Europe. In England, another motorcycle company had arguably an even more significant impact in military conflicts, but in a very different way. BSA didn’t start …
No Reserve – 1971 AJS Stormer Y4 250
Post Sale Update: This AJS sold for $2,648 after 7 bids on eBay. The AJS Stormer was a bit of a flop, as it was a last ditch effort by Norton-Villiers to dump excess inventory of Starmaker engines. However, it was the first MX bike to feature shocks that had been moved up as well as leading axle forks, so …
165 Miles – 2002 Triumph Bonneville 100th Anniversary Limited Edition
Triumph originally started in the mid 1880s as a bicycle manufacturer (fun fact, they got some initial funding from Dunlop), but it wasn’t until 1902 that they created their first motorcycle. To celebrate that fact, Triumph released a 100th Anniversary edition of the famed Bonneville. An official production run was never announced, but some online sources suggest that Triumph intended …
Restored – 1968 Triumph Bonneville
In late 2010, I was standing in a motorcycle dealership and looking at two bikes. I knew I would leave with one, but I was new to motorcycling and on the fence. Ok, new is an understatement, I was in over my head. The two bikes in question: a 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100, and a pretty clean example of a …
Ending Soon – 1955 AJS Model 18CS
Post Listing Update: This AJS did not meet reserve despite 19 bids up to $4,550 on eBay. The AJS Model 18CS was an evolution of the Model 18 – a bike that can trace its roots back to the G3L, an ex-military bike that was sold off in surplus once the war had ended. The C stood for Competition (as …
1953 Norton Manx 350
One of the most iconic racing bikes in history, the Norton Manx was available in 500cc (30M) and 350cc (40M) variants. Here’s one of the latter that had a race successful race history before it was restored. The Manx has seen a recent resurgence in popularity for classic motorcycle racing, leading to aftermarket firms specializing in service and parts supply …
TCD’s Aviation-Inspired Custom – 2013 Triumph Thruxton
Built by Moscow’s TCD (short for Timokhin Custom Design), this one-off Thruxton was commissioned by a client who works in the aviation industry, and requested a jet-inspired theme for the Brit bike. So the Russian shop crafted up a full set of custom aluminum bodywork; a sharp, low-profile cafe tail and leather saddle feeding into a diagonally-topped tank that connects …
1965 Velocette MSS 500
Post Sale Update: This Velo sold for $7,000 after 5 bids on eBay in Meadville, Pennsylvania. First released in 1935, the Velocette MSS was a semi-stalwart that was built until 1968.
Electric Start with No Reserve – 1971 Norton Commando 750 Custom
Post Sale Update: This Commando sold for $11,215.55 after 24 bids on eBay in Indianapolis, Indiana. The seller of this bike acquired it 13 years ago as “a clap trap pile of parts”. Over the last decade and change he has brought it back to life and collected nearly 20 awards and 3 Best-in-Show honors in the process. Now it’s …
1958 Velocette Venom
Post Listing Update: This Venom did not meet reserve despite 17 bids up to $10,000 on eBay in Armada, Michigan. The Velocette Venom will always be in the history books because a factory-prepped example set a world record as the first bike to average over 100 miles per hour in a 24 hour period. 5,721 Venoms rolled off the assembly …
2016 Triumph Thruxton R
For 2016, Triumph gave the Thruxton a well-deserved update with a 41% bump in power (up to 98), standard ABS, a 17 pound diet, and a styling update. New for 2016 was also the introduction of the “R” model, which lost a further 6 pounds, got a steeper rake, fully adjustable suspension (Showa fork/Ohlins shocks) and upgraded brakes (Brembo front, …
Restored – 1970 Triumph Tiger TR6R
Post Listing Update: This Tiger did not meet reserve despite 23 bids up to $10,117.76 on eBay. 1970 was the last year before Triumph went with the Oil-In-Frame design, and the single-carb’d 650 twin was available in 4 options: TR6, TR6C (Competition), TR6P (Police), and this TR6R roadster.
Original Owner – 1975 Triumph Trident T160
The Trident T160 is one of motorcycling’s great “what ifs”. Its T150 predecessor debuted as a 1969 model to lots of excitement from Triumph fans who wanted to see how the British firm would fight back against Honda’s CB750. It did not go well. Classic British Motorcycles notes that the Trident was doomed by “the combination of bad timing (it …