From Abbotsford to Zapp, at some point in history there’s been at least one British motorcycle manufacturer for every letter of the alphabet. One of the more obscure of those was London-based Dayton Motorcycle Co., which operated sporadically: from 1913 to 1922, then again for one year in 1939 (when it was almost certainly derailed by the start of the …
1992 Goodman HDS 1200
In the earlier 90s, a gentleman named Simon Goodman (the grandson of the founder of Velocette) out of Great Britain built 17 examples of what he called the HDS 1200: a hybrid that combined a Norton Featherbed-style frame with a Sporster 1200 motor.
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.
Trials Bike – 1954 Matchless G80CS
The CS (Competition Suspension) was the top of the line G80 model (except for the super-rare Typhoon G80TCS). Matchless’ marketing suggested that all you had to do to race was remove the lights – so with this bike you’ve already got the first step taken care of.
“The Warthog Sidecamper” – 2011 Triumph Rocket III Custom
Combining a 2011 Triumph Rocket III and a Mini-Mate Camper (normally towed behind the bike), this beast is known as the “Warthog Sidecamper.”
1964 BSA Starlite
Known as the Beagle in the UK, this little 75cc BSA commuter was marketed as the Starlite in America.
Cheney Framed – 1967 BSA 441 Victor
One of the legends of off-road frame design, Eric Cheney started as one of Britain’s best MX riders. Unfortunately, he picked up a blood infection while racing in Algeria and it became so bad that he had to stop racing. That was good news for his competition, as he applied his skills to making better frames and suspension designs for …
325 Mile Project With No Reserve – 2005 Triumph Bonneville T100
The T100 generation of the Bonneville was notable for the way it blended classic styling with modern tech – the best example of which is the fuel injection system that was specifically designed to look like carbs just kidding – as noted by Gee S, that didn’t happen for a few more years! Triumph sold a boatload of them, so …
#248 of 250 – 1998 Triumph Daytona 1200 SE
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 …
AHRMA Race Bike – 1961 BSA Gold Star 500
Built to compete in AHRMA’s Premier 500 class, this Gold Star is comprised “entirely from new replica parts except for the front forks and rear brake.“
Owned By The Petersen Museum – 1948 Famous James ML 125
Over at Iconic we’re helping the Petersen Museum sell some of their collection – one of the bikes that will be finding a new home is a Famous James that’s offered with no reserve! ML stands for Military Lightweight, as this bike was originally designed to be utilized by airborne British and Canadian troops in WW2. A civilian version was …
Gene Romero Daytona Replica – 1969 Triumph Trident T150
Ending soon on Iconic is a beautiful (and street-legal) tribute to the bike that Gene Romero raced at Daytona.
1974 Norton Commando John Player Special
1-21-24 Update: Two years later, this bike is still up for sale and the asking price has dropped by $10k – find it in Greenwich, Connecticut with a BIN of $19,950 or best offer here on eBay. One of the most collectible Commandos was the John Player, a distinctive endurance-inspired Norton with unique bodywork surrounding a completely stock Mark 2A …
1 of 89 – 1963 Greeves Starmaker 24ME
Sometimes a bike is rare because it’s limited production, and sometimes it’s rare because consumers weren’t particularly interested so sales were low. But the Starmaker is rare because Greeves – the company who made it – only made 89 as they didn’t think it would be successful. They weren’t wrong.
1951 Vincent Black Shadow
The Black Shadow might just be the most famous motorcycle ever built, with an iconic history thanks to moments like Rollie Free’s bathing suit speed run on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Black Shadows were handmade, and less than 1,700 were built in total. In the words of Hunter S. Thompson, “If you rode the Black Shadow at top speed for …