After WWII, as part of reparations, BMW gave up its designs of the BMW R75. Bikes like Chang Jiang and Ural used these designs, but England’s take was the Sunbeam S7. You can see the BMW influence when you look at a side profile, but Sunbeam wanted to differentiate themselves by utilizing a inline vertical twin instead of the German …
1968 Norton Commando Fastback
Here’s a first year example of the Norton Commando, one of the first 2,200 that were ever built – the seller claims it’s a ‘show bike’.
Spirit II – 1979 Yamaha XS750 Custom
View PostMagic Button – 1981 Triumph Bonneville T140ES
The Triumph Bonneville T140 ES (for Electric Start) was one of the last bikes produced by Triumph before the Meriden Co-op fell apart and the company was sold to John Bloor.
1965 Norton Atlas
View Post1952 Ariel VHA
Post-Sale Update: After being relisted, this Ariel sold for $12,588 with 24 bids on eBay. The Ariel Red Hunter was a long standing legend – but for just two years (’52 & ’53), they made an all-alloy engine variant called the VHA. Here’s a beautifully restored example of this hard to find bike.
V-Twin Custom – 2015 Royal Enfield Musket
This post ends with a bike for sale, but it starts with the story of an incredibly passionate and talented guy who grew up in India, heard the intoxicating sound of a Harley-Davidson V-Twin, and resolved to replicate that noise with what he had access to – Royal Enfield singles. Several years later he was in the US with a …
1968 Norton Mercury
Introduced in October 1968 (and produced only until February of 1970), the Norton Mercury was considered by some to be a ‘parts bin’ bike when it was released. History has been a bit kinder to it – only about 750 were ever sold and it was the last of the Dominator twins.
1948 Ariel Deluxe KG 500
A model built for just 3 years, the Deluxe KG was Ariel’s lower level trim of their 500cc twin (you may be familiar with the higher spec Red Hunter KH).
1972 AJS 250 Stormer Y4
Post Sale Update: After being relisted, this Stormer sold for $2,202 after 10 bids on eBay. Last time I featured a AJS Stormer, it was an example that was 40 years new. There was a valid concern that it would lose all value once a mile was put on the odometer….so here’s a good looking example that you shouldn’t have …
1958 Ariel Cyclone
A 650cc high-compression variant of the Huntmaster, the Ariel Cyclone was a very rare bike. It seems that the list of documented Cyclones is 174 over two years of production. Ariel called it their “Super Sports Twin”, thanks to a 40 horsepower engine that was an option on the Huntmaster.
Restored – 1964 BSA Lightning Rocket
In their seemingly never-ending quest to take over the US market, BSA took their Rocket and then made it faster with a high state of tune. Here’s a ‘completely restored’ example that’s been given some tasteful upgrades.
Street or Race? Pick a Matchless G80
Here are two nifty examples of the Matchless G80 – one’s a street bike that may have been owned by Bud Ekins, the other has been converted into an AHRMA dirt tracker that spent some time racing and was then displayed at the National Motorcycle Museum. Pick your poison.
Rob North Framed – 1970 BSA 750
View PostThe $13K Question – 70s Brit MXers
Dogtown Cycles in Santa Monica is featuring two fantastic British MX bikes for the price of $12,999 – a ’71 Rickman Weslake and a ’74 Cheney Triumph TR5MX. Which one would you take?