I have never heard of Paventa minibikes before but the company was supposedly working with Massimo Tamburini to build a small run of minibikes inspired by his legendary F4 design. Per a 2019 Artcurial auction, this is “apparently the only one of its kind” and “the death of the famous engineer in 2014 marked the end of this project.”
1987 Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 SE
The Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 SE (Special Edition) was a limited run of motorcycles based on the Series II Le Mans 1000. Built in honor of the 20th anniversary of the release of the V7, it has evolved into a collector’s bike particularly desired by Guzzistas. Only 100 examples of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 SE made it …
1969 Italjet Kit Kat
The Kit Kat was Italjet’s solution for people who enjoyed flying and boating but then found themselves at a destination without wheels for land. It weighed just 73 pounds, so you could even throw it in the trunk of your car if necessary.
1963 Moto Guzzi Cardellino
Built between 1954 and 1962, the Cardellino (Italian for Goldfinch) was the successor to the Guzzino. Initially, it had a 65cc motor but in 1957 Guzzi bored out the motor to 73cc. Other changes in ’57 included a change from hand shifter to foot shifter and the inclusion of a horn. The second generation was introduced in 1963, it featured …
No Reserve – 1965 Ducati 250 Race Bike
Over on the auction site we’ve got a beautiful Ducati 250 race bike – is it too pretty to race?
Titanium Frame – Custom Ducati SportClassic
The custom work on this Ducati SportClassic is extensive but the highlight is clear – a one-off titanium frame from Randy Martin at StradaFab!
One Year Only – 2008 Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport x2
11-17-25 Update: Ten years later and the black one is back on the market – we actually have it over on Iconic as the current owner found it through this Bike-urious posting. We recently gave it a small service and it’s ready to ride, so find this rare Guzzi in Panorama City, California with bidding up to $4,050 and the …
2 Miles – 2006 Ducati Paul Smart 1000LE
The Paul Smart is one of those bikes that always gets me to do a triple take when I see it in person. Inspired by Ducati’s 70s race bikes – especially the one Paul Smart won the 1972 Imola 200 with – this gorgeous motorcycle was limited to a production run of 2,000 models. They’re a bit of a torture …
Three Miles – 1980 Ducati Darmah 900 SD
Over on the auction site we’ve got an interesting example of a classic Ducati which hasn’t seen any miles but has seen better days. It’s an interesting collector piece (plus it’s still got the original MSO) though there’s definitely some “patina” so we’ll see what the market thinks of it.
Dirtbag Challenge Build – 1997 Ducati 900 Chopper
The Dirtbag Challenge was an interesting event in which entrants would have limited time and budget to build a chopper that also has to be ridden at least 100 miles on the day of the event. Here’s an oddball entrant from a few years ago that started as a Ducati 900 – your guess is as good as mine as …
2021 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR
MV Agusta calls their Brutale the “king of hypernaked bikes thanks to the absolute quality of the components, the advanced engine and benchmark electronics.” MCN called it “the best MV have produced in a very long time,” adding that “underneath its layers of shiny paint and away from its designer labels, decadent styling and fancy electronics it’s a well-sorted, involving, …
Cheaper By The Day – 1987 Cagiva Elefant 650
The Cagiva Elefant is an interesting odd-ball – an Italian dual-sport with the heart of a Ducati. Available with a 900cc or 650cc engine, this is definitely the most unique option compared to the KLR, DRZ, and XL/XR options available from Japan. The seller of this example is ensuring that it will sell as he’s going to knock off $100/day …
VIN #1 – 2000 Aprilia Pegaso 650 Cube
The Aprilia Pegaso was an excellent dual sport that suffered the same fate as most Aprilias in the 90s/00s – it was poorly marketed and under appreciated, though it was a great bike. Aprilia developed this bike in tandem with BMW, so the latter’s F650 is mechanically almost identical. Aprilia added a few extras that the BMW did not receive, …
1959 Ducati 200 Turismo
At the request of their US importer (Berliner), Ducati bumped displacement of the and Super Sport models from 175cc to 200cc – really 204cc, but who’s counting? Berliner sold the model as the Americano but the equivalent in Europe had sleeker styling and a much more international name: the Turismo.
Picture Intermission – Ducati Superleggera V4
While I was at the Volant Vivere track day at Laguna Seca (separate Picture Intermission coming soon for that), I was entranced by a Ducati Superleggera V4 that someone was planning on riding. I didn’t want to include a ton of photos in the separate post so I’m splitting them up for you to admire with me. Come enjoy!