Moto Guzzi took their well-known 1,064cc twin and threw it in an ADV package to compete against BMW’s GS bikes. The result was as you’d expect – too heavy and under-suspended for serious off-road work, but very capable as a sport-tourer that could also play on fire roads or light trails. This example is well-modified for touring and it’s had …
Salvage Title – 2008 Bimota Tesi 3D
The name Tesi comes about because this motorcycle was actually the designer’s (Pierlugi Marconi) Mechanical Engineering thesis – on paper, at least, there are technical advantages to hub-centric steering. The simplified story here is that hub-centric steering completely isolates braking forces from suspension travel, which should improve mechanical performance of both aspects. This is one of the Limited Edition “Concept” …
In England – 1998 Aprilia Motó 6.5
I am of the age where all my friends have become nostalgic about the 1990s. I think I may start carrying around a picture of this bike in my wallet to remind them that, no, the ’90s were not as great as they remember. Or, you may be one of those who really digs this particular piece of Italian exotica, …
Leon Haslam Pit Bike Replica – 2001 Italjet Dragster 50
In 2004, Leon Haslam earned Rookie of the Year honors while competing in World Superbike with the Renegade team with Noriyuki Haga. Leon’s best finish was 3rd, and he finished the season in 8th place. Italjet released a limited edition replica of his pit bike with a special cosmetic package that replicated what Leon would occasionally putt around on. The …
1974 Laverda 1000 3C
Laverda is one of those ‘rabbit hole’ brands, as in: you can spend a lot of time wandering down internet rabbit holes when learning about it. You find some interesting things down there, though. Can you guess how this Italian motorcycle ties to flamboyant dancing in 1700s Spain? We’ll start a little closer to the present, in Breganze, Italy, in …
No Reserve with Eight Miles – 2002 MV Agusta F4 750S EVO2
Over on Iconic we’ve got a beautiful MV F4 that’s been sitting since it was basically new – will you get it back on the road?
1987 Cagiva Alazzurra 650 SS
A quick look through the archives of Bike-urious suggests that Cagiva’s Alazzurra 650 SS is an acquired taste. Which is a polite way of saying that bikes highlighted in 2017 and 2016 struggled to find buyers. With its ostensibly low asking price, you would think this particular piece of Italian history might have a chance, but who knows? The only …
1981 Ducati Pantah 500SL
One of the lesser-known bikes in Ducati’s history is the distinctively-styled Pantah 500SL, a replacement to the 350/500 parallel twins that stunk up the marketplace. They’re hard to find in original or restored condition – this is one of the latter. Basic specifications included 45 horsepower at 9,000 rpm, a top speed of 115 miles per hour, and a wet …
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 America
You may have caught the news recently that MV Agusta has managed to buy its way out of its partnership with the deeply troubled KTM and is, in its own words, “back to running on its own.” “This is a moment of pride for all of us at MV Agusta,” a press release quotes CEO Timur Saradarov as saying. “Regaining …
3 KM in Germany – 2006 Bimota DB4
The Bimota DB4 Tricolore followed the Italian firm’s modus operandi of taking a well established engine from another manufacturer and surrounding it with beautiful Italian bodywork. Using a frame similar to the Bimota Mantra, this successor wasn’t much of a technological advancement. Think of it instead as a moving piece of art.
Customized 2009 Ducati SportClassic 1000 S
Slightly reminiscent of the Paul Smart LE model that I wrote up earlier this month is this unique beauty born of the same family. That is to say, it has the same basic building blocks. The bike that you see here is a long way from stock.
No Reserve – 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR #669
Over at Iconic we’re doing something a little risky – we’re selling a Desmosedici with no reserve! Who knows what it will sell for, but it’s guaranteed to find a new home…
1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport
The V7 remains as Moto Guzzi’s most iconic platform, with a history stretching back to 1964, when it was initially created to serve as a motorcycle for Italy’s Polizia Stradale (highway patrol). Two years later, in 1966, Moto Guzzi started producing models for foreign markets. Interestingly, it didn’t produce V7s for Italian riders until 1967. Back then, the V7 was …
2006 Ducati Paul Smart LE
The last time a Paul Smart LE appeared on Bike-urious ─ roughly six years ago ─ Abhi summed up the model as “a cult classic that’s arguably better to look at than to ride.” I’ve never ridden one of these (and probably never will), but maybe that’s not the backhanded compliment it seems to be. Maybe it’s a “Wichita Lineman” …
1985 Moto Morini 500 Sport
Most riders think of the 3 1/2 when they hear Moto Morini, but the firm was also known for their 500 Sei-V that was produced a decade later…to very little fanfare. What was once a classically beautiful motorcycle got a bit fatter and more angular as the Italian company tried to compete with bikes coming out of Japan.