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Built for Japan – 1986 Ducati 400 F3

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: this baby Ducati sold for $5,299 after 15 bids on eBay. From the early 80s through the early 90s, Japan featured some of the best 400cc motorcycles in the world because strict licensing laws made it very difficult to own bigger bikes (before 1993, it was illegal for OEMs to sell a bike bigger than 750cc in …

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In Italy – 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR

In Italy, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

The Ducati Desmosedici RR (or Racing Replica) is the epitome of an elite motorcycle. While its 197hp and 188mph top speed are slightly less stunning in comparison to today’s near 200hp/200mph superbikes, it still boasts some of the finest equipment on the planet and when it was first released a decade ago, a road-going machine like the this was unheard …

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2008 Bimota Tesi 3D Carbonio

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Bimota was pulled off of eBay because “there was an error in the listing.” Final sale price unknown. Introduced in 2007, the 3D was the third generation of the Tesi. While it was an improvement over the 2D in many ways, reviewers weren’t excited about the gap between how it looked and how it performed. It’s …

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The Icon’s Little Brother – 1973 Bimota HB1 350

In Italy, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: After 69 bids on eBay, this Bimota kit sold for $4,549. The HB1 was Bimota’s first bike and is unarguably its most rare and valuable motorcycle. The Honda powered two-wheeler was the start to the company’s long history of wrapping proven engines in an advanced frame fitted with trick components while simultaneously resulting in some damn fine …

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1986 Moto Morini 350 K2

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: Despite 24 bids on eBay up to $3,555, this K2 did not meet reserve. Built between 1984 and 1986, the K2 was the eventual successor to the legendary 3 1/2, and it’s a rare find in the US. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the styling – it’s very clearly a child of the 80s, and …

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Made in China – 2017 Benelli TNT 300

In Italy, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Benelli has been absent from the US for a while, but thanks to a partnership deal with SSR Motorsport in 2014 they’re starting to come back. McCoy Motorsports in Kentucky has a new TNT 300 for those of you that are looking for something different and aren’t averse to a bike made in China.

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1957 Moto Guzzi Cardellino

In Italy, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

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.

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SFC750 Spec Race Replica – 1974 Laverda SF2

In Italy, Race by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This SF2/SFC did not meet reserve with 13 bids up to $13,100. I love this bike, and the seller tells a great tale as he details his history with his SF2-turned-SFC750 replica. I highly recommend that you click on through to the listing just to see how obviously passionate he is about his Laverda.

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1980 Ducati Darmah SSD

In Italy, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

The Darmah was first introduced at the ’76 Bologna Motorshow before it would see production the following year. The Darmah was created in an effort to bounce back after the commercial failure that was the ’74 860 GT which had some reliability problems and wasn’t the snazziest looking Italian two-wheeler. The Darmah SSD boasted a few bar-raising features like its …

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Ultra Rare Italian Classic in Belgium – 1975 Bimota SB1

In Italy, Japan, Race by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

Original Bimota models from the first few years after the company’s inception in 1975 are some of the most highly sought after sportbikes and racers in the world. The three founders who had originally met while in the ductwork industry quickly proved themselves and their ability to take a proven existing power plant from a large (initially Japanese) manufacturer and …

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Mark Your Calendar – 2008 VYRUS 985 C3 Carbon Edition

In Italy, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

Vyrus is a tiny Italian manufacturer based out of Coriano that was founded in 2001 and got its start working alongside Bimota. Vyrus has a particular propensity for hub-center-steering models that are about as exotic as motorcycles can get. The brand’s 985 C3 model is a straight-up masterpiece. The little manufacturer uses Ducati engines in all of its machines, with …