The Katana name originally debuted with one of the most striking motorcycles of all time. But in the late 80s, Suzuki brought the name back for a much more conservative model that was tasked to compete with some impressive midsized sportbikes like the Yamaha FZ600 and Honda Hurricane. 1988 was the first year for the updated model, which was offered …
2019 Zero Engineering Type 9
Zero Engineering was founded in Japan in 1992 but they established a US subsidiary in Vegas and started selling some of their limited production choppers to Americans starting in 2008. They currently offer four models, and the Type 9 (introduced in 2011) is arguably the fanciest as it includes a multi-arm suspension. The other three models (5/6/8) all utilize rigid …
1980 Honda CB650
The CB650 was introduced in 1979, and the following year it got a fairly dramatic restyle with much rounder edges. The motor was Honda’s last SOHC air-cooled inline four design, a 627cc powerplant that produced 63 horsepower and 38 pound feet of torque. That was enough to hit about 110 miles per hour thanks to a dry weight of 437 …
Pedrosa Edition – 2015 Honda CBR1000SP
In 2014, Honda introduced a SP version of their 1000cc superbike, upgraded with Brembo brakes, some minor engine modifications, and Ohlins suspension. That year, they also won the Rider, Constructor, and Team Championships in MotoGP. To celebrate, they offered up two “Champions Edition” versions of the SP with Repsol liveries of their two MotoGP riders – Marc Marquez and Dani …
No Reserve – 1971 Honda SL175
Post Sale Update: This SL175 sold for $6,753 after 43 bids on eBay in Mentor, Ohio. Built between 1970 and 1972, the SL was a street scrambler available in displacements from 70 to 350cc – though the styling was popular and has inspired a few larger customs like this “SL450” and this “SL750“
1975 Suzuki GT750
Affectionately known as the Water Buffalo, the GT750 was introduced as competition to big bikes of the day like the Honda CB750 and Triumph Bonneville. For many American riders, this was the first Suzuki that captured their attention.
Rally Raid Kit – 2014 Honda CB500X
Owners of the Honda CB500X have a soft spot for a company called Rally Raid out in the UK, as they’ve built a kit to turn the pavement-focused dual-sporter into something much more aggressive while maintaining the manageable size. Here’s an example in the US with the full kit, perfect for riders who prefer light weight over outrageous power with …
CA Plated – 1997 Honda CR500
Nicknamed the Ping King, the CR500 was the most powerful MX bike that Honda had produced when it was released in 1984. It’s a MX legend but by the mid 90s it was clear that 4-strokes were the future – it didn’t help that the AMA discontinued the 500 MX race class in 1993. Production ended in 2001, and those …
First Ride Review – 2021 Honda Trail 125
View Post556 Miles – 1986 Honda CT110
Seeing as I’m heading out to the US launch of the Trail125 today, it only seems appropriate to feature the last Trail sold in the US – the 1986 Trail 110.
1972 Kawasaki H2 750
Post Sale Update: This H2 sold for $11,200 after 19 bids on eBay in Charlotte, North Carolina. Repainted in a House of Kolor Gold that’s “similar to what was offered in Europe in 1972”, this H2 was restored with the objective of being “a safe and reliable ride – not a concours machine.” Still, it looks good and it’s ready …
Nice Price – 2000 Kawasaki Concours
If you want to cover miles for cheap, it’s tough to beat the sub-$2k asking price for this Kawasaki. Clean the carbs and you’ll be all set – it has just 16,773 miles.
1991 Yamaha FJ1200
Post Listing Update: This FJ did not get any action at the unmet opening bid of $3,900 on eBay. When the Yamaha FJ1100 was introduced in 1984, the press went nuts. Rider Magazine called it “the best large displacement sport motorcycle of 1984, and maybe even the best in its class in the history of motorcycling,” and other mags called …
1981 Suzuki DR500
Post Sale Update: This DR500 sold for $2,010 after 44 bids on eBay in Glenwood, Iowa. Yamaha’s success with the XT500 was hard for competitors to ignore – Suzuki’s attempt at fighting back was the DR500. Many riders who sampled both bikes felt like Suzuki had a superior package, however Yamaha was much more commercially successful, and that’s what makes …
New In Crate – 2006 Suzuki RM250 Ricky Carmichael Edition
2005 marked the last time that a two-stroker won an AMA Supercross championship, and the feat was accomplished by Ricky Carmichael on a Team Makita Suzuki. To commemorate the feat, Suzuki announced a limited edition model for the following year.