Post Listing Update: This limited edition 450 did not get any interest at the opening bid of $5,500. In March and April of 1986, Honda Brazil produced 240 examples of a limited edition CB450 – it featured a Nelson Piquet tribute livery and a copy of his signature on the sidecover. According to the seller, just 30 examples remain and …
Coca-Cola Sidecar – 1968 Honda CT90
Were you amused by yesterday’s Coca-Cola bike? Well, here’s another one (and the asking price is much more reasonable). I hope this’ll be the end of Coke bikes for a while…
Jason Paul Michaels Build – 1988 Honda VT800 Cafe Racer
Post Sale Update: After 19 bids on eBay, this Shadow cafe sold for $6,100. Built by Jason Paul Michaels, this Honda Shadow VT800 (a one-year only bike) was turned into a cafe racer called “Payback.” The paint scheme is reminiscent of iconic Hondas like the Black Bomber, though the riding position is quite a bit more aggressive now!
Rare in the US – 1972 Honda CB50
Post Sale Update: This CB50 sold for $2,025 after 63 bids on eBay. When Honda introduced the CB50 in 1971, they initially sold it just in Japan. 7 years later it expanded into Europe and in was detuned in several markets so that it could be sold as a moped for access to younger riders. But the early models with …
Rare Repli Racer – 1988 Suzuki GSX-R400 SP
Post Listing Update: This little Gixxer did not meet reserve with 10 bids up to $6,450. Suzuki introduced the GSX-R400 in Japan in 1984, and it was a bit of a revelation as it was about 30-70 pounds lighter than the 400cc offerings from Yamaha and Honda. In 1988, Suzuki redesigned the bike with a new frame and they introduced …
19K Redline – 1990 Honda CBR250RR MC22
Post Listing Update: This buzz-saw of a Honda did not meet reserve despite 26 bids up to $6,650. The MC22 generation of the CBR was sold between 1990 and 1996. It originally was only sold in Japan and produced 45 horsepower. In 1994, Japanese laws changed and Honda detuned the motor down to 40 ponies. Also known as the Babyblade, …
1973 Yamaha RT3 360
Yamaha introduced the DT/RT line of Dual Sport motorcycles in 1968. They featured rock solid power and reliability with good ground clearance and suspension. By 1970 they had brought out the RT1 360, an absolute monster of power with a couple of serious quirks. They had an incredible back kick on starting, and their handling was questionable at best in …
1967 Yamaha YR-1 Grand Prix
When you think of a Yamaha R1, what usually comes to mind is a 150+ HP liter bike with a racing heritage and championship DNA throughout. Well it’s not the only R1 nor is it the original R1 with that kind of heritage and DNA. The 1967 YR-1 Grand Prix was a greyhound in sheep’s clothing and it was the …
1963 Honda CB77 Superhawk
Introduced in 1961 the CB77 unquestionably changed the way the world looked at motorcycles. Design, engineering, performance and weight were completely off the existing charts. It firmly established Honda, and the Japanese motorcycle industry as a serious player in the world market. Electric start? Tubular steel frame? Motor as a stressed member of the frame? Reliable? Smooth? Oil tight? Fast? …
Not Street Legal – 1999 Honda NSR150
Honda introduced the NSR150 in 1997, and only sold it in Asian countries. Despite the 150cc of displacement, the two-stroke, liquid-cooled, power-valve equipped motor produced up to 39 horsepower (depending on the market)and the bike weighed just 260 pounds. Other unexpected features from a little bike included a six-speed transmission, Nikasil coated cylinders, and Honda’s Pro Arm rear swingarm – …
Mini Chopper – 1979 Suzuki OR50
Post Sale Update: This OR50 sold for $1,075 after 22 bids on eBay. “Whopper of a chopper.” That what Suzuki’s tongue-in-cheek branding for the OR50 (called the Mame-Tan in Japan). It’s a rare mini chopper with a two-stroke, 49cc engine that put down 5.5 horsepower.
1969 Honda SL350
Honda’s 350-series bikes are legendary for their reliability and their unsurpassed popularity. One of the variants created to quench the dirt-bike/scrambler craze of the 70’s was the SL350. 1969 was the introductory model year but the bike itself had very few differences from the CB350 and CL350 aside from off-road friendly tires, exhaust, and cross-braced handlebars.
Extra R – 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6RR
In the early ’00s, Kawasaki decided that a good way to stay competitive in the 600cc sportbike market was to just bump up displacement of their ZX-6R to 636cc. This was fine with street riders, but a bit of an issue for racers who competed in classes that were limited to 599cc. So Kawasaki also offered a limited-production ZX-6RR – …
Eastern Spirit in Poland – 1979 Suzuki GS550 Custom
I love featuring custom builds that have had some internet fame because I find the asking prices/sale prices fascinating. Here’s a pretty Zook built by the Polish duo of Eastern Spirit. Asking price? $16,500.
185 Miles – 1979 Honda XR250R
Featuring a 23-inch front wheel, the Honda XR250R was an enduro that was best suited for leisurely speeds, not competition. In a 1979 Road Test, Cycle Guide said “Enduro bikes are not supposed to be meek, but the XR250 would sit up and lick your hand if it could.” This example stands out thanks to the low mileage.