Post Sale Update: After 23 bids on eBay, this incredible Honda sold for $8,800 on eBay…to a Bike-urious reader! Well, this is quite a listing – and it ends soon, so hurry up! According to the seller, in the inaugural Suzuka 18 hour race of 1964, Hideo “Pops” Yoshimura campaigned two motorcycles: a Honda 305 that won the race, and …
Rare in the US – 1996 Yamaha TRX850
As it was never officially sold in the US, Yamaha’s TRX850 is a bike that I’ve never heard of before. But with MCN calling it (in hindsight) “the best-kept secreting in motorcycling” and a “forgotten gem,” this bike is definitely worth a closer look. The oversimplified idea was that this was a “Ducati with Japanese reliability.“
Widow Maker – 1974 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone
A couple of days ago I wrote up a TS250 Suzuki and mentioned this very bike. Commonly known as the most evil handling motorcycle ever built. It would actually spit you off on the straight and level if you caught the torque band just right. It had a floppy frame (I stiffened mine), poor geometry, and the motor was light …
Street Legal – Kawasaki ZX-10 Street Tracker
Many examples of Kawasaki’s literbike Ninja have been converted into streetfighters after they get dumped or wrecked…but here’s the first one I’ve seen that’s been converted into a street tracker! This looks like a very fun way to get into a lot of trouble.
No Reserve Flying Dragon – 1972 Honda CL350
Did you know that in 1972 and 1973, Honda embraced the tie dye movement with an optional set of paintwork called the Flying Dragon. It was available for the CL350 and CL450 – here’s one of the former.
$1,495 – 1980 Honda CB400T Hawk
Why would I write up a very ordinary UJM? This is a site dedicated to Exotics, right? The Honda CB400T was as plain as could be. Because that’s what we rode. I don’t know about anybody else, but I rode a Hawk. I lusted for a CBX and would take every opportunity to head to the local dealer and dream …
Savage – 1973 Suzuki TS250
Post Listing Update: This TS250 did not get any interest at the asking price of $3,750. It was relisted at $3,250 and it suffered the same fate. Suzuki produced the Savage 250 from 1969 to 1981 and I missed it. I didn’t actually miss it, I ignored it. Completely. By 1974 I had bought a TM400 (the start of yellow …
Number 2 – 1984 Kawasaki Ninja 900 GPZ900R
The GPZ900R was Kawasaki’s first Ninja – the beginning of a long line of iconic motorcycles. If I remember correctly, serial number 1 is currently in Kawasaki’s museum at their US headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California. According to this seller, serial number 2 is now up for sale…
2 For the Price of…2 – Honda RC51 and CBR900RR
These are both great, but different bikes. The RC51 was built specifically to compete in World Superbike. As a V-twin, they were allowed to go up to 1000cc to compete against the other manufacturer’s 750 4-cyclinder machines. This bike was the basis for Colin Edwards’ World Superbike Championship in 2000. It was also the championship-winning bike in 2002. In the …
Confused KLR – 2005/2008 Kawasaki KLR650 Supermoto
There’s a lot of custom KLRs out there – but typically when a KLR owner throws money at his or her bike, it’s to make it more dirt-friendly. This seller has gone in a slightly different direction, as he’s turned it into a fat-tired supermoto. To be frank, I’m not sure it makes sense…but it’s unique enough to share.
Enduro Bobber – 2005 Yamaha 300 Custom
Enduro Bobber: two words I don’t expect to see together. Starting with a “2005 Yamaha 300” – though I could have sworn Yamaha was making a 250 and not a 300 at the time – this bike has been turned into an unexpected bar hopper. It’s street legal and definitely different, but would you ever ride it?
1968 Hodaka Ace 100 MX Custom
A company named PABATCO (Pacific Basin Trading Company) based out of Athena, Oregon negotiated with Hodaka Motorcycles of Japan to produce and market a series of dirt specific bikes in the early 1960’s. Wildly successful from the start, for about 10 years they were THE most successful American dealer. I just happen to know that you could go to Athena …
1992 Yamaha TDM850
The TDM850 was a bit of an oddball that was about 15 years ahead of its time. A pavement-focused dual sport like the Multistrada or the S1000XR, the TDM gave riders the ability to explore any paved road in comfort with the option to explore fire roads to their heart’s content. Unfortunately, not many riders in the US back in …
First Ride – 2016 Yamaha SCR950
View PostRare Enduro – 1988 Suzuki DR750
The DR750 was also known as the DR BIG, meaning it’s got one of the best model names in motorcycling history. It also had the world’s largest single cylinder engine used in a production bike – at least until Suzuki bumped up displacement to 800cc! They were never officially sold in the US, making this Illinois-based example a rare find …