The Yamaha YZF1000R, known outside of the US as the Thunderace, was a bit of a parts-bin bike bridged the legendary FZR1000 and even more legendary R1. It’s a bit forgotten nowadays especially as it only sold in the US for just one year, but here’s an interesting one that’s been imported from Europe.
1991 Honda VFR750 RC36
“For many, bike journalists included, the Honda VFR 750 is the best road bike ever built.” That’s how MCN starts their review of the RC36 generation of Honda’s iconic VFR. It’s legendarily reliable, is a great bike for the money, and gives you a little taste of what it’s like to ride a RC30 in the process. Here’s one that’s …
1980 Suzuki GS750E Restomod
Whenever I see a listing with the term “restomod”, it’s typically a crapshoot about what work has been done and what the seller thinks a restomod is. But here’s one that nails the intent (at least in my mind) of keeping vintage aesthetics while giving the performance a significant (modernized) boost.
1964 Honda C110 Sport 50
The second generation of the C110 started in 1962, and it featured a 49cc single paired with a 3-speed transmission. Originally, the C110 was called the Sports Cub and it was like a regular motorcycle in that you sat over it rather than the step-through design of most Cubs.
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
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 it Bike of the Year. As other manufacturers debuted big-bore competitors that focused more on sport (like the GSX-R1100), …
CA Plated – 1989 Honda Gyro X
I’ve featured several examples of Honda’s quirky 3-wheeler called the GYRO (which is apparently an acronym for “Great Your Recreation Original.”) The US only got one of the versions, a “S” model that was focused on just carrying a rider around. But Japan got multiple variants include, the UP, the Canopy, and the X. The X was the original model, …
1986 Yamaha SRX600
The Yamaha SRX600 is a cult classic, but it started as a commercial flop. In the US, it sold for just one year, and it was during a time when American riders valued power above everything else. A relatively light weight bike with a 41 horsepower motor just didn’t cut it – but for riders who can appreciate the styling, …
No Reserve – 1958 Yamaha YE-1 Project
Yamaha’s first motorcycle was the 1955 YA-1, and there’s plenty of information about that model out in the digital world. But I’ve been hard-pressed to find any real information on the YE-1, another motorcycle from Yamaha’s early history. Do you know anything about it?
457 Miles – 1995 Bimota SB6
Post Sale Update: This SB6 sold for $14,980 (including the 7% buyer’s fee) on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. In the early years, Bimota’s formula was to take a powerful and reliable Japanese engine and then replace the adequate frame and suspension with a bespoke Italian chassis and quality components. Some reviewers argue that the SB6 is the last of the old-school …
No Reserve – 1981 Suzuki RB50 GAG
If you own a JDM 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750 Limited Edition, then we’ve got the perfect complement over at Iconic Motorbikes! This is a Suzuki RB50 (also known as a GSX-R50 or a GAG50) that’s been custom painted to look like it’s bigger brother. On top of that, someone replaced the OEM single square headlight with some dual rounds to better …
Signed By Rossi – 2010 Yamaha R1 LE
Yamaha launched an all-new R1 in 2009, and it captured the hearts of many a rider thanks to the crossplane crankshaft that gave the R1 a defining sound and more predictable traction at the limit. The following year, they released a Limited Edition of which featured a replica of the livery on Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha Team MotoGP race bike. …
391 Miles – 1992 Suzuki DR350
Introduced in 1990, the DR350 was a basic dual-sport (kick start only for the first four years) that served recreational trail duties well. It wasn’t a game changer and I normally wouldn’t feature something like this but here’s one with just 391 miles.
Zero Miles With No Reserve – 2006 Yamaha R1 LE
Post Sale Update: This R1 sold for $18,303 (including the 7% buyer’s fee) on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. The Yamaha R1 LE was Yamaha’s celebration of its 50th anniversary. Taking their incredibly popular 1000cc sportbike as a platform, Yamaha produced a very limited run of only 500 bikes that were full of incredible extras and turning them into near-production racers. Over …
Custom Streetfighter – 1986 Suzuki GS1150EF
In the early 80s, Suzuki knocked off the CBX as the superbike du jour. The Suzuki GS1100E came into the market and instantly became the bike of choice for the power hungry. American press mags constantly raved about not just the power, but also the surprising handling abilities for such a large bike. Here’s an interesting example which was turned …
28 Miles – 1979 Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special
The last in the long line of Yamaha’s RD series, the RD400F (also known as the Daytona Special) is considered by many to be the best of the model line.