Anyone who’s serious about Grand Prix road racing knows about the Honda RS125. Originally developed in 1980 for the Grand Prix 125cc class, the RS125 has enjoyed minor updates ever since, and is still widely raced today. Riders like Capirossi, Pedrosa, and most recently Dovizioso come to mind, all having won world championships aboard the legendary RS125. I have raced …
Rare Project – 1983 Honda Gyro X
Post Sale Update: This Gyro X sold for $1,894.13 after 21 bids on eBay. 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 …
1982 Honda XL500R
Post Sale Update: This XL500R sold for $1,750 after 29 bids on eBay. 1982 was the last year of the XL500R, before Honda replaced it with the 600. It was a dual-sport that was well-suited for the street and for light off-road work. Dual-counterbalancers kept vibrations in check so that you would be relatively comfortable while riding on pavement out …
In Holland – 1993 Kawasaki ZXR750R M
Towards the end of the 1980’s, Kawasaki was looking for a new formula for success on the race track. Several ideas were proposed but the concept that won out involved taking a massaged version of Team Green’s existing liquid-cooled, three-quarter-liter, 16-valve, inline-four (from the GPX750) and dropping it into a newly designed twin spar aluminum alloy frame. Just before the …
Team Green’s Indian Tribute – 2000 Kawasaki Drifter 1500
Nowadays there are plenty retro-inspired bikes with modern performance and reliability: Triumph Bonnevilles, Ducati Scramblers, BMW R9T’s, etc. But two decades ago, Kawasaki took this now-popular recipe and ran with it in an unusual direction, leading to the birth of the Kawasaki Drifter 1500.
No Reserve – 1979 Kawasaki KZ1000 MkII
Post Sale Update: This KZ sold for $17,750 after 26 bids on eBay. An evolution of the KAZ900, the KZ1000 was the fastest production bike when it was released in 1976 (as a ’77 model) thanks to its 83 horsepower, 1,015cc inline four motor. The bike might be most famous for the police variant, which gained popularity on the show …
Street Legal With Rothman’s Livery – 1991 Honda EZ-9
View Post1983 Yamaha Midnight Virago 920
In 1983, Yamaha offered a “Midnight Virago” that featured a black paint scheme with gold accents. They also offered a rare color-matched factory touring package with a fairing, saddlebags, and trunk for even more Midnight goodness – though this example seems to only have the fairing as well as a giant aftermarket backrest for the passenger.
1986 Honda XL250R
Post Listing Update: This XL250R did not get any interest at the opening ask of $3,500. I’ve said it before – dual sports are one of life’s great simple joys. Two knobby tires strapped to a 250cc single cylinder is all the machine you need to conquer the world. I’m sure some of our readers have experienced the motorcycle manifestation …
1995 Suzuki GSX-R750
Post Listing Update: This Gixxer did not get any interest at the BIN of $3,900. The Suzuki GSX-R750 was recently added to the list of models going the way of the dinosaurs. 24 years ago, the 1995 model was going through a similar fate. Once, the GSX-R750 was King of the Superbikes. 1995 wasn’t that time, despite a recent update …
First Ride – 2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
View PostStreet-Legal Two-Stroker – Honda NSR50
Despite only being officially sold in the US in 2004, Honda’s NSR50 rapidly amassed quite the cult following. Big Red’s little 50 was an incredibly popular choice with young riders looking to get into the sport, though the baby NSR definitely has some adult fans too.
1990 Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy
Post Sale Update: This GB500 sold for $5,558 after 23 bids on eBay. Honda’s GB500 was an homage to classic British singles but there was a twist – it was reliable! The average American rider shopping for a Japanese bike at the time was more interested in the bigger supersport replicas, but the Tourist Trophy has become a cult classic.
Yamaha FZR Collection
Someone in Phoenix is selling off an interesting collection of first generation FZRs – 2 FZR400’s, a FZR600, FZR1000, and even 2 examples of the rare homologation FZR750RU specials.
Rare in the US – 2000 Honda CB1300
Post Listing Update: This CB1300 was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Never officially sold in the US, the Honda CB1300 (also known as the “Super Four”) was the successor to the CB1000 “Big One”. One of the available liveries, as shown here, was a bit of a Freddie Spencer tribute.