Otherwise known as the T500, the Suzuki Cobra was very short-lived. Sort of. After just one year, Ford told Suzuki that the Cobra name was already accounted for, and that they should figure out another model name for their 500cc two-stroker.
Never Ridden – 1977 Yamaha XT500
Post Sale Update: This XT sold for $14,500 after 57 bids on eBay in Chicago, Illinois. From the seller of the never ridden YZ80 yesterday comes something just as pristine but a bit bigger. The Yamaha XT500 was the original Yamaha thumper, and an instant sales success. This enduro bike was produced for 15 years, eventually leading to an entire …
Nice Price – 1989 Yamaha FZR750R OW-01
We’re making today a Yamaha day, and we’re concluding (unless you’re reading this on the daily email, where you’ll see this post first!) with one of the most special machines to ever come from the Japanese firm. I’ve featured a few OW-01s over the years, and even when they don’t meet reserve the bidding stops well north of $15k. The …
1977 Yamaha RD400
The RD400 came about when Yamaha made the RD350 a bit bigger in 1976 – displacement was 399cc. Thanks to 44 horsepower, the bigger RD was capable of hitting the ton with a top speed of 105 miles per hour. Most people know the 400 simply for being an easier to ride upgrade over the 350, but it was also …
Never Ridden – 1978 Yamaha YZ80
Post Sale Update: This YZ80 sold for $9,551 after 49 bids on eBay in Chicago, Illinois. Last week I featured a FZR1000 from a seller I trust in Chicago, and he let me know that he was about to list a couple of never ridden 70s Yamahas. Looks like they’re live now, and we start with a YZ80.
Ending Soon – 1968 Honda CB450 K1
Post Listing Update: This CB450 did not meet reserve despite 26 bids up to $4,250 on eBay in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The K1 CB450 was a one year only bike, and it was the last Honda to rock chrome panels on the gas tank.
Ex-MotoGP in England – 1993 ROC Yamaha YZR500
As Mat Oxley argues in this piece called The Day MotoGP Nearly Died, ” the early 90s were the “nadir” of premier-class motorcycle racing. “The reasons for the empty grids were simple: there was no money, there were no bikes and the bikes that were there kept hurling their riders to the ground and breaking their bones. Too many riders …
Zero Miles in Canada – 1995 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R
Introduced in 1994, the ZX-9R was Kawi’s response to the instant classic Honda CBR900RR. It made a bit more power but it could not compete on weight, and Kawasaki lagged behind in sales. Weight won’t be an issue with this one, as I doubt it’s ever going to get ridden – the odometer shows less than 1 kilometer on it!
50th Anniversary Euro Bodywork – 1989 Honda Transalp
Post Listing Update: This Transalp did not get any action at the opening bid of $4,250. In the late 80s, Honda offered both an AT and a TA – the Africa Twin and the Transalp. Both were ahead of the times, though the latter was more street-biased. Consider it a jack of all trades sort of bike with a cult …
1989 Yamaha FZR1000
Post Sale Update: This FZR sold for $8,550 after 51 bids on eBay in Chicago, Illinois. 6-11-20 Update: This FZR is back up for sale with several changes – the seller reached out to me to let me know that the wheels and turn signals are now stock, it’s had a tune up, there’s new photos, and the reserve has …
1982 Honda CB900F
In the late 70s, Honda offered both a CB750F and a CB900F, but per their marketing department the US only got the 750 and Europe only got the 900. Both markets were upset about this because humans always think the grass is greener on the other side. It took a few years, but Honda eventually satisfied the US by bringing …
Signed By The Designer – 1993 Yamaha GTS1000
Post Listing Update: This GTS was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The GTS1000 was full of technology that would not make its way to most bikes for years to come, including fuel injection, ABS brakes, and most importantly, the RADD front suspension designed by James Parker. This suspension was able to isolate braking from damping, leading to …
Restored by Mr. CBX – 1980 Honda CBX
Restored by Mr. CBX, this CBX has about 30k on the odometer but it’s said to “run like a 500 mile bike.”
915 Miles – 1986 Honda CT110
Post Sale Update: This CT110 sold for $2,850 after 17 bids on eBay in Beacon, New York. Honda’s Trail 90 (or CT90, depending on the market) was a popular entry point for youngsters to learn how to ride in the dirt. One of the reasons it was so easy to ride was the 4-speed transmission with an automatic clutch. So …
Ending Soon – 2003 Kawasaki ZRX1200R
Post Sale Update: this ZRX sold for $5,029 on IMA in Brooklyn, New York. Built as a tribute to the KZ1000 piloted by Eddie Lawson while winning the 1981 and 1982 AMA Superbike titles, the ZRX series is a muscle-car version of the UJM. This low-mileage example is adorned in the less common pairing of Candy Lightning Blue/Galaxy Silver and …