Post Sale Update: This CL350 sold for $4,250 after 46 bids on eBay in Mentor, Ohio. As Honda’s scramblers got bigger, they became more street focused. Cycle magazine called the CL350 not “really a scrambler at all, but a street-scrambler…doubt arises regarding the bike’s suitability for bashing around rocks and pines.” Sounds awfully similar to today’s current crop of scramblers, …
1976 Suzuki RE-5
Suzuki called the RE5 the future of motorcycling, thanks to its innovative rotary engine and distinctive styling. It was a bit too outrageous, and it didn’t work out. The ’76 (and final model) was a neutered slightly from a stylistic standpoint (like ditching the “tin can” speedoin an attempt to make the bike more conventional.
1965 Suzuki K15 Hillbilly
Introduced in 1965, the Suzuki K15 (also known as the Hillbilly) was a 2-stroker for the trail with features like a skid plate, luggage rack, and swappable sprockets.
20th Anniversary – 2005 Yamaha VMAX
The name told you all you need to know: when the V-Max debuted in 1985, it was a cruiser dedicated to speed. Reviewers and consumers responded positively – it instantly won Cycle Guide’s “Bike of the Year” award and it barely had any changes for the next 22 years. It was arguably the definitive muscle bike, and Yamaha produced a …
No Reserve – 1984 Honda VF1000F Interceptor
Post Sale Update: This Interceptor sold for $3,250 after 3 bids on eBay in Brookline, New Hampshire. Launched in 1984 in response to America’s desire for a bigger Interceptor, the Honda VF1000F was the flagship of the V4 line…until Honda brought us the VF1000R just a year later.
Nice Price – 2019 Kawasaki Z900RS
MSRP on a brand new 2020 Z900RS is $11,199, plus a $410 destination charge and the usual fees. But someone bought a leftover 2019 model (in the much better root beer/orange paint) just three months ago and is letting it go for $7,800.
1 Owner – 1997 Suzuki RF900R
With an engine derived from the GSX-R1100, the Suzuki RF900R was designed as a entry-level bike in the sport-touring market, undercutting the competition by about $1,500. Despite the pricing, you still got a solid sport-tourer with odd styling that Suzuki claimed was “inspired a stingray.” Sales weren’t great.
1968 Suzuki Cobra
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!