Post Listing Update: This SRV sold for $1,425 after 26 bids on eBay in San Jacinto, California. The SRV250 was Yamaha’s baby cafe racer, a la the Honda GB500 – except the SRV was never officially sold in the US.
1974 Yamaha DT250A
Bad markets make for great innovations. In the late 1960’s, the motorcycle market was in a bit of a slump. This forced the innovative companies to dig in and find where there is a market. Yamaha realized that although street bike sales were down, there was still a largely untapped and thriving off-road market available in the United States. Most …
1988 Yamaha YSR50
Post Listing Update: This baby YSR did not meet reserve despite 19 bids up to $2,900 on eBay in Longboat Key, Florida. Built to look like a mini RZ500, the YSR50 also featured mini performance. The 49.3cc two-stroke engine was capable of pushing the bike up to 38 miles per hour, but companies like Team Calamari have been making stock …
Cafe’d Cult Classic – 1990 Honda Hawk GT NT650
Designed by Toshiaki Kishi (who would later go on to pen the VFR1200 and CBR1000RR), the Honda Hawk GT (NT650) was a naked V-Twin-powered sport bike that was ahead of its time. Released several years prior to Ducati’s iconic Monster, the NT650 was a solid bike, but the fact a few hundred more dollars got you the even sportier (and …
Unexpected Custom Ending Soon – 1986 Yamaha SDR200
Post Sale Update: This SDR sold for $5,100 after 20 bids on eBay in San Jacinto, California…to reader Jim A! Originally built just for the Japanese market, the SDR200 was a small cafe racer that predated the Ducati Monster with a trellis frame, naked styling, and the three-spoke wheels. It was only offered for one year, and a tiny amount …
Custom Café – 1973 Honda CB750K2
It may feel to some, as it does to me, that the café bike trend has had a resurgence of late. That since about the turn of the millennium, there has been a steady uptick of interest in the bikes, and subculture. We can certainly agree that when Triumph released the Thruxton in 2004, and a couple of years later …
1 Owner – 1983 Suzuki SP500
“Tough. Gutsy. Fun on the road. Even more fun off.” That’s how Suzuki introduced the new-for-1981 SP500. It was durable but a little overweight, and nowadays it’s tough to find a clean survivor.
Bender – 1982 Yamaha Virago XV750 Cafe Racer
Post Sale Update: Bender sold for $6,100 after 32 bids on eBay in Brentwood, California. Named Bender, this Virago was rebuilt as a custom cafe racer that was on display at the 2018 Handbuilt Show and 2019 Mama Tried Show.
3,141 Miles – 1987 Honda Hurricane CBR1000F
The Honda Hurricane, besides having one of the greatest names in motorcycling history, was an excellent sport-tourer that introduced some crucial technology into the Honda lineup. It eventually evolved into the well-known Blackbird. Available in 1000cc and 600cc versions, the design of the bigger bike has aged a bit better with time. This is one of the more expensive offerings …
2004 Honda CB50R Dream
Honda has always been one of the world’s best at sub-100cc bikes, from commuter bikes for the people to full on works racers. In 2004, Honda released just 440 copies of one of the best 49cc bikes ever made – the Honda CB50R, otherwise known as the Dream. Built as a replica of the 1962 RC110, it’s considered by some …
1979 Honda CX500 Custom
Honda’s CX500 has become a popular platform for custom builds over the last few years as donor bikes could be found for cheap (though prices have been going up as of late). What are your thoughts on this custom?
Signed by Schwantz – 1991 Suzuki RGV250
When Suzuki introduced the RGV250, it was a revelation. MCN put it thusly: “back in the day 250cc race replicas were the sharpest handling, most frenzied, maddest things you could buy on two wheels. Nowadays the RGV250 is a modern classic and is probably a bit slower and softer than you’d remember. It still looks good, sounds amazing and the …
Sitting For Years – 1980 Suzuki GS450
Post Listing Update: This GS450 did not get any interest at the opening ask of $1,995. The Suzuki GS450 doesn’t grab as many headlines as Honda’s middleweight competitor, but it was still a machine that was worth of your consideration. Options included a boxy take on the café racer and some more relaxed, cruiser oriented styles. Journalists of the time …
2019 Kawasaki Z900RS
If the Honda CB750 shaped the UJM as we know it, the Kawasaki Z1 was the hardening process that solidified it. The Z1 was Kawasaki’s answer to Honda’s influential bike, as Kawasaki was already making a 750cc inline four-cylinder motorcycle when Honda released the 750. The CB’s debut forced Kawasaki to pivot, and they responded by upping the displacement in …
Don Vesco Prototype – 1974 Yamaha RD250/350
Post Listing Update: This Vesco prototype did not meet reserve despite 27 bids up to $3,600 in Luttrell, Tennessee. This Yamaha RD started as a 250, though it was “converted to RD350 specs” by none other than Don Vesco. Don used it as a development mule to create his “Cafe Royal” fairings.