Post Listing Update: This K75S did not get any interest at the opening bid of $3,500. At the end of the 70s, with the domination of 4-cylinder Japanese bikes, BMW had to find a way to attract new customers and renew itself. To that extent, the usual flat-twin has been put aside in order to create and develop a new …
2004 Kawasaki ZRX1200R
There has been a recent resurgence of “modern classic” motorcycles: new bikes designed specifically to resemble their elders. For some people however, they just don’t make them like they used to. The Kawasaki ZRX1200R may look like it’s from a time before upside down forks and fuel injection existed, but it is still 1,200ccs of carbureted fury. It was the …
Ketchup/Mustard – 1990 BMW K1
In the 1970s, Japanese manufacturers became the leaders in nearly every category of the motorcycle market. Ignoring Japan, one company was still offering motorcycles that seduced customers, and more importantly, was able to innovate and do better than Japanese. Yes, it was BMW. The German brand notably shook the market at the beginning of the 80s when the G/S series …
1 of 700 – 1963 Velocette Viceroy
One of Velocette’s least-known creations is a scooter called the Viceroy. It made sense in theory but sales were poor and production ended after just 700 were sold over 4 years (1960-1964). Obviously, they’re now hard to find, especially in the US.
2010 BMW G450X
In the motorcycling world, it is not often that a manufacturer releases a model that flies under the radar. I must admit, I was unaware that this wonderful piece of German engineering existed. BMW wanted to send dirt flying in the endurance off road racing field, and was nice enough to fit headlights and blinkers to their product, making it …
1 of 50 – 1998 Magni Australia 98
Post Sale Update: This Magni Australia sold for $24,000 after 48 bids on eBay. Arturo Magni started working with Moto Guzzi in 1985, and the first project was the “Parallelogrammo” (what a name) swingarm created to counter the shaft jacking that was common with older driveshaft designs. In 1990, Magni customized a Daytona road racer that was campaigned by Ted …
Swanky In Sweden – Ducati 900S2-Based NCR Replica
Founded in 1967, NCR was responsible for preparing Ducati’s competition machines for several decades, transforming stock Ducks into top-of-the-line racers. One of NCR’s most legendary works is undoubtedly the Ducati 900NCR that Mike Hailwood famously piloted to victory at the ’78 TT. Hailwood’s TT-winning machine not only prompted Ducati to release the wildly successful Mike Hailwood Replicas (aka “MHR”), but …
1982 Yamaha IT175
Post Listing Update: This IT175 did not get any interest at the opening bid of $2,000. Back in the 1980’s, there was a simple recipe for power: put oil in the gas and spin it fast. MotoGP bikes of the era subscribed to this formula, and it trickled down even to off-roaders. The Yamaha IT175 subscribed to this formula. It …
1959 BMW R69
Post Sale Update: This R69 sold for $13,801.02 after 31 bids on eBay. These days, almost anyone can find a specific make and model listed for sale within minutes. What is significantly harder, and often takes weeks or months, is finding the right bike for you. Especially when it comes to classic bikes, the provided documentation can be the difference …
1986 Yamaha V-Max
Post Sale Update: This V-Max sold for the BIN of $3,500 on eBay. In the motorcycle history, the end of the 60s was the start of a new era: the Japanese one. The air-cooled inline four, such as the found found in the revolutionary 1969 Honda CB750, was the new standard of power and smoothness. Exit big American V-twins and …
What Do You Want To Know? 2018 Benelli Lineup
View Post2009 Buell XB12XP Ulysses Police
For years, Harley-Davidson dominated the American police cruiser market. Though BMW, Kawasaki, and other manufacturers are now also making motorcycles you’re constantly scanning for when you’re on the road, Harley also offered a police variant of the Buell Ulysses called the XB12XP which offered better ergonomics and the potential for easier patrolling on fire roads or rough surfaces. This example …
Rotary Engine – 1976 Suzuki RE-5
In 1919, young German engineer Felix Wankel started thinking about an engine that could be an alternative to the classic internal combustion engines. The engine would still work via internal combustion but instead of pistons and rods, Wankel thought about a simple rotor that would activate a shaft. Wankel got his first patent in 1929, and 28 years later (1957) …
Outboard Motor Powered GP Racer – 1974 König 500
The König 500 and Kim Newcombe will be forever intertwined, as you can’t tell the story of one without the other. The tale of the Kiwi and his outboard motor-powered GP racer is an unlikely one, boasting equal parts triumph and tragedy. Born in New Zealand in 1944, Newcomb was raised in Auckland where he discovered two passions early on: …
2010 Honda VFR1200F
Honda entered 2010 with a significant update to the VFR. A new 1,200cc V4 offered torque across the rev range and a buttery smooth transmission to match. Well engineered and designed with intent, the VFR 1200F was an effective tool for mile munching both with haste and comfort. It was also the first production motorcycle with an available DCT, if …