Post Listing Update: This Elsinore did not meet reserve despite 15 bids up to $6,088.91. In the beginning of the ’70s, road bikes were starting to commonly adopt 4 stroke engines, but off-roaders were sticking to 2 strokes. Though the Japanese manufacturers had a lot of success in America with small off-road bikes, Honda struggled to a competitive off road …
SN #1 – 1998 Bimota Mantra DB3
Post Sale Update: This Mantra sold for $5,045 after 22 bids on eBay. 8-13-2018 Update: Four years later, Rob B notes that this example (VIN: ZES1DB314WR000001) is back up for sale with a new owner (and it’s crossed the country in the process). There’s some additional details – apparently the previous owner removed the “complicated fuel pump system” so the …
1971 OSSA Pioneer 250
Post Listing Update: This Pioneer did not meet reserve with 12 bids up to $1,875 on eBay. Ossa was a Spanish firm that offered a wide variety of dirt bikes to cover anything that an off-road enthusiast could want to do. The Pioneer was OSSA’s enduro bike, though realistically the pavement experience was limited to putting around in town. In …
1982 Honda FT500 Ascot
Post Listing Update: This Ascot did not meet reserve despite 5 bids up to $1,202 on eBay. No matter the definition, a “thump” evokes something rather violent and loud. From that word came the name “thumper”, a term used to describe a single cylinder bike, typically displacing 350-500cc, a specialty of British manufacturers with bikes like the Norton Manx or …
TR7T-Inspired – 1978 Triumph T140E Custom
Post Listing Update: This custom Triumph did not get any interest at the opening bid of $5,000. In 1981, Triumph created a dual-sporter based on the TR7V Tiger in response to BMW’s R80GS. It was called the TR7T Tiger Trail, and it was never officially exported to the US because of emissions regulations. It was an interesting (and very yellow) …
1986 Moto Guzzi V65 TT
8-12-2018 Update: Three years later, this bike seems to be back up for sale (at least based on the reference to the serial number). It’s available in Lawrence, Kansas with quite a jump in the asking price – now it’s $6,500 here on ADVRider. After BMW carved out a new niche of the motorcycle market with the GS, many competitors …
1960 Cushman Eagle
Post Listing Update: This Eagle did not get any interest at the opening ask of $5,500. Founded in 1903, Cushman was a Nebraska-based company that specialized in the construction of small engines destined to be installed on bicycles or carriage. At the time, the demand for that kind of engine was very high, which kept the company pretty busy. Right …
Race Replica Restoration – 1989 Yamaha FZR400
The replica arms race of the 1980s was fiercely competitive, with manufacturers jostling for supremacy in the market. These full-faired machines started by aesthetically mimicking the factory racers, but over time companies added an increasing amount of race-bred hardware. Eventually some marques were developing their competition mounts alongside the road-going replicas. One segment manufacturers focused heavily on was the 400 …
Two-Fer – 1979 and 1980 Yamaha XS1100
During the end of the ’70s, motorcycle manufacturers fought to create the most motors possible. After the 750cc and 900cc barriers were toppled, the next symbolic step was 1,000cc. Just like they did with the CB750, Honda were the first to beat that record thanks to its 1975 GL1000. In 1977 and 1978, Kawasaki and Suzuki responded to that with …
Turbo SuMo – 2009 Yamaha WR250X
In its stock form, Yamaha’s WR250X is fantastic little runner. The WR is powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 250cc, DOHC single that makes around 26 horses, and with a weight just shy of 300lbs wet, the stock 250 is an extraordinarily nimble machine. So, it’s all the more crazy that one Midwesterner opted to slap a snail onto one.
2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848
Post Listing Update: This Streetfighter was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Supernaked motorcycles have enjoyed a recent resurgence, and we are all benefiting from it. The Aprilia Tuono 1100 and the Yamaha MT-10 are notable examples, offering superbike performance coupled with ergonomics that can be enjoyed daily. The formula is simple, should not be changed, and Ducati …
13 Honda Z50s
Post Listing Update: This lot of Z50s did not get any action at the opening bid of $19,000. I can’t imagine who would want to buy this, but someone is offering a collection of 13 Honda Z50s ranging from 1979 to 1999. They’re all claimed to be in “great original condition”, but what do you do with this? Start a …
1.7 Miles from Rick Brett – 1975 Kawasaki H2C 750
Post Listing Update: This H2C did not meet reserve despite $37,600 after 55 bids on eBay. This is apparently quite the week for high dollar classic Kawasakis! As you may remember from a post back in April, legendary Kawi collector Rick Brett is liquidating his collection. He was selling most bikes through his website, but it looks like he saved …
1969 Norton Commando 750
Post Listing Update: This Commando did not get any interest at the opening bid of $11,500. The end of the 60’s was kind of a turning point in the world of motorcycling. British and European bikes were falling behind the Japanese manufacturers in terms of technological and mechanical innovations. In 1967, Norton-Villiers (ex-Associated Motor Cycles) released the mighty Norton Commando …
Brian Birch Built – 2003 Ducati 999
Born in Blacksburg, Virginia, Brian Birch was always fascinated by cars, motorcycles, and what makes them tick. At the age of 18, Birch got his first bike, around the same time he enrolled to study mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech. While earning his degree, Birch filed his first patent — a design for a rear (swing-arm) track-stand that later won …