Post Sale Update: After 13 bids on eBay, this 998R sold for $23,100. In 2002, the 998R was Ducati’s halo sportbike. The Italian firm released just 700 examples of the model, which ended up being the last variant of the 916 lineage before the 999 took over in 2003. Cosmetic changes over the 998 were minimal but the Testastretta motor …
Super Single – 2006 Honda CRF450X Road Racer
Last year while spending the day at Chuckwalla (A local SoCal circuit) I had the privilege of trying out what is referred to as a “super-single.” They’re essentially 450 (single-cylinder) MXers that have been fitted with new suspension and bodywork (along with all the other parts you need to partake in road racing/track riding.) Companies like Beon and Mototech sell …
1979 Honda CX500 Custom
Post Sale Update: After being relisted, this CX sold for a BIN of $2,995. Honda’s CX series of bikes were ahead of the time when they debuted in 1978, with liquid cooling, shaft drive, the first wheels on a production bike to use tubeless tires, and electronic ignition that was isolated from the rest of the electrical system so that …
Ending Soon – GT Moto Lady Brutale
Moto-personality Alicia “The MotoLady” Elfving has teamed up with Sofi Tsingos of GT Moto to create this gorgeous, heavily-customized 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 800 that can be yours for as little as $25. Instead of just building another bad-ass build in today’s world that’s oversaturated with Instagram-worthy modern customs, Alicia and Sofi did something really cool (and admirable), they set …
1972 Norton Commando Combat
The Norton Combat occupies a weird niche in the collectible motorcycle market. It is essentially a 1972 Roadster with a ‘specially tuned’ motor that broke with ugly frequency. They are valued at least as highly as the regular Commando and possibly more if the proper work has been done to the motor. The Combat engine had higher compression due to …
1975 Honda CB750F Super Sport Custom
Honda’s CB750 was a game changer when it was first released, but by 1975 the bike had been overshadowed by the Kawasaki Z1. Honda responded with the F Super Sport alongside the K5 model. The F got a new gas tank, a rear disc brake, and a 4-into-1 exhaust. Other modifications improved horsepower and the chassis – Cycle magazine said …
Rare Project – 1961 Parilla Clipper 350
Parilla is an Italian motorcycle company formed after World War II. Famous for their “high cam” engines, they made several different model bikes, mostly small-displacement utilitarian and commuter bikes for the postwar market. Some models were imported to the US, and supported by Cosmopolitan Motors until the late 60’s. This is a rare, twin-cylinder, 350cc “Clipper” model. Acccording to the …
“Krazy KZ” – 1978 Kawasaki KZ400
Built by Seth Hensler, this KZ400 was originally acquired for just $100 before he customized it into what you see here. There’s several clever bit, including a tail section made from a BMX helmet and a speedo from an airplane that’s driven off a pitot tube which measures air speed.
1999 MV Agusta F4 750 Serie Oro
Back in 1999 MV Agusta relaunched their brand with the F4 Serie Oro (Italian for “Gold Series), a cutting edge bike at the time of which only 300 units would be produced with 60 of those units shipping to the US. The F4 was a product of legendary moto-designer and Bimota cofounder; Massimo Tamburini, shortly after he designed the iconic …
1967 BSA Thunderbolt
5-12 Update: Rob B notes that this bike is back up for sale with a hefty discount down to $3,300. Find it here on Craigslist. The baby sister of the Lightning, BSA’s Thunderbolt got the usual 650cc twin but it was paired with just one Amal carb compared to the two carbs of the faster Lightning. Known internally as the …
1965 Yamaha YM1
In 1953 Japanese musical instrument maker Nippon Gakki decided to use some idle manufacturing capacity to build motorcycles. Named after one of the founders of the company, Yamaha produced their first motorcycle the YA1 based heavily on the DKW 125 design liberated from post war Germany. By 1957 Yamaha had developed a 250 CCtwo stroke twin cylinder that became the …
2 of 17 – 1941 Harley-Davidson TA Knucklehead Trike Projects
Post Listing Update: These TA projects did not meet reserve with bidding stalling at $51,350. This won’t be cheap or easy to finish, but it’s a hell of a find that someone needs to take care of. The Wheels Through Time museum has 2 of the 17 Harley TA bikes ever built, but they’re incomplete. What’s a TA, you ask? …
1972 Honda CB175
Introduced in 1969 the CB175 was one of three ‘175’ models available from Honda. The CL Scrambler, the CD Motorsport and the CB Supersport. Good savvy marketing from Honda allowed them to sell essentially the same motorcycle in three variants.
Ending Soon – 2007 BMW R1200S
Post Sale Update: After 25 bids on eBay, this R1200S sold for $5,750. “Born in heaven, raised in hell.” That was one of the slogans BMW used when they introduced the R1200S, an evolution of the R1100S that fell much more on the ‘sport’ side of the sport-touring equation. It was the sportiest boxer twin BMW had ever built, and …
1965 Montesa Impala Sport 250
Post Sale Update: After being relisted, this Impala Sport sold for the BIN of $10,500. Montesa was formed in 1944 by Pedro Permanyer and Paco Bulto. After some significant success in racing and sales Bulto left the company (leading to the formation of Bultaco) in 1958. By 1960 Montesa had brought out it’s first Impala, a 175 CC. 1965 saw …