In America, more is better. So, if Honda’s successful VF750 Magna and Sabre were good, then a big block version would be better, right?
741 Miles – 1989 Yamaha FZR750R OWO1
If a Honda RC30 is just too commonplace for you, then the Yamaha OWO1 might be right up your alley. Just 500 were made, and the MSRP was a healthy $5,000 more than the Honda as well. My many accounts, this was as close as a member of the public could get to owning a street legal racebike. This example …
Growler – 1988 Honda NX650 Custom
Some of my favorite customs nowadays are based on the Honda NX650 (known outside of the US as the Dominator). While my absolute favorite Dommie is this beauty by Andrew Greenland, I’m also enjoying this build called “Growler” by Neuga out of Budapest, Hungary.
Unexpected Chopper – Suzuki TL1000 Custom
V-Twin motors are typically the powerplant of choice for choppers…but seeing a ~130 horsepower Suzuki TL motor is unexpected. Combine that with a hardtail frame and knobby tires and you’ve got a bike that’ll get crazy in a hurry.
Asama Racer – 1960 Yamaha YDS1R
4-17-17 Update: A year later, this Yammie is back up for sale. Find it with bidding up to $3,550 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay. Post-Listing Update: This Asama racer did not meet reserve with 27 bids up to $9,679.99. The YDS1R was Yamaha’s first production road racer. It got the name “Asama Racer” because the factory …
MPS Build – Honda CRF450 with CR500 Engine
MPS (Motorsports Products & Services) is the brainchild of George Fanelli, who creates aluminum framed two stroke MX bikes. Want a Kawi KX 500 motor in a modern four stroke frame? A Yamaha 500 two-stroke in a YZ250F frame? MPS has done it before. Here’s one of their Honda builds – a legendary 2001 CR500 motor in a 2007 CRF450 …
End of the Line – 1982 Kawasaki GPz750
In 1982, Kawasaki introduced a middleweight to the GPz family, between the 550 and the 1100 (a couple of years later, the 900 would also be released).
Ending Soon – 2004 BMW R1100S Boxer Cup Replika
Post Sale Update: After 25 bids on eBay, this BMW sold for $6,100. One of my favorite all-around sportbikes is BMW’s R1100S. For the last year of production, BMW created a limited edition called the BCR, or Boxer Cup Replika. BMW actually went one step further by creating a spec series to race these bikes, and 200 examples were released …
One Year Only – 1990 Honda NS50F
Just for 1990, America got a taste of Honda’s NSF50F two stroke “sport” bike. Despite the diminutive size, it’s a street legal bike with a claimed top speed of 55 miles per hour. It makes me think of a MB5 that got updated with liquid cooling and then painted by a Miami coke dealer. I want one.
1970 Rickman Triumph Metisse
Most of you know the story of brothers Don and Derek Rickman, who started out in the early 60’s building custom frames for British scrambles bikes and later road racers. Their frames were light and rigid, and they incorporated some innovations such as oil-in-frame, eccentric swingarm adjustment,and larger diameter telescopic forks. The frames were very popular with racers, enough so …
Incomplete Restoration – 1973 Benelli SS250 SuperSport
In 1962, Benelli and Motobi merged, and Benelli acquired Motobi’s engine designs in the process. Over time, the Motobi motor evolved into 175, 200, and then 250cc variants. Like General Motors did with Chevy/Oldsmobile/Pontiac etc, Benelli and Motobi practiced a bit of brand engineering: the Motobi motor ended up powering a motorcycle known in the US as the SuperSport and …
Early Model – 1977 BMW R100RS
The BMW R100RS arguably launched the idea of the sport touring motorcycle, but I don’t feature many non-limited edition examples just because they’re fairly common place. But did you know that the earliest examples of the legendary model were all silver/blue with blue pinstriping and blue anodized calipers? Or as some of you may remember it – this was the …
2006 KTM 625 SMC
KTMs’s excellent history with dirt bikes served them well when they decided to become one of the few OEMs to offer supermotos from the factory floor. One of their best offerings was the 625 SMC – here’s an example that’s got a few choice farkles, as well.
Partial Restoration – 1960 Ducati Bronco
If they’ve even heard of it at all, riders are usually familiar with the Ducati Bronco as a 125cc bike. But it was also available in 85cc and 98cc variants – here’s one of the tiny ones that is close being completely restored. Who’s ready to finish the job and get a little Italian jewel n the process?
331 Miles – 1983 Harley-Davidson XR1000
Post Sale Update: This XR sold for $20,303 after 32 bids on eBay. The XR750 is one of Harley-Davidson’s most iconic motorcycles – though it was never intended to be street legal. But what if Harley took a XR motor and shoved it in a Sportster frame? Willie G himself had a similar thought, and the XR1000 was born. It …