Bavarian Motor Works was prohibited making motorcycles after WWII until 1948 when it brought out the single cylinder R24. It was followed in 1950 by the R25, which added rear suspension. The R26 was introduced with an new motor and many frame and suspension changes. The very last of the BMW shaft driven singles, the R27 introduced a rubber mounted …
Ending Soon – 1974 Norton Commando Custom
Though Kenny Dreer wasn’t able to Norton back to life, he did create a small batch of Commandos called the VR880. If the general shape looks familiar, it’s because Stuart Garner acquired the rights to the Norton name and Dreer’s prototypes in 2008 – and he’s been rolling since. Heard about their upcoming 200 horsepower V4 superbike? Or the plans …
Zanzani Replica Racer – 1961 Motobi Sprite 250
Post Listing Update: This Motobi did not meet reserve with 13 bids up to $3,150. Motobi was founded in 1949 by the eldest of the 6 Benelli brothers. They became known for the “power egg” engine, and once they brought Primo Zanzani on board, they also became known for racing. Based on a 250cc Sprite, this Motobi has been converted …
1965 BSA A65 Lightning
Introduced the 1965, the A 65 Lightning used the relatively new ‘unit construction’ motor with alternator and battery electrics. Designed to be a sporty motorcycle the motor had a serious vibration over 5000 RPM and the chassis had a tendency to weave at speeds over 90 MPH. A great innovation an oil pressure warning light was included but it malfunctioned …
1978 Yamaha GT80F
The first bike of many a young rider, the Yamaha GT80 was one of the many small trail bikes offered by the Japanese.
In England – 1978 MV Agusta Magni 861
Arturo Magni was brought on by MV Agusta’s racing department in 1950, and he was an instrumental part of their 75 World Championships. While he’d also go on to play a big role at Moto Guzzi, the Magni name is most closely associated with MV thanks to bikes like the 861. It was the first bike Magni built with his …
1958 Isomoto 125
Isomoto is a tough marque to find information on. I found some, but I will not vouch for it’s accuracy. I usually like at least 2 citations.
Restored – 1970 BMW R75/5
This one is for Abhi, as we all know he has a soft spot for BMW’s. This is a completely restored 1970 R75/5. I’m not a BMW expert, but this was early in the run, so I assume it is the short-wheelbase model, which supposedly had some handling issues, especially if heavily loaded in the rear. The /5 models ran …
Custom Scrambler – Royal Enfield 500
There’s not enough information in this listing, which is disappointing because there’s a lot of potential for cool this Royal Enfield scrambler could be.
Ultimate Little Racer – 1996 Honda RS125R
Post Listing Update: This RS125R was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. There are very few bikes that get riders riled up like Honda’s RS125R. If you’re just looking at displacement, you might struggle to understand why that is. But the many fans of the little racebike tell a story of momentum, agility, and absurd levels of excitement. …
Industry First – 1976 Kawasaki KZ900 LTD
By 1976 the Japanese motorcycle industry was in full bloom. Innovations seemed to come out monthly, the race was on to build the fastest production bike for that year, and the UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) was becoming established as a standard in the industry. Kawasaki rolled out the KZ900 LTD as a ‘limited edition’ factory custom with pulled back handlebars, …
In England – 2006 Kawasaki TR250 Custom
Mutt Motorcycles is based out of Birmingham, England, and their focus is on bringing “an exciting and fresh attitude to the small cc market at an affordable price.” While they now offer their own line of bikes in the UK, they also have a 15 year history of customizing bikes like this Kawasaki TR250.
681 Miles – 1973 Yamaha RD250
Adorned in a lovely coat of Butterfly Blue, this RD250 is impressively clean for its age.
1964 Honda C200
By 1965 I knew the inside of my local Honda shop at least as well as my own bedroom. After all, my best buddy had an S90 and I lusted for a Honda to replace my Yamaha. Imagine my surprise when I saw this bike that I had no idea ever existed. It would be like my mother asking me …
Pantah in Portugal – 1987 Cagiva Alazzura 350 Custom
Built by Capelo’s Garage, this baby Pantah was shown at last year’s Bike Shed London show with 150 other bikes. The Alazzura is a rare platform for custom builds, even more so when you consider that this is a 350cc bike built to cope with Italian tax regulations.