The GPz550 was introduced in 1980, and it was quite a departure from what riders were used to getting from manufacturers in the middleweight class – some even felt it was the spiritual successor to Yamaha’s legendary RD series.
9 Miles – 1994 Harley-Davidson FXRP
Post Sale Update: After being relisted, this FXRP sold for $10,600. For the last 22 years, this Police Glide has been stored in a temperature controlled warehouse in a crate. It’s in beautiful condition with just nine miles on the odometer.
Motohangar Build – 1976 Honda CB750 Custom
Post Sale Update: This CB sold for $8,000 after 46 bids and was then relisted…then it sold for a BIN of $7,000. Built by Motohangar, this Honda CB750 was built for a friend of the owner – the friend ‘wanted the bike to show its age.’
Impressively Original – 1970 Suzuki TC 120 Trail Cat
Post Listing Update: Despite 29 bids on eBay, bidding did not meet reserve at just $1,054. There’s something about the tank of Suzuki’s Trail Cat that I simply adore – I think it’s the prettiest small dual-sport from the time period, and this example looks great adorned in Aspen Yellow. I also think it’s worth featuring as the seller has …
Not That Metisse – 2014 Metisse Triumph CR900
Obviously, hearing the Metisse name should make you think of the Rickman brothers and their legendary work with the off-road frame that could accept a variety of engines. Well, turns out there’s a German company named Team Metisse that’s also in the business of upgrading motorcycles, and they’ve created a cafe kit called the CR900 for previous-generation Bonnies and Thruxtons. …
2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200X
By 2007 in the US, Harley Davidson pretty much dominated the cruiser market, and had a large share of the long-distance touring market as well. The XR1200 was an attempt by Harley Davidson to draw more riders of a slightly different (racier?) demographic into the Harley fold. It capitalized on the reputation and image of the venerable XR750, the mainstay …
2007 Walz Hardcore Chopper Pro Street
When I first saw this bike, I assumed it was built by someone in the US (probably Arizona). Turns out it’s actually the work of Marcus Walz, the man behind Walz Hardcore Cycles…based out of Hockenheim, Germany. Custom bike fans should be familiar with Marcus as he supposedly invented the “drag style” of motorcycle in the late 90s.
The First Yamaha – 1957 Yamaha YA1
Post-Listing Update: Bidding was better with the relist – it helps when the bike has already been imported – but it still wasn’t enough to meet reserve despite 36 bids up to $9,000. 7-14-16 Update: Over two years later, this Yamaha is back up for sale – but this time it’s been imported to the US, had some work done …
Honest Listing – 1962 Ducati Monza Cafe Project
Post Listing Update: This Monza project did not get any action at the BIN of $3,650. The pictures look like it’s pretty much all there, that most of the hard work has been done, but read the item description. Evidently the seller had a mechanic go over the project and estimate everything remaining needing to be done, and what it …
Brute Force Shaftie — 1993 Suzuki GSX1100G
In the doldrums of the early 1990s, motorcycle manufacturers were licking their financial wounds, and one solution from Suzuki was a “bitsa” model made up from bits of their premier sport bike and full-boat tourer along with some fresh sheet metal and old-school tube frame. Hence was born the naked standard GSX1100G.
Brand New In the Netherlands – 1973 Yamaha FS1 Mini Enduro
Also known as the Fizzy, the FS1 was very successful in Europe as a small street-legal motorcycle – often a first vehicle for many riders. This example has avoided being the learner bike for anyone as it has just 2 kilometers from being pushed around in display over the last 40+ years.
Knucklehead Hillclimber – 1936 Harley-Davidson EL
Post Sale Update: This hillclimbing EL sold for $18,000 after 26 bids on eBay. 1936 was the first year of Harley’s famous Knucklehead engine. The EL model debuted with a MSRP of $380 and the new engine was good for 40 horsepower. There are of course other specifications worth sharing, but they won’t relate to this specific example – which …
1 of 371 – 1983 Triumph 140 TSX
Post Listing Update – This TSX was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. A last ditch effort from Triumph to boost sales of the Bonneville, the TSX was basically a T140 that had been restyled by Triumph’s American division. Just 371 were built, 200 of which were exported to the United States. About 1/3 of the production run …
1970 Benelli Volcano
Here’s something you shouldn’t be able to wrap your mind around: a minibike that’s capable of hitting 56 miles per hour! Who knows what the blokes employed by Benelli were thinking at the time, but they shoved a 180cc two-stroke engine into a minibike frame. At least one thing they did made sense – they called it the Volcano!
1979 KTM 420 MX
In their review of this bike, Motorcyclist called this “the Austrian Earthmover”. Whatever you call it, here’s a pleasant example that’s had a little bit of work done recently.