Some Beezer fans consider the Firebird Scrambler to be the best bike that BSA made, which might make sense considering it was the last new design they created before they went out of business in 1973. It wasn’t as popular as the Gold Star but by this point BSA was in dire straits financially, and they couldn’t support the marketing …
1964 Pointer Super Lassie
Post Sale Update: This Super Lassie sold for the opening bid of $2,500. A Japanese aircraft manufacturer, Kawanishi (eventually rebranded as Shin Meiwa) was looking to expand their product portfolio so they got into motorcycles. I’ve really struggled to find good information on the brand, but it seems that they started motorcycle producion in 1946, called themselves Pointer in the …
Rare in the US – 1983 Suzuki Tempter GR650D
This Suzuki is rarely seen in the US as it was only offered here in ’83 and ’84. In other markets it was called the GR650 (and available until ’89), for some reason it was called the Tempter in America. It’s a fairly straightforward UJM but it featured one interesting innovation: a ‘dual-stage’ flywheel with an centrifugal clutch that would …
3 Bikes – Police Motorcycle Collection
6-1-16 Update: The seller has let me know that the HD has sold. He’s now asking for $4,500 each for the remaining two, or $8,000 for both. Here are three police motorcycles being sold in a package deal – you’ve got an American, and Italian, and a Japanese bike. Sounds like the start to a bad joke (or the opening …
Needs Some Work – 1962 Tohatsu Runpet
Post-Listing Update: No one seems interested in this Tohatsu – it keeps getting relisted at a lower opening bid, with no action. As of 6-14 it’s got a unmet opening bid of $550, find it here on eBay. Founded in 1922, Tohatsu is now best known for their outboard motors. But in the 50s and 60s, they produced some excellent …
Award Winning Restoration – 1955 BMW R50
This R50 was given a ‘ground-up restoration’ in 2008 and it has 3,500 miles on the odometer since the work was performed. The bike won Best in Class and Best in Show at the 2012 Dayton Concours d’Elegance and followed that up with an “Award of Excellence” at the same show the next year.
Restored or Original – Honda SS125A
The predecessor to the CB125, Honda’s SS125A was the ‘Super Sport’ option in a series of rare quarter-liter slopers that also included the CL125 (scrambler), CD125 (touring), and a Japan-only CS125. They are not easy to find nowadays, which makes it all the more surprising that I’ve got two for you to peruse. One’s been restored and the other…hasn’t.
Ending Soon – 1965 Ducati Sebring 350 Roadracer
Post-Sale Update: After 4 bids on eBay, this Ducati racer sold for $6,256 on eBay. The Sebring was introduced to the world as a 350 race bike, and it claimed a class victory at Sebring when piloted by Franco Farne. Based on this victory, Ducati went ahead and named the bike after the race. This example stands out as it …
Ending Soon – 1964 Harley-Davidson Topper with Sidecar
Post-Sale Update: This Topper hack sold for $7,000 after 3 bids on eBay. In its long history, Harley-Davidson has only created one scooter. As you might guess, it was not a commercial success. Harley offered to rare factory options that could be mounted on the side – either a utility box or an adorable sidecar. This restored Topper has one …
$950 – 1965 Bridgestone Sport 60
You know Bridgestone as a tire manufacturer nowadays, but for a few years they produced very competitive small motorcycles ranging in displacement from 50cc to 350cc. Here’s one of the smaller models, a 60cc Sport. The two-stroke rotary-valve single was good for 5.8 horsepower and it was paired with a 4-speed rotary transmission. I can’t determine if all of these …
2 Wheel Drive – 2013 Christini 450
You’ve seen two wheel drive bikes before thanks to companies like Rokon. But thanks to a fancy mechanical system enclosed within the head tub and frame, Christini has been the most successful manufacturer of two wheel drive bikes that can go anywhere and do it quickly.
#007 – 2000 Bimota SB8R
Post-Listing Update: This SB8R did not meet reserve with 19 bids up to $7,691. No, it’s not a Bond reference – this SB8R is number seven off the production line. From a production number standpoint, this is one of the more popular Bimotas ever built (which still isn’t saying much). Starting with a Suzuki TL V-Twin, Bimota worked a little …
1968 Bultaco Metralla Mk2
Bultaco is best known for off-road motorcycles, but the Metralla was an international legend when it was released at it was the fastest two-stroke bike you could buy. The Metralla produced 32 horsepower at a time when many automobiles were making less!
1984 Kawasaki GPZ1100
In 1983, Kawasaki gave the GPZ1100 a serious redesign with new bodywork, anti-dive forks, and the Uni-Trak rear suspension. Power output was also bumped to 120 horsepower (104 at the rear wheel), though this was gained at the expense of low-end torque.
1922/3 Ner-a-Car Model A
Designed by Carl Neracher in 1918, the Ner-A-Car was sold as a cheap automobile alternative. Approximately 10,000 were built and sold in the US, and another 6,500 were built and sold in England under license. I’ve featured one of the latter before – here’s one of the former.