Post-Sale Update: This Tesi 3D sold for $26,877 after 30 bids on eBay. Funny Front Ends (FFEs) are awesome, and the hub-steering front suspension found on Bimota’s Tesi 3D might just be the coolest of them all.
1 of 21 – 1968 Greeves Oulton Racer
Chas Mortimer is the only rider to have won races in the FIM World Championship classes of 125, 250, 350, 500, and 750. He was also the original owner of this Greeves Oulton race bike, of which just 21 were ever built.
1984 Honda Motocompo
Post Sale Update: This Motocompo sold for $2,025 after 2 bids on eBay. Sold for only 3 years, the Honda Motocompo was a tiny 50cc folding scooter designed to fit into the trunks of the subcompact cars Honda was making at the time, like the City. In fact, the City’s trunk was designed specifically to house the Motocompo. Nowadays, they’re …
Ending Soon – 1978 Harley-Davidson MX-250
In Harley’s long history, they’ve only offered one motocross bike – the MX-250 built by Aermacchi. This example has been modified to widen the powerband of the engine, and it’s one of the few examples I’ve seen that’s ready to get dirty or even compete.
Well Farkled – 2011 BMW R1200R Classic
Every once in a while you see a listing where the seller says “best version of this bike ever,” and you chuckle and move on. This time the seller’s claim of ‘best set-up R ever’ is worth a second look as the seller is Surj Gish, editor in chief of City Bike. Plus, even if he’s wrong, this bike is …
In England – 1927 Brough Superior 680
In 1927, George Brough though he needed to offer a motorcycle at a lower price point, so he started selling the 680, which was named after the 680cc JAP overhead valve V-Twin engine. Nowadays these bikes still command less than the SS80 or SS100, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to find one for cheap – this example is …
Restored Combat – 1972 Norton Commando Roadster
Post-Sale Update: This Combat Commando sold for $12,590 after 42 bids on eBay. In 1972, Norton offered an optional high spec engine initially just for the Roadster and Interstate – they called it the “Combat.” The British firm advertised an extra 5 horsepower from the Combat engine (and it was paired with a disc brake up front) but there were …
Rolling Business Card – 1964 Norton Racer
Post-Sale Update: This Norton racer was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. This Norton was built as a ‘rolling business card’ for Cook’s Norton Service and it competed in BEARS, AHRMA’s series for “The British European American Racing Series for certain two-cylinder machines built up through 1968 and competing under Formula 750 specifications.” Because of the Cook connection, …
Original Owner – 1975 Triumph Rickman CR
The Rickman brothers are best known for their Metisse frames, but in the 70s they also made a series of Competition Replica (CR) machines for the street and track. The owner of this example bought it new in 1975, raced it for a season, and then put it in his parent’s garage, where it has since sat. Now it’s ready …
Street Tracker Custom – 1978 Yamaha XS650
Built with a plethora of new parts, this XS650 has been converted into a ‘street tracker’ that recently took first place in the Metric class at the Michigan Chopper Fest hosted by Davidson Express.
120 Miles – 1966 Cimatti 160
Post-Listing Update: Despite being relisted, this Cimatti did not meet reserve with bidding up to $2,600. Two years ago, a reader let me know that a motorcycle museum in Denver was letting go of seven small Italian bikes. One of them was this 1966 Cimatti 160, which had just 10 miles on the odometer. Since then it’s gone through two …
Electric Cafe – 2012 Zero XU Custom
Post-Sale Update: This custom electric sold for $1,975 after 15 bids on eBay. Introduced in 2011, Zero’s XU model utilized a dirt bike frame but it was designed for street riding. One year later the bike gained belt drive, a new AC motor, and 50% more battery capacity. Two years later the bike was discontinued, making room for more new …
Well Farkled – 2011 Husaberg FE390
In the seller’s words, this ‘berg has been “upgraded to be a reliable extreme technical offroad bike and comfortable to ride on regular roads.”
25th Anniversary – 2008 Buell Ulysses XB12XT
A couple of years after the XB12X was released, Buell introduced the XB12XT in 2008, during the 25th Anniversary of the marque. The X was a big dual-sport, but the XT is an ‘adventure-tourer’ with a lower seat, hard luggage, taller windscreen, heated grips, and more.
Swiss Army BMW – 1969 BMW R50/2
Switzerland is a neutral country, meaning it doesn’t engage in armed conflicts, but it does maintain a military force for peacekeeping missions. And, apparently, in 1969 the Swiss military procured BMW motorbikes from neighboring Germany.