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1964 Honda C110 Sport 50

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

The second generation of the C110 started in 1962, and it featured a 49cc single paired with a 3-speed transmission. Originally, the C110 was called the Sports Cub and it was like a regular motorcycle in that you sat over it rather than the step-through design of most Cubs.

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1986 Yamaha FJ1200

In Japan, Less than 5k, Touring by AbhiLeave a Comment

When the Yamaha FJ1100 was introduced in 1984, the press went nuts. Rider Magazine called it “the best large displacement sport motorcycle of 1984, and maybe even the best in its class in the history of motorcycling,” and other mags called it Bike of the Year. As other manufacturers debuted big-bore competitors that focused more on sport (like the GSX-R1100), …

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CA Plated – 1989 Honda Gyro X

In Japan, Less than 5k, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

I’ve featured several examples of Honda’s quirky 3-wheeler called the GYRO (which is apparently an acronym for “Great Your Recreation Original.”) The US only got one of the versions, a “S” model that was focused on just carrying a rider around. But Japan got multiple variants include, the UP, the Canopy, and the X. The X was the original model, …

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1986 Yamaha SRX600

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

The Yamaha SRX600 is a cult classic, but it started as a commercial flop. In the US, it sold for just one year, and it was during a time when American riders valued power above everything else. A relatively light weight bike with a 41 horsepower motor just didn’t cut it – but for riders who can appreciate the styling, …

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2005 MV Agusta F4 1000

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

The F4 is special because of the performance (which other bikes have surpassed) and the beauty (which I’d say other bikes have not). In 2005, MV Agusta updated the F4 series with a 998cc engine, which bumped power up to 166 horses and top speed up to 184 miles per hour. The upgraded engine was surrounded by quality components such …

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2002 Ducati ST4S

In Italy, Touring by AbhiLeave a Comment

The seller of this bike calls it the “Best ST4S in the US!” I have no idea if he’s right, but it sure is a nice one! A sportbike with practicality, the ST4s was introduced in 2001 as Ducati’s top-of-the-line touring bike, distinguishing itself with the 4-valve 996cc superbike motor and Ohlins rear shock. That was paired with fully adjustable …

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1984 Tritan A2 Aero Car

In 3 Wheels, America by AbhiLeave a Comment

No, it’s not really a motorcycle. But that’s how it was classified because of its three-wheeled nature, and we’re going to run with it. The Tritan A2 was notable for having an incredible drag coefficient – just 0.15. Compare that to a period Toyota MR2, which had a Cd of 0.35. Amusingly, the only commercial “success” the A2 had was …

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457 Miles – 1995 Bimota SB6

In Italy, Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This SB6 sold for $14,980 (including the 7% buyer’s fee) on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. In the early years, Bimota’s formula was to take a powerful and reliable Japanese engine and then replace the adequate frame and suspension with a bespoke Italian chassis and quality components. Some reviewers argue that the SB6 is the last of the old-school …

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1985 BMW K100RS

In Custom, Germany, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

BMW’s K100RS is a tried-and-true sport-tourer, though even when it was new no one was overwhelmed by the power. A previous owner of this example has rectified that with one of the 200 turbo kits that were produced by RB Racing on behalf of Luftmeister!

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1992 Gilera RC600 Dakar Replica

In Italy, Off-Road, Race by AbhiLeave a Comment

In the late 80s, Gilera made a push to compete in the Paris-Dakar Rally and they had some success in the production-based “Silhouette” class with the RC600, which utilized a 600cc single good for 48 horsepower. Here’s an interesting replica of Gilera’s final 600-based racer (before they went to a 750 motor in 1993).

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1970 Triumph Trackmaster 750

In England, Off-Road, Race by AbhiLeave a Comment

Trackmaster frames can trace their roots back to the 1960s, when Triumph Motorcycles approached Ray Hensley and commissioned the famed race tuner and engineer to build a handful of bespoke chassis to be used in competition. Henley’s earliest frames were chromoly steel units with much more race-oriented geometry compared to the stock Bonneville chassis of the era. In the years …

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1991 Bimota Tesi 1D 904

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Bimota’s Tesi 1D was the first generation of their wild hub-center steering platform. The D in 1D stands for Ducati as the powerplant was the 93 horsepower twin from the 851, but a model refresh in 1991 came with a displacement bump to 904. Just 20 example of the 904 were built between 1991 and 1992 – a small portion …

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No Reserve – 1981 Suzuki RB50 GAG

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

If you own a JDM 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750 Limited Edition, then we’ve got the perfect complement over at Iconic Motorbikes! This is a Suzuki RB50 (also known as a GSX-R50 or a GAG50) that’s been custom painted to look like it’s bigger brother. On top of that, someone replaced the OEM single square headlight with some dual rounds to better …