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Orange Crush – 1974 Laverda 750 SFC

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

10-1 Update: This Laverda 750 SFC did not meet reserve at $50,000 the last time it was listed. It’s now back up for sale with bidding up to $35,100 (and yes, the reserve not yet met) here on eBay. Say hello to the Laverda 750 SFC, a limited-production, street-legal racer that was the most iconic bike to ever come with …

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1950 Vincent Rapide Series C

In England, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

The baby brother to the legendary Black Shadow, the Vincent Rapide was sold from 1936-55 in 3 distinct ‘Series’. The final run was the Series C, which commenced in 1949. It offered the Rapide as a base model and the Black Shadow as the higher state of tune.

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1981 Moto Guzzi CX100 LeMans

In Italy, Sport by Abhi2 Comments

Post Sale Update: After 18 bids on eBay, this CX100 sold for $5,202.61. The successor to the legendary 850cc Le Mans, the Moto Guzzi LeMans II CX100 was created to satisfy the American mantra of “no replacement for displacement” and as competition to the BMW R100RS. Guzzi took the engine and lower fairings from the 1000SP sport tourer, and threw …

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1976 Yamaha XT500

In Dual-Sport, Japan by Abhi2 Comments

Post-Listing Update: Though the price was lowered to $8,500, this Yamaha XT500 (lovely as it is) got no takers this time on eBay. Alright, I’ll preface this by saying the seller’s BIN price is a little nutty – but that’s what the “Make Offer” button is for. The Yamaha XT500 was the original Yamaha thumper, and an instant sales success. …

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A pair of Moto Guzzi 1100 Sports

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

One of my favorite Guzzis, the 1100 Sport was a beautiful deviation from what people expect from the Italian firm. This is one of the earlier models, which comes with gigantic 40mm Dell’Orto’s instead of electronic injection (denoted as the 1100i). The engine produced 90 horsepower and the 5-speed transmission was geared very tall, so you could hit nearly 140. …

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1974 Honda CB350 Four

In Japan, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

When introduced, the Honda CB350 was the smallest four cylinder to be mass produced. It produced 34 horsepower and was capable of just under 100 miles per hour, and it featured some of the coolest exhausts in the business – unfortunately it an effort to save weight the pipes were thin, and most have either rotten out or been replaced …

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NC30 – Honda VFR400 Racer

In Japan, Race by AbhiLeave a Comment

This Honda VFR400 is a dedicated track bike that was rebuilt several years ago after being torn down to the frame. A recent engine refresh means it has just 2 track days and 15 dyno pulls on the odometer. That refreshed engine pushes out a dyno-verified 65 horsepower at the rear wheel, thanks to ported and skimmed cylinder heads, lightweight …

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1969 Norton Commando Fastback 750cc

In America, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Some people are confused about how the Fastback name came about for the Commando. It’s just the base model bike, however Norton decided to differentiate with the Fastback name once they started offering other Commando models like the Interstate. This specific Fastback (VIN: 126797) is in a wonderful shade of original Forest Green, a color that did not sell well …

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2000 Kawasaki W650

In Japan, Standard by Abhi4 Comments

The Kawasaki W650 is a retro standard that was imported to the US for only 2 years. A reference to the Kawasaki W1, itself a copy of the BSA A7, the newer bike is also inspired by the Triumph Bonneville. The W650 actually preceded the rebirth of the Bonnie and for a brief moment in time in the early 2000s, …

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The First Ducati – 1951 Ducati 60

In Italy, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

I’m sure I’ll get someone who wants to say that the Cucciolo was actually Ducati’s first motorcycle – but that was really just a bicycle with a mounted engine. The evolution of the Cucciolo (which translated to “little puppy”) was the Ducati 60, what the firm considered to be a “light motorcycle”. The next development of the Cucciolo was the …