This is one of very few bikes out there which I’ve struggled to find information on, but there’s so rare that I have to share them – especially when an awesome reader sends it my way!
1984 Yamaha RZ350 Kenny Roberts
Only sold in the states from 84-85, these were the first bikes in the US to come equipped with catalytic converters and the first Yamaha street bike in the US to use a perimeter frame. The ’85 RZ was available in red/white and yellow/black – either option came with Kenny Roberts’ signature on the front fairing.
1 of 250 – 1999 Triumph Daytona 1200 Special Edition
In the early 90s, most major motorcycle manufacturers entered a gentlemen’s agreement to cap horsepower at 125. Triumph decided that when they were going to bring the bikes back from the new plant in Hinckley, that the best way for them to get attention was to ignore said agreement: enter the 147 horsepower Triumph Daytona 1200. A year after the …
1967 Honda Z50M
The first model of Honda’s legendary Z50 lineup was the Z50M, which was adorned in Shasta White bodywork with a Magna Red frame and a plaid seat. US riders rarely saw the original bike because they were initially just sold in Europe and Canada – it even took a few months before Honda offered it in its home market of …
2014 Ducati Hypermotard 821 SP
In 2013, Ducati updated the Hypermotard family, getting rid of the air-cooled 1100 and 796 models and replacing them with a liquid-cooled 821. They also continued offering the up-spec SP “Sport Production” version – that’s the one you want, thanks to upgrades like forged Marchesini wheels, Ohlins shock, 50mm Marzocchi forks, radial master cylinder, some carbon fiber parts, and Pirelli …
1984 Honda XLV750R
Post Listing Update: This XLV750R did not meet reserve with 2 bids up to $5,200 on eBay. Honda has a fairly illustrious history of big dualies – the Africa Twin, Varadero, Big Red Pig, Transalp…the list goes on. Yet the family lineage goes back to a bike that not many people know about – the XLV750R. It was not a …
Land Speed Record Holder – 1971 Triumph Bonneville
The Triumph Bonneville got its name from the Bonneville Salt Flats – this example pays homage to its history as it earned the Production Pushrod 650cc motorcycle land speed record at Bonneville in 2018 with an average speed of 111.410 miles per hour.
1972 Bultaco Alpina 250
After the success of the Sherpa T, Bultaco released the Alpina 250, a bike specifically built for enduro riders.
3 Miles – 1979 Suzuki GS1000 Wes Cooley
In 1978, Yoshimura had the incredibly talented Wes Cooley campaigning a Kawasaki KZ1000, but they weren’t winning races. Then they switched to the Suzuki GS1000 and started dominating – Cooley won the ’79 and ’80 AMA Superbike Championships. While this was happening, Suzuki decided to release a Euro-only sport version of the GS1000. Once American dealers got a peek, they …
AMA Raffle – 1975 BMW R75/5 Custom
Every year, the AMA raffles off “off one or more historically significant motorcycles to raise money for the charity.” At the 2016 Mama Tried show in Milwaukee, they auctioned off this R75/5 which had been heavily customized by Tony Prust of Analog Motorcycles. Analog calls it the “AMA BMW R75GS.”
672 Miles – 2013 Honda CB1100
In 2010, Honda introduced a spiritual successor to their legendary CB750. This time around it was the CB1100, featuring a 1,140cc air/oil-cooled inline four. It debuted in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand – it took until 2013 until Honda decided to offer it in the US. Here’s a first year example (in the US market) that’s barely been ridden.
No Reserve – 2002 Ducati 998S JDM
Over on the auction site, we’ve got an interesting Ducati 998S up for sale and it’s guaranteed to find a new home as we’re letting it go with no reserve. Why is it interesting? Because the non-US 998S’ got a much better engine, and this bike has a few fun upgrades.
Restored – 1968 Norton P11
Back when AMC owned Norton and Matchless, the latter sold a bike called the G85CS, which was competitive in European motocross. The US west coast distributor sold several but thought they were a little slow for the ‘scramble’ racing that was happening in America, before MX took off. After requesting that AMC put a more powerful Norton Atlas engine in …
1979 Kawasaki KZ1000ST
In 1979, Kawasaki brought two shaft-driven models to the US – the six-cylinder KZ1300 and this somewhat rare variant of the KZ1000, the ST. It was similar in many ways to the big bad MkII, though the ST obviously had the shaft drive and different bodywork (such as a larger fuel tank). The ST was only offered between 1979-1980, making …
Built by Woolie – 2021 KTM 450 SMR
As a bike that you could take straight from the dealer floor to the racetrack, the stock components on the SMR are impressive enough. But over on the auction site we’ve got that’s been taken to the next level by the builder/seller, Michael “Woolie” Woolaway of Saddlemen (and previously of Deus Ex Machina).