Post Sale Update: After 14 bids on eBay, this BSA Lightning did not meet reserve at $6,001. It was then relisted and again did not meet reserve, this time at $6,991. The BSA Lightning was the British firm’s attempt at an all-around streetbike, slotting between the Spitfire and Thunderbolt. At the time, it was one of the fastest motorcycles available …
1969 Italjet Vampire 50
12-1 Update: The seller of this bike is now trying an auction instead of a BIN. Find this Italjet Vampire back on eBay with an opening bid of $3,500. Italjet is a (surprise) Italian manufacturer of small motorcycles founded in 1959 by Leopoldo Tartarini. A pilot by trade, Tartarini ended up completing a 60,000 km trip around the world on …
Dirt Sports – 1989 Honda FTR250
Available only in Japan, the Honda FTR250 was a popular ‘flat-tracker’ 223cc alternative to Yamaha’s TW series, which we saw in the states. Styled after the RS750 (Honda’s second crack at making a competitive flat tracker, which absolutely dominated the AMA with four straight championships in the 80s), the FTR was an instant 80s classic that’s still being produced to …
Little Racer – 2004 Honda NSR50
Quite possibly the best minibike sold in the United States, the Honda NSR50 was sold here just in 2004. In the world of 50cc sportbikes (like the Yamaha YSR50 and Suzuki GSXR50), the NSR50 was dynamically in a world of its own. Though it’s not street legal like its competition, the Honda was peerless on the racetrack. Because of that, …
1999 Corbin Sparrow
Post-Sale Update: After 9 bids on eBay, this Corbin Sparrow sold for $6,256.56. Alright, it might be a stretch to call this a motorcycle, but as it was developed by Mike Corbin (of Corbin seat fame), we’ll let this one slide. In addition to his famous aftermarket seat company, Corbin pursued electric vehicle development for many years. In fact, he …
Happy Turkey Day!
I just want to wish all of Bike-urious’ loyal readers a Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll be continuing my Turkey Day transition of taking the weekend off to ride. Last year, I managed to get myself stuck in the sands of Baja. May your riding this weekend be less problematic!
Beetle Power – 1964 “VMW” Willis 4
We start off this listing by apologizing for the picture quality, but this bike is just too interesting not to share. In the 1960’s, two men named Jack Pruett and Bruce Butterfield owned a motorcycle dealership named Jack’s in Fresno, California. The two combined forces with a Mr. Willis and built adapters that allowed them to put VW 1600cc 4-cylinder …
1935 Ariel VG 500 Deluxe
11-27 Update: Well, that was quick. Just a few hours after we posted this Ariel VG 500, it sold for an unknown best offer on eBay. Ariel was a British manufacturer that was well known for innovation, especially due to the Square Four. The company had an interesting history – after producing its first bike in 1902, it closed for …
1987 Cagiva Alazzurra 650SS
Produced for just three years, the Cagiva Alazzurra was a rebadged Ducati street bike. Cagiva purchased Ducati in 1985, and was looking to grow their market share in larger-displacment bikes. Instead of building one from scratch, they used a 650cc version of the Pantah engine for both the Alazzurra and the Elefant. MSRP wa $3,893, putting it slightly above the …
Featured First – 1981 BMW R80GS
Nowadays, the BMW R/GS series is well-known in the motorcycling world as the bikes that launched the concept of big-bore dual sporting. No small part of that is due to the documentary of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman going the Long Way Round the world on BMW R1150GS Adventures. Hell, we’re guilty of it ourselves – there’s a R1150GS parked …
Snakebit – 1967 Benelli Cobra
Starting in the 1950s, department stores like Sears and Montgomery Ward rebadged Italian small displacement bikes from Puch, Gilera, and Benelli and sold them right out of their brick and mortar stores, or even out of the mail order catalogs. MW was particularly fond of Benelli, and rebranded the Benelli Cobra into the Montgomery Ward Riverside 125. As a buyer, …
1971 BSA Rocket 3
Post-Sale Update: After 11 bids on eBay, this BSA Rocket 3 did not meet reserve at $16,600. Sharing its roots with the Triumph Trident, the BSA Rocket 3 was a 750cc triple that was designed to extend the model line beyond 650 twins. It was specifically built for the US market, which wanted larger displacements and less vibrations. BSA’s financials …
1968 Seeley 7R
Post-Listing Update: This Seeley 7R Racer was pulled off of eBay, final sales price unknown. Colin Seeley is a former sidecar racer who became famous as a motorcycle designer. Some of his most notable work came right after he retired from sidecar racing competition, where he built frames for racing motorcycles utilizing Matchless and AJS engines. At the time, AJS …
Mini Indian – 1974 Indian MM-5A
Post-Listing Update: Despite 25 bids on eBay, this Indian MM-5A did not meet reserve at $2,080. The Indian MM-5A, also known as the Indian Mini Mini, was a mini bike designed for little children (4-5 year olds) to become familiar with motorcycles, but also the Indian brand. There were two marketing goals with this bike – encourage older riders to …
Wildfire – 1970 Ossa 250 Sport
11-23 Update: As you might expect, this Wildfire did not get much attention at a $7,000 opening bid. However, it’s now back up for sale with bidding up to $3,999 and the reserve not yet met. Find it available here on eBay. In the United States, Ossa is associated mostly with successful trials bikes, as well as some MX motorcycles. …