After yesterday’s Rare Russian, reader David N. though we’d like to see another one. Meet the Minsk Wildcat, a 125cc dual sport made by the Minsk Motorcycle Company of Belarus. Known for being incredibly durable, they are widely available in Russia, Cambodia, the UK, and Vietnam.
Benelli Dreaming – 1974 Yamaha RD250
Post-Sale Update: This RD250 sold for $5,700 on eBay. Produced from ’73 to ’79, the air-cooled Yamaha RD250 was always in the shadow of the famous RD350, but today it provides the base of an interesting Italian-influenced custom. The RD250 produced 30 horsepower and interestingly enough, had 6 gears in the transmission, but you could only access 5. Removing a …
Japanese Muscle – 1978 Kawasaki Z1-R
Post Sale Update: this Z1R sold for $7,400 after 19 bids on eBay. The Kawasaki Z1-R was the brainchild of Wayne Moulton, known as the “Father of the Japanese Cruiser.” His belief was that a solid motorcycle could be moderately tweaked to form four versions, one of which is a sport-tourer.
1990 Honda CB-1
Post-Listing Update: Apparently it’s not meant to be for this CB-1, which did not attract any bids at the opening $4,000 bid after being relisted. 12-6 Update: This CB-1 did not meet reserve, and it’s been re-listed on eBay here. In a time when Japan’s export portfolio to the US was dominated by repli-racers, the Honda CB-1 was a ‘standard’ …
#388 – 1999 Ducati 996 SPS
A limited edition of one of the prettiest motorcycles ever made, the Ducati 996 SPS (Sport Production Special) was an uprated version that featured a modified engine and chassis. Nearly all the specifications were improved, with lighter 5-spoke wheels, Ohlins rear shocks and Showa front forks, it was designed to be the ultimate 996, and it eventually evolved to become …
1974 Can-Am TNT 125
Canada’s attempt at the MX world, the Can-Am TNT 125 was one of many dirt-oriented bikes produced during the short but very sweet lifespan of Can-Am. An acronym for Track ‘n’ Trail, the TNT bikes shared the same chassis and engine as the MX bikes, but utilized lower compression for easy riding traits on trails. Lasting only 3 years, the …
1992 BMW K1
12-4 Update: 6 months later, this BMW K1 is back up for sale on ADVRider (registration required), though the price has gone up $250. The BMW K1 was an eccentric variant of the flying brick that was probably more of a styling exercise than anything else. With the running gear from the K100, the most distinctive aspect of the K1 …
Rare For The Wrong Reason – 1973 Penton Mudlark
Post Listing Update: This Mudlark did not meet reserve despite 23 bids up to $7,400. Every once in a while, we encounter a bike that’s rare not by choice. Today’s example of that is the Penton Mudlark, one of the rare flops from John Penton and his self-titled, now defunct, manufacturing firm. Originally designed as a trials bike, it was …
Immaculate Indian – 1946 Indian Chief
Post-Sale Update: Wow. Just a few hours after we posted this Indian Chief for sale, it sold for the full asking price of $30,000. The Indian Chief was the most famous of the motorcycles produced by Indian, a company founded in 1901 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded even before Triumph and Harley, Indian has been in and out of business since …
1 of 55 – 1983 Harley-Davidson FXSB Dealer Award
Here’s one we’ve never heard of before – the Harley-Davidson FXSB Dealer Award, a limited run of just 55 models built as an award for dealers. This shovelhead displaces 1340cc, and it came in a lovely shade of “Candy Apple Rootbeer” that shines just right in sunlight. Have you been looking for the perfect rare Harley project? This might be …
1967 BSA Lightning
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 …