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1969 BSA Rocket 3

In England, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: sold for $10,000 after 9 bids on eBay in Portland, Oregon. Specifically built for the US market (which wanted larger displacements and less vibrations), the 750cc triple motor in the BSA Rocket 3 was designed to extend the model line beyond 650 twins. BSA’s financials suffered with the production of this bike, but nearly 27,500 of the …

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No Reserve – 2018 Alta Redshift MXR

In America, Off-Road by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: sold for $13,100 after 35 bids on eBay in San Marcos, California. When new in 2018, a Alta Redshift MXR would set you back $11,995 (add $750 for the fast charger). So, what does the market think a still-new example is worth for two years later, considering the company is no longer in business? Well, there’s four …

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Ex-Police – 1976 MZ TS250

In Germany, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: originally sold for $2,750 after 12 bids on eBay but the sale fell through. Was relisted a couple of times and then sold for a BIN of $2,500. The seller notes that this former East German Police MZ is missing a saddlebag – to my untrained eye it appears that it might also need some decals and …

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1988 Honda ZB50

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: did not get any bids at the opening ask of $2,500 on eBay. Only sold in the US, Canada, and western Europe in 1988, the ZB50 was supposed to be a street sister to the Z50R dirt bike, but it ended up being too expensive for Honda to build and the US only got 3,058 examples before …

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1992 Ducati 900 Superlight

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: sold for $10,600 after 39 bids on eBay in Laguna Beach, California. In 1992, Ducati took their 900 Supersport and added several choice extras to create a limited edition called the Ducati Superlight – 953 examples were sold over 2 years.

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1990 Honda CB-1

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

The Honda CB-1 was a wonderful mid-sized standard in a time of replica racers. Originally built for the Japanese market, it was a beautifully balanced motorcycle that lost out in an American market that was obsessed with having as much horsepower as possible.

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Restored – 1984 Yamaha IT490

In Japan, Less than 5k, Off-Road by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: sold for the BIN of $4,500 after 39 bids on eBay in Greenville, Rhode Island. In 1983, Yamaha introduced the IT490, an evolution of the 465 and the biggest of the “International Trial” line. It was a heavy, powerful bike that was ideal for enduro or cross-country riding, though they had a nasty habit of pinging when …

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Rare Project – 1983 Urba Sport Trimuter

In 3 Wheels, America by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: sold for $850 after one bid on eBay in Aguanga, California. In February of 1980, Mechanix Illustrated magazine featured the design for an electric commuter kit three-wheeler that the consumer was supposed to put together him or herself. Supposedly 30k plans were sold…but who knows how many were actually built. One of them was used in the …

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1979 Laverda Formula 500

In Italy, Race by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Laverda was later relisted with a lower ask of $18,000, but it still did not get any bids. With just 210 examples built over three production batches between 1978 and 1980, the Formula 500 is one of Laverda’s rarest machines. This example was restored by Trevor Dunne of Ducati Santa Barbara and was featured in a …

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1986 Yamaha FZ750

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Upon its introduction in 1986, Yamaha’s FZ immediately took the 750cc sportbike crown – MCN says it was “as fast as a Kawasaki GPZ900R” and called it “a wonderful piece of engineering.”

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1980 Benelli Sei 900

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This Sei sold for $25,262 after 30 bids on Iconic Motorbike Auctions in Santa Monica, California. 10-12-2020 Update: 3+ years later, this low-mileage Benelli is back up on the market! Friend-of-Bike-urious Nelson B. acquired it from the last owner, repainted the front fairing and covered ~300 miles with it, and now he’s put it up for sale …