Post Sale Update: This Alpina/Metralla Frankenstein sold for the great price of $2,550 after 13 bids. At first glance, you might have thought that this was a Metralla – but a closer inspection would leave you with some questions. Turns out that this bike started as a Alpina project that the seller bought in pieces, and in his/her words: “the …
Quail Participant – 1992 Ducati 851 Custom
Post-Listing Update: This 851 did not get any interest at the BIN of $4,500. The seller originally acquired this 851 Strada as a “cosmetic basketcase” and decided he liked how it looked without bodywork. Thanks to a custom subframe, fiberglass cafe seat, and a few other pieces, you get a bike that (in the seller’s words) is “meant to ride, …
1972 Yamaha XS650 Custom
I’ve featured a wide variety of XS650s in stock and custom forms over the years – here’s another one of the latter that will probably be polarizing. What do you think?
“Variant” – 1981 Yamaha XV920R Custom
View PostHonda CB500 Chopper
Here’s a slick chopper with a CB500 twin motor and a whole bunch of new parts, including the rectifier, coils, starter solenoid, exhaust, bars, tires, chain, battery, cables, carbs, and the headlights. It’s got a clean title on non-op. Seems like a cheap way to get into choppers…
Gigantic Custom Diesel Trike
I don’t really understand why, but it looks like the story of Emile Leray is making the rounds online again because I’ve been emailed about it a bunch of times in the past two days. It’s been 20 years since he escaped the desert with his hacked up motorcycle and four years since the last time this story got attention …
Unexpected Custom – 1965 Marusho ST 500
Post-Listing Update: This Marusho got no interest at the asking price of $7,850. A barely known Japanese manufacturer, Marusho (who built bikes under the name of Lilac) peaked in the mid 50s, though they went bankrupt in 1962 after a deal with Mitsubishi went bad. Within a year they came to life with a plan to specifically target the American …
Jet Bike – 2002 Y2K MTT Turbine
Post-Listing Update: This jet bike did not get any interest at the asking price of $114,000. When this bike was released, it took the Guinness World Records for most powerful production motorcycle and most expensive production motorcycle. It featured 320 horsepower, 425 pound feet of torque, 227 mile per hour top speed, and one of the greatest startup sounds ever.
Unexpected Project – 1955 Ariel Square Four Chopper
Post-Sale Update: This Ariel chopper sold for a best offer of $6,599. Ariel’s Square Four engine is a thing of beauty, but it’s rarely used in custom builds. Here’s one of those rarities that needs some work before it gets back on the road.
In England – 1981 Honda CB750 Custom
This custom Honda was built to “create a sixties Manx style café racer on a reliable donor” – in this case a ’81 Honda CB750 DOHC. Do you think the builder succeeded?
Birmingham Bee Liner – 1967 BSA Custom
Post-Sale Update: This custom BSA sold for the BIN of $12,000. Built by LC Fabrications, this bike placed 14th in the Freestyle Class of the 2009 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building. It’s definitely different – but is it something you’d ever ride, or even own?
1971 Honda 750 ATV
Filed under ‘things I would not want to ride for more than 2 minutes’, this Honda CB750 has been converted into an ATV, and apparently all the modifications are bolt-on.
In France – Bad Winners Racing Rose – 1976 Honda CB550
The 15th build from Bad Winners in Paris, France, this custom Honda CB550 SuperSport is…uh, a custom Honda. What say you?
1 of 2 – 1992 Brough Superior SS120 Prototype
View PostBlack and Tan – 1978 Honda CB750K
I’ve featured a few MOTO PGH builds in the last few months – my impression is that they build rideable mild customs with a heavy cafe racer influence. This Honda based build is called the Black and Tan – what do you think?