In the early 70s, John Taylor of Schenectady, New York started building the Yankee Z500, an American dual-sport designed to compete with the best bikes coming out of Europe. Yankee Motor Company started by importing machines from OSSA, the Spanish off-road powerhouse, and then moved to modifying OSSA engines in their own custom frames. Eventually, they combined two OSSA 250cc …
JDM Monkey – 1972 Honda Z50Z K1
While Honda’s newest miniMOTO is called a Monkey, the model was always previously called the Mini Trail in the US. The “Monkey” on this tank lets you know that is a JDM model, which means it also has a removable front end that US bikes did not get.
144 Miles – 1978 Honda CT90
6-9-2019 Update: Over a year later, this CT90 now has 237 miles. Confusingly, the seller says that he/she just got the bike “yesterday” and has only ridden it down the street, but this seems like the same bike to me and it’s being offered by the same username on eBay… Find this CT for sale in Gilbert, Arizona with bidding …
1971 Honda SL70
One of Honda’s many popular small displacement trail bikes of the 70s, the SL70 features a 72cc engine and a four-speed transmission. It was very successful with young riders who were learning how to ride dirt and motocross. It was introduced in 1970 but in 1974 it evolved into the XL70 as the ’73 XR75 was a better option for …
Ending Soon – 1955 AJS Model 18CS
Post Listing Update: This AJS did not meet reserve despite 19 bids up to $4,550 on eBay. The AJS Model 18CS was an evolution of the Model 18 – a bike that can trace its roots back to the G3L, an ex-military bike that was sold off in surplus once the war had ended. The C stood for Competition (as …
1979 Maico GS400 Enduro
Post Sale Update: This Maico sold for $3,505 after 6 bids on eBay. Thanks to a Tusk dual sport kit, this restored Maico is street legal in California. While the headlight runs off the stator, the tail light and turn signals are powered by a rechargeable nickel cadmium battery.
No Reserve – 1984 Honda XL600R
View Post1973 Suzuki TS185
Post Sale Update: This Sierra sold for $2,650 after 26 bids on eBay. The TS range of bikes were Suzuki’s first trail bikes, and the family of two-strokes was available with motors ranging from 50 to 400cc. Some riders considered the TS185 to be the best – it was actually a few pounds lighter than the TS125 but it made …
64 Miles – 1974 Honda Monkey Z50J
Post Sale Update: This Monkey sold for $3,350 after 16 bids on eBay. I was on a big Monkey kick after I got to try the new one, and I’m still always on the lookout for interesting examples. This ’74 model is a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) example and it’s got just 102 kilometers on the odometer (64 miles).
703 Miles – 1989 Honda XL600V Transalp
Post Listing Update: This Transalp did not meet reserve despite 35 bids up to $4,500 on eBay. When Honda brought the XL600V over from Europe in 1989, America wasn’t ready. The 583cc V-twin adventure bike was more capable than anyone could have imagined. Many news outlets noted its biggest limiting factor was the tires of the time. Twin spark heads …
Plated – 1999 ATK 600DT
In a 1998 advertisement, ATK called the 600DT the only “factory-built dirt tracker”. They said it was race-ready thanks to a Rotax motor, their in-house frame, Brembo brakes, WP suspension, Talon hubs, SuperTrapp exhaust, and plenty more quality components.
Rare Restoration – 1972 Benelli Panther
Post Sale Update: This Panther sold for $1,920 after 2 bids on eBay. 4-6-19 Update: Almost a year later, this bike is now up on eBay with a ~$900 discount. Find it in Trenton, New Jersey with an unmet opening bid of $1,895 here on eBay. Known in other markets as the 125 Cross, this rare model was named the …
Cycle World Cover Bike – ESMC’s “Desert Wolf” Harley Roadster
The Desert Wolf was one of three identical bikes constructed for an ambitious 2017 project which was the brainchild of El Solitario’s head honcho, David Borras. While you can read all about Borras’ and the El Sol crew’s Saharan adventure on said bikes in a full-length Cycleworld writeup — the issue’s feature/cover story — in a nutshell the idea was …
First Ride Review – 2019 BMW R1250GS and R1250GSA
The GS and GS Adventure are BMW’s most important bikes – in a lineup comprising of nearly 30 motorcycles, 27% of the German firm’s sales come from the GS and its bigger “Adventure” brother. Any sort of update is therefore a big deal.
1940 Excelsior Villiers Welbike
Post Sale Update: This Welbike sold for $10,100 after 54 bids on eBay. At the request of the British government, Excelsior developed the Welbike, a tiny single seater that was designed to be dropped into combat situations via parachute-equipped containers. The goal was that it could be unpacked and ready to ride within 11 seconds.