Post Sale Update: This Yamaha IT250 sold for $3,850 after 11 bids on eBay in Littleton, Colorado. In 1983, Yamaha’s IT dirtbike lineup consisted of the 125, 175, 250, and 490. The 83 bikes were known as the “K”s, and they featured some 80s-appropriate styling with more straight edges and a square headlight. Yamaha marketed the IT250 by calling it …
Restored – 1969 Honda CT90
The Honda CT90 has an interesting folk tale of a creation story: Honda America’s first sales manager, Jack McCormack (who would go on to create the American Eagle line of bikes) noticed that a Honda dealership in Boise, Idaho was selling more Honda 50cc bikes than all 6 dealerships based in Los Angeles. The Boise dealership had swapped out the …
1966 Triumph T100C
Post Sale Update: This T100C sold for $6,200 after 101 bids on eBay in Gainesboro, Tennessee. Depending on who you talk to, the ’66 T100C was also called a T100SC or even the “Jack Pine” special after success in the Jack Pine Enduro. Whatever you call it, it’s a sweet motorcycle. This one’s even sweeter in my eyes as it …
Rare in the US – 1988 Cagiva Tamanaco
Never officially imported to the US, the Cagiva Tamanaco was a diminutive dual-sport that looks like an absolute blast. Look at the stickers on this thing! “Fun & Function”, “Soft Damp”, “Twin Cooler”. In this case, the seller’s even added a couple of stickers of his own, such as a “BRAAAAP” on the inside of the right side hand guard.
Rare in the US – 1985 Honda XL600 LMF Paris Dakar
Built to compete against the Yamaha Tenere 600, Honda’s 600 XLM is nearly impossible to find in the US – it may not look like much but this is one of the rarest bikes I’ve featured in a long time.
No Reserve – 2016 BMW R1200GS
Post Sale Update: after being relisted due to a non-paying winner, this R12GS sold for $11,276 after 21 bids on eBay in Jamaica, New York. Offered with no reserve, this GS comes loaded with a few pages of the Touratech catalog.
No Reserve – 1980 Honda XL500S
Post Sale Update: This XL500S sold for $2,950 after 37 bids on eBay in Augusta, Georgia. Introduced in 1979, the XL500S was marketed by Honda as “The New King Single”, saying that it was “the civilized big single…with more spirit than anything in its class.” Cycle World seemed to agree, calling it “the best there is” and the closest they …
1964 Moto Beta XTR 100
Yes, this is the same Beta that you can get an impressive off-roader from nowadays, but 50 years ago they offered a complete range of small dual-sports and street bikes. The seller calls this a MC 100, but I really think it’s a XTR – any Moto Beta experts out there know for sure?
Rare in the US – 2004 Honda FTR223
Post Listing Update: This FTR did not meet reserve with one bid at the opening ask of $1,999 on eBay in Bethany, Oklahoma. Nowadays, the “FTR” model is heavily associated with Indian and the FTR1200. But Honda beat them to the punch with a motorcycle that was never officially sold in the US, their own Flat Track Racing inspired FTR223! …
2011 KTM 990 Adventure 30th Anniversary Dakar Edition
A reminder that adventure bikes can occasionally look good, this KTM 990 is adorned in a 30th Anniversary Dakar livery that celebrates KTM’s first entry into the legendary race in 1981. The 990 is one of the best adventure bikes of all time, especially for someone that spends lots of time in the dirt. It’s held up well enough that …
1956 Ariel HS500
Post Listing Update: This HS500 did not meet reserve despite 17 bids up to $7,166.66 on eBay in Huntington Beach, California. A 500cc scrambler, the Ariel HS was a competition version of the Red Hunter. Approximately 1,000 HS’s (which stood for Hunter Scrambler) were built between ’54 and ’58, and they were intended to compete against BSA Catalina Scramblers out …
Cheap Runner – 1969 Honda Z50
Post Sale Update: This Z50 sold for $1,003 after 30 bids on eBay in Great Falls, Montana. This isn’t beautiful, but I’m interested in seeing what the market thinks this runner is worth! The seller calls it “the affordable Honda Trail 50”, and he’s taking it to Vegas if you’re going to be there for the auctions…
Austrian Army – 1985 KTM 250 Krad
Another day, another bike I had never heard of before! I’ve seen this referred to as the 250 Krad or the 250 GL Krad – whatever you call it, it’s cool! A translated German Wikipedia page suggests that it was used by the Austrian and Norwegian armed forces and had optional skis for snow/ice riding. The air-cooled 245cc 2-stroke single …
Restored – 1975 Hercules 250 Enduro
Packing 7 speeds in the transmission, the Hercules 250 was an interesting German competitor to the upmarket enduros of the day coming from KTM and Husqvarna.
Dealer Special – 1963 Honda Trail 55 C105T
Post Sale Update: This Honda sold for $3,200 after 29 bids on eBay in Vacaville, California. Well, file this one under “bikes that I didn’t know about”. Apparently, Honda offered a “Dealer Special” of the Trail 55/C105T that was all chromed out, similar to the “Christmas Special” chromed Z50. The seller describes this bike as “often talked about but rarely …