BMW has brought back the famous “bumblebee” livery with the new R1250GS as part of a paint job called the “40 years of GS Edition,” but here’s an example of what inspired the new model. By ’94, the R100GS was using a square headlight, however this example has had a conversion to the older headlight of the previous generation.
Still New – 2005 Honda XR650R
Also known as the Big Red Pig, Honda’s XR650R is a legend in desert racing and the Baja 1000. Even though it was killed off in 2008, the bike is still race competitive and it enjoys quite a cult following. Here’s one that stands out as it supposedly has never been ridden.
1964 Triumph T100SC Jack Pine
While desert racers of the 60s flocked to Triumph’s 650 twins, enduro riders were typically found on the British firm’s nimbler 500s. The T100SC was a popular mount for competitors and Triumph embraced that, even referring it to the “Jack Pine” model in brochures – the Jack Pine was a well-known enduro in the forests of Michigan where the T100 …
4 Miles – 1984 Montesa H7 360 Enduro
A rare find in the US, Montesa’s H7 generation of Enduros was avaiable in 80, 250, and 360cc variants. Here’s an impressively original example of the big brother that “has been stored in climate controlled storage since new.”
Diesel Powered – 1972 Honda XL250
The frame is from a ’72 Honda 250, but the motor is totally unexpected – a Yanmar 400cc diesel engine.
CA Plated – 2005 Honda CRF50
Equipped with a Baja Designs lighting kit, this little fifty has somehow got a CA plate so that you can ride it off-road, at camp, in the pits, and even on the street!
Bumblebee – 1989 BMW R100GS
4/24/21 Update: Almost a year later, this bike is back up for sale. It doesn’t look like anything has changed besides the mileage, which is up to 15,914. Find it in Missoula, Montana with bidding up to $6,000 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay. Post Listing Update: This GS did not meet reserve with 5 bids up …
In Mexico with US Titles – 2x Yamaha TW200s
Every once in a while I daydream of international motorcycle exploration and find myself on the classifieds at Horizons Unlimited, seeing if someone’s taken a long trip and is willing to sell a bike for cheap that could easily come back to the US. Looks like a couple took two Yamaha TW200s (with South Dakota titles) to the bottom of …
1983 Honda XL100S
The XL100 evolved into the XL100S in 1979, and it continued that way until the model was discontinued in 1985.
2017 Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX
The Stelvio was Guzzi’s pavement-focused competitor to the GS and Multistrada. The NTX was more off-road oriented (and it’s the only option the US got), though this still isn’t a bike that you’re really going to get dirty with.
1.5 Miles – 2001 Kawasaki KLR250
In 1984, Kawasaki debuted a pair of new dual-sport models that quickly proved to be major hits with the motorcycling world. The larger of the models was the KLR600, which was bumped up to 650ccs, where it remains to this day as one of Kawa’s best-selling models, and (as of 2015) the best-selling dual-sport period. The smaller of the two …
1966 Bultaco Matador MK2 Model 16
Post Sale Update: This Matador sold for $4,250 after 28 bids on eBay in Truckee, California. The Mk 2 Matador (also known as the Model 16) was an evolution of the ’64 Matador, a bike designed to do anything between daily commuting and competing in the ISDT. The Mk 2 got a displacement bump up to 250cc.
Restored – 1975 Yamaha DT400
Post Listing Update: This DT400 did not meet reserve with 33 bids up to $7,550 on eBay in Corona, California. The DT400 was an instant press favorite when it was introduced in 1975, though the average US dirt rider preference was shifting to four-strokes (and thus, the XT/TT series of Yamaha’s offerings). For more on the Yamaha DT400, check out …
NOS Flying Dragon Bodywork – 1973 Honda CL350
Post Listing Update: This Flying Dragon did not meet reserve with 29 bids up to $8,300 on eBay in Erie, Colorado. It was then relisted and sold for $8,500, but that buyer flaked. Bike-urious reader Bob Kelly has established himself as quite an expert on the Honda’s Flying Dragon bodywork – and it appears he’s also got a few NOS …
1969 Honda CL350
Post Listing Update: This Golden Flash was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. As Honda’s scramblers got bigger, they became more street focused. Cycle magazine called the CL350 not “really a scrambler at all, but a street-scrambler…doubt arises regarding the bike’s suitability for bashing around rocks and pines.” .