With a 123cc two-stroke engine that produced about 10 horsepower, the Yamaha DT125 was a competent enduro. It was more capable than you’d expect because it shared almost everything but the engine with the DT175, so you got better components than the average 125. Here’s an example that looks almost new because it’s barely been ridden.
1992 Yamaha TDM850
1-17-15 Update: This TDM850 did not meet reserve at $3,050 last time around. But reader John K. just alerted me that nearly a year later, it’s back up for sale. Find it here with bidding up to $895 and the reserve not yet met or a BIN of $5,500 here on eBay. The Yamaha TDM850 is definitely an oddball…a well-rounded …
2 Miles – 1983 Kawasaki KE100
A diminutive dual-sport produced for 25 years, the Kawasaki KE100 was an evolution of the G5. I can’t argue that there’s anything tremendously special about the KE100 versus the competition, however this example is worth featuring as it’s a 32 year old bike with…1.8 miles. With the exception of the tires and battery, it’s claimed to be original. Find it …
Lucky Explorer – Cagiva Elefant
The Cagiva Elefant is already a cool bike. But add the Lucky Explorer livery and you’re on an different level of desire. The only problem? This bike is in Italy.
1967 Kawasaki Avenger
The last of the big 4 Japanese manufacturers to start selling motorcycles, Kawi had a little bit of catching up to do when it came to understanding the US market. They initially offered small-displacement two-strokes, and while those bikes have definitely caught the eye of a few passionate riders, the average American buyer was looking for something bigger and more …
47 Miles – 1988 Honda NX250
Post Sale Update: After 44 bids on eBay, this NX250 sold for $3,049. The middle weight of the Honda NX line-up (which also included a 125 and a 650), the NX250 was available for just two years.
Couple of Unexpected Off-Roaders
The Suzuki SV650 and Harley-Davidson Sportster were originally designed to stay on pavement. But thanks to some creative owners, I can show you two examples that have been converted into bikes that can handle pavement or dirt.
Impressive Condition – 1990 Suzuki DR350S
25 year old dual-sports should not look this good.
1973 Triumph 750 Tiger
The Triumph 750 Tiger was the single-carb cousin of the Bonneville – it was also known as the TR7RV.
1973 Honda CL350
The scrambler variant of one of Honda’s best-selling motorcycles, the Honda CL350 differed from its’ street-based brother as it gained the high scrambler pipes and a 19-inch front wheel.
Sad Story – 1973 Yamaha RT3
Here’s an unfortunate story for you – the seller of this Yamaha RT3 bought it only a few months ago, then stripped it down and repainted/polished everything. In his excitement about finishing the bike, he put a new battery in it and then tried to start while wearing bed slippers. Long story short, he’s now selling his bike to cover …
Paris Dakar – 1981 BMW R80GS
Post Sale Update: After 20 bids on eBay, this R80GS sold for $10,000. Here’s a solid example of the motorcycle that started the concept of big adventure dual-sports. It’s being offered by the third owner (who’s had it for the last 14 years) and has 53,267 miles. This bike (VIN: WBM034803B6362181) stands out for a couple of reasons: first, it’s …
800 Miles – 1989 Honda NX125
The Honda NX125 was the smallest of the NX’s, which were only imported for a few years. The combination of XR-roots with a slightly more street friendly composition made it an excellent all-rounder. Offered in the states in 125, 250, and 650cc versions, the NX650 was by far the most popular in the US.
1994 Honda Africa Twin
The Honda Africa Twin is an absolute legend in the dual-sporting community, and American riders were always heartbroken that this beauty never made it to the United States. I almost never see these up for sale in the states, so I’m excited to feature one for you now. How good is this bike? It’s based on the NXR-750, which won …
Desert Sled – 1967 Norton N15CS
Post Sale Update: After 19 bids on eBay, this N15CS sold for $6,601. After Norton moved production to Plumstead in the early 60s, they had a few leftover engines from the less-than-popular Atlas line. They threw those engines into Matchless frames to create a series of hybrids under the Norton, Matchless, and AMC names – possibly the most confusing time …