In the motorcycling world, it is not often that a manufacturer releases a model that flies under the radar. I must admit, I was unaware that this wonderful piece of German engineering existed. BMW wanted to send dirt flying in the endurance off road racing field, and was nice enough to fit headlights and blinkers to their product, making it …
Bike Review – 2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan
View PostTwo-Fer – 1979 and 1980 Yamaha XS1100
During the end of the ’70s, motorcycle manufacturers fought to create the most motors possible. After the 750cc and 900cc barriers were toppled, the next symbolic step was 1,000cc. Just like they did with the CB750, Honda were the first to beat that record thanks to its 1975 GL1000. In 1977 and 1978, Kawasaki and Suzuki responded to that with …
1972 Suzuki T250 Hustler
In 1969, Suzuki unveiled the successor to their popular Super Six T20 – the T250 Hustler. It took all the good parts of the T20 and added sleek styling in addition to an upgraded motor. The original was more newsworthy, but the T250 was arguably a better bike.
T is for Trunk – 1980 Yamaha Exciter 250T
Known outside the US as the SR250, the Yamaha Exciter was available in two versions: the 250 and the 250T, where T stood for trunk! That’s right, from the factory the Exciter had a large, lockable trunk that replaced the rear seat. In Yamaha’s words, “just flip a latch and the 250T’s trunk goes with you as conveniently as a …
1979 Kawasaki Z650
Based on the success of the Z1 that put Kawasaki at the top of the large displacement motorcycle market, the Japanese manufacturer decided to update their offering in the mid-size engine market. But unlike the big bikes – where the Z1 was nearly by itself at 900+ cubic centimeters, the mid-size market was already full of models: the Honda CB400, …
1969 Honda Z50A “Monkey”
In 1961, at the Tama Tech Park in Japan, a Honda-owned motorsport theme park, one of the attractions included the use of kid-size bikes called the Z100. Due to the way people looked while riding it – with arms and legs stuck out at sharp angles – the name of “Monkey” was quickly given to the bike. Seeing the success …
1995 Yamaha Virago XV1100
Post Sale Update: This Virago sold for just $1,185 after 6 bids on eBay. 7-24-18 Update: The seller has let me know that he’s put his Virago up on eBay with no reserve, so it’s about to find a new owner – will it be you? Find it with bidding up to $1,009 here on eBay. Introduced in the early …
2001 Chevy V4-Powered Custom
Are you an automotive engine expert? Maybe you’ll know what’s going on here, because I sure don’t. What we’ve apparently got is a “custom built 156 cubic inch Vee-Four Chevy” motor in a “Harley type” chassis. I’ve featured a couple example of the SuperVee (front two cylinders from a SBC Chevy 350) before, but this is even odder.
Restored – 1979 Yamaha SR500
Considering that you can buy a brand new SR400 from Yamaha for $5,999, how do you feel about a classic SR500 for $4,500?
9 Miles – 2000 Buell X1 Lightning Millennium
Post Sale Update: This X1 sold for the BIN of $4,495. Presumably named after its year of release, the Buell X1 Lightning Millennium was a limited production run (800 bikes) that was all about silver aesthetics. 400 were sold in the US, 375 were sold in Europe, and I have no idea where the other 25 went. A typical example …
1979 Honda CX500 Deluxe
While the motorcycle market in the 1960s was essentially dominated by Europe and America, the 70’s allowed Japan to show off their skills. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki were very competitive with European manufacturers when it came to mid-market bikes in the US. Honda had released bikes at a wide variety of displacements based on the same design as its …
Baja Legend – 1974 Honda “XL432” Bill Bell Hybrid
The name Bill Bell goes hand-in-hand with the Baja 500 (and 1000). For more than a decade, the legendary tuner churned out countless purpose-built racers that gave deep-pocketed factory works teams a good run for their money, and with the occasional exception of Husqvarna, Bell’s Hondas were the machines to beat at the Baja 500.
“American” MXer – 1974 Indian MT100
Decades before Polaris Industries acquired Indian Motorcycle, the manufacturer traded hands numerous times, giving rise to a number of very…non-Indian Indians. For a time Brockhouse Engineering sold rebadged and slightly modified Royal Enfields under the Indian name. The company was later sold off again, this time to AMC, which proceeded to sell rebadged AJS and Matchless bikes as Indians, though …
Wood Rotax 560 Four-Stroke – 1984 KTM 504 MX
At the dawn of the 1980s, a myriad of manufacturers were experimenting with producing a competitive four-stroke motocrosser, though dethroning the mighty two-stroke was a major uphill battle. Quite a few marques put their faith in Rotax, who had then recently debuted an impressive 498cc four-stroke single. Seeing the potential of the half-liter thumper, KTM worked out a deal with …