Post Sale Update: This time around, it sold. It found a new owner for the BIN of $4,999! 125cc sportbike enthusiasts don’t really get much to play with in the US. You’re more than likely stuck with something imported via the grey market like a Honda RS125 or Aprilia RS125. But if you really want something rare to find in …
About To Hit 100K – 1982 Honda Gold Wing GL1100 Interstate
Honda’s about to release the newest version of the Gold Wing (I’m flying to Austin next week to try it out, but more on that later), but today we’re going back a few decades to the GL1100. That was the generation in which Honda introduced the Interstate model, the first full-dress tourer offered by a Japanese manufacturer right from the …
1984 Zundapp KS80 Super
Post Listing Update – This Zundapp has been relisted several times – the latest at a cheaper price of $4,200, but it has not been sold. Also known as the Model 537, the KS80 was available in three variants: the Super, the Sport, and a super rare (just 2 produced) Super Sport. The Super was the first version, and approximately …
One Year Only Tiddler – 1970 Yamaha G6S 80
Yamaha’s G6S was a one-year only tiddler produced in 1970. Despite its short production run, it was a relatively popular model in Europe, often referred to as “bellycrawlers” due to the way riders would lay across the tank to ring out every last MPH. Everything about the G6 is pretty basic, but that was by design. By using a collection …
Mono-Body “Midi-Bike” – 1970 Muskin El Gato
The Muskin El Gato is one funky little scoot. Muskin Corp was aiming to nab a piece of the then-increasingly lucrative small-displacement trail bike market. The company’s strategy was to create a truly unique machine that would stand out from the crowd of other mini offerings and regardless of Muskin’s success, it’s hard to deny the efficacy of said strategy. …
Ping King – 1986 Honda CR500
When first released, Honda’s CR500 was its most powerful MXer ever produced, though that power was wildly difficult to tame. The CR was nonetheless a major success and Honda opted to keep the half-liter thumper in production for more than a decade prior to be being phased out in 2001 upon the rise of the four-stoke machines and the company’s …
Showroom Clean – 1975 Yamaha DT100
Yamaha first kicked-off its DT lineup in 1968 with the 250cc DT-1 – a model that would help to usher in a new market for dual-sport machines. The DT-1 (also known as the Trail 250 in other markets) would be included as one of the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan’s 240 Landmarks of the Japanese Automotive Technology. Upon its …
Catalog Bike – Sears Puch Sabre
Back in the 60’s and 70’s you could order motorcycles from the major department stores, like Sears and Montgomery Wards. Generally, the bikes were rebadged small-displacement singles sourced from Europe. One such example is this Puch Sabre, a 50cc tiddler sold by Sears Roebuck.
Alternate Laverda Project – 1971 American Eagle Renegade 150
Post Listing Update: The BIN was lowered to $999 but that still wasn’t enough to entice anyone to pick up this rare Laverda project. As you’ll note in the comments, however, afterwards one of John McCormack’s sons bought this American Eagle! I’ve featured a few American Eagle models in the past – the brand was John McCormack’s attempt at importing …
Land Speed Record Project – 2004 Honda CBR600 F4 Special Construction
I first heard about Matt Brown on one on my favorite episodes of Jay Leno’s Garage – he bought a Honda S600 without an engine and then swapped in the drivetrain from a Honda CBR1000RR sportsbike. Jay calls him part of the “more-brains-than-money club”, and it looks like Matt’s attitude hasn’t changed as he also found himself trying to build …
Rare Project – 1973 Alouette AX125
Post Sale Update: This AX125 sold for $1,026 after 5 bids on eBay. Marketed as “The Multi-Purpose Motorcycle”, the AX125 was an idea that made sense on paper – Alouette was a Canadian snowmobile manufacturer that decided they should also sell dirt bikes so that there dealerships would have products to sell and maintain when there wasn’t snow on the …
Trials Junkie Duo – 2 Montesa Cota 123s
If you are at all familiar with Trials, then you are certainly familiar with the name Montesa. Montesa is a Spanish company that has been around since 1944. Formed by Pedro Permanyer and Francisco Bulto, they flourished from the 50’s through the 70’s making small-displacement bikes for the postwar market. They produced numerous road-going models, most notably the Brio and …
Restored – 1974 Ossa Phantom 250
Post Listing Update: This Phantom did not get any interest at the asking price of $3,450. When Honda debuted the CR250M (known as the Elsinore in the US), it was an instant classic and a terrifying prospect for manufacturers focused on two-stroke off-roaders like Penton, Hodaka, and Bultaco. OSSA also felt threatened by Honda’s new development, and they countered with …
Non-Runner – 1974 Carabela 200MX
Post Listing Update: This Carabela did not get any interest at the BIN of $1,950. East Coast Vintage MX is currently offering a rare Mexican dirtbike for display purposes as it’s not running. Even if this doesn’t appeal to you, they’re in the process of liquidating 30 bikes so if you’re a fan of classic MX bikes (especially hard-to-find Euro …
Doubled Displacement – DT100-Powered 1988 Yamaha YSR50
Produced from ’87 to ’92, Yamaha’s YSR50 was a mini sport bike that offered many amenities typically reserved for larger displacement models. Because of this, the full-faired 50cc scoot frequently had its engine swapped-out for something more powerful as the bike’s stock sub-40mph top-speed really left something to be desired. This particular example has had a 100cc Yamaha enduro engine …