Post Sale Update: The 80 sold for $4,900 after 2 bids. The 125 sold for $7,700 after 2 bids. The 250 sold for $11,570 after 10 bids. All new above-the-axles for 1996, the Yamaha YZ125 was a game-changer for Yamaha. For a decade, their 125cc MX bike was uncompetitive to put it mildly. But the refresh changed everything – it …
“Grumph” Project – 1966 Greeves Challenger with Triumph T100 Engine
Post Listing Update: This hybrid did not get any interest at the opening bid of $3,000 on eBay. You’ve heard of Tritons, and maybe you’ve heard of the odd Norley or the Burton. But “Grumph” is new to me! The seller uses it to describe his combination of a Triumph motor and a Greeves frame, which means it could also …
First Year – 1983 Kawasaki KX500
Post Listing Update: This KX500 did not get any interest at the opening bid of $2,800 on eBay. Introduced in 1983, Kawasaki’s KX500 was the first of the 500cc MX bikes – it would also be the last, staying in production until 2004 (though it didn’t get any significant updates after 1990). When it first came out, Dirt Bike called …
1974 Honda CR250M Elsinore
The Honda CR250M Elsinore is historically significant as it was the first serious dirt bike to come straight from an OEM – other bikes required serious modifications from the factory floor. This was a bike of many firsts for Honda – their first dirt bike built from scratch, instead of trying to adapt a street bike to the dirt, and …
Rare Project – 1964 Benelli Fireball Trail 50
Post Listing Update: This Benelli did not get any interest at the BIN of $1,275 on eBay in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Benelli made the Fireball 50 (also sold as the confusingly-named Montgomery Wards 450SS) as a streetbike, but the Fireball Trail was its scrambler sibling with a one-person seat, high exhaust, and rounded styling.
1992 Yamaha WR500
Post Listing Update: The seller of this WR lowered the BIN to $4,000, but that wasn’t enough to capture any interest. Built by blending the YZ250 and YZ490, the WR500 was a rare offering (1,000 sold as 1992 and 1993 models) that was best served as a trail bike that could mix it up on the race track every once …
MXDN Livery – 1995 Kawasaki KX500
Post Sale Update: This KX sold for the BIN of $7,500 on eBay in Homosassa, Florida. When Kawasaki introduced the KX500 motocrosser in 1983, Dirt Bike magazine called it “unrideable” and “violent.” Now they just call it “the one bike to ride before you die.” The bike didn’t change all that much over the years (in fact, from 1994 till …
Rare in the US – 1982 Beta CR500
Post Listing Update: This Beta did not get any interest at the BIN of $8,550. The seller calls this a Beta MX500, though I think it’s actually a CR500. Either way, it’s incredibly rare in the United States and I can’t seem to find any meaningful information on it!
1970 Indian MT5A
Post Sale Update: This MT5A sold for $6,500 after 27 bids on eBay in Georgetown, Texas. Primarily produced in the late 60s and 70s, Indian’s range of off-road-oriented tiddlers included some very cool offerings such as the Boy Racer, the ME100, the SS125MX, even a kid bike with a full-on mini sidecar. One of the most visually distinctive options was …
One Owner – 1969 Indian MM5A
Post Sale Update: This MM5A sold for $3,650 after 37 bids on eBay in Georgetown, Texas. The Indian MM5A was a mini bike designed for little children (4-5 year olds) to become familiar with motorcycles, but also the Indian brand. There were two marketing goals with this bike – encourage older riders to share the Indian experience with their children, …
“TT Special” – 1969 AJS 250 Stormer
Post Listing Update: This Stormer did not get any interest at the opening bid of $7,500. The AJS Stormer was a bit of a flop, as it was a last ditch effort by Norton-Villiers to dump excess inventory of Starmaker engines. Because of that, I rarely see them come up for sale – let alone customized ones like this “TT …
VIN #1 – 1978 Harley-Davidson MX250
In the late 70s, Harley was in a phase of small-displacement bikes while under the control of AMF. They decided to dabble in the world of motocross, and had their Italian branch, Aermacchi, build the Harley-Davidson MX250. It was the first (and only) HD MX bike, and it only lasted for one year. This one’s a bit special as it’s …
1973 MTD 368-850C
Post Sale Update: This MTD sold for $1,725 after 4 bids on eBay in Spring Hill, Florida. Not the sexiest name in the world, but the MTD 368-850C is a rare minibike that rides better than you’d think thanks to the leading link front suspension.
Restored – 1972 CZ 400
Post Sale Update: This CZ sold for $6,900 after 19 bids on eBay in Hailey, Idaho. CZ experts know that the yellow tank with rubber knee pads and a checkerboard stripe means that this is either a 1971 or 1972 model.
Rare No Reserve Project- 1984 Honda TLM50
Post Listing Update: This Honda TLM50 did not get any interest at the opening bid of $1,499. When reader Rob B shared this bike to me, he mentioned that he had never heard of it before. That makes two of us! Turns out that outside of the US, Honda offered a baby version of the TL trials bike with a …