Continuing the recent theme of oddball snow machines, today we’ve got a Chrysler Snorunner. This has an interesting history – though some people disagree on the actual story. My favorite version is that Chrysler built them for the Army, which was looking for light weight snow transport that could carry a soldier for 30 miles. It wasn’t capable of handling …
Rare Project – 1977 Greeves Griffon 250 MX
Post Sale Update: This Griffon sold for the opening bid of $2,500 in Missoula, Montana. Greeves introduced the Griffon MX bike in 1971…and it was greeted with a lot of excellent competition from excellent bikes like the Yamaha DT1, Bultaco Pursang, and Husky 250CR. Two years later, Honda would release the 250 Elsinore and blow everyone else away. But the …
Factory Racer – 1972 CZ 250
Post Listing Update: This CZ did not meet reserve with 31 bids up to $23,036.65 on eBay in Jamul, California. In 1972, serious off-road racers had few options, all of which were in Europe. Realistically, you were looking at one of the Spanish brands, a Penton, Husqvarna, Maico, or CZ. CZ had a reputation for building rugged and simple machines, …
86 Miles – 1985 Yamaha TY350
Post Sale Update: This TY350 sold for $3,149 after 32 bids on eBay in Lowell, Massachusetts. In the late 60s, Yamaha made its first entry in a European trial championship in France with their 250 DT, a bike better suited for dual sporting. In 1970, the sales manager of a French Yamaha dealership was contacted by the current French trial …
1975 OSSA Plonker
The OSSA Plonker (“plonking” used to be a different term for trials riding, as you’d “plonk” around rugged terrain at low speeds) was built in conjunction with trials expert Mick Andrews. It was their first attempt at a true observed trials bike, and it was succeeded by the Mick Andrews Replica. In the US, the Plonker was only available via …
AHRMA Scrambler -1958 BSA Golden Flash A10
Post Listing Update: This Golden Flash did not meet reserve with 8 bids up to $3,850 on eBay in Hillsboro, Oregon. Starting with a A10 Golden Flash engine and frame, this BSA was converted into a classic scrambles racer in England.
1 of 200 – 2019 Beta 300 RR Steve Holcombe Replica
To celebrate Steve Holcombe’s back-to-back titles in the Enduro World Championship, Beta released 200 examples of a limited edition replica based on his 300 RR racer. 25 of them were exported to the US – here’s #77 of the series.
1987 Honda CR500
Post Sale Update: This CR500 sold for $10,000 after 16 bids on eBay in Dacula, Georgia. When originally released in 1984, the CR500 was the most powerful MX bike that Honda had ever produced. It quickly got a reputation for pinging (including the nickname of “Ping King”), which was rectified the next year with liquid-cooling. The rest was history – …
1992 Yamaha WR500
Built by blending the YZ250 and YZ490, the WR500 was a rare offering that was best served as a trail bike that could mix it up on the race track every once in a while.
CA Plated – 1996 Kawasaki KX500
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.”
In Italy – 1977 Moto Gori Cross 50
Founded by Giancarlo Gori in 1968, Moto Gori got their start with 50cc off-roaders and eventually moved up to 125, 250, and 406cc models. Over a production run that lasted until 1983, Moto Gori used engines from Rotax, Moto Morini, Hiro, Minarelli, and Sachs.
Restored – 1980 Honda CR125R
Post Listing Update: This CR did not meet reserve despite 21 bids up to $3,100 on eBay in Binghamton, New York. Honda revamped the CR125 Elsinore in 1979, but it did not do well. They immediately redesigned it for the following year with much better results. The cosmetic differences between years were minimal, though the disappearance of the 23″ front …
1975 CZ Falta 400 Replica
1-9-20 Update: Six years later, this Falta Replica is back up for sale by the same seller, who states that it “is in very original condition and does not need to be restored!” Find this Falta Replica for sale in Woodinville, Washington for $8,500 here on Craigslist.
In Italy – 1980 TM 125 MX
Filed under “bikes I couldn’t find much information on,” this 125 motocross bike is an early example of TM’s offerings as the company was founded in 1976.
1973 Husqvarna 450 Desert Master
Post Listing Update: This Desert Master did not get any action at the BIN of $8,750. Introduced along side the 450 CR and WR, the Desert Master was a rare sales flop from Husqvarna in the early 70s – that makes them hard to find today.