First introduced in ‘73, Honda’s XR75 was a pint-sized version of its then all-new off-roader lineup. Despite being sized for youngsters, the XR was a venerable beast of a machine. Even though its stock form was nothing to scoff at, the aftermarket sector quickly stepped in to offer an increasingly vast array of upgraded bits for the little 75.
1975 Yamaha MX400B
Post Listing Update: This MX400B was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. 1975 was a crazy time. People were trying new things, and luckily for us, engineers were thinking outside the box as well. Long travel rear suspension made its way into motocross and changed the game. The monoshock-equipped Yamaha MX400 was Yamahas entry, part of their cheaper …
1979 C&J Framed “Horsepower Factory” Honda XR500
There are an elite few in the motorcycle world whose influence will be felt for generations to come. In the same way the vast majority of modern sportbikes were influenced by the designs of Massimo Tamburini, most of today’s racing frames bare some noticeable resemblance to Jeff Cole’s C&J frames.
Mexican MXer in Canada – 197x Carabela Centauro
Carabela is a Mexican motorcycle manufacturer that was best known for small displacement off-roaders. They released Mexico’s first motocross bike, the Caliente, in 1969. That was followed-up by the Marquesa, which was available with a 100, 125, or 175cc motor. The big boy was the Centauro (not to be confused with yesterday’s Moto Guzzi Centauro), which was available with 250, …
Desert Sled – 1956 Triumph Trophy TR6
Post Listing Update: This desert sled Triumph did not meet reserve despite 26 bids up to $8,600. Nowadays, “Desert Sled” is just a model name that’s been commercialized by Ducati, but back in the day the term was commonly associated with big British twins that had a few basic modifications – skid plate, knobbies, handlebars – to go through, rather …
For Charity – Ronnie Mac’s 1998 Honda CR250 Screaming Eagle
Post Sale Update: This Honda raised $4,550 for charity after 27 bids on eBay. If you don’t know who Ronnie Mac is, I’m not even sure I can describe “him” to you. I’ll defer to this profile (if you can call it that) on Motosport.com, and simply note that you’ll either love him or hate him. Either way, you should …
Rare Project – 1970 Kawasaki Coyote
The 60s and 70s were full of minibikes that were just motors, frames, and two tires. Who needs lights or a suspension? Here’s a rare example from the Japanese Big 4, the Kawasaki Coyote.
Set of 5 – Classic Yamaha Dirt Bike Collection
We all have a dream bike, but what we really want is a dream garage. I am back in the midwest for the holidays and thought I would check out some local listings to see what was out there. I found this collection of Yamaha dirt bikes for sale, and they all seemed to be in solid running condition. The …
No Reserve – 1976 Honda MR175
Post Sale Update: This MR175 sold for $1,488 after 64 bids on eBay. Honda released the MR175 in 1975 with an atypical “Glare Green” paint job. The next year, they went back to the red that we’ve all come to expect from the company. The motor was a 171cc 2-stroke single and it was paired with a 5-speed transmission. Dry …
Fresh Build – “1969” Metisse Motorcycles Limited 750
Post Listing Update: This Metisse did not meet reserve despite 33 bids up to $15,850 on eBay. After Pat French passed away in 2007, his business partner Gerry Lisi continued the tradition of Rickman Metisse builds under the name “Metisse Motorcycles Limited“. In 2012, the company announced a “Mark 5” lineup, an attempt to cosmetically evolve the classic Rickman design. …
1977 Maico MC400 AW
Post Listing Update: This Maico did not get any interest at the opening ask of $4,000. Maico was a German manufacturer that gained notoriety in the 1960s for building two stroke rocket ships designed to carry you through any terrain you might encounter on your way to the finish line. The 400cc two stroke engine coupled with the upgraded long …
Ending Soon – 1972 Ossa MAR 350
Post Listing Update: This MAR did not get any interest at the BIN of $7,500. Mick Andrews first started competing in trials events at the age of 15. Before Andrews turned 18, he was offered a seat on a factory racer for AJS, where he spent the next half-decade. In ‘66 the Elton, Derbyshire-born rider accepted an offer to ride …
Restored – 1973 Maico 501
Post Listing Update: This Maico did not meet reserve despite 18 bids up to $7,900. When it was released, the Maico 501 featured the largest two-stroke single cylinder engine ever stuffed into a production bike. The press ate it up, though racers were actually able to go faster on the 400s and 450s. But for pure ‘shock and awe’ purposes, …
No Reserve – 1984 Suzuki RM500
Post Sale Update: This RM sold for $3,000 after 26 bids on eBay. The RM500 was Suzuki’s big open class 2 stroker, and while it wasn’t much faster than the 465, the revised Full Floater suspension was a bit of a revelation. In the US it only sold for two years – 1984 was the last year and the engine …
1967 Husqvarna 360 Viking
Post Listing Update: This Viking did not meet reserve despite 15 bids up to $12,328 on eBay. 11-1-18 Update: Almost two years later, this rare Viking is again being offered by the same seller – but bidding is already higher than the two previous auctions ever got and there’s over 2 days left in the auction, so maybe it will …