Post Sale Update: This Spada sold for $2,108 after 28 bids on eBay in San Jacinto, California…to reader Rod M! The Honda Spada (also known as the VT250) was never officially sold in America, but it’s an excellent small displacement motorcycle that looks like a baby Hawk GT. Here’s a rare find that’s been imported to the US, though it’s …
1969 Triumph Trident T150
Post Sale Update: this Trident sold for $8,500 after 13 bids on eBay in Pleasanton, California. In 1963, a development engineer at Triumph named Doug Hele suggested that the British firm build a flagship motor which would utilize three cylinders, but it took until 1968 and the looming 750cc Honda inline four before US riders got to ride the Trident …
1 of 22 – 1971 Speedway Silver Shadow
For many minibike collectors, the Silver Shadow is the Holy Grail. Speedway called it the world’s fastest mini-cycle thanks to a 12.5 horsepower Sachs 2-stroke motor and a weight of just 147 pounds. It’s also incredibly rare (I’ve seen estimates that just 22 were built), which means it can be surprisingly valuable – I’ve featured one in the past that …
Eddie Lawson Rep – 1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R ELR
Post Listing Update: This ELR did not meet reserve despite 8 bids up to $12,010. One of 750 ever built, the Kawasaki KZ1000R ELR (Eddie Lawson Replica) was a limited edition homage to the mount of Eddie Lawson, 4x winner of the World Championship (among many other titles). It was aggressively set up, and with the exception of subpar shocks, …
1992 Suzuki Street Magic TR110
Post Listing Update: This Street Magic got no interest at the opening bid of $2,000 in Ohio. Here’s a contender for best motorcycle name ever – the Suzuki Street Magic!
No Reserve JDM Import – 1993 Yamaha SRV250
Post Listing Update: This SRV sold for $1,425 after 26 bids on eBay in San Jacinto, California. The SRV250 was Yamaha’s baby cafe racer, a la the Honda GB500 – except the SRV was never officially sold in the US.
1974 Yamaha DT250A
Bad markets make for great innovations. In the late 1960’s, the motorcycle market was in a bit of a slump. This forced the innovative companies to dig in and find where there is a market. Yamaha realized that although street bike sales were down, there was still a largely untapped and thriving off-road market available in the United States. Most …
1988 Yamaha YSR50
Post Listing Update: This baby YSR did not meet reserve despite 19 bids up to $2,900 on eBay in Longboat Key, Florida. Built to look like a mini RZ500, the YSR50 also featured mini performance. The 49.3cc two-stroke engine was capable of pushing the bike up to 38 miles per hour, but companies like Team Calamari have been making stock …
3 Decade Nap – 1968 Wards Riverside Scrambler 250
Post Listing Update: This Scrambler did not get any interest at the opening bid of $1,500. Friend of Bike-urious Dan D recently acquired a mini collection of British bikes he wanted and a Wards Riverside Scrambler that needs a new owner.
1992 BMW R100R
Post Listing Update: This R100R did not get any interest at the BIN of $4,400. Between 1991 and 1995, BMW produced 20,898 examples of the R100R – one of the last airhead boxers to ever wear a roundel on the tank. Basic specifications include a 980cc air-cooled twin with an oil cooler, Brembo brakes, a 5-speed transmission, and shaft drive.
Cafe’d Cult Classic – 1990 Honda Hawk GT NT650
Designed by Toshiaki Kishi (who would later go on to pen the VFR1200 and CBR1000RR), the Honda Hawk GT (NT650) was a naked V-Twin-powered sport bike that was ahead of its time. Released several years prior to Ducati’s iconic Monster, the NT650 was a solid bike, but the fact a few hundred more dollars got you the even sportier (and …
R100 Motor – 1982 BMW R65LS
The R65LS gets more attention than it probably deserves thanks to the striking Hans Muth-designed fairing, but one of the common complaints was that the ~45 horsepower twin didn’t back up the futuristic-in-the-80s looks. A previous owner of this machine apparently agreed, as it’s been given the heart of a R100. It’s not clear which form of the R100 motor …
1971 BMW R75/5 Custom
Post Listing Update: This BMW did not meet reserve despite 38 bids on eBay up to $8,700 in Richmond, Virginia. This BMW R75/5 was just completed for this year’s show season, and it features a rebuilt motor with a Siebenrock 1000cc kit and plenty of custom touches. What do you think about it?
Unexpected Custom Ending Soon – 1986 Yamaha SDR200
Post Sale Update: This SDR sold for $5,100 after 20 bids on eBay in San Jacinto, California…to reader Jim A! Originally built just for the Japanese market, the SDR200 was a small cafe racer that predated the Ducati Monster with a trellis frame, naked styling, and the three-spoke wheels. It was only offered for one year, and a tiny amount …
Never Run – 1970 Sprite 405 Talon
Founded by Frank Hipkin in the mid ’60s, Sprite Motor Cycles (later known as Sprite Developments) as a small British off-road motorcycle company that built trials bikes and scramblers, usually as a kit. One of their bigger efforts was the 405 Talon, and it was exported to several countries under different names: the BVM 405 in Belgium, Alron 405 in …