5-18-19 Update: Almost 3 years later, this Suzuki is back up for sale. Turns out that it eventually found its way to Bike-urious regular David N, who fixed it up and is now offering it for $950 in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania here on Craigslist.
Rare Project – 1979 Honda Dax Chopper
Post Sale Update: This Dax sold for $2,751.01 after 22 bids on eBay. Honda’s ST series of minibikes were called the Trail in North America, though Europe and Japan knew them as the Dax. One of the variants in Japan that the US never got was a mini chopper, but one of them was brought over by an American serviceman …
Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2019 – The RoHorn Racer
View Post2016 Yamaha FZ-09
It’s hard to believe these days that Yamaha was ever hard up, but around 2010 the brand had gotten a reputation of being a bit bland. Yamaha’s response was a triumph of motorcycling: when they were done, they had one of the best reviewed engines (and bikes) of 2014 and beyond. Yamaha’s head designer called it a “roaster motard”. We …
225 Miles – 2001 Ducati 996R
The 996 was offered between 1999 and 2002, but the most special version was only offered in 2001. Ducati created 500 examples of the 996R – the R stood for Racing – to meet homologation requirements for the World Superbike Championship.
1950 Jawa Perak 350
Post Listing Update: This Perak was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Also known as the Model 11, the Jawa Perak 250 was developed in secret during WWII when Nazi Germany had occupied the Czech Republic. Jawa predicted that when the war was over, its competition would only be able to offer gussied-up versions of pre-war bikes, and …
Rare Project – 1972 Fox Tracker
Post Sale Update: this Fox Tracker sold for $930 after 20 bids on eBay. No, it’s not the Fox you’re familiar with. This Fox was called Fox Corporation, and it was based in Janesville, Wisconsin. It was very difficult for me to find official information on this company, but I’ve seen anecdotes that they offered six different models of minibikes …
One Owner – 1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo
Post Listing Update: This XN85 did not meet reserve despite 17 bids up to $5,300 on eBay. 5-13-2019 Update: This XN85 sold almost three years ago, but now that buyer is looking to move on. It’s since moved across the country but the owner has put less than 200 miles on it. Find it in Waitsfield, Vermont with bidding up …
Not Sold in the US – 1997 Honda Z50J Monkey 30th Anniversary
Post Listing Update: This 30th Anniversary Monkey did not meet reserve despite 8 bids up to $4,051 on eBay in Saint John, Indiana. To celebrate the ’67 Z50M (which wasn’t sold in the US either), Honda produced a 30th Anniversary edition of the Monkey that brought back the white paint, red frame, tartan seat, and “Old Wing” logo.
Heathkit Boonie Bike GT-18
Heathkit was founded in 1926 in Saint Joseph, Michigan as a subsidiary of the Heath Company – they sold light aircraft kits. But they didn’t hit their peak until after World War II, when they offered electronic kits such as oscilloscopes. In 1968, they got in on the mini bike craze with the GT-18, which was marketed as the “Boonie …
Making Fast Faster – Kawasaki H1R Tribute Build
When Kawasaki first debuted the H1 500 Mach III, it was easily the fastest half-liter production bike in the world. The next year, the labcoats at Team Green cranked the potent triple up a few notches with the release of the factory race-version of the two-stroke three-banger, known as the “H1R”.
1965 Velocette MSS 500
Post Sale Update: This Velo sold for $7,000 after 5 bids on eBay in Meadville, Pennsylvania. First released in 1935, the Velocette MSS was a semi-stalwart that was built until 1968.
In New Zealand – 2013 Bimota DB9 Brivido
Brivido translates to Thrill, and that seems like a fitting name for a Bimota powered by Ducati’s old 1,198cc Diavel motor. Michael Neeves of MCN called it one of his top bikes of 2012, saying “It fuels beautifully; it’s smooth, fast, excellent in the corners, comfortable and above all fun! It doesn’t have ride-by-wire, variable fuel maps, traction control and …
1979 Maico GS400 Enduro
Post Sale Update: This Maico sold for $3,505 after 6 bids on eBay. Thanks to a Tusk dual sport kit, this restored Maico is street legal in California. While the headlight runs off the stator, the tail light and turn signals are powered by a rechargeable nickel cadmium battery.
No Reserve – 1965 Honda S90
Post Sale Update: This S90 sold for $4,150 after 47 bids on eBay. Considering that a Honda S90 provided the inspiration for the Bike-urious logo, it’s been too long since I’ve featured one.