Produced from ’87 to ’92, Yamaha’s YSR50 was a mini sport bike that offered many amenities typically reserved for larger displacement models. Because of this, the full-faired 50cc scoot frequently had its engine swapped-out for something more powerful as the bike’s stock sub-40mph top-speed really left something to be desired. This particular example has had a 100cc Yamaha enduro engine …
What Do You Want To Know? 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS
UPDATE: Here’s my First Ride review! I don’t often share news about bikes before they’re released, but as Kawasaki started dropping hints about the upcoming Z900RS I had to tell you about it because I know how many of you love the Z1 that inspires this new model. I’m attending the launch of the Z900RS later this week – is …
Unexpected Custom – 1987 Yamaha SDR200
Post Sale Update: After 36 bids on eBay, this SDR200 sold for $2,925. 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 of them found their way in to …
Trackmaster Frame – 1967 Triumph T120TT
Post Listing Update: Despite 9 bids on eBay up to $9,900, this Trackmaster-framed Triumph did not meet reserve. This interesting custom blends a Trackmaster frame with a ’67 Triumph T120TT motor. It’s a little over the top in certain aspects, but not in mileage – it’s only had 100 miles put on since it was built as it has spent …
Ex-Steve Williams TT F1 – 1988 Bimota YB4-R
Post Listing Update: This Bimota did not meet reserve with 18 bids up to $6,455. The YB4 was Bimota’s fourth Yamaha-based bike, built around the FZ750 (2MG series). The machine was developed for the ’87 season of the prestigious Formula TT World Championship. It first premiered at the French Bol d’Or Endurance Race of ’86 but after homologation rules forced …
Built for Norman Reedus – 1982 Yamaha XV920 Custom
Classified Moto has made a name for themselves with a signature style and an affinity for classic Japanese machinery. They’ve made some oddballs but they’ve deservedly earned plenty of fans and done some celebrity builds in the process. One of those builds for celebrities was this Yamaha XV920 built for a star of the Walking Dead, Norman Reedus. Fans of …
Whopper Of A Chopper – 1979 Suzuki OR50
The asking price for this ($3,500) is a little silly, but it’s so rare that I thought I should make you aware of it at the very least. I’ve featured one in the past that sold for just over a grand but example had 10 times the mileage. This little moto has just 160 miles.
47cc Folding Moped – 1975 Carnielli Motograziella
Post Listing Update: This Motograziella did not get any interest at the unmet opening bid of $2,400. I’ve featured all kinds of folding scooters over the years, but this just might be the most stylish of them all. “This” is the Motograziella, a 47cc folding moped built by Carnielli of Vittorio Veneto, Italy. Carnielli was founded in the 1920s, but …
Restomod Italimerican – 1970 Harley-Davidson Sprint SS350
In response to the sales success of smaller Japanese bikes in the 1960’s, Harley-Davidson formed a plan to offer a new small-displacement machine to compete as its own small-engined Hummer model left a lot to be desired. Around this same time Aermacchi was interested in focusing more resources on its aeronautical division and allowed Harley to grab a 50 percent …
1972 Penton Berkshire 100
Post Sale Update: This Penton sold for $4,200 after 43 bids on eBay. John Penton and KTM started their partnership with the 125 ISDT Six Days, and once it became obvious that the two companies had some financial potential, they expanded the lineup to offer multiple displacements. The smallest of the offerings was the 100cc Berkshire.
Restored – 1966 Honda CL77 Scrambler
The seller originally bought this bike to learn how to wrench on bikes and get some quality time in with his son. The project is over and the seller has too many other bikes to keep this around, so now it can be yours.
Nourish Weslake Project – 1974 Norton Commando Custom
Post Listing Update: This Norton only saw one bid at the original ask of $8,000. It did not meet reserve. During the heyday of the Rickman brothers, they asked Harry Weslake to design a 8-valve head for the Triumph Bonneville. In conjunction with a small displacement increase, power was bumped up 20%. That sounds great but the idea was dropped. …
5 Miles – 1983 Yamaha Virago XV500
Today, factory customs are mainstream staples in the motorcycling world, but that wasn’t always the case. Customizing bikes – at least in the manner we know today – was largely unheard of before the 1970’s. Custom choppers did exist, and people would modify bikes for track and racing purposes, but custom street bikes couldn’t have been less embraced by magazines …
Ending Soon – 1975 CCM 500MX
Post Listing Update: Not surprisingly, this CCM did not get any interest at the asking price of $37,500. It’s been relisted but I’ll only feature this bike again if the seller offers a serious discount in the future. In 1971, Alan Clews founded CCM (Clews Competition Machines) by taking advantage of BSA’s decision to shut down their competition department. Clews …
No Reserve – 1970 Yamaha RT1 360
Post Sale Update: This RT1 sold for $6,855 after 32 bids on eBay. Yamaha earned themselves a lot of fans with the release of the 360cc RT1 enduro in 1970. The motorcycling public had high expectations after the smaller DT1/AT1 models, so the big brother was going to be just as good, right? Indeed it was. That’s why they are …