Over a 29-year history of motorcycle production between the 20s and the 50s, the German firm Tornax built about 50,000 bikes. One of them was the K20, which was introduced in 1936.
Cosmetic Custom: 1982 Honda FT500
Single-cylinder machines make for solid flat track builds. The power on these examples are surprisingly well suited for dirt ovals, especially for a road bike engine. Despite this being a 35-year-old machine, it was just recently rebuilt and has been kept pretty immaculate in the roughly 275 miles put on it since the build was completed. With so many ultra …
In Italy – 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR
The Ducati Desmosedici RR (or Racing Replica) is the epitome of an elite motorcycle. While its 197hp and 188mph top speed are slightly less stunning in comparison to today’s near 200hp/200mph superbikes, it still boasts some of the finest equipment on the planet and when it was first released a decade ago, a road-going machine like the this was unheard …
Ex-Shriner Ending Soon – 1969 Honda Dream CA77
Post Listing Update: This CA77 did not meet reserve at $2,524 despite 24 bids on eBay. Nowadays, the Shriners are typically riding Harley-Davidsons – currently Harley even offers a Shriners special edition (but you have to show proof that you belong to the fraternity) alongside their Peace Officer and Firefighter special editions. In fact, they’ve become such a pairing that …
NC35 – 1996 Honda RVF400
Post Sale Update: This RVF sold for $8,800 after 41 bids on eBay. One of the best riding 400 sportbikes ever built, Honda’s RVF400 (also known as the NC35) never officially made it out of the Japan. The grey market took care of European countries but it’s rare to find one of these in the US. You may have a …
Rare in the US – Carabela 150SL
Here’s a bike that I know just about nothing about. Can you fill me in? I’ve featured a few bikes made by Carabela in the past – it’s a Mexican motorcycle manufacturer that was best known for their small displacement MX bikes. But this is a street bike with a bigger motor than the usual Carabela – and that’s pretty …
1 of 1 – 1996 Ducati “649R” SuperTwin Racer
This Ducati 649 SuperTwin is the only example like it in the world, and it was created specially to compete in Mini/Super-Twin 650 class competition. This super short stroke engine has a 90mm bore that makes 85hp and red lines at 13,000 rpm. This machine is built around a 1996 Ducati model, so I assume a 748SP or SPS. This …
Needs Some Work – 1974 Harley-Davidson RR250
Harley isn’t exactly known for its race machines, but as far as word association goes. Nonetheless, here we have a 250cc Harley-Davidson purpose-built racer: the 1974 RR250. Developed during Harley’s time in AMF competition, this bike is supposedly one of 180, though the RR250 was made for a number of years. While this example needs its restoration to be completed, …
2008 Bimota Tesi 3D Carbonio
Post Listing Update: This Bimota was pulled off of eBay because “there was an error in the listing.” Final sale price unknown. Introduced in 2007, the 3D was the third generation of the Tesi. While it was an improvement over the 2D in many ways, reviewers weren’t excited about the gap between how it looked and how it performed. It’s …
Pick One – Storz Street Tracker Harleys
Storz Performance make some awesome parts and conversion kits. Both of the two Storz examples have been fitted with their XR1200 conversion kit which not only looks pretty snazzy but also cranks up the Harleys performance while shaving off a total of 83lbs. Highlights of the kit include an aluminum tank, fiberglass tail-section, side-covers and rear-fender, a wider rear-tire, actual …
The Icon’s Little Brother – 1973 Bimota HB1 350
Post Sale Update: After 69 bids on eBay, this Bimota kit sold for $4,549. The HB1 was Bimota’s first bike and is unarguably its most rare and valuable motorcycle. The Honda powered two-wheeler was the start to the company’s long history of wrapping proven engines in an advanced frame fitted with trick components while simultaneously resulting in some damn fine …
1965 Honda CL72 Scrambler w/ Belly Tank Trailer
Post Sale Update: This unique combination sold for $6,600. The fine folks at Bring a Trailer (appropriately named in this case) have got one of the coolest bike/trailer packages I’ve seen in a while. A ’63 Honda Scrambler (’63 VIN but titled as a ’65) that was given a refresh 50 miles ago. It looks clean and normally it’d be …
“Rsix” – 2015 BMW RnineT Custom
The RnineT is one of the most commonly modified motorcycles being made today, it’s literally referred to as BMW’s “blank canvas”. The modular German standard was engineered to be easily customized with features such as a subframe that can be removed by anyone with two-minutes and a socket-wrench. Countless professional and amateur backyard builders have cafe’d out the various RnineT …
2 Miles – 2002 Ducati 998S Ben Bostrom Replica – 6/155
Post Sale Update: This Bostrom rep sold for $18,299 after 16 bids on eBay. Ben Bostrom was represented by #155 when he competed in AMA Superbike with Ducati’s 998S. So Ducati used that as the number of copies that should be built when they created a limited edition replica. 155 were built for the US and UK markets, making a …
Rebuilt British Beauty – 1978 Rickman Triumph
Last time I featured a Rickman Triumph, I referred to it as a “Britmota” and even though this example isn’t a road machine, I feel the moniker still applies. This completely rebuilt example is sporting a NEW Rickman chassis wrapped around a 1978 Triumph 750 engine. The restoration process on this iconic British machine took an accumulative three years to …