Yamaha released the XS11 in 1978 as the most powerful production motorcycle on the planet. Astoundingly it was Yamaha’s first 4 stroke 4 cylinder motor ever. In 1979 Yamaha issued the XS 11 in two trim levels: ‘Standard’ and ‘Special’. This was to continue throughout the entire production run. The Special had higher bars, a stepped seat, smaller diameter rear …
New in Crate – 2009 Triumph Bonneville 50th Anniversary
Post Sale Update: This special Bonnie sold for $11,253.53 after 25 bids on eBay. The Bonneville has been around since 1959, and since that time there have been a few limited edition runs like the Silver Jubilee I’ve previously featured. In 2009, Triumph released 650 examples of a 50th Anniversary bike, and this one stands out as it’s still in …
Bicentennial – 1976 Honda GL1000 LTD
In 1975, when Honda introduced the Goldwing it was aimed completely at the American market. Soichiro turned loose his engineers and the ‘Wing came out with quite a few ‘firsts’. Start with the liquid cooled flat 4 motor, and belt driven camshafts. The alternator was gear driven from the crankshaft and rotated counter to the crank to reduce ‘shaft whip’. …
1972 Confersil
8-16-2016 Update: A cool Portuguese website called Rodas de Viriato got in touch to let me know that this is a Masac 406/72 Tuxa, and that it was sold by Confersil. More information on the model can be found on their site. Confersil was a Portuguese motorcycle manufacturer that made a variety of small displacement two stroke bikes with engines …
Incredible 15 Bike Collection
View PostBorn Free Best Chopper – 1963 Harley-Davidson FL Panhead
Post Sale Update: This FL chopper sold for $19,600 after 27 bids on eBay. The seller calls this “part survivor/part custom” – whatever you call it, it won Best Chopper at last year’s Born Free 7. It’s been featured in Easyriders Magazine (NSFW) and will be featured in the August issue of Hot Bike/Street Chopper.
1982 Kawasaki 650 CSR Cafe Racer
Post Listing Update: 29 bids got the action up to $6,000 but that wasn’t enough to meet reserve. In 1981, Kawasaki introduced a new generation of cruiser called the CSR. The next year yielded updates to the clutch, carb, chain cover, and fork internals – and very little of that matters with this example because it’s been customized into an …
Ending Soon – 1983 Honda CB1100F
An evolution on the CB900F, Honda’s CB1100F was a fast standard that was sold for just one year – but for that year it was king of the hill. Cycle World called it the fastest stock bike they had ever tested in a review in January 1983.
1965 Honda Dream 305
I actually owned one of these (a ‘63) back in the day. Marketed as a ‘Tourer’ it was sorta slow and clunky but it had electric start and started every time. The ‘Dream’ was model CA77 and was nowhere near as sexy as stablemates CB77 (Supersport) and the CL77 (Scrambler).
2005 BMW R1200ST
This is the ugliest bike BMW has ever made, and I think you should buy it because nobody else wants to. A few months back, I got to ride my buddy Jared’s R1200ST for 100 miles and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It did everything well. Handled like a sportier RT, and in every other way is …
Motorized Big Wheel – Drifter Trikes
Do you get all nostalgic when you see a neighborhood kid on his Big Wheel? (DO they even still HAVE Big Wheels?) This could be for you, you big kid….
Open Your Wallet – 1996 Honda RC45 RVF750
The RC45 is a rare homologation bike in the US – thought it was produced internationally between 1994 and 1999, the US only got the ’94 model. 200 examples were built in 1994 for homologation purposes, and then 500 more were sold in Japan over the next few years. From what I’ve gathered, only about 20 are still in the …
2001 Kawasaki W650
Want a classic Bonneville that doesn’t leak? Check out this Kawasaki W650.
1999 Royal Enfield/Buell Custom
Post Sale Update: This crazy custom sold for $3,050 after 15 bids. Yes, it’s another Robert “Doc” Harms build – I will never not feature one of these! This time around we’ve got a turbocharged Buell single in a Royal Enfield frame, and it’s probably my favorite of the offered builds so far.
Custom Airhead – 1979 BMW R65
I’m really starting to enjoy these classic airhead builds. I knew that BMW was trying to change their demographic, but I never thought we’d see a day that people are customizing old airheads. My favorite part is that these builders are repurposing bikes that might not necessarily get a second chance at life. Case in point is this 1979 R65. …