Nowadays, the mention of a Japanese 250 usually makes on think of the Ninja, a solid learner bike that doesn’t normally excite the senses like other current motorcycles. But 20 years ago, Suzuki built a 250 two-stroke race-replica of its Gamma V-2 racer – good for over 50 horsepower in the narrow power-band. The Suzuki RGV250 was born, and it …
2013 Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer
The rebirth of the Norton Commando now comes in 3 different models – the SF, the Sport, and this – the Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer. Note that I’ve previously featured one of the limited production Special Edition models, as well.
2006 BMW HP2 Enduro
Post-Listing Update: This HP2 Enduro was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The slimmer (but still ugly – and I say this as a GS owner) brother of the R1200GS, the BMW HP2 Enduro took the GS engine and CANBUS electronics but instead utilized a trellis frame and normal forks to save a whopping 53 pounds – this …
Rally Raid – Modified 2012 KTM 690 Enduro
If you’re looking for a true off-roader from your production dual-sport, I’m not sure it gets better than the KTM 690 Enduro. Built to serve as the base for KTM’s Dakar Rally efforts (which they won in 2007, 2009, and 2010 with this bike before regulation changes forced them to switch to a smaller engine for competition), the 690 is …
2011 Honda CB1000R
I love naked bikes and when I was in Paris I couldn’t help but notice quite a few examples of the Honda CB1000R, a bike I almost never see in the US. What’s hard for me to understand is why it sold so poorly here in the US.
2000 Bimota SB8R Special
Post-Listing Update: This Bimota SB8R Special sold for $8,000 after 17 bids on eBay. I’ve featured a couple of SB8R’s before – they’re almost “common” in the world of Bimotas, ignoring how the words common and Bimota should never be used in the same sentence. But the Bimota SB8R Special lives up to its name, by taking the base bike …
1967 Ducati Mark 3 250 Racer
Post-Listing Update: This Ducati Mark 3 250 Racer only got one bid at $5,999 and did not meet reserve. Of the Mark 3’s, the Ducati Mark 3 250 is usually considered the most beautiful example of classic Italian design. This example has been turned into an AHRMA legal vintage racer, yielding a different kind of beauty.
2007 Buell Lightning Super TT
Post-Listing Update: This Super TT did not meet reserve with bidding up to $3,250. When it comes to streetbikes, it’s harder to have much fun (at legal speeds) than when you’re riding a supermoto. For just two years and 1,700 units, Buell channeled the supermoto feel and created the XB12STT, a tweaked version of their Lightning streetfighter, also known as …
1980 Kawasaki Z1R KZ1000
Post Sale Update: After 28 bids on eBay, this Z1R sold for $12,100. The Kawasaki Z1R was the brainchild of Wayne Moulton, known as the “Father of the Japanese Cruiser.” His belief was that a solid motorcycle could be moderately tweaked to form four versions, one of which is a sport-tourer. So he took the KZ1000 and turned it into …
Beautifully Restored – 1976 Yamaha RD400C
One of the true giant-killers in motorcycling history, the Yamaha RD400C was given plenty of praise by reviewers when it first came out. It had plenty of power, it didn’t weigh much, you could handle it with relative confidence, and even the brakes were decent. All that, and the price wasn’t bad either. Nearly 40 years later, expectations have changed …
Unassuming – 2007 Kawasaki Ninja with Yamaha RZ350 Engine
File this under ‘things I never thought I’d see’, but reader Zack B. has found someone selling their Kawasaki Ninja 250 that’s had the two-stroke engine from a RZ350 swapped in! The work looks great – with the exception of the modified DG pipes, I don’t think anyone would notice (at least at first glance) that this isn’t a stock …
Baby RC45 – 1996 Honda NC35
Post Sale Update: This NC35 sold for the BIN of $9,500. The RC45 is a bike of legend, but it’s also out of the financial reach of most motorcycle enthusiasts. That’s why I’m excited to feature the RC45’s baby brother, the Honda NC35. Only officially sold in Japan, grey market imports occasionally made it out the UK and rarely made …
Brand New – 2006 Bimota SB8K Santa Monica
8-17 Update: This Bimota SB8K Santa Monica has been relisted with a discount of just under $10k. Find it for sale now for “just” $26,500 or best offer here on eBay. I’ve had a weird run of “Brand New” bikes – motorcycles that haven’t been titled or ridden yet. After the Harley-Davidson MX250 and the Ducati 900S2, today we’ve got …
$1000 – 1994 Jawa Ultrasport
The coolest looking moped I’ve ever seen, the Jawa Ultrasport (even the name is cool!) is a 49cc 2-stroker and a rare bike – I’ve never seen or heard of one before. This specific Ultrasport has just 199 miles, meaning it’s not even done with the break-in period. It comes with the title and it’s in ‘great condition’. Find this …
Great Deal – 2013 Suzuki V-Strom 650 with Sidecar
I sometimes wonder if I’m best serving you by showing you incredible bikes with giant pricetags, or more mundane bikes that are great buys. I still don’t know what the correct answer is, so for now you’re stuck getting a little bit of both. Here’s one of the latter – a Suzuki V-Strom 650 with matching DMC M72D Sidecar. The …