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CA Plated – 1989 Honda CR250R

In Dual-Sport, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

Honda’s CR250R is one of the most legendary models in motorcycling. As Dirt Bike Magazine put it, “In the auto world there was the Mustang. In aviation it was the P-51 and in bicycles there was the Schwinn Sting Ray. There are timeless classics in each field, and in the dirt bike world, there’s nothing that has reached that status …

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Italian Superbike Prototype – 1990 Gallina-Hayashi Quattro 750

In Japan, Project, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

Roberto Gallina is an Italian motorcycle racer who competed in Grand Prix events in the 1970s on machines from Laverda, Motobi, Benelli, and Ducati. In the 1980s, Gallina founded his own race team, (Team Gallina) which went on to win back-to-back 500cc world championships in ’81 and ’82. He eventually opened a race shop in his hometown of La Spezia, …

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2016 Moto Guzzi Griso SE

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

The Moto Guzzi Griso SE is a special edition of the venerable Griso, and it differed from the base bike with a fancy paint job, some blacked out parts, and spoked wheels. Mechanically, you also got adjustable suspension, and giant Brembo brakes – this bike was an interesting balance between the style of a custom with the components of a …

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1985 Yamaha FZ750

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This FZ750 sold for $8,101 after 27 bids on eBay. Upon its introduction in 1986, Yamaha’s FZ immediately took the 750cc sportbike crown – MCN says it was “as fast as a Kawasaki GPZ900R” and called it “a wonderful piece of engineering.”

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1978 Rizzato Califfo

In Italy, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Cesare Rizzato founded the Atala bicycle company in 1921, and like most Italian bicycle manufacturers they eventually went on to add motors to their two-wheeled creations. One was the Rizzato Califfo, which was built in 1977 and 1978 and named for the Califfo-built 49cc two-stroke engine with a 1-speed transmission. It was imported to the US by Promark Products of …

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Ending Soon – 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600 With Zero Miles

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1995, Kawasaki replaced the ZX-6 with the ZX-6Ras their top-of-the-line 600cc sportbike. But they kept the ZX-6 around as a cheaper option that was a better all-around bike. In 2004, the model got a name change to ZZR600, and then in 2005 Kawi pulled off the generational gap again – they took the ’04 ZX-6R (which had been replaced …

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1985 Safari 300MT Turbo

In Italy, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Motor Bike Imports of Pennsauken, New Jersey was founded in 1964, and they created the Safari name to distribute a range of mopeds built by companies in Italy including Rovet and MZV. For the 1978 model year, Safari debuted two new models with top tanks – they were called the 300MT and 400MT, where MT stood for “Motorcycle Tank.” It …

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Original Owner – 1964 Fuji Rabbit 90 S-202

In Japan, Scooter by AbhiLeave a Comment

Japan’s first scooter was built in 1946 by Fuji. Called the Rabbit S-1, it was released six months before Vespa’s first model. The Rabbit was the name given to Fuji’s scooter lineup, and it ranged from the top-of-the-line Superflow down to the S-202 which was later introduced as an entry-level offering for those who just needed cheap transportation.