Today is all about off-roaders, and this might be one of the craziest of all. The NSU Kettenkrad (Ketten = tracks, krad = German military abbreviation for motorcycle), was a half-track designed initially as a light tractor for airborne troops. Due to its diminutive size, it was the only ‘gun tractor’ capable of fitting in certain Nazi aircraft. The formal …
1967 Honda CL77 Scrambler
Post-Listing Update: This CL77 did not meet reserve at $4,750 after 30 bids on eBay. The Honda CL77 Scrambler was, in a way, the off-road brother of the venerable Super Hawk. Any Honda CL denotes a scrambler, and this was one of the best – in 1968, the Baja 1000 was won on a CL77.
1989 BMW R100GS
Post-Sale Update: This R100GS sold for $4,050 on eBay. The BMW R100GS was the bike that broke open the mold for BMW. While the R80GS was the first of this new category of bikes, the R100 updated everything and sold over 34,000 units. The best way to sum up this bike would probably be in the words of my mechanic, …
Ending Soon – 1983 Husqvarna WR 430
The Husqvarna WR 430 is a big, funky enduro that I find visually appealing in a semi “ugly-duckling” sort of way. This specific Husqvarna WR 430 (VIN: W00004656) is offered by the second owner, and it has just received a complete mechanical restoration, while preserving the faded palstics that let you know this bike has been enjoyed. This is the …
1974 Laverda 750 SFC
Post-Listing Update: This Laverda 750 SFC was pulled from eBay, final sale price unknown. I’ve been on a bit of an older Italian sport bike kick recently, but I’m trying to mix it up. With that said, I couldn’t help but feature this Laverda 750 SFC, a limited-production, street-legal racer that was the most iconic bike to ever come with …
1956 Suzuki Colleda ST-II
Post-Listing Update: This Suzuki Colleda ST-II did not meet reserve at $5,100. From the same seller as the Toyomotor TB from a couple of days ago comes this Suzuki Colleda (which roughly translates to “this is the one”, or something similarly special). The first motorcycle from Suzuki, the Colleda was introduced to the world in 1954. Several changes came in …
1 of 15 – 2013 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Yoshimura Limited Edition
The Gixxer has been a fixture in the sportbike world for decades, and Pops Yoshimura is famous for his involvement with Suzuki’s factory racing team. The two names have been closely intertwined for years, and one of the most recent collaborations is the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Yoshimura Limited Edition. Reader Zack B noticed at his local dealership when on a …
7 Lovely Italians
Reader John K. has just tipped me off to someone on eBay who’s selling off 7 rare small to medium Italians that have all spent the last 10 years in a museum, so they’ll need varying amounts of work. Most are about 50-60 years old, and some of these bikes, I’ve never even heard of! All bikes available in Englewood, …
Video Intermission – How Triumph Builds the Rocket III
Someone on r/motorcycles posted this in a comment thread, and I had to share. Enjoy this 100% accurate documentary on how the Triumph Rocket III is built. Choice quote? “Argument juice is added from the argument lobe of the female brain allowing the finished bike to change direction in an instant, improving handling.”
Rebirth – 2000 MV Agusta F4 Serie Oro
Post-Sale Update: This MV Agusta F4 Serie Oro sold for $33,500 on eBay. After decades of racing dominance in the middle of the 1900s, MV Agusta started to flounder after the death of the Agusta brothers who founded the company. They piddled around until being purchased by Cagiva in 1991 – but it took nearly another decade for the company …
Mini Enduro – 1988 Yamaha DT50 MX
This bike always made me think of Thomas the Tank Engine, with its baby blue paint scheme and the “little engine that could” possibilities. I think I was just stunned that it could actually get around in the dirt. Sold unchanged for nearly 15 years, the Yamaha DT50MX is a baby motocrosser that might be one of the best campground …
2007 Aprilia Bol D’Or
Post-Listing Update: This Bol D’Or was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The Aprilia Bol D’Or was a very limited production bike built to commemorate Aprilia’s particpation in the Bol D’Or, a 24 hour endurance race that occurs every spring at Le Mans. I have to admit, the idea of creating a bike to celebrate participating in a …
1954 Hoffmann S300 Gouverneur
Post-Listing Update: Despite 13 bids on eBay, this Hoffmann S300 Gouverneur did not meet reserve at $7,500. Originally a bicycle manufacturer, Hoffman ventured into motorcycle production between ’48-’54. The Hoffmann S300 Gouverneur was their swan song – development costs for the engine combined with the loss of a licensing deal for the Vespa scooters they were producing AND a lawsuit …
1974 Ducati 750SS
Post-Listing Update: Despite 18 bids up to $24,600, this Ducati 750SS did not meet reserve on eBay. The Ducati 750SS (or Super Sport) is one of the most iconic motorcycles of the 70s, if not all time. Just 401 of the first year models were built, somewhat as a tribute to Ducati’s win at Imola in 197. It was the …
Video Intermission – Austria to Egypt on KTM 500EXC’s
As if you didn’t feel bad enough that you’re not out on the road right now, feel free to be jealous (or get inspired) by this: