Also known as the “Chappy”, here’s a cute little step-through scooter that was releasedto compete with Honda’s tiny trail bikes – the most common options were the LB50 and this LB80, the latter of which features an oil-injected 82cc engine and a 2-speed, 2-stage transmission.
1960 NSU Quickly
In 1936, NSU introduced a moped called the Quick. It was quite popular – they sold almost 250,000 over a production run that lasted until 1953. Even more popular was the successor, the amusingly-named “Quickly.” From 1953-1968, NSU sold over a million units! Here’s a 60 year-old survivor.
First Ride Review – 2021 Honda ADV150
View PostYamaha Champ CJ50RS
Post Sale Update: This Champ sold for $2,000 in Marina del Rey, California on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. Over on the auction site, we’ve got an adorable two-stroke scooter than was never officially sold in the US.
Rossi’s Pit Bike? 2007 Yamaha C3
Post Sale Update: The new owner says that they purchased this for $4,000 on Craigslist in Los Gatos, California. Valentino Rossi placed 4th in the US round of the 2007 MotoGP Championship at Laguna Seca. According to the seller, this scoot was what Rossi rode in the pits that year.
1965 Jawa Manet 100
Post Sale Update: This Manet sold for $1,844 after 19 bids on eBay in Addison, Illinois. Built between 1958 and 1969, the Manet S-100 was a Czechoslovakian scooter built by Povazske Strojirny that was claimed to return 100 mpg (no, that’s not where the name came from). During that production run, the company became part of Jawa – 51,244 examples …
Rare Project – 1980 Honda Cabina
Post Sale Update: This Cabina sold for $880 after 10 bids on eBay in Torrance, California. At first glance, I thought this was a BMW C1, but it turns out it’s a scoot I had never heard of before – the 50cc Honda Cabina. Designed as a personal commuter ‘which combined the excellent mobility of a motorcycle with the comfort …
2006 Honda Big Ruckus PS250
The Ruckus was a surprising hit for Honda, due almost entirely to the aftermarket customization that has skyrocketed around the 50cc scooter. What many people don’t know is that Honda offered a ‘full-size’ version called the Honda Big Ruckus for 4 years in Japan and 2 years in the US/Canada.
New In Box – 1987 Kamasura VRX250
Post Sale Update: This monument to deception sold for $910 after 11 bids on eBay in East Syracuse, New York. In the November 12th, 1986 issue of Cycle News (you’ll need a subscription to their archive to view it), a Southern California company called Continental Marketing announced that they were undertaking some market research of a 250cc street bike that …
1968 Solex Micron
Post Listing Update: This Solex did not get any interest at the opening bid of $3,900 on eBay. I’ve featured a few two-wheelers from the French manufacturer Solex over the years, but this is the first example I’ve seen of the Micron, their smallest creation.
Custom Scooter – Bomb Bike
Someone in New Zealand has built a one-off that he calls the Bomb Bike. Hopefully it’s obvious why…
1917 Eveready Autoped
Post Sale Update: This Eveready sold for the opening bid of $9,500 on eBay in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Wheels Through Time is continuing their sale of exhibit bikes, and this one’s my favorite so far! Meet the Eveready Autoped, the first mass-produced motorized scooter in the US.
1 of 700 – 1961 Velocette Viceroy
Post Listing Update: This Viceroy did not get any interest at the opening bid of $12,500. One of Velocette’s least-known creations is a scooter called the Viceroy. It made sense in theory but sales were poor and production ended after just 700 were sold over 4 years (1960-1964). Obviously, they’re now hard to find, especially in the US.
1980 Testi Comfort 50
Every once in a while, you find someone who’s willing to invest a bunch of time and money into a motorcycle that most people would not think is worth. This seller knows what he’s done, noting that “I have more money and time in this machine than I could ever recover by selling it…I do projects like this to keep …
1973 Auranthetic Charger
Post Listing Update: This Auranthetic did not get any interest at the BIN of $1,450. A few years ago, Vy went to Chicago to film an episode of Chicago PD. I decided to join her, and while I was in town I visited a reader with an amazing collection of motorcycles. He had some incredible stuff, and I knew we’d …