The first motorcycle model ever released by the Italian firm, the Ducati Cucciolo was introduced in March 1946 out of the Borgo Panigale factory. One year later they were winning races with Glauco Zitelli at the helm, and a year after that the Cucciolo was being imported into the US.
Honda-Powered Custom with Hossack Front End
When Shane A submitted this to me via email, the subject line was simple and very accurate: “This one is wild.” The seller calls it a Honda Z5-Hossack, as it looks to be the 5th variant of his fascinating customs that utilize a Hossack front end.
1964 REX KL35
10-18-20 Update: Four years later, Robert VanSlyke notes in the comments that this REX is again up for sale. The asking price is down to $2,500 and it’s moved from Idaho to Arizona. It’s titled and still a runner – find it in Cave Creek, Arizona here on Facebook Marketplace. 9-12-16 Update: John K notes that this REX is back …
1988 Honda ZB50
Post Listing Update: did not get any bids at the opening ask of $2,500 on eBay. Only sold in the US, Canada, and western Europe in 1988, the ZB50 was supposed to be a street sister to the Z50R dirt bike, but it ended up being too expensive for Honda to build and the US only got 3,058 examples before …
Impressive Extras – 1964 BSA Starlite
Post Sale Update: it had to be relisted a couple of times, but this Starlite sold for $2,000 after 2 bids on eBay in Calhan, Colorado. Known as the Beagle in the UK, this little 75cc BSA commuter was marketed as the Starlite in America.
843 Miles – 1982 Honda MB5
Post Sale Update: after being relisted, this MB5 sold for $1,925 after 8 bids on eBay in Longmont, Colorado. The Honda MB5 was only imported to the United States for one year, and for a while it did not leave a lasting impression. However, riders that grew up with these (or had a friend that used one as a first …
No Reserve Chappy – 1974 Yamaha LB80
Post Sale Update: This little Yamaha sold for $1,610.58 after 26 bids on eBay. 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.
Rare in the US – 1993 Honda QR50
Post Listing Update: This QR50 did not get any action at the BIN of $2,100 on eBay. Built as a rival to Yamaha’s PW50, the Honda QR50 was never officially sold in the US. It was, however, sold in Canada in 1983 and 1984, so a few have made their way across our northern border. Much like the Yamaha, this …
389 Miles – 2009 Aprilia RS125
Finding a plated modern RS125 is hard enough in the United States, but this example stands out even further thanks to the fact that it has just 389 miles. It does beg the question – what would you do with a bike like this? It’s best on a track but it’ll lose value with every miles. Are these collectible enough …
No Reserve – 1986 Suzuki GSX-R 50
Post Sale Update: This Norton did not meet reserve with 27 bids up to $5,475 in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Over on the auction site we’ve got an example of the hardest of the Japanese minibikes to find in the US, as it was only produced for 2 years as a JDM bike only.
New In Crate – 2x 1999 Honda Z50RX
8-18-20 Update: This pair of Z50s has been traveling! They originally sold at Mecum Las Vegas for $13,200 at the beginning of 2020, then traded hands on eBay for $16,700 just a few weeks later in February. Now they’re up on eBay again in Indiana with an asking price of approximately $18,900! The story continues…you can find the new listing …
Near The End – 1993 Honda CT70
Post Sale Update: This CT70 sold for $2,275 after 27 bids on eBay in Clarkston, Michigan. By 1993, Honda’s venerable CT70 had just one last year of production left in it. By 1998, Honda’s patent would expire and the world was flooded with clones.
Restored – 1982 Honda MB5
Post Sale Update: This MB5 sold for $2,799 after 22 bids on eBay in Enola, Pennsylvania. The Honda MB5 was only imported to the United States for one year, and for a while it did not leave a lasting impression. However, riders that grew up with these (or had a friend that used one as a first bike) are feeling …
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.
Ending Soon – 1971 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson Rapido
Post Sale Update: This Rapido sold for $3,000 after 48 bids on eBay in Mentor, Ohio. In 1965, Harley-Davidson bought a 50% stake in the Italian manufacturer Aermacchi, and they proceeded to import small-displacement Italian motorcycles and sell them under the H-D name.