4-24-20 Update: It’s back! I love this thing, and reader Christian E has just let me know that this Motra is back up for sale after 18 months since we last saw it on eBay. Back then, the seller passed on bidding up to $7,100, but now he’s willing to take $5,700 according to this sale listing here on Craigslist …
1970 Indian MT5A
Post Sale Update: This MT5A sold for $6,500 after 27 bids on eBay in Georgetown, Texas. Primarily produced in the late 60s and 70s, Indian’s range of off-road-oriented tiddlers included some very cool offerings such as the Boy Racer, the ME100, the SS125MX, even a kid bike with a full-on mini sidecar. One of the most visually distinctive options was …
One Owner – 1969 Indian MM5A
Post Sale Update: This MM5A sold for $3,650 after 37 bids on eBay in Georgetown, Texas. The Indian MM5A was a mini bike designed for little children (4-5 year olds) to become familiar with motorcycles, but also the Indian brand. There were two marketing goals with this bike – encourage older riders to share the Indian experience with their children, …
Rare Project – 1973 Benelli Buzzer
In the late 60s, Benelli had a surprisingly large lineup of minibikes, most of which were powered by a 65cc 2-stroke motor. Some model names you may remember include the Hurricane, Tornado, City, Dynamo, and the ludicrous Volcano, the last of which got an absurd 180cc two-stroke motor! This is the Buzzer, which featured a seat that could be raised …
No Reserve – 1965 Ducati Monza 160 Junior
Post Sale Update: This Monza initially sold for $5,006 after 55 bids on eBay, however the bike was relisted and then sold for $2,850 after 15 bids. 4-13 Update: A Bike-urious reader shared the following with me, and I think it’s important to pass along: “I looked it up and found that the guy had the bike for sale on …
1969 Nova Ruff Rider
Post Listing Update: This Nova was pulled off of eBay “because the item was lost or broken”. Based in Gardena, CA, “Nova Products of Calif.” called themselves a “developer of recreational vehicles” with a lineup of mini-bikes and even a mini-boat called the Guppie. One of their five mini-bikes was a trail model called the Ruff Rider, itself available in …
No Reserve and 89 Miles – 1966 Honda 50
Post Sale Update: This nifty fifty sold for $5,005 after 42 bids in Fresno, California. The most produced motor vehicle in history, Honda’s Super Cub is still in production (and just got a 125cc facelift with the powertrain from the Grom). These wonderful bikes, which changed the face of motorcycling in the United States in conjunction with the famous marketing …
New Old Stock – 1958 Capriolo TV 75
Post Listing Update: This Capriolo did not meet reserve despite 13 bids up to $1,711.66 on eBay in Escondido, California. 3-29-20 Update: Almost six years later, this bike is back up for sale. The seller (who is a Tom Cruise impersonator) acquired it the last time I featured it and has bumped the mileage up from 2 to 16, typically …
No Reserve – 2010 Sachs Madass
Post Sale Update: this Madass sold for $1,175 after 34 bids on eBay in Kaysville, Utah. Introduced in 2004, the German-designed/Chinese-built Sachs Madass was a 125cc in-town runabout that was way ahead of the current wave of mini motos like the Honda Grom and Kawasaki Z125. Though the Madass debuted in 2004, it wasn’t officially imported to the US until …
1960 Moto Guzzi Zigolo 110
Post Listing Update: This Zigolo did not get any interest at the BIN of $2,995. Introduced in 1953, the Zigolo was Guzzi’s first partially-enclosed motorcycle. It was designed to be cheap transportation for the masses and it featured a 98cc two-stroke engine. In 1960, Guzzi introduced the Zigolo 110, which obviously got a slightly larger engine but also gained hydraulic …
1965 Honda CM91 Roadster Kit
Post Listing Update: This Honda did not meet reserve despite 15 bids up to $755 on eBay in Boise, Idaho. The base model of this bike is something most people are familiar with – the step through Honda Cub, what James May once called the greatest machine ever. But in the late 60s, Honda was worried that scooters were losing …
Rare in the US – 1982 Hercules Ultra 80 AC Chopper
Post Listing Update: This Hercules Ultra was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. When the auction was pulled, there were 43 bids up to $1,125. Here’s one I’ve never heard of before – and it’s still basically new! Meet the Hercules Ultra 80 AC Chopper – boldly displayed on the sidecover for all to see.
New In Crate – 2x 1999 Honda Z50RX
Post Sale Update: Shows what I know – this pair of Hondas sold for $16,700 after 28 bids on eBay in Tucson, Arizona, making the seller a cool $3,500 just a month or so after he bought these bikes at Mecum Las Vegas. I may never understand why little Hondas that never got out of the crate are so valuable, …
1967 Italjet Conquistador
Post Listing Update: This Conquistador was pulled off of eBay due to “an error in the listing.” I’ve featured a Conquistador before (though it was a project), yet I still know basically nothing about it. Previously, I only knew of one running example (at the MotoDoffo collection), but this makes number 2.
Rare Project – 1964 Tohatsu Runpet Sport 50
Post Sale Update: This Tohatsu sold for the BIN of $3,000 on eBay in Maple Valley, Washington. Founded in 1922, the Japanese firm Tohatsu is now best known for their outboard motors. But in the 50s and 60s, they produced some excellent two-stroke bikes and dominated the market – in the 50s, they had 22% of their home market, outselling …