Post Listing Update: This Motobecane did not meet reserve despite 11 bids up to $1,957. Rarely found in the US, the Motobecane LT series utilized a two-stroke twin paired with a five-speed transmission. It was introduced in 1972 to compete against bikes like the Yamaha DT125 and Honda CB125. For more information, check out this translated page from Motobecane Passion.
1962 Centaur Folding Scooter
Post Sale Update: sold for $5,219 after 33 bids on eBay. When it was released, the Centaur was claimed to be America’s only “full-size” folding scooter. It was marketed as a portable transportation solution that could be folded up in three steps and carried on a boat, plane, trailer, or car.
First Ducati Project – 1946 Ducati Cucciolo T1
Post Listing Update: Despite 14 bids up to $3,151, this little Ducati did not meet reserve. The story of Ducati motorcycles can be traced back to a man named Aldo Farinelli, who developed a small motor that could be mounted to a bicycle to help mobilize the people of Italy after World War II. He named the motor “Cucciolo” (Italian …
Street Legal – 1997 Honda Dream 50 AC15
Post Listing Update: This Dream did not meet reserve despite 45 bids up to $6,701.99. The few American riders that are familiar with the Honda Dream have typically only seen the race-only Dream 50R that was officially imported to the US in 2004. But back in 1997, Honda created a street-legal Dream 50 that was only sold in Japan. This …
1969 Honda SS125A
Post Sale Update: This SS125A sold for $2,325 after 31 bids on eBay. Built between 1967 and 1969, the Honda SS125A wasn’t a huge sales success – and that’s why it’s an interesting and rare find nowadays. It was based on the CS125, a bike that was only sold in Japan.
Pre-Z125 – 2003 Kawasaki KSR110
Post Sale Update: This little Kawi sold for $910 after 10 bids on eBay. If this morning’s CT90 custom was too weird, here’s something stock (but still quite rare in the US). Kawasaki currently offers the Z125 to compete with Honda’s Grom, but even before both bikes were available Team Green had a street legal mini in Southeast Asia called …
Stretched and Raked – 1969 Honda CT90 Custom
“Stretched and raked” are normally terms used to describe choppers, but this unexpected custom started as a Trail 90!
In Japan – 1980 Yamaha Vogel
A utility-focused variant of the Pocke, the Vogel (German for “bird”) was a minibike that competed with Honda’s monkey bikes.
One Owner – 1965 Honda S90
You all know I love the Honda S90, and it’s been a little while since I’ve featured one. This is definitely on the higher end of the price spectrum, but how many one owner bikes do you see for sale from 1965?
Basically New – 1970 Moto Beta XTR 100
3-24-18 Update: 2 and a half years later, this XTR is still for sale – the seller reached out to me directly and he said he’s willing to take offers. Find it here on Craigslist for $3,800 or best offer. With just 11 miles, this Moto Beta XTR has barely been used, though some of the finish and decals have …
In France – 1976 Malaguti Olympique
Post Listing Update: This Malaguti did not get any interest at the opening ask of $2,000. Europe’s tiered licensing system has created demand for smaller bikes that youngsters are limited to, and back in the 70s one of the most popular categories was the 50cc ‘sport moped’ – the dream of many a teenager. The best seller was the Yamaha …
One Year Only – 1988 Honda ZB50
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 Honda killed it off.
“Red Head” – 1970 Malanca Testa Rossa 50
Post Listing Update: This Malanca did not meet reserve despite 30 bids up to $3,051. Based out of Bologna, Italy, Malanca was a motorcycle manufacturer that had some success in small displacement racing. This is one of their impressive scooters, a 50cc “Testa Rossa”. That translates to Red Head, and depending on who you listen to the name either came …
1997 Yamaha TZM50R
It’s relatively easy to get your hands on a YSR50 in the US, but the two-stroke follow-up (called the TZM50R) is quite a rare find indeed. It represented a stronger attempt by Yamaha to counter the highly successful Honda NSR50 mini bike racer.
Ending Soon – 1998 Honda NSR 80
Post Listing Update: This NSR did not meet reserve despite 20 bids up to $3,619.69. Never officially imported to the US, the NSR 80 was a mini bike that was capable of being street legal.