Unless you participate in one of the relatively niche small displacement race events or leagues, you’ll seldom come across sub-250cc bikes in full pro-grade race-trim. That’s exactly what we have here, a 124cc Honda CRF50 decked out with just about every upgrade imaginable and built by one of the most renowned MX race shops on the west coast: BBR Motorsports. …
Cafe, Scrambler, or Chopper? – Trio of One-Off Puch Mopeds
Mopeds are a fantastic choice when looking for an affordable motorized two-wheeler to customize. Aftermarket mechanical and cosmetic parts are cheap and abundant, plus the small engines that power these scoots are incredibly simple and easy to maintain. As these three one-off Puch examples so thoroughly demonstrate, the range of possibilities when it comes to modifying a moped can be …
Rare in the US – 2017 Bultaco Brinco RE
Bultaco stopped producing bikes in 1983, though they had a brief revival in 1998 when Sherco (a combination of Sherpa and Bultaco) used the name for a couple of years. The firm was best known for their two-stroke off-roaders and even the occasional road bike like the Metralla. So when the company was revived in 2015, it was a bit …
17 Miles In Hungary – 1984 Fantic Sprinter
Formed in 1968 by Dr. Mario Agrati and Henry Keppel Hesselink, Fantic Motor is best known for off-roaders and mini bikes. One of their many quirky motos was the Sprinter Multispeed, which might be the most “80s” looking two-wheeler I’ve ever seen. This one stands out as it has just 17 miles on the odometer.
Rare High-Mile Mini – 1983 Honda Motra
The Honda Motra – also known as the CT50 – is a particularly funky little mini. Honda marketed the Motra as a rugged mini-scoot capable of schlepping a surprisingly heavy payload. The unique 50cc Honda was only sold in the Japanese market, but a handful of models have made their way to US shores thanks to what I can only …
Rare Z – 1988 Honda ZB50
Honda’s Z series is responsible for a myriad of mini-models that were the first forays into motorcycling for many a rider. As a result, many of these Honda minis hold a special place in legions of riders’ hearts. Though it lacks the older vintage flavor of the original Z50, the ZB50 still has its own unique late-’80’s character that’s hard …
Repsol Livery – 2014 Honda Grom Custom
The most obvious modification to this Grom is the Repsol livery, but the list of upgrades is extensive and pricey. Does that mean it’s worth owning?
$1,000 – 1981 Honda C70 Passport Deluxe
The Passport (or Super Cub, depending on where you live) is the best selling motor vehicle in history by a large margin. Over 60 million units have covered miles all around the world, and they’ve served all kinds of roles first bikes to family SUVs. James May has gone on record multiple times saying the Cub is the greatest machine …
Ending Soon – 1981 Honda CT110 with 300 Miles
Post Sale Update: Initially, this CT110 did not meet reserve with 44 bids up to $3,050. The seller then relisted it and it sold for a BIN of $4,500! Honda’s Trail 90 (or CT90, depending on the market) was a popular entry point for youngsters to learn how to ride in the dirt. One of the reasons it was so …
1959 Hercules K100
10-18-17 Update: And just like that, this bike has sold! 10-18-17 Update: 20 months later, reader Bob K notes that this bike is back up for sale with a $100 discount. It looks like since the last feature, the bearings (I’m assuming wheel?) have been repacked. Everything works and it comes with the original air pump. Current mileage is 5,406. …
Resto-Mini – 1970 Rupp Scrambler
The story of Rupp Manufacturing (or Industries) is a fascinating one with a history spanning almost two decades. They produced a vast range of motorized on and off-road toys and even managed to hold its own for a while against Japan’s stranglehold on the industry once the Z50 Mini Trail debuted. The company was founded in Mansfield, Ohio in 1959 …
250 Miles – 1974 Suzuki TS100
Post Sale Update: After 24 bids on eBay, this TS100 sold for $1,225 to reader Chris C! A street scrambler variant of the TC100, the TS100 Blazer was introduced in 1973 and it was relatively successful in the United States. This example has less than 250 miles as the original owner bought it for his daughter with one rule – …
Fighting the CT-70 – 1976 Yamaha Champ
In 1976, Yamaha brought out its answer to Honda’s wildly popular CT-70 in the form of the 80cc “Champ”, (not to be confused with the Yamaha Chappy or 50cc LC50 Champ moped). The mini was powered by a 72cc oil-injected LB80-3D two-stroke engine (with four-petal reeds), married to an automatic transmission with two-speed centrifugal clutch. The tiny Yammy can reportedly …
Pair of Roemar 125 Racers
Roemar is a name you’ve probably never heard – up until a few days ago I hadn’t either. The Roemar name comes from the last name of the man behind the marque – which was Roelofs – combined with Maren-Kessel, where Roelofs was based when creating these machines. I recently got the chance to speak with the founder’s son Theo, …
Needs Some Work – 1971 Speedway Silver Shadow
Post Listing Update: This Silver Shadow did not get any interest at the opening ask of $3,000. For many minibike collectors, the Silver Shadow is as good as it gets. Speedway called it the world’s fastest mini-cycle thanks to a 12.5 horsepower Sachs 2-stroke motor and a weight of just 147 pounds. It’s also incredibly rare – I’ve seen estimates …