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2004 Honda NSR50R

In Japan, Race, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This NSR50R sold for $5,243 on Iconic Motorbike Auctions in Santa Monica, California. The NSR50 was in Honda’s lineup for decades before they blessed the USA with a chance to officially try it for ourselves in 2004. Before that year, Americans had to either order one directly from HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) or try to import one …

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Rare Project – 1987 Yamaha SDR200

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This SDR200 did not meet reserve with 26 bids up to $2,550 on eBay in Torrance, California. Though it was originally sold only in the Japanese Domestic Market, Yamaha’s SDR200 can now occasionally be found in Europe and the US thanks to the grey-market. Reminiscent of a tiny Ducati monster, the SDR features a distinctive trellis frame.

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1987 Honda NS125R Adriatico

In Italy, Small Displacement, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

One would assume that a Honda sold in their home market of Japan would also have been built there, but this oddball was actually built by Honda Italy and then exported to Japan. In the early 80s, the 125cc market was fiercely competitive in Italy due to licensing regulations. The local government placed high taxes on imported motorcycles, so Honda …

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1981 Honda CT70

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This CT70 sold for $3,200 after 53 bids on eBay in South Jordan, Utah. For 1981, Honda offered up the venerable CT70 in one color – Tahitian Red. Here’s a highly original example that still features the style that was specific for ’81, like a red front fender, black/blue/white stripe, and black heat shield.

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1989 Yamaha YSR50

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This YSR50 sold for $3,816 after 22 bids on eBay in Vernon-Rockville, Connecticut. The Yamaha YSR50 was the most common of the rare 50cc sportbikes that came from Japan in the late 80s and early 90s. An instant classic, the YSR50 was always street legal, but now I only seem to see them on display in collections …

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2017 Honda Z50 50th Anniversary

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Z50 did not meet reserve despite 33 bids up to $9,400 on eBay in Port Washington, New York. Before the 125 Monkey was born, Honda announced that they were killing off the legendary Z50 model due to ever-tightening emissions regulations. They ended the run with 1,800 examples of a special 50th Anniversary model and they were …

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1961 Parilla Olimpia

In Italy, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Olimpia did not get any action at the BIN of $4,900. After World War II, Giovanni Parrilla built his first motorcycle (it was based on a Norton). This evolved into the company of Moto Parilla, which was best known for their “high-cam” engines in the US. Here’s one of their lesser known models, the Olimpia (which …

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1968 Honda Z50

In Japan, Off-Road, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Z50 did not meet reserve with 20 bids up to $4,000 on eBay in Cedar Park, Texas. 1968 was the first year of US exports for the Mini Trail, and today we’ve got a pleasant survivor. In a wonderful article on Motorcyclist, Mitch Boehm notes “that the Honda Z50 Mini Trail is probably responsible for more …