I’m always surprised to see high dollar motorcycles on Craigslist, so I was doubly perplexed when I saw a listing for a couple of impressive old MV’s. Both are being offered by the same seller – we’ve got a: 1. 1956 MV Agusta CSS/5V Squalo Squalo is Italian for Shark, and the seller claims that this was a full factory …
Video Intermission – Game of HYPE
To cap off Ducati day, here’s a series of videos that Cycle World created to help introduce/advertise the brand new Ducati Hypermotard. It’s like horse, but…with HYPE. Wheelie Challenge: Target Practice: Container Yard Chaos: Egg Drop: No-Spill Challenge: Thus concludes Ducati day. Enjoy your weekends!
1986 Egli-Ducati 900SS
Ducati Day – 5 of 5. It all concludes with a Ducati engine, this time surrounded by a frame from one of the best names in the business. This bike was originally sold in Switzerland and has only had two owners. The first owner was an Egli employee, and it’s currently registered in Germany. It has a fresh service…and that’s …
A Pair of Ducati Elite 200s
Ducati Day – 3 and 4 of 5 The Ducati Elite was the Italian firm’s largest-displacement bike when it was introduced – a whopping 204cc when they bored out the popular 175cc engine. The bevel-driven single produced 18 horsepower, but because the bike weighed 230 pounds it could hit nearly 90 miles per hour and return 70 miles per gallon. …
1973 Ducati 450 Desmo
Post-Listing Update: Despite bidding up to $17,225, this Ducati 450 Desmo did not meet reserve. Ducati Day – 2 of 5. Here’s a beautiful Ducati 450 Desmo, the bike that Ian Falloon says represents the end of an era.
Hot Rod Feature – 1987 Harley-Davidson XLCR
The XLCR is one of my favorite Harley-Davidson motorcycles, if only for the sharp departure it took from the company’s usual offerings. With that said, it couldn’t compete in the market for varying reasons. There weren’t many made (about 3,000), meaning the remaining ones are highly collectible.
Original Paint – 1975 BMW R90S
Post Listing Update: This R90S sold for $10,102 after 21 bids on eBay. They say that a vehicle is only original once – thanks to the distinctive paint that is nearly impossible to replicate, that saying is very apt with the R90S.
Needs Some Work – 1968 Bultaco Metralla 250
Here’s a lovely Metralla that was last ridden in 1994. Despite the 20 year absence from our public roads, it still looks good, and it’s as cheap as I’ve seen a good looking Metralla in a long time. If you’re feeling lucky, maybe you’ll find this won’t need much work at all and you’ll have a classic bike for a …
1979 Ducati 900SS Imola Replica
Here’s a Ducati 900SS Imola Replica built out of an early 1979 900SS.
Original Paint – 1975 BMW R90S
They say that a vehicle is only original once – thanks to the distinctive paint that is nearly impossible to replicate, that saying is very apt with the R90S.
Semi-Replica – 1985 Yamaha RD500
Yamaha’s RD500 was a sportbike that has a special place in the hearts of US 80s 2-stroke fans because it was never officially imported here. Nearly all of the examples you now find were brought in from Canada (where it was called the RZ500, hence the title in the seller’s listing). Here’s an example that has 11,600 miles, just 100 …
1975 Laverda SFC Electronica
Post-Listing Update: After bidding got up to $44,100, the seller pulled the bike off of eBay. Even the “base” SFC 750 is a legendary bike, but near the end of production, it got just a little bit better with the Laverda SFC Electronica. It was named for the incorporation of Bosch electronic ignition, but that wasn’t the extent of the …
1992 Honda VFR400R
Ready for one of the most common folk riddles ever?
Cycle World Special – 1974 Norton VR880
Kenny Dreer, the man who almost brought Norton back from the grave several years ago, got his start restoring motorcycles from the British marque at his shop called Vintage Rebuilds (VR) near Portland, Oregon. As the 1990s came to an end, he started building his own variant of the Commando, which he called the Norton VR880.
1986 Suzuki Rick Lance RG500 Gamma
In the 80s, Suzuki offered a limited run of 150 bikes as a replica of their Skoal-liveried RG500 Gamma – it was just a paint job but it looked great. That paint scheme was inspiration for this (presumably regular model) RG500 that’s been tuned and heavily modified by expert Rick Lance.