In the early 90s, most major motorcycle manufacturers entered a gentlemen’s agreement to cap horsepower at 125. Triumph decided that when they were going to bring the bikes back from the new plant in Hinckley, that the best way for them to get attention was to ignore said agreement: enter the 147 horsepower Triumph Daytona 1200. A year after the …
2014 Ducati Hypermotard 821 SP
In 2013, Ducati updated the Hypermotard family, getting rid of the air-cooled 1100 and 796 models and replacing them with a liquid-cooled 821. They also continued offering the up-spec SP “Sport Production” version – that’s the one you want, thanks to upgrades like forged Marchesini wheels, Ohlins shock, 50mm Marzocchi forks, radial master cylinder, some carbon fiber parts, and Pirelli …
3 Miles – 1979 Suzuki GS1000 Wes Cooley
In 1978, Yoshimura had the incredibly talented Wes Cooley campaigning a Kawasaki KZ1000, but they weren’t winning races. Then they switched to the Suzuki GS1000 and started dominating – Cooley won the ’79 and ’80 AMA Superbike Championships. While this was happening, Suzuki decided to release a Euro-only sport version of the GS1000. Once American dealers got a peek, they …
No Reserve – 2002 Ducati 998S JDM
Over on the auction site, we’ve got an interesting Ducati 998S up for sale and it’s guaranteed to find a new home as we’re letting it go with no reserve. Why is it interesting? Because the non-US 998S’ got a much better engine, and this bike has a few fun upgrades.
Built by Woolie – 2021 KTM 450 SMR
As a bike that you could take straight from the dealer floor to the racetrack, the stock components on the SMR are impressive enough. But over on the auction site we’ve got that’s been taken to the next level by the builder/seller, Michael “Woolie” Woolaway of Saddlemen (and previously of Deus Ex Machina).
2,676 Miles – 2001 Ducati 750SS
The last generation of Ducati’s air-cooled Supersport bikes was introduced in 1998. As Bennetts puts it, “the 900SS is a fabulous bike whose look has certainly mellowed with age.” They don’t get as much love as other Ducatis from the time, but here’s a 750cc version that’s been well-preserved if you’ve had a hankering for one.
Italian Superbike Prototype – 1990 Gallina-Hayashi Quattro 750
Roberto Gallina is an Italian motorcycle racer who competed in Grand Prix events in the 1970s on machines from Laverda, Motobi, Benelli, and Ducati. In the 1980s, Gallina founded his own race team, (Team Gallina) which went on to win back-to-back 500cc world championships in ’81 and ’82. He eventually opened a race shop in his hometown of La Spezia, …
2016 Moto Guzzi Griso SE
The Moto Guzzi Griso SE is a special edition of the venerable Griso, and it differed from the base bike with a fancy paint job, some blacked out parts, and spoked wheels. Mechanically, you also got adjustable suspension, and giant Brembo brakes – this bike was an interesting balance between the style of a custom with the components of a …
1985 Yamaha FZ750
Post Sale Update: This FZ750 sold for $8,101 after 27 bids on eBay. Upon its introduction in 1986, Yamaha’s FZ immediately took the 750cc sportbike crown – MCN says it was “as fast as a Kawasaki GPZ900R” and called it “a wonderful piece of engineering.”
Ending Soon – 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600 With Zero Miles
In 1995, Kawasaki replaced the ZX-6 with the ZX-6Ras their top-of-the-line 600cc sportbike. But they kept the ZX-6 around as a cheaper option that was a better all-around bike. In 2004, the model got a name change to ZZR600, and then in 2005 Kawi pulled off the generational gap again – they took the ’04 ZX-6R (which had been replaced …
First Ride Review – 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak
View Post865 Miles – 2014 Honda CBR1000RR SP
After the legendary 1994 RC45, Honda took a lengthy break from producing a limited-production special for the US market. In fact, it took two decades before Honda would try something similar – the Honda CBR1000RR SP.
Zero Miles – 2000 MV Agusta F4 750 Serie Oro
Over on the auction site, we’ve got an unused example of one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever built. The Serie Oro (Italian for gold) was the first F4 released to the public, and just 300 examples were sold worldwide.
130K Miles – 1989 Yamaha FZR400
At a time when Japanese manufacturers were getting increasingly aggressive and race-oriented with their 400s to compete in their domestic Formula 3 championship, Yamaha introduced the FZR400 in 1986 as a bike to be enjoyed “on twisty public roads where the customers would actually be riding and enjoying them.” The US got it in 1988, and many riders preferred it …
1984 Yamaha RZ350
The last street-legal two-stroke sportbike officially imported into the US, the RZ350 is very much a sought-after collectors bike in the US. Only sold in the states from 84-85, these bikes were incredibly fast for 350cc, and absolutely look the part.