A limited edition tribute to Eddie Lawson, just 750 examples of the Kawasaki KZ1000R ELR (Eddie Lawson Replica) were built between 1982 and 1983. With the exception of subpar rear shocks, the press and the public loved this bike and how aggressively it was set up.
All The Extras – 1984 Honda Nighthawk CB700SC
Also known as the CB700SC, the Nighthawk S was an interesting bike designed to avoid the 45% tax imposed on imported bikes of 700cc or bigger. Despite the ‘smaller’ engine, this bike was faster than many of its 750cc competitors, and the press loved it. Honda killed this bike after only a couple of years, leaving it to become a …
2016 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Troy Siahaan (Road Test Editor for Motorcycle.com) is one of my favorite people in the motorcycle industry, and he’s letting go of his Gixxer track bike because he’s too busy racing the Lightfighter.
2003 Ghezzi-Brian Folgore Supertwin
Ghezzi-Brian was founded in 1995 by Giuseppe Ghezzi and Bruno Saturno. Within a year they won the Italian SuperTwin championship, thanks to first place finishes in 9 of the 32 races. They took their SuperTwin and built a small run of road-legal replicas with the drivetrain from a Moto Guzzi Sport 1100i. Most of the production run stayed in Italy, …
Zero Miles – 2006 Triumph Daytona 675
Introduced in 2006 as the successor to the four-cylinder Daytona 650, the three-cylinder Daytona 675 has been a favorite of riders and the press ever since it debuted. MCN summed it up with: “Silky, compact handling, allied to kick-ass engine power and a howling exhaust note, make the Triumph Daytona 675 a real winner on the road, or track.” Here’s …
2002 Ducati 998S Troy Bayliss #393
2002 was the first year of the 998, which featured an all new Testastretta motor that produced 123 horsepower (up 11 from the 996). Ducati offered the base 998, the 998S, and the 998R. The middle-of-the-road “S” model got an Ohlins shock and steering damper, carbon fiber belly pan, revised brake calipers, and color-matched mirrors.
1986 Honda VF1000R Restomod
When it was released, the VF1000R was a bit of a revelation: it was Honda’s flagship, designed to showcase what the Japanese firm was capable of. It was also a huge tease to US riders, because it was initially only released in Europe only – America got the VF1000F instead, which was designed to be more of a touring bike. …
1999 Suzuki Hayabusa
In the 1990s, motorcycle manufacturers competed in a technological arms race, with each brand vying for a leg up in what became known as the “speed wars”. This prompted a slew of new models with ever-increasing top speeds in a bid to earn the title of world’s fastest production motorcycle. Kawasaki’s ZX-11 reigned supreme for a period, until Honda stepped …
2008 BMW K1200R
“Gorilla in a Tuxedo.” That’s how Motorcycle.com described the K1200R, a naked version of BMW’s K1200S sportbike. It was big, fast, and a bit quirky – it was also the most powerful production naked bike available when it was released. As MCN put it, “The BMW K1200R is another from the latest-generation Beemers that blow away the firm’s reputation for …
2009 MV Agusta F4 1078 RR 312
Over on the auction site we’ve got one of the last examples of the first generation of MV Agusta’s legendary F4 1000. You wouldn’t be alone if you though the MV Agusta F4 was the world’s most beautiful motorcycle – but styling is subjective. What can’t be argued is speed, and the F4 R 312 was, when released in 2008, …
191 Miles – 2010 Ducati 1198 S Corse
The 1198S was a phenomenal machine – MCN called it “one of the best V-twins ever made” and “truly one of those motorcycles that everybody should be allowed to ride once in their life.” For those of you that want a dash of exclusivity, Ducati produced a special cosmetic package called the Corse between 2009 and 2011. Here’s one that’s …
1 of 30 – 2021 Aprilia Tuono V4 X
In 2020, Aprilia created the ultimate version of their RSV4 sportbike. They called it the “X” and made just 10 examples, which sold out immediately and for hefty prices. Soon after, they recreated the magic with their naked bike, the Tuono. This time they made 30, and they sold them for $41,667. That’s not the only impressive number – the …
1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley Replica
Suzuki shocked a lot of people with the GS series, particularly with their 997cc-engined entrance into the liter bike market. It was fast, it had great handling and brakes, and over time it’s proven itself to be one of the most reliable engines in history. In 1978, Yoshimura was running a KZ1000 with Wes Cooley, but they weren’t winning races. …
1999 Yamaha TRX850
Over on Iconic we’ve got a rare example of a motorcycle that was never officially sold in the United States. Sales were initially disappointing and Yamaha killed it after 4 years, but the bike seems to be remembered quite fondly by moto-journalists and owners – MCN later called it “the best-kept secreting in motorcycling” and a “forgotten gem,” this bike …
1995 Triumph Daytona Super III
In the early 1990s, famed engine experts Cosworth assisted Triumph in their quest to build a faster version of the Daytona 900. It was a rare bird, as just 805 examples of the “Super III” were sold, 179 of which made it to the United States. Cosworth’s primary contribution was a new method of pressure sandcasting for the engine cases. …