Yesterday we showed off a “Midnight Special” – today we’re going back to daylight, I guess. In varying forms, the Yamaha XS650 was built between 1968–1985. In 1978, Yamaha introduced a “Special” variant that was more of a cruiser, as well as a Special II that had less chrome, decals instead of plastic on the side covers, and for some …
2004 BMW R1150R
BMW’s R1150R standard wasn’t a particularly sexy bike (I normally feature the Rockster variant when possible) but they’re excellent workhorses for taller commuters or people that just want to travel on two wheels, especially when equipped with a tall windscreen and factory luggage like this example features.
1993 Yamaha Seca II
I have a bit of a soft spot for the Seca II – I bought one for $600 to start riding again after some time away from riding during school. It wasn’t particularly great at anything, but the riding posture was much better suited for commuting that the average 600cc ‘sport’ bike. The relative lack of excitement around the model …
1966 Benelli Sprite 125
By 1962, Benelli had combined forces with MotoBi and were utilizing the famous “power egg” engine in 125cc and 200cc variants (which would eventually become 175cc and 250cc options).
1,100 Miles – 1980 Suzuki GS450S
When Suzuki initially marketed the “S” variant of the GS450, they did so as a “cafe racer” even though the only real difference between the S and the standard was the addition of a headlight cowl. Regardless, it’s a fun mid-sized classic and this example has barely been ridden.
1965 Yamaha YM-1 Cross Country Sport 305
Described in Yamaha’s marketing materials as a “Cross Country Sport”, the YM-1 was an evolution of the YDS-3 and it was the top of the line Yamaha sportbike of the time.
1959 Ducati 200 Turismo
At the request of their US importer (Berliner), Ducati bumped displacement of the and Super Sport models from 175cc to 200cc – really 204cc, but who’s counting? Berliner sold the model as the Americano but the equivalent in Europe had sleeker styling and a much more international name: the Turismo.
1975 Suzuki GT750
Affectionately known as the Water Buffalo, the GT750 was introduced as competition to big bikes of the day like the Honda CB750 and Triumph Bonneville. For many American riders, this was the first Suzuki that captured their attention.
Whitehouse Kit – 2014 Honda CB1100
In 2014, Honda updated the CB1100 with a new dash and a six-speed transmission. The styling remained the same – bodywork that was designed to evoke the classic lines of the CB750. But a company in Japan called Whitehouse enabled owners to make their bikes look even more like the CB750 with a bodywork kit that included the tank, fenders, …
New in Crate – 1977 Triumph Bonneville Silver Jubilee
To celebrate the 25th year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, Triumph built a limited edition of 2,400 Bonnevilles with silver/red/blue paint, a blue seat with red piping, some chrome, and decals on the sidecovers. Of the 2,400 bikes, 1,000 went to the US, 1,000 stayed home in the UK, and the rest were built for Commonwealth export.
<1 Mile - 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100
I love Kawasaki’s ZRX and its blend of ’70s UJM and ’80s Superbike tenets that somehow combined comfortable riding ergonomics, liter-bike performance, Eddie Lawson-inspired styling, and a relatively cheap MSRP. I think it’s one of a few “special” motorcycles that can be ridden regularly. In fact, one of our technicians at Iconic exclusively commutes on ZRX1200s – he generally buys …
1968 Moto Morini Corsaro
In 1959, Moto Morini introduced the Corsaro (Italian for Pirate), a 125cc sportster that produced 7.5 horsepower.
In Crate – 1974 Triumph Trident T150
My buddy David of Bullpen Cycles has an interesting find that needs a new home – a 50+ year-old Triumph that’s still in its original crate!
Nice Price – 2023 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale
Moto Guzzi has had a bit of revival in the last couple of years thanks to a new liquid-cooled platform – I went to Spain last year to review the new Stelvio for RevZilla but the bike that started it all off was the V100 Mandello. The Mandello has sold pretty well and I’d say it’s brought some buyers to …
2,302 Miles – 1981 Suzuki GS1100E
In the early 80s, Suzuki knocked off the CBX as the superbike du jour. The Suzuki GS1100E came into the market and instantly became the bike of choice for the power hungry. American press mags constantly raved about not just the power, but also the surprising handling abilities for such a large bike.