Post Listing Update: This CA77 did not meet reserve at $2,524 despite 24 bids on eBay. Nowadays, the Shriners are typically riding Harley-Davidsons – currently Harley even offers a Shriners special edition (but you have to show proof that you belong to the fraternity) alongside their Peace Officer and Firefighter special editions. In fact, they’ve become such a pairing that …
Rare in the US – Carabela 150SL
Here’s a bike that I know just about nothing about. Can you fill me in? I’ve featured a few bikes made by Carabela in the past – it’s a Mexican motorcycle manufacturer that was best known for their small displacement MX bikes. But this is a street bike with a bigger motor than the usual Carabela – and that’s pretty …
Made in China – 2017 Benelli TNT 300
Benelli has been absent from the US for a while, but thanks to a partnership deal with SSR Motorsport in 2014 they’re starting to come back. McCoy Motorsports in Kentucky has a new TNT 300 for those of you that are looking for something different and aren’t averse to a bike made in China.
1969 Honda 305 Dream
When Vy and I took a little tour of the Western US last year, we had the pleasure of meeting Rick Van Vooren. He’s the man behind a Honda restoration shop called Rickstoration, and from what I saw when we visited, I’d have no concerns about buying a bike from him. I bring all of this up because he’s letting …
Unrestored – 1963 Norton Atlas
The Norton Atlas was produced from 1962 to 1968 before being replaced by the iconic Commando. The Atlas’s 745cc air-cooled twin was married to a four-speed chain-drive transmission that resulted in 55hp at 6,500RPM. One of the biggest selling points for the Atlas was its Featherbed frame. Interestingly the Atlas was first produced for export only, having been designed to …
1949 Indian Super Scout
America’s oldest moco has offered a wide range of Scout models in its more than 100-year history. The 1949 Super Scout would be one of the last models produced by Indian before closing its doors four years later. In addition to its Scout 250 (which is in fact powered by a 440cc Overhead-valve 4-stroke vertical twin engine, though some sources …
No Reserve Matching Triumphs – Bonneville T120R and Daytona T100R
A seller in Boulder, Colorado is letting go of his Bonneville and Daytona that have been painted to match each other. He’s selling both with no reserve so they will both be finding new homes.
Sandcast K0 – 1969 Honda CB750
Post Listing Update: Despite 54 bids up to $22,000, this CB750 did not meet reserve. Claimed to be in “museum quality”, this sandcast CB750 was acquired by the seller 20 years ago from the Newman-Haas chief, who was the second owner. As you probably know, the first 7,414 CB750s were built from sandcast molds before Soichiro Honda switched to a …
In Canada – 1975 Hercules W2000
Post Sale Update: After 24 bids on eBay, this Hercules sold for $6,100. In the early 70s, Suzuki, Norton, and DKW all brought rotary-powered bikes to the market, but DKW was the first. Outside of the UK, it was marketed as the Hercules Wankel 2000, or W2000. If you ignored the unique powertrain, the rest of the bike was fairly …
Small Displacement British Classic – 1959 Norton Jubilee
Back in 1960, the U.K. introduced a new law limiting all new riders to piloting machines with a displacement of no more than 250cc (in addition to wearing L-plates). As a response to this change Norton began offering the Jubilee in 1958 (as a preemptive strategy) and it was the smallest engine the British manufacturer had ever produced. It was …
AJ Lewis Restoration – 1953 Ariel Square Four
Post Listing Update: Despite 33 bids up to $23,100, this Square Four did not meet reserve. We’ve featured a few Square Fours here (even one just a week ago), but the beautiful photos and restoration work make this example worth a second look.
1949 Indian Arrow
Depending on who you ask, the Indian Arrow was either a terrible idea or a necessary pivot in a changing post-war market. Either way, it was a failure that unfortunately contributed to the company’s bankruptcy in 1953. In 1945, Ralph Rogers and some backers bought a controlling interest in Indian, and they stopped production of the legendary Scout because they …
$25K 1958 European Classics: Ariel Square Four & BMW R69
The late 1950’s was an interesting time for the motorcycle world. Countries had economically bounced back a great deal following WW2. This era would see some pretty iconic two-wheelers roll out of their respective factories and these are two great examples of machines that played a role in defining that era. Germany and England had (and still have) a pretty …
3,367 Miles – 1972 BMW R75/5
When BMW introduced the R75 as part of the /5 lineup, it was the biggest bike they offered. The /5 gained an electric start, coils, and an alternator to complement the reliable motor and 100+ top speed. Here’s a low mileage example of a /5 with the lovely toaster tank.
112k Miles – 1972 BMW R75/5
This short wheelbase /5 has six figures on the odometer, and some choice period upgrades.