Mandille Et Roux was a French manufacturer that built bikes between 1926 and 1954. Here’s one of their bikes that runs ok but is really beat up from a cosmetic standpoint. If you’re wired like I am, you might think that’s an excellent combination.
1956 Ariel Square Four Mk II
The Ariel Square Four design goes all the way back to 1931, soon after Edward Turner designed an interesting new four-cylinder motorcycle engine formed from two OHC parallel twins. The design became known as the square four engine, and lent its name to this Ariel motorcycle.
1991 Suzuki GSF400
Americans typically think of the Bandit as a 600 or 1,200, but Suzuki also made them in 250 and 400 variants – the latter of which was exported to the US for only a couple of years. The 400 was introduced in 1989, by ’91 it had optional variable valve timing and a “Limited” version came with different cosmetics and …
1965 Yamaha YDS3
The predecessor of the RD series, the Yamaha YDS3 was notable for many reasons. First and foremost, it was simply an excellent bike that could run rings on bikes with twice its displacement. In addition, it introduced Yamaha’s Autolube system, eliminating the need for mixing oil with gas in two-stroke bikes.
1960 Parilla Olimpia
Post-Listing Update: This Olimpia did not meet reserve with 6 bids up to $3,250. The touring version of the Ramjet, the Olimpia was available with either a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine that you could buy for $369. First, a quick detour on the Ramjet (known as the Slughi outside of the US). Look at it! The enclosed bodywork could be …
1977 Honda CB400F
More of an evolution rather than a revolution, the Honda CB400F has one of the most distinctive exhaust systems ever produced – known by some as the “waterfall pipes”. Though it wasn’t as fast as its competition, this little four cylinder was smoother, quieter, and gave better gas mileage.
1968 Yezdi Ideal Jawa 353
Founded in 1960, Ideal Jawa (also known as Yezdi) was an Indian motorcycle company that built licensed copies of Jawa and CZ bikes. Their slogan was “Forever bike, forever value”. This is a 250cc Type 353, also called the ‘A’ Type.
Not Street Legal – 1946 AJS Model 18
Twin of the Matchless G80, this Model 18 is claimed to have been “restored in competition trim”.
One Seller, Several Classic Hondas
Someone’s got a series of classic Hondas up for sale. One one hand, they’re not super-exciting and they’ll need a little work. One the other hand, there’s no reserve, so you might be able to get a steal. All the bikes are being described in a similar way: haven’t been run in a few years and have been in dry …
1935 Velocette MSS
A tiny British manufacturer, Velocette was a family-owned firmed that was well-known for creating high quality bikes. With 3 decades of successful international racing experience, and (still-standing) record for a single-cylinder bike running 24 hours at 100 miles per hour, they brought many technical innovations to the world, including a swingarm rear suspension with hydraulic dampers. One of their more …
1975 Suzuki RE5
Suzuki called the RE5 the future of motorcycling, thanks to its innovative rotary engine and distinctive styling. This is the ’75 model, which had more interesting design characteristics like the ‘tin can’ instrument cluster. The ’76 (and final model) was a little neutered in an attempt to make the bike more conventional.
Dover White – 1961 BMW R27
Here’s an example of BMW’s last shaft-driven single. the R27.
1948 Nimbus Model C
The Nimbus motorcycle dates back to 1919, the result of a vacuum cleaner manufacturer that decided expansion into bikes was a worthwhile endeavor. They were technologically advanced, with shaft drive, steel frames, and a telescopic front fork (a year before the BMW R12, though the latter was hydraulically damped).
Guess That Bike – Revealed
The boxer engine of Sunday’s Guess That Bike comes from a 1957 Douglas Dragonfly – one that’s currently available for sale in the UK! Were you able to identify it? I got several responses from you impressive readers (and most of you were correct). Special mention goes to MadMike, who was the first reader to give the correct answer.
Needs Some Work – 1950 Monet & Goyon S3GD
A French manufacturer from 1917 to 1959, Monet & Goyon started by building carriages for disabled WWI vets. They built their first motorcycle in 1922, and they enjoyed some racing success in the Bol D’or. Here’s an example of the 100cc S3GD that will need some work.