Made only for two years, the TX750 was Yamaha’s attempt of creating a parallel twin with the smoothness of an inline four engine. Using a pair of balancers (called Omni-Phase), it eliminated vibration to a level never seen before in a twin.
Rare In The US – 197x Kawasaki W3 650
While variants of the W1 and W2 were sold in North America, the final W model (the W3) never officially made it across the Pacific. It was also known as the RS650, and it featured upgraded suspension, minor cosmetic tweaks, and standard dual disc front brakes during its ’73-’74 production run. In fact, it was the first Kawasaki to feature …
1983 Suzuki GR650D Tempter
This Suzuki is rarely seen in the US as it was only offered here in ’83 and ’84. In other markets it was called the GR650 (and available until ’89), for some reason it was called the Tempter in America. It’s a fairly straightforward UJM but it featured one interesting innovation: a ‘dual-stage’ flywheel with an centrifugal clutch that would …
1956 Bianchi Cervino
Post Listing Update: This Cervino was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Despite the lengthy production run (between 1954 and 1966), the Cervino (Italian for “Matterhorn”) was a relatively rare Bianchi with a 175cc two-stroke engine.
Zero Miles – 1982 Suzuki GS650GT
Post Listing Update: This GS650GT did not get any action at the BIN of $8,995. Built between ’81-’83, the GS650 was available in several forms – including one with styling inspired by the Katana. The GT was the shaft driven standard which often did commuting duty in the 80s. Here’s an unexpected example which has never been ridden!
1984 Honda Ascot VT500
Post Sale Update: This Ascot sold for $3,438 after 32 bids on eBay in Aurora, Colorado. Named after Ascot Park, a former flat-track raceway in Los Angeles, the Honda Ascot (also known as the VT500) was a V-Twin standard that was styled after flat-track bikes.
Rebuilt Engine – 1961 BMW R27
Post Sale Update: After not meeting reserve twice and getting bid up between $7-$8k, the seller listed this as a BIN for $10,500 – and it sold. An evolution of the R26, the BMW R27 gained rubber engine mounts and a bump in power to 18 horsepower. It was the firm’s last shaft-driven single.
1979 Yamaha XS650 Special
Post Sale Update: This XS sold for $4,050 after 35 bids on eBay in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, however the deal fell through. Interestingly enough, it was relisted for a BIN of $8,000 on eBay and it seems to have sold again. The Yamaha XS650 was introduced in 1970, though it wasn’t until the end of the decade when Yamaha created a …
Old and New – 2009 Triumph Bonneville 50th Anniversary
Post Listing Update: Both bikes did not meet reserve – the modern one had 14 bids up to $4,550 while the classic had 24 bids up to $16,000. 12-27-20 Update: One year later, both of these bikes are back up for sale and it looks like nothing has changed with either (except hopefully, the reserves). Find the 50th Anniversary with …
No Reserve In Belgium – 1956 BMW R26
Post Sale Update: this R26 sold for $9,050 after 73 bids on eBay in Peer, Belgium. Introduced in 1956 (and out of the market in 1960), the R26 was a significant revision of the R25, with upgrades that included a rear swing arm, Earles forks, and an enclosed drive shaft. There were some cosmetic upgrades, too, but the key numbers …
1968 Honda CB450P
Post Listing Update: did not meet reserve with 39 bids up to $7,000 on eBay in Butler, Pennsylvania. One of the rarer Honda motorcycles in the US, the CB450P (also occasionally referred to as the CP450) is a police model based on Honda’s popular CB450. I’ve featured a couple based on the KO Black Bomber model, but K1 police bikes …
195 Miles – 1979 Honda CX500
The CX500 has become a popular platform for customization, though this one is probably too nice to chop up.
1980 Honda CB650
Post Listing Update: The seller lowered his asking price to $4,200 but it didn’t get any action on eBay at that number. The CB650 was introduced in 1979, and the following year it got a fairly dramatic restyle with much rounder edges. The motor was Honda’s last SOHC air-cooled inline four design, a 627cc powerplant that produced 63 horsepower and …
Bike Review – 2020 KTM Duke 200
View Post1975 Suzuki GT750
Post Sale Update: This GT750 sold for the opening bid of $8,500 on eBay in Birmingham, Alabama. 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.