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1934 BMW R4

In Germany, Standard, Vintage by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This R4 sold for $17,000 after 22 bids on eBay. As the 30s rolled around and Depression hit, BMW saw the need for a diminutive single-cylinder bike to offer alongside its twins. The sub 200cc R2 sold quite well, but the BMW R4 was an intermediate bike between the budget single and the bigger bikes. The R4 …

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48 Cylinder Kawasaki

In England, Japan, Standard by Abhi6 Comments

Alright, with a price of $840,000, this bike is arguably not actually for sale, so it might be borderline that I’m featuring it. With that said, there is a for sale listing, so enjoy this 4,200 cubic centimeter, 48 CYLINDER Kawasaki. Mind-boggling. Built by Simon Whitlock, this bike features 16 different engines from Kawasaki KH250s that have been reorganized into …

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1959 NSU Com Lux

In Germany, Standard by Abhi1 Comment

Post-Listing Update: Despite 21 bids on eBay up to $1,626, this NSU Com Lux did not meet reserve. Not only have I never heard about this bike before, I couldn’t even really find anything concrete on the internet, either. I’m hoping one of you knows something about the NSU Com Lux? Hell, I’m not even 100% sure that’s the actual …

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1990 BMW K75S

In Germany, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post-Sale Update: After 46 bids on eBay, this BMW K75S sold for $3,450. I will concede that BMW K75 is not the sexiest motorcycle that’s ever been built – I remember that the editors of Motorcyclist once called it “the two-wheel equivalent of Birkenstocks.” With that said, I have a soft spot in my heart for these bikes, which I …

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1957 Ariel Square Four

In England, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

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.

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1951 Sunbeam S8

In England, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

After WWII, as part of reparations, BMW gave up its designs of the BMW R75. Bikes like Chang Jiang and Ural used these designs, but England’s take was the Sunbeam S7. You can see the BMW influence when you look at a side profile, but Sunbeam wanted to differentiate themselves by utilizing a inline vertical twin instead of the German …

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1965 BMW R27 with Trailer

In Germany, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

The last shaft-driven single that BMW made, the R27 produced 18 horsepower. 15,364 were sold, and who knows how many remain. All I know is that most R27s definitely do not come with this sweet trailer! Unfortunately, the seller seems to be selling two R27s and confused his descriptions, so we get no details on the trailer (and I can’t …

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1989 Honda PC800

In Japan, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

The Honda Pacific Coast was marketed towards white-collar professionals as an easy daily rider, and was one of the easiest motorcycles in the world to own and maintain, with a comfortable riding position, low-maintenance shaft drive, and a reliable drivetrain that can easily go 80-100k with just regular services. By far the niftiest feature was the integrated trunk. The passenger …

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1980 Moto Morini 500 Strada

In Italy, Standard by Abhi1 Comment

Post-Sale Update: This 500 Strada sold for $3,161 after 14 bids on eBay. Most riders think of the 3 1/2 when they hear Moto Morini, but the firm was also known for their 500 Sei-V that was produced a decade later…to very little fanfare. What was once a classically beautiful motorcycle became an odd jumble of plastic and angular lines …

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Nearly Finished – 1958 Ariel Square Four 1000

In England, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post-Sale Update: This Square Four sold for $10,605 on eBay. The Ariel Square Four 1000 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.

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Ex-Military – 1957 Harley-Davidson Sportster XLA

In America, Standard by Abhi1 Comment

Post-Listing Update: This XLA did not sell at the BIN price of $42,500. Harley produced thousands of WLA models for the US Government in WWII, but it wasn’t until ’57 that the feds would tap Harley again. This time, they wanted a patrol bike, and the company responded with the Harley-Davidson Sportster XLA. Just 418 were ever built, and Harley …

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A Lovely Shade of Red – 1954 BMW R67/2

In Germany, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post-Sale Update: After 39 bids on eBay, this BMW R67/2 sold for $17,400. Alright, I know I just said I didn’t like the Fireflake Red of the Commando I just featured, but there’s something about the red on classic BMWs that just does it for me. The R67/2 featured a 594cc boxer twin that produced 26 horsepower and was capable …

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1946 BSA B31

In England, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

BSA’s first new model after WWII, the B31 was a single-cylinder four-stroke designed to be used as basic transport. The 17 horsepower engine was sufficient to get the bike up about 70 miles per hour. Normally a 348cc engine, this engine on this specific BSA B31 (VIN: XB31 8688L) supposedly has a 500cc top end and cams from a Gold …

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1979 Honda Gold Wing GL1000

In Japan, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Wing sold for $2,475 after 25 bids on eBay. This excellent example of the first generation Honda Gold Wing (VIN: gl14112748) has just 18,000 miles and looks great in my favorite color scheme for these bikes: black and gold. (Cue the Sam Sparro song) It has a recent service with plenty of work, and it comes …