In the late 20’s, Britain’s motorcycle industry was rapidly expanding. This was partly due to price cutting started by Triumph’s Model P, which sold for less than 43 pounds in 1925. The BSA S27 was built to help compete at low prices, thanks to a MSRP of 45 pounds. However, the fact that they were ‘basic’ means that many were …
48 Miles – 1967 Triumph Bonneville
Post-Sale Update: After 38 bids on eBay, this Triumph Bonneville sold for $14,805 – or $308/mile! The Triumph Bonneville is a legend in the motorcycling world, so I won’t bother you with an introduction to this post. But this one stands out because it has just 48 miles on it – and the seller is including 650 spares!
1978 Yamaha SR500
Post-Sale Update: After 13 bids on eBay, this Yamaha SR500 sold for a very reasonable $2,801. The Yamaha SR500 has been a popular bike for decades, due to clean styling and a reliable single-cylinder engine. These traits have also led this bike to be the base for thousands of custom works, including choppers, dirt-trackers, and cafe racers. Here’s one that’s …
1967 Marusho Magnum 500
Marusho/Lilac was a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that was constantly under the shadow of Honda. After peaking in the late 50s, the company went bankrupt in 1962. The company was brought back to life just a year later, free of debts and configured to specifically target the American market with a 500cc twin engine – quite large displacement for Japanese firms …
1951 Sunbeam S8
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 …
Chrome Classic – 2012 Royal Enfield C5
The other bikes featured today are classic Brits, but here’s a modern bike from India with classic British looks. Close enough? Royal Enfield has had some success with the C5 since bringing it back to the states, thanks to updates including a unite construction engine, fuel injection, and other modern features that belie its classic good looks. This example stands …
1936 Ariel Colt
In honor of the BSAOCSC All British Run this Sunday, today I’m going to feature a few classic British motorcycles. Here we’ve got an Ariel Colt, a simple 250cc OHV single.
1980 Moto Morini 3 1/2
4-24 Update: This Moto Morini 3 1/2 is back up for sale with bidding up to $3,550 here on eBay. Post Sale Update: After 19 bids on eBay, this Moto Morini 3 1/2 did not meet reserve at $3,200. The Moto Morini 3 1/2 is one of those bikes that isn’t well known but has amassed a cult following that’s …
Big Tank – 1968 BMW R60US
The BMW R60US was a 30 horsepower classic that typically included telescopic forks and higher handle bars as part of the “US” designation. US models also came without sidecar lugs, one of the few distinctions that separated it from the Euro models. This specific example (VIN: 1815783) has just enjoyed a complete restoration and features an aftermarket tank designed and …
1959 Panther Model 120
Built by Phelon and Moore between ’59 and ’66, the Panther Model 120 was an upgrade of their previous Model 100 – but unfortunately the upgrade earned a reputation for being less reliable. Competition advanced quicker than the Panther did, and the model was killed after only about 2,500 were built.
2014 BMW R nineT
Post-Sale Update: After 33 bids on eBay, this BMW R nineT sold for $15,200. The BMW R nineT is the German firm’s newest model, an homage to the R90s of old. While most dealers are sold out of this popular model, here’s your chance to snag one that’s got just 341 miles on the odometer.
1955 Victoria Bergmeister V35
Originally a bicycle manufacturer, Victoria produced motorcycles from about 1901 to 1966. One of their most well known models was the Victoria Bergmeister, as it was well-engineered. Unfortunately, the excellent design was very expensive to produce, and Victoria ran out of money after only 3 years of selling this bike. In ’58 they merged with another group.
85 Years Young – 1939 Moto Guzzi Egretta
4-10 Update: This Guzzi is back up for sale here on eBay. When it comes to classic Guzzis, the Airone (produced for nearly two decades!) is usually the first bike that comes to mind. Airone translates to Heron, but that bike actually owes its existence the very rare Egret, the Moto Guzzi Egretta.
1962 BSA C15
The BSA C15 was BSA’s first four-stroke unit-construction bike. A 250 cc single-cylinder, it was very popular with learners in the United Kingdom because at the time, a 250cc was the biggest engine that beginners could use. BSA also made the C15T (Trials), which opened up access to the dirt. For more information, head on over to bsa-c15.org. Find this …
1959 Triumph Bonneville T-120
Post-Sale Update: After 14 bids on eBay, this Triumph Bonneville T-120 sold for $15,100. The Triumph Bonneville T-120 might be the quintessential example of the classic British bike. And today, we’ve got a first-year example of the vaunted Bonnie with just 4,623 miles.