Post-Sale Update: This Iron Pig sold for $2,247 after 48 bids on eBay. Nicknamed the TV Lamp due to the headlight (or the Iron Pig due to the generally ugly looks), the MZ Trophy ES was a quick seller in East Germany due to a lack of competition and a focus on practicality. 1967 brought the ES 250/2, which is …
1966 Allstate Puch 175
Not to be confused with the insurance company, Allstate was a distributor of motorcycles, scooters, and even a couple of cars between the 40s and the 60s. Through varying partnerships with Gilera, Puch, Vespa, Cushman, and others, Allstate sold vehicles through unconventional outlays. The Allstate Puch, as you could imagine, was built by the Austrian firm, Puch. What you might …
How Much? 1971 BMW R75/5
Obviously, I try to bring you interesting motorcycles for sale every day. During these searches, I sometimes stumble upon bikes with asking prices that make you do a double-take. Today, reader Jim R. has found one of those bikes. My question is – do you want to see these kinds of bikes for the amusement factor, or are they a …
1973 Yamaha TX650
Incredibly similar to the popular XS650, the Yamaha TX650 differentiated itself solely through a larger gas tank. The 653cc twin engine yielded 53 horsepower and a top speed of 105 miles per hour. For more information, check out this 600 mile road test from Motorcycle Classics. This example looks great thanks to a recent (1,100 miles ago) restoration, so find …
1955 AJS 18S
The twin of the Matchless G80, this AJS 18S was a big, beautiful 500 single that was a great choice for riders who do their own work. Parts were designed to be rebuilt instead of replaced, and of the classic singles, this bike is probably the best supported of them all.
Wedge Tank – 1927 BSA S27
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.