In 2005, BMW updated the RT with the 1,170cc boxer engine, good for a ~15% increase in horsepower and ~10% bump in torque – all while reducing the weight of the package by over 40 pounds. God bless progress. It immediately won Best Touring Bike awards from Cycle World and Motorcyclist, and the only gripe people really seem to have …
Ending Soon – 1978 Yamaha XS750E
Post Sale Update: This XS sold for $1,350 after 8 bids on eBay…to Bike-urious contributor Cas Vanderwoude! This one-owner XS750 has not run in several years but I think it’s worth resuscitating. Either that, or someone needs to pick this up just to grab all the fantastic period goodies and throw it on their own XS!
Channel Your Inner Prince – 1982 Kawasaki Spectre 1100
You too can can be like Prince! Here is your starting point…. This 1982 Kawasaki Spectre 1100 comes with a complete set of Vetter bags, tail trunk AND the Windjammer fairing. It’s even got some purple trim! For the complete look you’re going to have to add a sissy bar, but that’s easy – no welding required.
Fully Dressed Restoration – 1967 BMW R50/2
Pots Sale Update: After 35 bids on eBay, this BMW sold for $11,211. Here’s another classic BMW restored by Brooks Motor Works – last week I shared a R69S that he had restored. This R50/2 is on the other side of the riding spectrum thanks to bags and a whole lot of wind protection.
High Mileage – 1980 Yamaha XS1100 LG
Yamaha released the XS11 in 1978 as the most powerful production motorcycle on the planet. Astoundingly it was Yamaha’s first 4 stroke 4 cylinder motor ever. In 1979 Yamaha issued the XS 11 in two trim levels: ‘Standard’ and ‘Special’. This was to continue throughout the entire production run. The Special had higher bars, a stepped seat, smaller diameter rear …
Bicentennial – 1976 Honda GL1000 LTD
In 1975, when Honda introduced the Goldwing it was aimed completely at the American market. Soichiro turned loose his engineers and the ‘Wing came out with quite a few ‘firsts’. Start with the liquid cooled flat 4 motor, and belt driven camshafts. The alternator was gear driven from the crankshaft and rotated counter to the crank to reduce ‘shaft whip’. …
2005 BMW R1200ST
This is the ugliest bike BMW has ever made, and I think you should buy it because nobody else wants to. A few months back, I got to ride my buddy Jared’s R1200ST for 100 miles and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It did everything well. Handled like a sportier RT, and in every other way is …
Baby Dream – 1964 Honda CA95 Benly
Honda Motor Company’s first large-displacement (a relative term) motorcycles carried the Dream name, and were produced up to 305cc during the 1960s. The Dream 150 was available in the U.S market from 1960-66 and is more correctly referred to the CA95 Benly Touring or colloquially as the “Baby Dream,” a reference to its larger siblings of the time, the 250cc …
8.7 Gallon Tank – 1985 BMW K100RS
At first glance, I thought this was one of the ugliest tanks to ever grace a BMW motorcycle. Closer inspection leaves me with the sentiment that the shape of the Ray Randolph aluminum fuel tank isn’t all that bad, it’s just the badge placement that gives me pause. Still, this K100RS features a 8.7 gallon fuel tank that’ll get you …
Original Goldwing – 1975 Honda GL1000
Here’s a mechanically-refurbished example from the first year of Honda’s iconic Goldwing. 13,000 examples were sold in 1975 at a MSRP of $2,895, and because they were sold in a naked configuration, companies like Vetter made a lot of money selling touring accessories like windscreens and luggage off this platform.
49 Miles – 1981 Benelli Sei 900
Benelli’s Sei was the first production six-cylinder motorcycle when it was introduced as a 750. In ’78 it got a redesign which included a displacement bump up to 900cc. Though the press enjoyed the motorcycle, sales were modest because the MSRP was healthy – by 1983 it was $5,406.
Needs Some Work – 1958/9 Parilla Olimpia
After World War II, Giovanni Parrilla built his first motorcycle (it was based on a Norton). This evolved into the company of Moto Parilla, which was best known for their “high-cam” engines in the US. Here’s one of their lesser known models, the Olimpia (which is one of the few bikes I know that was offered with 2-stroke and 4-stroke …
Well Modified – 1984 Yamaha FJ1100
When the Yamaha FJ1100 was introduced, the press went nuts. Rider Magazine called it “the best large displacement sport motorcycle of 1984, and maybe even the best in its class in the history of motorcycling,” and other mags called it Bike of the Year. Here’s a bike that revolutionized what sport-touring bikes would become – big power and plenty of …
One Owner – 1966 BMW R50
Post-Sale Update: This R50 sold for $8,277 after 23 bids on eBay. This R50 was a birthday present from the seller to himself back on May 4th, 1966. In his words, ’50 years later it’s time to let someone else enjoy it.’ He acquired it from Miller Cycle Shop in Palmerton, Pennsyvlania, who installed the large touring fairing as well.
Ex-Police – 1995 BMW K75RT
Built between 1990-1995, the K75RT was the smaller touring option in the world of the flying brick. These bikes have an incredible reputation for reliability, making this an interesting option for long distance touring. This example was a former Chicago police bike, so I hope you don’t plan on bringing a passenger with you!