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!
2001 Triumph Sprint ST
Triumph got a lot of mileage out of their iconic 955cc triple, which at the turn of the century was powering the Speed Triple, Daytona, and the Sprint sport-tourer. It’s an oft-overlooked bike, which means you can get yourself a nice example for a decent deal.
1995 BMW K1100LT Special Edition
Adorned in “Navana Violet” paint, this Special Edition flying brick is well setup for touring and with just 28k miles on the odometer, it’s got plenty of life left as a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple mile eater.
In England – 1999 BMW R1100RS 75th Anniversary
For BMW’s 75th anniversary, the Germany company created a limited run of the R, GS, RT, and the RS. Differences were limited to the special paint scheme and fancy paperwork called the “Edition Folder” for the owner. The RS also got ABS, heated grips, and luggage to complete the package.
1951 Ardie B251
Ardie was founded in 1919 by Arno Dietrich, an ex-Premier technician, and they stayed in business until 1958. They enjoyed some racing success in the 20s and 30s, but this B251 was a 246cc tourer sold between 1951 and 1953.
Oxymoron – 2010 KTM 990 SMT
The idea of touring on a supermoto bike doesn’t make much sense to me, but KTM somehow made it work with their SMT model – a motorcycle that Visordown called “the most sensible KTM in ages.” Here’s a pretty example of an uncommon bike that gets bonus points in my book because the seller has created an excellent example of …
1995 Triumph Trident 900
When John Bloor brought Triumph back from the dead in 1991 with the factory in Hinckley, he made the wise decision to over-engineer the first models to help break in the new Triumph with a good reputation. Because of that, these ‘early’ modern Triumphs are workhorses that can be picked up for decent prices, as long as you can deal …
Rare Fairing – 1971 Moto Guzzi Ambassador Project
I normally wouldn’t be terribly excited to feature an Ambo project, but the fairing on this bike is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The seller can’t identify it beyond saying it’s a “very rare fairing that was made for early Guzzi’s.” Do any of you know who made this fairing that looks like it contains rocket launchers?
Go Touring – 1971 Bultaco Metralla Mk2
Post-Listing Update: This Metralla tourer was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The Metralla is a legend in the world of classic bikes, but because they were the fastest two-stroke bike you could buy at the time, most people used them in racing or sport riding applications. Here’s an example with a rare factory fairing that’ll allow you …
In Canada – 1989 BMW K100RS Special Edition
The BMW K100RS SE, or Special Edition, was a limited run of the K100RS that featured a lovely blue and white paint job, hand drawn pin stripes, and color-matched hard luggage. It’s also famous for being the motorcycle that introduced ABS to the market.