The Virago was introduced in 1981 with a 750cc motor as Yamaha’s first V-Twin cruiser. A year later, Yamaha introduced a 920cc option for $500 more ($3,700 total), though it also got you double disc brakes and a stiffer spring in the rear shock. Both displacements had a “Tour Deluxe” option, which provided a full-sized fairing, saddlebag, trunk, and “an …
1 Owner – 1997 Suzuki RF900R
With an engine derived from the GSX-R1100, the Suzuki RF900R was designed as a entry-level bike in the sport-touring market, undercutting the competition by about $1,500. Despite the pricing, you still got a solid sport-tourer with odd styling that Suzuki claimed was “inspired a stingray.” Sales weren’t great.
Signed By The Designer – 1993 Yamaha GTS1000
Post Listing Update: This GTS was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The GTS1000 was full of technology that would not make its way to most bikes for years to come, including fuel injection, ABS brakes, and most importantly, the RADD front suspension designed by James Parker. This suspension was able to isolate braking from damping, leading to …
1 Owner – 1989 BMW K100RS Special Edition
Post Listing Update: This K100RS did not get any action at the BIN of $4,950 on eBay. 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 also just happens to be the first production motorcycle with ABS.
1998 Honda VFR800 Interceptor
The fifth-gen Honda VFR800 brought the model into the modern era with a bump in displacement (if not power), Y2K styling, amd the addition of fuel injection. This 1998 VFR is a first-year model from one of the best all-around bikes of all time – and Honda had the good sense to bring the “Interceptor” name back for it.
2003 Ducati ST4S
Post Listing Update: This ST4S did not meet reserve despite 33 bids up to $4,950 in Jacksonville, Florida. A sportbike with practicality, the ST4s was introduced in 2001 as Ducati’s top-of-the-line touring bike, distinguishing itself with the 4-valve 996cc superbike motor and Ohlins rear shock. That was paired with fully adjustable Showa fork, color-matched luggage, and the other features that …
1987 BMW K100RS
Jeff Pamer: When you step back and look at the final product, it’s clear how the K100 got its nickname of the “flying brick.”
2008 Benelli Tre-K 1130
Post Listing Update: This Tre-K did not get any interest at the opening bid of $6,900 on eBay. On my way out to Florida to attempt the Coast to Coast in 50 Hour Challenge, I spent Day 4 with Bike-urious reader Rusty M. He’s got a wonderful collection of motorcycles in Tennessee, though it looks like it’s about to get …
1996 BMW R1100RS
BMW arguably created the sport-touring segment with the R100RS, though future evolutions like the 1100, 1150, and 1200 weren’t as commercially successful. Still, they’re very competent machines that go fast enough an far enough in relative comfort. For $2,500, you could easily criss-cross the country a few times and still be ready for more.
Silver Wing – 1983 Honda GL650 Interstate
Post Sale Update: This GL650 sold for a best offer of $2,295 on eBay in Valley Center, California. When it was first released, the Honda GL500 basically sat in a class by itself – a full dress, middleweight tourer. In general, press and riders liked the bike but thought it was underpowered. So Honda responded by throwing in the engine …
1992 Yamaha TDM850
The Yamaha TDM 850 is definitely an oddball…a well-rounded bike in a US market that seems to prefer hyper-specialization. Sold in the US for only two years (1992-1993), there aren’t very many of these bikes still around, but the TDM definitely has a cult following. Well suited for tall riders, Yamaha designed this bike to enjoy mountain roads and also …
Guest History – Morbidelli V8 – Eight Cylinder Exotica
View Post2 Miles – 1975 Norton Commando Interstate
Post Listing Update: This Commando Interstate was pulled off of eBay “due to an error in the listing.” As you might be able to tell from the name, the Interstate was a Commando variant which was designed to increase comfort for longer journeys with a 5 gallon tank and a bigger seat. This one hasn’t really served its intended purpose, …
1979 Kawasaki KZ1000ST
In 1979, Kawasaki brought two shaft-driven models to the US – the six-cylinder KZ1300 and this somewhat rare variant of the KZ1000, the ST. Similar in many ways to the big bad MkII, the ST had completely different bodywork (such as a larger fuel tank) and even a wildly different wiring system. Only built between 1979-1980, the ST can be …
2013 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC
Jeff Pamer: The Tiger moniker has been used by Triumph for a very long time, and its history is a bit convoluted. The vast differences in bikes that have held the Tiger name make it a hard line to follow. Not only is the current Tiger vastly different from the original bike that held the name in in 1936, the …