6-18-16: This Big Twin is back up for sale, find it with bidding up to $34,100 here on eBay. The last Indian to feature the F-head engine in a cradle-spring frame, the Big Twin is one of the milestone bikes of Indian’s long history. 1915 was the last year of production before Indian stopped racing efforts to help with the …
Original Paint in Holland – 1932 BMW R2
View Post1913 Flying Merkel
Built between 1911 and 1915, the Flying Merkel is one of the most iconic American motorcycles of all time. These are so cool that I’m going to break my personal rule of only featuring bikes with asking prices because I just want to make sure you’re aware of it.
1939 Rudge Special
Post-Listing Update: This Rudge Special did not get any interest at the opening bid of $22,000. Rudge-Whitworth ceased operations in 1939 so they could switch to radar production for the war, making this one of the last bikes to roll out of the British factory. The Special was a touring version of the Ulster, which was one of Rudge’s most …
Needs Some Work – 1939 Indian Bonneville Sport Scout Racer
Post-Sale Update: After 53 bids on eBay, this Bonneville Sport Scout sold for $21,000. In 1939, Indian released “Bonneville” versions of the Sport Scout and Chief after Fred Ludlow set 750cc and 1,200cc records in Bonneville on Indian powered bikes. The “Bonneville” bikes got you high comp pistons, longer-duration cams, and the option of magneto ignition. This example was last …
1939 Harley-Davidson Big Twin Sidecar
The seller calls this a U/ULH because the motor is from a U but it has ULH barrels that were bored .20 over. Either way, he’s had the three wheeled rig since 1969 and it’s claimed to run and handle perfectly after a ‘complete refurbishment’ 5 years ago. Hope you like red!
1914 Fabrique National (FN) Single
Gun enthusiasts will recognize FN as a Belgian manufacturer of a wide variety of guns – my favorite of which is probably the F2000 bullpup assault rifle. But between 1901 and 1967, they also made some motorcycles, including the world’s first four-cylinder bike, and the single you see here in front of you.
In Italy – 1939 Taurus G27
I really struggled to find more information on this bike, and I’ll be really impressed if one of you guys or gals knows more about the Taurus marque. At this point, all I’ve got is that it’s Italian and that a few years back, someone tried to update the marque to modern times with a custom based on a Royal …
In England – 1927 Brough Superior 680
In 1927, George Brough though he needed to offer a motorcycle at a lower price point, so he started selling the 680, which was named after the 680cc JAP overhead valve V-Twin engine. Nowadays these bikes still command less than the SS80 or SS100, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to find one for cheap – this example is …
1905 Indian Camelback
Post-Listing Update: This Camelback did not meet reserve with bidding up to $55,100. Named for the ‘hump’ on the back, which is the fuel tank for the 2.25 horsepower single, the Indian Camelback was produced in various guises until 1909, when a ‘normal’ gas tank was used.
Impressively Original – 1936 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead
Post-Listing Update: This Knucklehead did not meet reserve with bidding up to $70,100 after 53 bids on eBay. This lovely EL is being offered by the third owner, who says it hasn’t been ‘changed’ since 1965, when the original owner repainted it. In 1989, the bike was put away by the second owner and the third owner has just brought …
One Year Only – 1916 Indian Model K
Older Indians are best known for their four-stroke V-twin powerplants, though the company did try their hand at other designs like the Indian Four or the two-stroke single found in the Model K. Designed to be low cost transportation (MSRP was $150), the Model K lasted all of one year before it was replaced by the Model O, which got …
1922 Johnson Motorwheel
Based out of Terre Haute, Indiana, four bothers came together to form the Johnson Motor Company. Despite some initial trials and tribulations, they had set half-mile dirt track records and sold over 17,000 units by 1921. Unfortunately by that point Henry Ford was making vehicles like the Motorwheel obsolete with the Model T. A few years later and the Johnson …
1930 FN Sahara M70
Post-Listing Update: This Sahara was pulled off of eBay before the listing ended. In 1923, FN brought out a new unit construction single that quickly usurped the popularity of their four cylinder powerplant. Initially, the singles were popular with sportier riders, but FN wanted more of a standard model – hence the M70. In 1927, two French army officers (along …
Advanced in France – 1931 Peugeot P108
The 1931 Peugeot P108 is not only a beautiful piece, it boasted several innovative features. Prime among them is no separate primary drive and gearbox, but everything tucked into one neat case. The lines and look are very elegant. The P108 is driven by an air cooled 249 cc single side valve motor. Considered a lightweight, the 108 had full …