Post Sale Update: This CR500 sold for $10,000 after 16 bids on eBay in Dacula, Georgia. When originally released in 1984, the CR500 was the most powerful MX bike that Honda had ever produced. It quickly got a reputation for pinging (including the nickname of “Ping King”), which was rectified the next year with liquid-cooling. The rest was history – …
Video Intermission – Suzuki RE-5 on Jay Leno’s Garage
Lots of people are familiar with the Suzuki RE-5 (most notable for the Wankel rotary engine and the “tin can” gauge cluster), but the number of people who’ve actually experienced one is much of smaller. Jay Leno shares the experience (including how staggeringly smooth it is) in his latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.
Salt Flat Racer – 1972 Harley-Davidson Sportster Custom
Built to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the Special Construction, Partially Streamlined class in 2014 (which was rained out), this Ironhead Sportster is called “Silver Fox.”
1992 Yamaha WR500
Built by blending the YZ250 and YZ490, the WR500 was a rare offering that was best served as a trail bike that could mix it up on the race track every once in a while.
No Reserve – 2007 Honda XR650R
Post Sale Update: This XR650R sold for $5,550 after 52 bids on eBay in Layton, Utah. Also known as the Big Red Pig, Honda’s XR650R is a legend in desert racing and the Baja 1000. Even though it was killed off in 2008, the bike is still race competitive and it enjoys quite a cult following.
1967 BSA Victor 441
In the early 60’s, BSA’s race team was developing a large single in the hopes of winning the 500cc world motocross championship. A 441cc engine ended up being the ticket, which helped BSA capture the 500cc championship in ’64 and ’65. The following year, the company released the BSA 441 Victor Special to the public – and this one’s very …
Delivering Motorcycles in Baja – Days 6 and 7
View PostYamaha’s First Moped – 1962 Yamaha MF1
Post Sale Update: This MF1 sold for the opening bid of $995 on eBay in DeLand, Florida. Built to compete with the Honda Cub, Yamaha decided to go upmarket with their first moped, the MF1. Upmarket is a relative term with mopeds – in this case it refers to the Neidhart front suspension, pressed-metal frame, kick-and-electric starters, three-speed transmission with …
CA Plated – 1996 Kawasaki KX500
When Kawasaki introduced the KX500 motocrosser in 1983, Dirt Bike magazine called it “unrideable” and “violent.” Now they just call it “the one bike to ride before you die.”
Guess That Bike Revealed – Sans Fairing Edition
Congratulations to Speeddog, who was the first one to identify that this bike is a Ducati MH900e!
Delivering Motorcycles in Baja – Day 5
View Post2006 BMW HP2 Enduro
Post Listing Update: This HP2 Enduro did not meet reserve with 45 bids up to $12,300 on eBay in Vienna, Virginia. The HP2 Enduro was the perfect bike for riders who thought the R1200GS was capable but too heavy. Thanks to a trellis frame and conventional telescopic forks, the HP2 saved 53 pounds of weight from the standard GS.
313 Miles – 1991 Yamaha TW200
Post Sale Update: This TW200 sold for $3,403.53 after 16 bids on eBay in Ocala, Florida. The TW200 has basically been the same since it was introduced in 1987 – there was a minor update in 2001 but even the 2021 model is still carbureted so it’s not like you’re missing out on much if you buy an old one …
Video Intermission – Stop-Motion Engine Rebuild
Stop motion artists always get my respect, but bonus points go to Mechanimations for something focused on motorcycles. He calls it “A Dirt Bike Engine Rebuild Video Like You’ve Never Seen” and it’s hard to argue with that!