Post Sale Update: This YZ80 sold for $9,551 after 49 bids on eBay in Chicago, Illinois. Last week I featured a FZR1000 from a seller I trust in Chicago, and he let me know that he was about to list a couple of never ridden 70s Yamahas. Looks like they’re live now, and we start with a YZ80.
Product Review – MNNTHBX Quick Release Seat Caps
When I concluded my First Ride review of the Honda Monkey, I said that “the search for Vy’s next bike is officially over.” It took me a while, but I finally picked one up! Now it’s time to modify…
Video Intermission – Reuniting Grandpa with his DKW
Here’s a short heartwarming video of a family bringing a bike across the ocean to reunite it with their patriarch, the original owner. Don’t blame me if this makes you cry…
Restored – 1958 Indian Lance
Post Listing Update: This Lance did not get any action at the opening bid of $6,900 on eBay. Between 1955 and 1960, the Indian marque was owned by an English firm called Brockhouse Engineering. During this time, they imported Royal Enfield bikes under the Indian name. This Indian Lance was a variant of the Royal Enfield Ensign, a 148cc descendant …
1981 Ducati Pantah 500SL
Post Sale Update: This Pantah sold for $8,100 after 6 bids on eBay in Mahwah, New Jersey. 6-14-20 Update: 8 months later, this Pantah is back up for sale and it looks like it’s going to have a new owner as it has already met reserve. Find it with bidding up to $7,099 in Mahwah, New Jersey here on eBay.
Reminder – Ride to Work Day 2020
You shouldn’t need another excuse to get on a motorcycle, but June 15th is Ride to Work Day. So be an ambassador for motorcyclists: get out there and remind people that motorcycles are more than just go-fast toys – for some people bikes are day to day transportation and a way of life! On this day, there are usually an …
Ready to Race – Indian FTR750
In 2019, Estenson Racing switched from the Indian FTR750 to the Yamaha MT-07 in their pursuit of victories in the American Flat Track Twins class. This looks to be one of their ex-racers, which was likely ridden by Jake Johnson, JD Beach, or Kolby Carlile.
Motobi Tribute – 1972 Benelli Sport Special Custom
Post Sale Update: This Benelli sold for $4,300 after 11 bids on eBay in State College, Pennsylvania. Benelli and Motobi merged in 1962, and the resulting company performed a GM-esque bit of brand engineering by offering up similar bikes under different names. One of those pairings was the Benelli Super Sport (also known as the Sport Special in Europe) and …
Ending Soon – 1968 Honda CB450 K1
Post Listing Update: This CB450 did not meet reserve despite 26 bids up to $4,250 on eBay in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The K1 CB450 was a one year only bike, and it was the last Honda to rock chrome panels on the gas tank.
Ex-MotoGP in England – 1993 ROC Yamaha YZR500
As Mat Oxley argues in this piece called The Day MotoGP Nearly Died, ” the early 90s were the “nadir” of premier-class motorcycle racing. “The reasons for the empty grids were simple: there was no money, there were no bikes and the bikes that were there kept hurling their riders to the ground and breaking their bones. Too many riders …
Zero Miles in Canada – 1995 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R
Introduced in 1994, the ZX-9R was Kawi’s response to the instant classic Honda CBR900RR. It made a bit more power but it could not compete on weight, and Kawasaki lagged behind in sales. Weight won’t be an issue with this one, as I doubt it’s ever going to get ridden – the odometer shows less than 1 kilometer on it!
50th Anniversary Euro Bodywork – 1989 Honda Transalp
Post Listing Update: This Transalp did not get any action at the opening bid of $4,250. In the late 80s, Honda offered both an AT and a TA – the Africa Twin and the Transalp. Both were ahead of the times, though the latter was more street-biased. Consider it a jack of all trades sort of bike with a cult …
6 of 19 – 2005 Mert Lawwill Concepts Street Tracker
In 2005, Mert Lawwill bought up 20 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200R motorcycles to use as the base of a limited production run of Street Trackers inspired by his XR750 flat tracker. Thanks to a bevy of custom parts (like a hand-crafted 4130 chromoly frame), Mert was able to shave off over 100 pounds from the donor Harley. Over a 5 year …
1959 Ducati 175 Sport
Per the seller, this 175 Sport was “built for and ridden in the 2004 MotoGiro d’Italia.” Impressively, at one point during that event it had the lead!
1976 Penton KTM Hare Scrambler 250
Post Sale Update: This Penton sold for $10,100 after 56 bids on eBay in La Plata, Maryland. In 1968, John Penton and KTM started their fruitful relationship when they built some prototypes that eventually became the Penton Berkshire, powered by Sachs 100cc engines. In ’73, the Penton Hare Scrambler was introduced with a new 250cc KTM engine, and the rest …