Post Listing Update: This Transalp did not meet reserve despite 35 bids up to $4,500 on eBay. When Honda brought the XL600V over from Europe in 1989, America wasn’t ready. The 583cc V-twin adventure bike was more capable than anyone could have imagined. Many news outlets noted its biggest limiting factor was the tires of the time. Twin spark heads …
Up-Specced and Fullly-Faired – 2005 Suzuki SV650
As a competent and economical platform, Suzuki’s SV650 makes for a solid choice as the base for a wide array of different types of builds. A popular move is turning the mid-sized twin into a sport or track bike, and that’s exactly what we’ve got here; a well-farkled SV that’s been equipped with a myriad of cosmetic and performance modifications/upgrades.
Factory AMA Superbike – 2012 Pegram Racing BMW S1000RR
Post Listing Update: New listing, but same result. This bike did not get any interest at the BIN of $15,000. 4-20-2019 Update: Two years later, the same seller has put this bike back up with a $6k discount. You can now find it for sale still in Palm Coast, Florida with a BIN of $15,000 here on eBay. According to …
Project with Race History – 1972 Harley-Davidson XR750
Post Sale Update: This XR750 sold for $18,000 after 8 bids on eBay. Offered with no reserve, this XR750 was raced throughout the 70s and 80s by Mike Boyes, who then sold it to Yoshi of Garage Company. It was then sold to Mike Cheiky, then to New York City Motorcycles, and now it’s with someone in Venice, California who’s …
2009 Suzuki SV650
Post Listing Update: This SV was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The Suzuki SV650 is like the modern day Honda CB750. 700cc standard bikes are common these days, but 10 years ago the choices were limited to the Ducati Monster and the Suzuki SV650. Suzuki’s 645cc V-twin has since been written in trackday folklore, eventually becoming stuck …
First Ride Review – 2019 Husqvarna Svartpilen 701
A couple of weeks ago, I went to Portugal on behalf of Cycle News to review the new Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen. It’s the Swedish company’s newest offering on their 701 platform that also includes the Supermoto, Enduro, and Vitpilen. This is my favorite of the foursome as an overall streetbike, but $11,999 is a lot of money for a thumper …
1928 BMW R52
Designed to be a tourer, the BMW R52 featured a 486cc boxer twin that generated 12 horsepower. The three-speed transmission had just been redesigned for this model, during a time frame when BMW was constantly making changes. Due to this, BMW switched to pressed-steel frames by the end of 1929, meaning the rare R52 was produced for just two years.
1959 Victoria Avanti
Mecum calls the Victoria Avanti the little sister to the Tin Banana. Victoria’s advertising called it “the ideal light weight motorcycle”. Whatever you call it, the Avanti is a distinctive 50cc moped with some exquisite details.
In Australia – 1976 Moto Guzzi 850 T3 Custom
Post Listing Update: This custom Guzzi did not get any interest at the BIN of $20,000. Built by Max’s Moto Works of southeastern Australia, this custom Guzzi started as a 850 T3. Thanks to custom bodywork and a long list of rebuilt mechanicals, it’s now an interesting one-off cafe racer.
Original Owner – 1975 Triumph Trident T160
The Trident T160 is one of motorcycling’s great “what ifs”. Its T150 predecessor debuted as a 1969 model to lots of excitement from Triumph fans who wanted to see how the British firm would fight back against Honda’s CB750. It did not go well. Classic British Motorcycles notes that the Trident was doomed by “the combination of bad timing (it …
1996 Aprilia Moto 6.5
Phillipe Starck is a well-known French product designer and motorcycle enthusiast. In the mid 90’s, he combined those two facets to design the Aprilia Moto 6.5, an in-town runabout that oozes style – but is it the kind of style you like? They are rare finds as they were never imported to the US, which normally translates to high asking …
1984 Suzuki GS1150EF
Suzuki didn’t start producing 4 stroke engines until 1976 when they released their first GS model, the 750. Before that, the company strictly made two-stroke machinery, and were the last of the Japanese manufacturers to begin producing 4-stroke engines. They patterned, a nice way of saying borrowed, their 4-cylinder engine from Kawasaki, more specifically the Z1 900. Kawasaki separated themselves …
16 Restored T120s – 1962-1970 Triumph Bonnevilles
Post Listing Update: This collection of Bonnies did not meet reserve despite 33 bids up to $150,300 on eBay. A seller in the Bay Area is offering up a collection of “99+ point condition” restored Bonnevilles that have zero miles since the work was performed. It’s a staggering set of Triumphs in impressive shape – but how many people are …
Restored – 1958 Ariel Cyclone
Post Listing Update: This Cyclone did not meet reserve despite 25 bids up to $10,100 on eBay. A 650cc high-compression variant of the Huntmaster, the Ariel Cyclone was a very rare bike. It seems that the list of documented Cyclones is 174 over two years of production. Ariel called it their “Super Sports Twin”, thanks to a 40 horsepower engine …
Contest Intermission – Aerostich’s “What’s Under Your Suit”
Aerostich is running a fun contest (though it does require you to already own some of their gear) that’s all about showing off “what’s under your suit”. Impressively, the winner gets a $1,000 Aerostich gift certificate. Second place gets half as much. What are you waiting for?