Building a high-caliber race bike starts with the addition of race-grade, bespoke and aftermarket components, though it’s the countless hours of expertly dialing each element in that really separates pro-level racers from the rest. And that’s exactly what we’ve got here, a professionally-built competition machine from Mike Hill of Survivor Customs.
2019 Kawasaki Ninja 400 vs 2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
View PostCafe’d Smoker – 1972 Yamaha R5 Custom
Post Listing Update: This R5 did not get any interest at the BIN of $8,500. There’s something really special about two-stroke cafe racers, and this one-off Yamaha is a prime example. This build supposedly started out as a ‘72 R5 that received a refresh with the air-cooled parallel-twin getting all new rings, gaskets, and seals, while the carbs were rebuilt …
2001 Ducati 996S
Post Listing Update: This 996S was pulled off of eBay because “there was an error in the listing.” The Ducati 996 needs no introduction. Superbikes in general are better because the 996 existed, and every detail was designed to be beautiful as well as functional. 2001 was the last year of production before the 998 engine, and Troy Bayliss gave …
6 Miles – 2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2
Post Listing Update: This H2 was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Forced induction bikes have been done before, and it looks like we’re headed back in that direction. But in 2015, the Kawasaki H2 was a game changer. A 998cc inline four cylinder paired to a supercharger that Kawasaki had to build in-house cranked out 189 hp …
Rebuilt by Colorado Norton Works – 1975 Norton Commando
Post Listing Update: This Commando did not meet reserve despite 36 bids up to $18,362 on eBay. The 1970s Norton Commando was one of several notable products coming from the British motorcycle industry. As electric starters, disc brakes, and smooth operation became mainstays of Japanese competitors, British bike sales declined and quality stayed the same. Then, in 1975, the Mark …
Restored Vintage Enduro – 1980 Yamaha IT175
Immediately after Yamaha unveiled the IT400 in 1976, a trio of Yamaha riders nabbed gold medals at the Austrian International Six Day Trials on the newly debuted IT’s. With the success of the 400, the Tuning Fork Company opted to expand the IT — or “International Trial” — range the following year to include smaller displacement variants, one of which …
1978 Kawasaki Z1-R
Post Listing Update: This Z1-R did not meet reserve despite 3 bids up to $10,500. Wayne Moulton has had quite a career in the motorcycling industry, including roles as President for Triumph Motorcycles America and Vetter Fairings, as well as Vice President of Kawasaki. He was known for a philosophy that “a popular motorcycle can have four different variations – …
Ready to Race – 1992 Yamaha TZ250D
Post Listing Update: This TZ250 did not meet reserve despite 20 bids up to $10,177 on eBay. 2-26-19 Update: Two years later, Mazlow Petosa notes that this TZ is back up for sale. It’s got a new racing number, a new home, and it looks like it’s covered about 120 miles since it was last offered for sale. Find this …
Unrestored Factory Flat Tracker – 1955 Harley-Davidson KR750
Post Listing Update: This KR did not get any interest at the BIN of $22,500. Fresh on the heels of the Great Depression, the AMA introduced what was known as “Class C” racing — an organized form of motorized two-wheeled competition created and structured to allow for a relatively low cost of entry in hopes of attracting more riders to …
1972 Suzuki RV90 Rover
Post Listing Update: This Suzuki RV90 did not get any interest at the opening bid of $1,200. Minibikes are back in! What started with the just the Honda Grom 125 has turned into a multi-class 24 hour endurance race featured on motorcycle.com with a cameo by me, and culminated with Abhi riding a new Super Cub to an event at …
1,045cc – 1979 Kawasaki KZ1000 MkII
Post Sale Update: This KZ sold for $13,450 after 13 bids on eBay. An evolution of the KAZ900, the KZ1000 was the fastest production bike when it was released in 1976 (as a ’77 model) thanks to its 83 horsepower, 1,015cc inline four motor. The bike might be most famous for the police variant, which gained popularity on the show …
1969 Velocette Venom Clubman
Post Sale Update: This Clubman sold for $15,000 after 25 bids on eBay. Introduced in 1955, the Velocette Venom had a distinctive claim to fame – in 1961, a factory-prepped Venom Clubman was the first motorcycle to average over 100 MPH over the course of 24 hours. The challenge was completed at the 1.7 miles concrete oval track at Montlhéry, …
Rare Project – 1961 Norton Manxman
Post Listing Update: This Manxman did not meet reserve despite 39 bids up to $4,450 on eBay. Built just between November 1960 and October 1961, the Norton Manxman is a rare bike that was built for export only – most came to the US, though another significant chunk went to Australia.
What Do You Want To Know? 2019 Kawasaki Z400
UPDATE: Here’s my review! At the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show, Kawasaki debuted several models for the US market. The one I was most excited about was the new-for-2019 Z400 ABS. To oversimplify, it’s a naked version of the Ninja 400. That’s good news to me, as I love naked bikes and I think the Ninja 400 was excellent. This …