Bob Kelly recently sent me a few photos of his buddy Steve, who clearly had some adventures in the 60s on his Honda CB77 Superhawk. Read on for a short reminder of what riding used to be like.
Leon Haslam Pit Bike Replica – 2004 Italjet Dragster 50
In 2004, Leon Haslam earned Rookie of the Year honors while competing in World Superbike with the Renegade team with Noriyuki Haga. Leon’s best finish was 3rd, and he finished the season in 8th place. Italjet released a limited edition replica of his pit bike with a special cosmetic package that replicated what Leon would occasionally putt around on.
In Holland – 1993 Kawasaki ZXR750R M
Towards the end of the 1980’s, Kawasaki was looking for a new formula for success on the race track. Several ideas were proposed but the concept that won out involved taking a massaged version of Team Green’s existing liquid-cooled, three-quarter-liter, 16-valve, inline-four (from the GPX750) and dropping it into a newly designed twin spar aluminum alloy frame. Just before the …
Team Green’s Indian Tribute – 2000 Kawasaki Drifter 1500
Nowadays there are plenty retro-inspired bikes with modern performance and reliability: Triumph Bonnevilles, Ducati Scramblers, BMW R9T’s, etc. But two decades ago, Kawasaki took this now-popular recipe and ran with it in an unusual direction, leading to the birth of the Kawasaki Drifter 1500.
300 Miles – 2016 Moto Guzzi V7 Stornello Scrambler
Post Sale Update: This Stornello sold for $5,600 after 2 bids on eBay. The “Scrambler” movement is back again, though most OEMs now offer models that typically emphasize style over substance. I always thought the prettiest of the reborn scramblers was the Moto Guzzi V7 Stornello, a limited edition (1,000) model that came with cosmetic changes and a high Arrow …
Model 13 – 1966 Bultaco Mercurio 175
Post Listing Update: This Mercurio did not meet reserve despite 8 bids up to $2,550 on eBay. The Bultaco Mercurio (Mercury) debuted in 1960 as a 125cc, though by ’64 it had grown to a 175 for the Model 13, a motorcycle that was exclusively sold as an export to the US.
Never Started – 1968 Sears Campus 50
The Campus was one of several Sears-branded two-wheelers that were built by Puch for the American market. The moped featured a 2.6 horsepower 49cc engine, and the whole package weighed about 115 pounds ready to ride.
Picture Intermission – The Tanks of Mecum
It’s going to take me some time to go through my notes to recap my weekend at Mecum, so I’ll leave you with a picture intermission as an appetizer. As I walked through the rows of bikes, I started to focus on some of my favorite gas tanks. Here’s a few photos for you to peruse:
388/400 – 2002 Ducati 998S Troy Bayliss Replica
Post Listing Update: This Bayliss rep did not meet reserve despite 22 bids up to $12,100 on eBay. In 2002, Ducati released two race replicas based on the 998S – one of Ben Bostrom’s bike, and one of Troy Bayliss’. 400 examples were built of the latter, which commemorated Troy’s 2001 WSBK championship.
No Reserve – 1979 Kawasaki KZ1000 MkII
Post Sale Update: This KZ sold for $17,750 after 26 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 …
Little American Enduro – 1972 Indian ME100
Though utterance of the Indian Motorcycle name typically conjures up images of big-bore American-style V-Twin baggers and cruisers, the now Polaris-owned outfit for a time produced a decent number of small and micro-displacement dual-sports, mini and dirt bikes. Primarily produced in the late 60s and 70s, Indian’s range of off-road-oriented tiddlers included some very cool offerings such as the Boy …
Video Intermission – The ’90s Were Cooler, 2-Strokes and Frosted Tips
Here’s a fun little video about why the 90s were better when it came to MX bikes. Let Red Bull transport you back in time to when kidney belts, helmet fins, and two-stroke exhausts were all the rage.
2013 Ducati 1199R
If you’re a fan of racing, Ducati’s ‘R’ models hold a special place in your heart. Often designated for superbike homologation builds, ‘R’ models raise the bar for what is possible on the street. Ducati has had several R models to satisfy WSBK regulations over the years, each one more savage than the last. The 1199R offers titanium engine internals …
Naked Panigale V4 Custom – Officine GP Design’s “Penta V4”
When Ducati first unveiled the Panigale, many thought it wouldn’t be long before the Bologna-based brand pulls the cover off a naked version of the full-faired flagship L-Twin. To the dismay of many a Ducatista, the Italian marque never opted to release a production Panigale Streetfighter…though rumors have been swirling that we may be treated to a naked version of …
1983 Yamaha Midnight Virago 920
In 1983, Yamaha offered a “Midnight Virago” that featured a black paint scheme with gold accents. They also offered a rare color-matched factory touring package with a fairing, saddlebags, and trunk for even more Midnight goodness – though this example seems to only have the fairing as well as a giant aftermarket backrest for the passenger.