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1984 Kawasaki GPz1100 and GPz550

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: The GPz1100 sold for $3,300 after 31 bids on eBay. Post Listing Update: The GPz550 did not meet reserve despite 15 bids up to $2,525 on eBay. In 1984, Kawasaki offered four displacement options of naturally aspirated motors in the GPz lineup in the United States: 550, 750, 900, and 1100. A seller in Gainesville, Georgia is …

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Featured in The Matrix Reloaded – 2001 Ducati 996

In Italy, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

The 2003 blockbuster The Matrix Reloaded includes an epic stunt sequence that in features a Ducati 996. To commemorate that scene (and to cash in on the franchise’s popularity), Ducati partnered with the film to release a limited run of Matrix Edition 998 bikes. Despite the movie featuring a 996, by the time the second installment of the Matrix trilogy …

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1935 Indian Dispatch Tow

In 3 Wheels, America by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This Dispatch sold for $32,500 after 22 bids on Bring a Trailer. According to The Iron Redskin, the Indian Dispatch Tow was built to fix a problem that a Packard dealership was having near the Indian plant. The dealer wanted a way to deliver customer cars without requiring an additional employee with a car to go alongside. …

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1973 Kawasaki H2A 750

In Japan, Sport by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

The 1970s were a pivotal decade for motorcycle manufacturers in terms of engine and emissions technology. Motorcycles had to be more modern, safer, but still powerful. While Honda was focused on 4-strokes, especially inline four cylinder motors as equipped in the CB750, Kawasaki was splitting their time with 4-strokes like the Z1 and with 2-strokes like the big triples found …

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Jack Simmons Restoration – 1973 Norton Commando 850

In England, Sport by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

During the latter half of the 20th century, a number of key individuals in Southern California played highly pivotal roles in influencing motorcycling. One of those individuals was Jack Simmons. Over the decades he was involved in the moto industry, Simmons wore a myriad of different (proverbial) hats, making a name for himself as a racer, motorcycle dealer, machinist, and …

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Buy A Shop – Ventura County Motorsports

In Blog by AbhiLeave a Comment

PJ Riley of RCS/Ventura County Motorsports has recently announced that he will be retiring at the end of the year, and that means his shop needs a new owner. He’s letting the shopt and all of its contents go – tools, wheelie machine, dyno, tractor trailer, and a whole lot more. For around a quarter million dollars, it could all …

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1992 Suzuki GSX-R1100

In Japan, Sport by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

The 70’s saw Japanese manufacturers starting to win more and more market share thanks to powerful, reliable, and cheap motorcycles. Honda and Kawasaki set new sport bike standards with the CB750 Four and the Z1. In 1982, it was Suzuki’s turn to release a bombshell with the Suzuki Katana. In 1985 the brand did it again with the GSX-R750, and …

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1956 MV Agusta CSTL 175

In Italy, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Though MV’s first bike was built in 1945, it wasn’t until 1953 when they debuted their first production four-stroke motor. The CST and CSTL (Turismo Lusso) were ahead of their time thanks to features like an overhead cam in the stressed-member motor, a motor that was used as a stressed member of the frame, and a full suspension front and …

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JDM Bōsōzoku Bike – 1992 Kawasaki ZR400 Zephyr

In Cruiser, Custom, Japan by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

As motorcycle clubs like the Hells Angels rose to prominence in midcentury America, a similar phenomenon took place in Japan. In the land of the rising sun, the members of these flamboyant moto tribes are known as bōsōzoku, and in the height of their popularity in the early 1980s, there were supposedly more than 40,000 active bōsōzoku on the island …

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1979 Honda CX500 Deluxe

In Japan, Less than 5k, Standard by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

While the motorcycle market in the 1960s was essentially dominated by Europe and America, the 70’s allowed Japan to show off their skills. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki were very competitive with European manufacturers when it came to mid-market bikes in the US. Honda had released bikes at a wide variety of displacements based on the same design as its …