Hagerty Insurance has made some fun strides into the content game recently, including the “Redline Rebuild” series that I’ve previously featured. The series normally covers cars, but every once in a while they rehab a motorcycle, and the results are worth watching.
1995 Yamaha Virago XV1100
Introduced in the early 80s, Yamaha’s Virago line was the first V-Twin cruiser to come out of Japan, and it was an example of what happens when marketers and engineers don’t agree on what a product should be. The first version was chock full of tech like a monocoque frame, monoshock suspension, shaft final drive, offset cylinders, and more – …
Guess That Bike Revealed – Engine in a Museum Edition
Congratulations to yrrah, who was the first to determine that this motor is from a Condor A580!
Rare Restoration – 1972 Benelli Panther
Known in other markets as the 125 Cross, this rare model was named the Panther in the US. Parts can be difficult to find, which is why I’m shocked to see that someone has take it upon themselves to give this example a significant restoration.
1972 Harley-Davidson FLH Police Sidecar
Factory police sidecars are quite rare (in fact, nowadays they’re just about non-existent), but there are a few police departments that swear by them, particularly in cities with inclement winter weather. One such city is Washington DC, where Harley sidecars have played a significant role in the pomp and circumstance of presidential inaugurations.
No Reserve – 1993 Yamaha GTS1000
In his review of the Yamaha GTS1000, Mark Tuttle at Rider Magazine starts with, “Remember this bike. If the forkless Yamaha GTS1000 doesn’t prove to be the forerunner of a new era in motorcycle design, it represents a missed cue of colossal proportions.” Oops.
Press Release – MV Agusta Returns to GP Motorcycle Racing
Even though they last won a Grand Prix race in 1976, MV Agusta is still the most successful European motorcycle manufacturer of all time in the discipline, with a total of 75 world titles (38 rider/37 manufacturer) between 1952 and 1974. After 42 years, MV is back – though they’re starting in Moto2 as partners with Forward Racing.
Auction Preview – Bonhams – The Den Hartogh Collection in Holland
On June 23rd, Bonhams will be auctioning off 323 lots (with no reserve!) from the collection of Den Hartogh. 49 of those lots are motorcycles – here are my 3 favorites.
Guess That Bike – Engine in a Museum Edition
Thanks to multiple recommendations from y’all when I asked what Vy and I should see in Spain and Portugal, I’ve got a whole bunch of photos from a museum in a small town in the Southeast of Spain. One of the photos is of an engine – can you tell what bike it’s from?
1976 Yamaha RD400
In 1976, Yamaha made the RD350 a little bigger with a displacement bump up to 399cc. Thanks to 44 horsepower, the hooligan motorcycle du jour was capable of hitting the ton with a top speed of 105 miles per hour. Most people know the 400 simply for being an easier to ride upgrade over the 350, but it was also …
558 Miles in Canada – 2005 Ducati Multistrada 1000S DS
Introduced in 2003, the Ducati Multistrada 1000 was quickly complemented by a smaller (620) model. Multistrada translates to “many roads’, and the idea was that you’d get ADV comfort for all day riding without the pretensions of going off-road with a heavy beast. The initial run had some teething problems – not in terms of reliability but in terms of …
The Original Italian Power Cruiser – 2012 CR&S Duu
CR&S is a boutique Italian manufacturer that is in many ways comparable to Arch Motorcycle. The two both produce ultra top-shelf, S&S V-Twin-powered, performance-oriented cruisers, but while Arch’s models have received ample public attention and media exposure, CR&S’ offerings are little known in the good ol’ US of A, which is a damn shame considering the Italian marque makes some …
Auction Recap – 2018 Mecum Las Vegas June 2018 Top 10
Mecum’s June auction in Vegas has come and gone, and 271 out of 402 bikes found new owners. Over $3 million changed hands last weekend – let’s take a very quick look at the 10 highest sale prices:
Droog Moto’s “Moto3” – 2015 Yamaha FZ-09 Custom
Last June, Abhi featured a Droog Moto bike built around a 2000 Suzuki Savage, and now that a year has gone by the Southwestern shop has another build for sale. The whole Mad Max/post apocalyptic-look isn’t for everyone, but if it is your thing then you’re probably going to love Droog’s latest project, dubbed “Moto3”. Built around a Yamaha 2015 …
Purple Rain Replica – 1979 Honda CM400A Custom
From Steve McQueen’s Triumph TR6 Trophy Bird in 1963’s The Great Escape, to Peter Fonda’s custom Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide “Captain America” bike in 1969’s Easy Rider or Tom Cruise’s Kawasaki GPZ900R from 1986’s Top Gun, pop culture has given rise to a number of iconic two-wheelers over the years. One of the best-known scoots to be featured in popular culture …