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1965 Honda C100 with Roadster Kit

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

While Honda found success with its small step-through models in most markets, the Japanese marque struggled to sell scooters in the same numbers in the US. Honda looked to change this with the introduction of what it called the “Custom Group”, consisting of four different add-on kits (the Roadster, Rally, Boss, and Student) designed to make little runners like the …

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Help Me Out – Motorcycle Highlights in Rhode Island?

In Blog by AbhiLeave a Comment

Tonight I fly out for the East Coast for a 2-part trip – I’m going to spend some time with my business partner Adam working on Iconic East (our facility in Bristol, Rhode Island), then I’m going to spend some time with my dear mother where I grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. Even though I grew up in MA, I …

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2016 Honda CB500F

In Japan, Less than 5k, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Back in 2015 I mentioned a wonderful blog called Rolling Physics Problem by Greg Shamieh (a frequent commenter here at Bike-urious). He’s selling his CB500F – what he calls “the great grandson of the famous CB450 ‘Black Bomber’ – only with the benefit of more than 50 years of technical evolution.”

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White Brothers 601cc Kit – 1989 Honda GB500

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Honda’s GB500 was an homage to classic British singles but there was a twist – it was reliable! The average American rider shopping for a Japanese bike at the time was more interested in the bigger supersport replicas, but the Tourist Trophy has become a cult classic. Here’s another twist: a California-based company called the White Brothers made a 601cc …

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1972 OSSA 250 MAR

In Off-Road, Spain by AbhiLeave a Comment

The OSSA MAR (Mick Andrews Replica) was built after OSSA hired the English rider to design and ride a new trials bike – he went on to win two consecutive European Trials Championships and three consecutive Scottish Six Days Trials with it. In 1973, Andrews moved to Yamaha, but OSSA kept producing this bike into the late 70s and it …

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1968 Benelli Mojave Scrambler 260

In Dual-Sport, Italy by AbhiLeave a Comment

Back in the 60s, you did not necessarily have to go to a motorcycle dealership to acquire a bike. Indeed, superstores like Sears or Montgomery Ward imported and sold motorcycles themselves. While Sears notably imported Vespas, Montgomery sold Lambrettas and Benellis, including the Mojave 360…and the rarer 260 variant (offered in Tourer and Scrambler options).

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Abhi Races a Honda CB160, Part 5 – A Little History

In Blog by AbhiLeave a Comment

It’s definitely not obvious from the posts so far, but this series isn’t supposed to be solely about the bike – it’s about going racing for the season and all the fun/misery that goes with it. I’ve been getting several questions about why I’m looking to race such a tiny bike, so for this installment I want to go back …