The Ducati Desmosedici RR (or Racing Replica) is the epitome of an elite motorcycle. While its 197hp and 188mph top speed are slightly less stunning in comparison to today’s near 200hp/200mph superbikes, it still boasts some of the finest equipment on the planet and when it was first released a decade ago, a road-going machine like the this was unheard …
Ex-Shriner Ending Soon – 1969 Honda Dream CA77
Post Listing Update: This CA77 did not meet reserve at $2,524 despite 24 bids on eBay. Nowadays, the Shriners are typically riding Harley-Davidsons – currently Harley even offers a Shriners special edition (but you have to show proof that you belong to the fraternity) alongside their Peace Officer and Firefighter special editions. In fact, they’ve become such a pairing that …
NC35 – 1996 Honda RVF400
Post Sale Update: This RVF sold for $8,800 after 41 bids on eBay. One of the best riding 400 sportbikes ever built, Honda’s RVF400 (also known as the NC35) never officially made it out of the Japan. The grey market took care of European countries but it’s rare to find one of these in the US. You may have a …
Video Intermission – Hit and Run Hero
Yesterday’s video was about a motorcyclist who makes us look bad, so today let’s look at a motorcyclist that makes us look good! A rider witnessed a driver hit two cars and then take off, so he chased him down while relaying information to 911.
Rare in the US – Carabela 150SL
Here’s a bike that I know just about nothing about. Can you fill me in? I’ve featured a few bikes made by Carabela in the past – it’s a Mexican motorcycle manufacturer that was best known for their small displacement MX bikes. But this is a street bike with a bigger motor than the usual Carabela – and that’s pretty …
Video Intermission – Unexpected Airtime
Look, it’s pretty obvious here that the rider’s assessment that the “steering locked up” isn’t accurate. I’m not going to kick him while he’s down, so I’ll just leave the video here for you to make your own conclusions.
1 of 1 – 1996 Ducati “649R” SuperTwin Racer
This Ducati 649 SuperTwin is the only example like it in the world, and it was created specially to compete in Mini/Super-Twin 650 class competition. This super short stroke engine has a 90mm bore that makes 85hp and red lines at 13,000 rpm. This machine is built around a 1996 Ducati model, so I assume a 748SP or SPS. This …
Needs Some Work – 1974 Harley-Davidson RR250
Harley isn’t exactly known for its race machines, but as far as word association goes. Nonetheless, here we have a 250cc Harley-Davidson purpose-built racer: the 1974 RR250. Developed during Harley’s time in AMF competition, this bike is supposedly one of 180, though the RR250 was made for a number of years. While this example needs its restoration to be completed, …
UMRA 24 Hour Race – Introduction
I was enjoying a margarita at lunch at Gilbert’s El Indio when my phone lit up with a number from Lake Forest, California. Kawasaki is in Lake Forest, so it must be them, right? They’re probably asking when I’ll be returning the Vulcan S loaner, so I just let it go to voicemail. Another margarita later and I felt bad …
2008 Bimota Tesi 3D Carbonio
Post Listing Update: This Bimota was pulled off of eBay because “there was an error in the listing.” Final sale price unknown. Introduced in 2007, the 3D was the third generation of the Tesi. While it was an improvement over the 2D in many ways, reviewers weren’t excited about the gap between how it looked and how it performed. It’s …
Video Intermission – The Black Falcon
In Paul D’Orleans’ words, The Black Falcon is “the most revered custom motorcycle in recent history.” It was released to a decent amount of fanfare 6 years ago, but with a recent video Paul has been able to capture some details that the public never got to truly understand. So here’s your chance to check out some of the nitty-gritty …
Pick One – Storz Street Tracker Harleys
Storz Performance make some awesome parts and conversion kits. Both of the two Storz examples have been fitted with their XR1200 conversion kit which not only looks pretty snazzy but also cranks up the Harleys performance while shaving off a total of 83lbs. Highlights of the kit include an aluminum tank, fiberglass tail-section, side-covers and rear-fender, a wider rear-tire, actual …
The Icon’s Little Brother – 1973 Bimota HB1 350
Post Sale Update: After 69 bids on eBay, this Bimota kit sold for $4,549. The HB1 was Bimota’s first bike and is unarguably its most rare and valuable motorcycle. The Honda powered two-wheeler was the start to the company’s long history of wrapping proven engines in an advanced frame fitted with trick components while simultaneously resulting in some damn fine …
1965 Honda CL72 Scrambler w/ Belly Tank Trailer
Post Sale Update: This unique combination sold for $6,600. The fine folks at Bring a Trailer (appropriately named in this case) have got one of the coolest bike/trailer packages I’ve seen in a while. A ’63 Honda Scrambler (’63 VIN but titled as a ’65) that was given a refresh 50 miles ago. It looks clean and normally it’d be …
Video Intermission – Touratech R9X at Red Bull Romaniacs
The Red Bull Romaniacs Extreme Enduro Rally was founded in 2004, and they claim that over the years it’s become the world’s toughest Hard Enduro Rally. It’s a five-day event over 375 miles in the Carpathian Mountains, and it attracts some of the best off-road riders in the world. Until this year, every competitor was on a single-cylinder dirt bike, …