Last week I visited Alpinestars to get an early look at some highlights from their 2018 collection. As anyone familiar with the iconic Italian company would expect, the new offerings consisted of various pieces of top-of-the-line track and sport gear, as well as some new ADV/touring apparel and a few stylish new offerings from the brand’s revived old-school “OSCAR by …
1 Year Only – 2007 BMW G650 Xmoto
A decade ago, BMW played around with its G650 series and created three variants in the process: the Challenge, Country, and the Xmoto. All three models utilized a reworked G650 power plant that was slightly more powerful than the stock engine while also tuned for lower emissions, as well as being a little bit lighter than the standard G650 motor. …
Needs Some Work – 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1 M1 Tribute
Most “custom” sportbikes aren’t much more than a handful of bolt-on aftermarket parts fitted to a super-bike/sport, but this fascinating YZR M1 “replica” is truly a custom sport build. This unique one-off R1 was used at Superbike-Coach by Can Akkaya. Superbike-Coach is based out of Elk Grove, California and it features courses for street and track riders of all skill …
Beautifully Restored – 1952 Triumph Thunderbird 6T
This is almost certainly one of the most pristine 1952 Triumph 6T Thunderbird 650 in existence. Not only did this example take home an award from the Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance and the Quail Motorcycle Gathering – where it won oldest bike on the ride – but it was also featured in the film ‘Why We Ride‘. On top of …
Krauser Fairing – 1984 BMW K100
Post Sale Update: After 33 bids on eBay, this Flying Brick sold for $4,101. BMW’s K100 was initially released to very concerned fans who were worried that it was a sign that the boxer motor was going to disappear. Sales were slow at first but the Flying Brick was eventually proven to be a successful endeavor for BMW Motorrad. Here’s …
UMRA 24 Hour Race – Preparation
As I explained in the Introduction to this story, I’ve joined a team for the 3rd Annual UMRA 24 Hour Endurance Race but I have almost no experience going fast on little bikes and even less experience with legitimate racing. To get an idea of what to expect, I asked a few friends who have participated in this race before …
Bike of the Year Intermission – Motorcycle.com’s 2017 Awards
The fine folks over at Motorcycle.com have just wrapped up their yearly awards, and it looks like they think very highly of KTM. If you haven’t taken a look at all the award winners yet, here’s your reminder!
Nice Patina – 1968 Triumph Daytona T100R
Long before today’s ridiculously competent Triumph Daytona 675 machines, the iconic British manufacturer was offering a different Daytona Super Sport in the form of the T100R. This 1968 Daytona example isn’t going to take home any trophies at shows or contests anytime soon, but it nonetheless possesses a number of elements, including its half century of wear and tear that …
HD’s Only Scooter – 1961 Harley-Davidson Topper
Harley-Davidson has only produced one scooter in its entire history; the Topper. The Milwaukee-based manufacturer did make some small-displacement mopeds during its partnership with Aermacchi, but the Topper is the only scooter Harley made with legitimate floorboards and an automatic transmission. Starting in 1959 or ’60, and ending production in ’65, Harley-Davidson offered the 165cc two-stroke Topper in hopes of …
Certificate #1 – 1977 Triumph Bonneville Silver Jubilee
View PostWhat Do You Want To Know? 2018 Polaris Slingshot
UPDATE: Here’s my First Ride review! Polaris is about to release the 2018 Slingshot lineup, and I’ll be spending some time with the oddball 3-wheelers this week. Is there anything specific you’d like to know?
One Year Only – 2008 Suzuki B-King
Suzuki first debuted its Hayabusa in 1999 and it was met with fairly instant success – so much so that the model is still produced today and has gone largely unchanged in its near two-decade production run, (although rumors suggest its time may be soon coming to an end). Nonetheless, the Busa sold remarkably well, even in the US where …
3-Wheel Tilters – Pair of Honda Gyros
The Honda Gyro is an all around fun little scoot. These tilting three-wheelers boast a leaning main body that allows for stability when cornering at speed, without losing a scooter’s traditional low-speed stability. With 49cc displacement, a turning radius of 5.5-feet (or 1.7-meters), an automatic (two-speed) transmission, and the bike’s ability to tilt/lean, the Gyro is a phenomenal gateway into …
$950 – Tule Trooper Big Boy
Jim Edwins was the man behind the J. I. Edwins Company in Issaquah, Washington. The firm was best known for the production of the “Trooper”, a competitor to the better-known Tote Gote. They’re rare finds nowadays, and this one is worthy of consideration as it’s the harder-to-find “Big Boy” model with optional tandem seat and it’s said to run great!
Walking Dead Replica – Daryl’s 1991 Honda CB750 Nighthawk
Motorcycles evoke a sense of rebellion and bad-assery, something film and television (and marketing) has been aware of for decades. Want to immediately demonstrate a character is tough and independent? Throw ’em on a bike and voilà. Today’s best known example of this is AMC’s the Walking Dead’s Daryl Dixon and his custom post-(zombie)-apocalyptic ’90’s CB750 Nighthawk. This famous two-wheeler …