Post Listing Update: This R90S did not meet reserve with 21 bids up to $13,000. One of the personal bikes of Angus Dykman, this gorgeous R90S has less than 15,000 miles and it’s claimed to be “an exceptional original example.” Thanks to the excellent photography, that sure looks to be the case!
UMRA 24 Hour Race – The Bike
View Post1985 Moto Guzzi LeMans 1000 Mk. IV
The fourth of five generations of Guzzi’s iconic LeMans, the Mark IV got a bit of a reputation as a weird handler due to the 16″ front wheel. Part of the problem was that Guzzi didn’t change any other aspects of the steering geometry of the bike to compensate for the two-inch reduction in front wheel diameter. This example has …
Event Recap – Red Bull Soapbox Race 2017 | Los Angeles
View PostRare Marque – 1947 La Ray Power Cycle
La Ray Motorcycles had a brief history with supposedly only a single year of production about 70 years ago, which makes finding information on the short-lived manufacturer a difficult task. Different sources make different claims, but supposedly the Milwaukee-based manufacturer produced motorcycles somewhere between ’46 and ’48 before the factory was shut down by the IRS for back taxes. The …
2008 BMW G650X Xcountry
Last week I featured a BMW Xmoto, one of the three G650X variants BMW Motorrad produced starting in 2006. While the Xmoto only saw a single year of production, BMW made the Xchallenge for four years, and Xcountry for six. Despite a half dozen years in production, Xcountry “Xamples” are surprisingly rare as it appears not that many were made, …
Bikers Helping Bikers – 2017 Distinguished Gentlemans Ride
On September 24th, 2017, the Distinguished Gentlemans Ride will celebrate their 5th year. As you’ve probably heard by now, it’s a fundraiser supporting men’s mental health and the fight against prostate cancer. If you’ve got a bike that fits in the style guide, I’d suggest that you join the festivities. If not, there’s other ways you can help out!
FJR1300 Powered – Home Built Reverse Trike
Motorcycles have the potential of serving as sensible utilitarian vehicles, but reverse trikes like the Can-Am Spyder and Polaris Slingshot epitomize impractical recreational vehicles. While enclosed motorcycle-powered three-wheelers typically cater to a slightly more affluent demographic than standard two-wheelers, this example boasts a far more accessible price tag while still offering much of the raw performance and canyon carving fun …
Rapido Sport – 1963 MV Agusta 150RS
In 1959, Italy introduced a rule that made it illegal to ride on the highway with a bike that displaced less than 150cc. MV Agusta responded by taking their 125 and creating a family of models around a 150 motor including the Gran Turismo, Rapido Sport America, and Rapido Sport. The latter is what we have in front of us …
Story Intermission – Ups and Downs of Minimalist Motorcyclist Touring in Arizona
As I mentioned in “Part 3.5” of Jim’s Moto Giro story, I ended up in Arizona with Chris Cantle and Julia LaPalme for a story with Motorcyclist magazine. If you weren’t able to snag a copy, the story is now available online.
Bargain Track Weapon – 2013 BMW S1000RR
The S1KRR is undeniably one of the most competent track machines currently available. Even the previous generations boast a seriously impressive electronics suite that fools riders like myself into thinking we’re better than we actually are. As with any premium European superbike, the S1000RR comes at a steep price, and buying a stock example to transform into a trackday bike …
Old-School Cool – 1974 Kawasaki S3 Mach II 400
The S3 Mach II 400 was a smaller, more tamable version of Kawasaki’s legendary 1970’s triples, though the 400 two-stroke inline-triple still packed enough punch to allow for some legally-questionable riding. After Kawasaki’s enormous success with the release of its H1 Mach III, Mean Green seized on the momentum of its iconic three-cylinder by offering several other bikes powered by …
Original Owner – 1971 Honda CL450 Scrambler
The dual-sport cousin of the Black Bomber, Honda’s CL450 was the best selling of the scramblers of the day. Because of this, you can find one with relative ease even though they haven’t been made in 40+ years. With that said, this one stands out from the rest as it’s impressively being offered by the original owner.
Project Woodstock – Honda Z50 Custom
Winner of Planet Minis’ 2014 Classic Mini of the Year, this is one of the best Z50 builds I’ve ever seen. In the seller’s words, this bike “will eat a Grom for breakfast and laugh at its sillyness.” It could be argued that a bright yellow mini bike isn’t very far on the “sillyness” scale, but this bike is nothing …
All Terrain Cycles – 1986 Yamaha BW200 and Honda TR200
A lot of unconventional motorcycles were built in the 1980’s, especially in Japan. When one manufacturer released an unorthodox scoot, another manufacturer would often follow suit, just in case one of these novel gambles worked. Forced induction is a good example of this, but the factory ATV-wheeled dirt bikes of the new-wave and cocaine-fueled decade may be the best example. …