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, …
“Rsix” – 2015 BMW RnineT Custom
The RnineT is one of the most commonly modified motorcycles being made today, it’s literally referred to as BMW’s “blank canvas”. The modular German standard was engineered to be easily customized with features such as a subframe that can be removed by anyone with two-minutes and a socket-wrench. Countless professional and amateur backyard builders have cafe’d out the various RnineT …
Auction Preview – Mecum Monterey 2017
Next weekend, Mecum is auctioning off 55 motorcycles (and a whole bunch of cars) in Monterey, California. Let’s see what they’ve got in store!
2 Miles – 2002 Ducati 998S Ben Bostrom Replica – 6/155
Post Sale Update: This Bostrom rep sold for $18,299 after 16 bids on eBay. Ben Bostrom was represented by #155 when he competed in AMA Superbike with Ducati’s 998S. So Ducati used that as the number of copies that should be built when they created a limited edition replica. 155 were built for the US and UK markets, making a …
Rebuilt British Beauty – 1978 Rickman Triumph
Last time I featured a Rickman Triumph, I referred to it as a “Britmota” and even though this example isn’t a road machine, I feel the moniker still applies. This completely rebuilt example is sporting a NEW Rickman chassis wrapped around a 1978 Triumph 750 engine. The restoration process on this iconic British machine took an accumulative three years to …
Restored – 1987 Yamaha YSR50
This YSR is in impressive shape thanks to a recent restoration to what the seller calls “show quality” in a bit of exaggeration. Since the work was done it’s had a few miles put on it, but this is still one of the nicer YSR’s I’ve seen in a long time. Most examples spend their lives getting beat up and …