Moto Guzzi is a proud Italian company that has been making motorcycles for close to 100 years. Prior to WWII, they were primarily small-displacement singles and twins, and they have a long history of success in racing, with 14 World GP Championships and 11 TT wins. At the end of the 1960’s, they produced their first transverse twin that powered …
Attack Performance Tuned – 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R Racer
Based out of Huntington Beach, California, Attack Performance has developed quite a name for themselves thanks to extensive experience in AMA Superbike racing – plus they even dabbled in some US rounds of MotoGP. Those of us with more sedate riding paces can still benefit from their knowledge as they offer parts for all kinds of sportbikes. This track bike …
NHRA Pro V-Twin Drag Racer
Drag racers are particularly interesting motorcycles engineered to perform an extremely specific task, nonetheless these ridiculously powerful two-wheelers do have a place in the professional racing scene. While riding a bike in a straight line may seem like a fairly simple proposition, there are a myriad of elements that making this activity far more difficult than most realize. Few people …
LC Fabrications Build – 2006 Triumph TT Deluxe
Post Listing Update: This custom Triumph did not get any interest at the opening ask of $24,999. Starting with a ’06 Triumph Bonneville motor, Jeremy Cupp of LC Fabrications created a hybrid of antique style with modern motivation. What do you think of it?
Video Intermission – Honda CB750P Police Special
Another one of my favorites from this year’s Quail Motorcycle Gathering – a Honda CB750 Police Bike.
1980 Sachs G3 505/1D
This G3 moped stands out for two reasons: first, it has an impressive 15,800 miles on the odometer, and secondly, it features the top of the line 505/1D motor – good for a stonking 2.7 horsepower. Speeding tickets, here we come!
Bored Out and Turbocharged – 1982 Suzuki Katana
Thanks to a 1,400cc motor and a Rajay F40 turbo, this Katana has enough juice to back up the iconic angular styling.
Rare Racer – 1979 Bimota YB3
For most of Bimota’s history, their bread and butter has been taking proven existing power plants (in the YB3’s case the Yamaha TZ350) and dropping them into advanced frames and outfitting them with trick components and bodywork. The YB3 is a rare example of one of the Italian manufacturer’s late-seventies/early-eighties race machines. Different sources made different claims but anywhere from …
Folding Scooter – 1968 Minimo Joky
The Minimo Joky is a rare folding scooter with a frame made out of aluminum. Because it weighed 60 pounds, it was apparently quite popular with yacht and glider owners – the former would get around the harbor and the latter would use it to get to a phone after landing. They’re nearly impossible to find in the US and …
Anheuser-Busch Promotion – 2000 Yamaha V-Star 650 Sidecar
Riders are all excited about Yamaha’s announcement this morning of the new Star Venture, but I suspect that’s because they forgot the majesty of this sidecar that was built for an Anheuser-Busch non-alcoholic energy drink called 180 Degrees. It was their attempt to take on Red Bull, and I think you know how it ended. Per the seller, Motorvation built …
Video Intermission – Crocetti Speciale at Quail Motorcycle Gathering
At the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, Aaron and I flagged down the owners of some of our favorite bikes and asked them to tell us more. Here’s Marc Crocetti of Santa Monica, California talking us through his custom ’71 Triumph Daytona which was built to look like a ’60s Isle of Man TT racer.
1974 Dalesman 125 Scout
Dalesman was an English motorcycle manufacturer that started by utilizing Puch motors. They made three versions: trials, motocross, and enduro. Production was based out of Yorkshire between 1968 and 1974, making this Enduro (also branded as the Scout) bike one of the last off the line.
Moto Giro Mount – 1962 Wards Riverside (Benelli) Cobra
Back in the 60’s some of the major US department stores sold European small-displacement motorcycles in the American market. Montgomery Wards rebadged Benellis and sold them under the Wards-Riverside name. You could buy them in the store, or from their long-gone catalogs. Here’s an ad for the 4-stroke 250.
First Ride – 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 and 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
View PostMuseum Intermission – The Art of the Motorcycle
There are several enjoyable museums dedicated to motorcycles in the US – but when it comes to mainstream museums, the definitive motorcycle exhibit was “The Art of the Motorcycles” from late 1998 at the Guggenheim. The museum released a lovely 400+ page hardcover book about the exhibit years ago, but if you want a copy nowadays your only option is …