In the early ’00s, Kawasaki decided that a good way to stay competitive in the 600cc sportbike market was to just bump up displacement of their ZX-6R to 636cc. This was fine with street riders, but a bit of an issue for racers who competed in classes that were limited to 599cc. So Kawasaki also offered a limited-production ZX-6RR – …
Eastern Spirit in Poland – 1979 Suzuki GS550 Custom
I love featuring custom builds that have had some internet fame because I find the asking prices/sale prices fascinating. Here’s a pretty Zook built by the Polish duo of Eastern Spirit. Asking price? $16,500.
In Holland – Magni Sfida
12-7-16 Update: This Magni did not get any action at $30k, so now the seller has relisted it at a still-not-affordable $26,500 or best offer here on eBay. Magni is probably best known for the incredible bikes it made in partnership with MV Agusta, but over the years they also did some work with engines from BMW, Honda, and Moto …
Supermotard Custom in Spain – 2016 Ducati Scrambler
For the 90th anniversary of Ducati this year, Ducati Spain partnered with a few builders to create some customs based on the Ducati Scrambler and featured them at World Ducati Week. This example started as a Ducati Scrambler Icon before it was reworked by Eduardo Iglesias of Russell Motorcycles.
Video Intermission – Inside the BMW Factory in 1976
Here’s a cool short flick from January 1976 – it shows a R90/6 being born in Berlin. This originally aired on French television, which is why the audio is in…French. Even if you don’t understand the language, it’s still worth a view as you get to see the engine and wheels get put together, as well as some assembly line …
1958 Triumph Tiger Cub T20C
Introduced in 1953 with an iconic design by Edward Turner, the T20 was a good looking four stroke with a host of mechanical problems. By 1957 the plunger rear suspension had been replaced with a swing arm frame. In ‘61 and ‘62 it got a new bottom end design on the motor that mostly eliminated bottom end failure in the …
Bryan Fuller – 2014 Ducati Street Tracker
If you follow the custom bike scene at all, you have heard of Bryan Fuller. He has a shop in Atlanta and has turned out some very cool cutting-edge customs over the past few years. He also evidently made the frames for the Lloyd Brothers Ducat flat track team. As such, he has decided to do a run of 10 …
Harley-Davidson Collection
This is a somewhat different post for me. I’m not the monster Harley fan, and this won’t have much tech in it. It is to alert our readers that the collection in residence at Surf City Garage in Huntington Beach, California is being thinned out. I have been to Surf City in the last 3 years and it is a …
TROG Racer – 1940 Harley-Davidson WL
Post Sale Update: This Harley flathead racer sold for $13,522 after 49 bids on eBay. Built to run in this year’s Race of Gentlemen in Pismo Beach, California, this WL flathead racer features a rebuilt motor with the original cases (matching numbers), original fuel tanks, and original rebuilt Linkert M88 carb. It is plated and could be street legal with …
185 Miles – 1979 Honda XR250R
Featuring a 23-inch front wheel, the Honda XR250R was an enduro that was best suited for leisurely speeds, not competition. In a 1979 Road Test, Cycle Guide said “Enduro bikes are not supposed to be meek, but the XR250 would sit up and lick your hand if it could.” This example stands out thanks to the low mileage.
What Do You Want to Know? 2017 BMW G310R
UPDATE: Here’s the review! As part of BMW Motorrad’s quest to take over the world, they’ve developed a small single-cylinder engine to try and crack the entry-level market with. They’ve gone with a 313cc thumper that produces 34 horsepower, and the first bike is a naked “R”. A G310GS has also been announced but you’ll have to wait a bit …
The Pipeline – 1998 Moto Guzzi 1100i Sport Custom
Built by Foundry Motorcycle out of the UK, this custom Guzzi is one of the most distinctive builds I’ve seen in a while. Called “The Pipeline”, it’s based on a Guzzi 1100i Sport, though the fuel injection has been ripped off. The name comes from the shape of the exhaust, which rises above the heads – the builders call it …
Video Intermission – Jay Leno’s Munch Mammut
This week’s episode of Jay Leno’s Garage features one of the coolest motorcycles of the 60s (some people consider it the first superbike) – the Munch Mammut.
Sportster Engined – 1984 Honda “XL883”
It’s a hybrid of “XL” bikes – the engine from a Harley-Davidson XL883 shoved into a (modified) frame from a Honda XL250R. Madness!
1947 Ariel Red Hunter
Post Sale Update: This Red Hunter sold for $6,300 after 21 bids on eBay. Val Page was the original designer of the Ariel Red Hunter in 1932 but Edward Turner had a huge influence on the line shortly before the war. By 1947 the Red Hunter (all of which had a red fuel tank and a distinctive red stripe on …