Got money and a desire to ride through Italy on the newest models from Ducati? Come check out the Ducati Dream Tour, which offers Friday-Sunday trips that start from the Ducati factory in Bologna, Italy.
2000 Moto Guzzi V11 Sport Custom
4-30-16 Update: Alright, this’ll be the last time I share this bike. If it sells, it sells. If not, c’est la vie. Find it with bidding up to $2,125 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay. 7-6-15 Update: Almost a year later, this bike is now on the west coast. Unfortunately, the original Ghezzi speedo (which had broken) …
1965 Honda S90
Post Sale Update: AFter 34 bids on eBay, this S90 sold for $2,280. I think one of the rules of this site is that I have to feature a S90 every month or so – it’s in the bylaws or something. I adore mine and it still gets me to work once a week, no problem (even if I can’t …
Video Intermission – Checkpoints
Checkpoints is a just-released 40 minute documentary about what it’s like when you dedicate your life to off-road racing. It features five riders between the ages of 15 and 75, and it’s now availble for free on YouTube! Come take a look. The piece was created by Traction eRag and Motojournalism, and it was partially funded via this Kickstarter project. …
1972 Rockford Chibi Deluxe
Rockford Motors was the American importer for the wonderful Bridgestone motorcycles that occasionally dotted US roads. In ’71, Bridgestone stopped selling bikes, leaving Rockford with a gap in their product portfolio. They decided to take over manufacturing rights for the tiniest Bridgestones, specifically the 100cc “Taka” and two 60cc bikes – the “Tora” and the Rockford Chibi which you see …
1,350 Miles – 1989 Honda GB500
Post Sale Update: This GB500 sold for $5,100 after 15 bids on eBay. Inspired by the beautiful English thumpers of the 60s, the Honda GB500 was a bike ahead of its time when it was released in the late 80s. Unfortunately, it did not sell well, and the US only got it for two years.
1982 Suzuki GS1100EZ
In the early 80s, Suzuki knocked off the CBX as the superbike du jour. The Suzuki GS1100E came into the market and instantly became the bike of choice for the power hungry. American press mags constantly raved about not just the power, but also the surprising handling abilities for such a large bike. The shame for Suzuki was that this …
1993 Moto Guzzi 1000S
Post Sale Update: This 1000S sold for $14,400 after 20 bids on eBay. Introduced in 1990 (and built for three years with slight revisions), Moto Guzzi’s 1000S is a cult classic that is hard to find for sale as owners rarely let them go. It did not sell particularly well, but the retro styling – it was designed to look …
1968 Norton N15CS Scrambler
Post Sale Update: After 29 bids on eBay, this N15CS sold for $12,000. After Norton moved production to Plumstead in the early 60s, they had a few leftover engines from the Atlas line. They threw those engines into Matchless frames to create a series of hybrids under the Norton, Matchless, and AMC names – possibly the most confusing time in …
1981 BMW R80G/S
In September 1980 at the IFMA bicycle/motorcycle show, BMW introduced the first GS. It was a dramatic change in the market, and while many riders were instantly enthralled, plenty of critics thought that a.) the bike was too big to be considered a true enduro and b.) the shaft drive was ill-suited for the task. The fans won out – …
In Canada – Homebrew 3 Wheeler Build
Sites like BikeEXIF are constantly saying that the Honda CX650 has become a new darling of the custom motorcycle world. Here’s something a little bit different using thatsame powerplant. Built with 136 ft of 1 inch square tubing and 3 sheets of 6061T6 aircraft alloy, this cool build is reminiscent of a Morgan 3 Wheeler.
Cheap Runner – 1977 Kawasaki KZ400
It’s always nice to break up posts of expensive exotica with cheap bikes that run or could be restored. In that spirit, here’s a straightforward Kawi KZ400.
Guess That Bike – WWII Edition – Revealed
Congrats to Cas Vanderwoude, who was the first to correctly identify this week’s Guess That Bike feature. The correct answer? A DKW NZ350.
State Champion – 1971 Van Tech Yamaha 100 Flat Tracker
Founded by Bill Van Tichelt, Van Tech ended up building aftermarket frames for small-displacement Japanese bikes like the Honda S90, Kawi 100/120, Bridgestone 90/100, and more. The main purpose was to reduce weight, but also give riders the ability to almost ‘hot swap’ engines and suspensions. As they claimed in one of their ads – you can “run a Hodaka …
Restored – 1971 Ossa Pioneer 250
When a Cycle World reviewer got a 250 Pioneer to cover for the magazine, he was so impressed that he bought one for himself. He called it “one of the ruggedest bikes made” and one that was “happiest in the boondocks.” This example has been restored, so it’s ready for another 30+ years of getting dirty on trail rides.