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.
1 Year Only – 2008 Suzuki B-King GSX1300B
The best way to think about the Suzuki B-King is to consider it a naked version of the famous Hayabusa. Sold only for one year in the US, it features the 2nd generation, 1340cc Hayabusa engine that was retuned for more mid-range torque. When it was unveiled to the world as a prototype, this bike featured a 240 section rear …
Black and Tan – 1978 Honda CB750K
I’ve featured a few MOTO PGH builds in the last few months – my impression is that they build rideable mild customs with a heavy cafe racer influence. This Honda based build is called the Black and Tan – what do you think?
Panhead Cop – 1960 Harley-Davidson Police
Post-Sale Update: This Panhead Police bike sold for $26,201 after 71 bids on eBay. According to the seller, this Harley has always been equipped as a police bike with a sidecar. While it’s currently decommissioned, the sweet police parts were not stripped, the wires were just cut. If you’re OK with some electrical work, you could have yourself a bike …
In Spain – 2001 Ducati 750SS Scrambler Custom
Nowadays, “Ducati Scrambler” has a specific connotation, but this is something different. Every time I look at it I’m split between thinking it’s cool or stupid – what do you say?
Championship Winner – 1974 Carabela Marquesa 100
Post-Listing Update: This Marquesa did not get any action at the opening bid of $2,950. The Marquesa was Carabela’s successor to the Caliente, Mexico’s first MX bike. The Marquesa, which translates to Marquis, was available in 100, 125, and 175cc versions – here’s one of the tiniest that placed 1st in both Motos of its class in the 2015 AMA …