Post Sale Update: This R69S sold for $17,500 after 42 bids on eBay. In the long, proud history of BMW, the R69S is one of the most iconic motorcycles ever built by the German manufacturer. In 1962, Cycle World said “it is still the smoothest, best finished, quietest and cleanest motorcycle it has ever been our pleasure to ride.”
Video Intermission – Honda Safety Film – The Invisible Circle
Here’s a motorcycle safety piece produced by (and starring) Honda motorcycles. It’s all about the ‘invisible circle’, as you the idea that you have to pretend that you are invisible to other vehicles. It’s cute, it’s fairly obvious, it’ll give you a nostalgia kick, and it features a Honda S90 – what else could you want?!
In Belgium – 1956 NSU Tandem Moped
Well, I’m not entirely sure what we’re looking at here, but the seller calls it a “double-decker” motorcycle with a NSU tank and a 98cc 2-stroke motor.
70 HP, 235 LBS – 1995 Kawasaki KX500 Supermoto
Did you like the stats but not the price of last week’s Zaeta? Prepare yourself. When Kawasaki introduced the KX500 motcrosser in 1983, Dirt Bike magazine called it “unrideable” and “violent.” The bike didn’t change all that much over the years (in fact, from 1994 till it was killed off in 2004, it didn’t change at all), which means it’s …
1971 Benelli Dynamo
It seems the big complaint nowadays with dual-sports is that they’re too big and unwieldy when you’re in the tough stuff. Here’s your chance to show that R12GS owner that he made the wrong choice with a Benelli Dynamo, the Italian answer to the Honda CT70…if the CT70 wasn’t street-legal.
Jody Nicolas Owned – 1974 Ducati 750 Sport
Post-Sale Update: After 13 bids on eBay, this 750 Sport sold for $19,000. This Ducati 750 Sport has an interesting story thanks to ownership by Jody Nicolas, the former Editor of Cycle World and Technical Editor of Motorcyclist. He customized his instant classic by adding replacing the wheels with Morris Mags, rearranged the rear sets, added a rear hydraulic brake …
Rossi Tribute NC30 — 1992 Honda VFR400F
America’s smallest V4 Interceptor was the VF500, last seen in 1986. But due to licensing restrictions in the Japanese home market, they got the scaled-down VF400, which morphed into VFR specs in ’86 with the series’ redesign, including gear-driven cams and eventually a single-sided swingarm. Lightweight, with a useable powerband for its displacement, the VFR400R has become a popular grey-market …
MotoGP Changes for 2016
The 68th season of MotoGP begins this weekend in Qatar, and we’ll see if Jorge Lorenzo will be able to defend his title. Let’s take a moment to see what’s changing this year:
Brand New – 1981 Kawasaki KZ750 E2
The Kawasaki KZ750 didn’t get much attention from the world – it was basically a bigger KZ650 that didn’t have many other revisions. Check out this link for a retrospective on the KZ from Clement Salvadori at Rider. Here’s an example of the breed that is somehow still new – it’s never been registered or titled.
1961 Harley-Davidson Panhead Chopper
View Post“Bella” – 2007 Ducati Sport 1000s Custom
View PostVideo Intermission – WSBK 2016, Round 2
Kawasaki has been whupping everyone in World Superbike this year with a a number of 1-2 finishes between Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea. The two continued their dominance this last round at Chang International Circuit in Thailand (with a cameo from Chaz Davies, and the last 8 laps were real fun to watch. Check ’em out here:
Rare in the US – 1984 Moto Guzzi V35 Imola II
Guzzi’s V35 doesn’t get much attention – it was introduced in 1977 alongside the V50 as Italy had new licensing and tax categories. Three years later the Imola II was introduced, gaining 26mm carbs, a new seat, chrome indicators, new silencers, and points ignition as part of the update.
1989 Honda Transalp XL600V
A dual-sport that was ahead of its time, the Honda Transalp was offered to the US between ’89 and ’91 as do-it-all bike that was less off-road biased than the Africa Twin. Powered by a liquid-cooled V-twin, the first generation of the TA produced approximately 50 horsepower and was capable of 110 miles per hour. This example stands out as …
10 Do and Don’ts of the Dalton
As the ides of March pass us by, my hope is that you’re busy planning a lengthy motorcycle trip for the summer. Reader Chris H. sent me a link to this post from MotoQuest, which will hopefully inspire some of you to take the long road up to the top of Alaska!