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Bitsa BMW – 1970 BMW R90

In Germany, Touring by AbhiLeave a Comment

The seller of this BMW calls it a R90/5 – which was not an official model from the BMW factory. He has bestowed that name on this bike because it has a R90/6 engine transplanted into the R60/5 frame. That’s just one of many modifications that makes this bike a ‘bitsa’.

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2 Miles – 1958 Capriolo TV 75

In Italy, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Capriolo started producing motorcycles in 1948 in a small town in Northern Italy. They lasted until 1964, at which point Laverda bought them up. Though the company is not well known anymore, this TV 75cc was a high-quality runabout powered by a four-stroke, overhead cam engine with a high compression ratio with Aprilia electrics to round things up.

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Ending Soon – 2007 BMW R1200S

In Germany, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

When it was released, the R1200S was BMW’s sportiest-ever take on the boxer engine. Whereas the R11S was almost a 50/50 balance of sport and touring, the R12S was marketed much more towards the former with slogans like “born in heaven, raised in hell”. When it was first announced, BMW didn’t even offer factory luggage as an option, though that …

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1986 Bimota DB1 Custom Track Bike

In Italy, Race by Abhi3 Comments

Post Listing Update: Bidding stalled at $20,000 and this Bimota did not meet reserve. 2-19-16 Update: 18 months later, this cool racer is back up for sale. Find it with an unmet opening bid of $16,000 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada here on eBay. I’ve featured a stock Bimota DB1 before, but today’s example is on the opposite end of the …

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In Italy – 1950 GIMA Type 74

In Blog by AbhiLeave a Comment

2-19-16 Update: This GIMA is back up for sale with an unmet opening bid of $5,000 here on eBay. A French manufacturer, Groupement Industriel Métallurgique Automobile (GIMA) produced small displacement motrcycles between 1947 and 1956, though in 2005, a businessman named Hilario Gonzalez revealed a prototype of a rebirth of the brand.

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1981 Honda CB750F with Sputnik Sidecar

In 3 Wheels, Japan, Russia by AbhiLeave a Comment

2-18-16 Update: Almost a year and a half later, this interesting hack is back up for sale. Now it’s in Playa del Rey with the same asking price ($4,500) here on Craigslist. Originally built by Mike Braverman of Dual Sport Sidecars out of Sylmar, CA, this is a Honda CB750F with Sputnik Sidecar that the seller says will be the …

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Restored – 1970 Suzuki T350 Rebel

In Japan, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Before the name Rebel became synonymous with a small Honda cruiser, it was bestowed upon the middleweight of Suzuki’s two-stroke T series. The T350 was an evolution of the excellent 250 Hustler – it had the same frame and brakes – though in this case the displacement was actually just 315cc. The parallel twin engine put out 39 horsepower and …

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1958 Gilera 150 Sport

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

I’ve always thought Gilera’s 150 Sport was one of the prettiest motorcycles to come out of Italy at the time, so I’m excited to share this restored example (though it’s sat for a little bit). Plus, more bikes should have pedestrian slicers.