Post Sale Update: After 15 bids on eBay, this N15 sold for $6,500. After Norton moved production to Plumstead in the early 60s, they had a few leftover engines from the less-than-popular 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 …
Video Intermission – KTM 1190 Adventure in New Zealand
View Post“Green Phlash” – 1976 BMW R90/6
View Post1978 Kawasaki Z1RTC
The Kawasaki Z1RTC has the distinction of being the ‘first’ of many things. Most importantly, it was the first turbocharged bike released into the market, kicking off the 80’s turbo bike rush which included bikes like the Yamaha Seca Turbo and the Honda CX650 Turbo.
No Reserve – 2006 BMW HP2 Enduro
Post Sale Update: This HP2 Enduro sold for $15,910 after 19 bids on eBay. One of the biggest issues with eBay is how easy it is for a seller to pull a bike early for any (in)valid reason. So it’s nice to see this seller, who guarantees his cool HP2 Enduro will be finding a new owner.
$2,500 – 1989 Kawasaki EX500
You asked for more affordable bikes, so here’s another one for you. Between 1987 and 1990, the Kawasaki EX500 won Cycle World’s “Best Under 500cc Streetbike”, because they considered it ‘unusually capable and versatile’.
1966 Greeves Challenger
Founded by Bert Greeves, the Greeves motorcycle company started when Bert was mowing his lawn and thought of mounting a lawnmower engine to the wheelchair of his disabled cousin to help with mobility. That led to a government contract, and Bert was inspired by his success to start building motorcycles as well. The company was quite successful with exports – …
1967 Bultaco Metralla
View PostHalloween – 1974 Ducati 750 GT
Post Sale Update: After 36 bids on eBay, this Ducati sold for $32,155. Fully restored in the distinctive orange/black paint scheme, this Ducati 750GT (VIN: 755193) is claimed to have been restored to museum quality by Austin Vintage Cycle, who have documented the process with a lot of photos here on their site.
Video Intermission – Unfriendly Competitor
At the end of the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series Championship, it all came down to the last race at NOLA Motorsports Park. The race was down to two riders – conveniently the same ones who were battling for the series championship. Slightly behind coming into the last straightway, Tyler O’Hara grabbed at Michael Barnes’ arm to …
1941 Royal Enfield WD/C
Royal Enfield built a series of WD (War Department) motorcycles for the British war Office for WWII. The best known was the 125cc Flying Flea, though one of the bigger options was the 350cc WD/C in front of you today.
9 Second KZ – 1979 Kawasaki KZ1000 Drag Racer
I realize the market for drag bikes is not a big one, but here’s something to mix things up a bit. The engine has V&H heads and has been bored out to 1,428cc – this in combination with a backcut transmission, Dyna race ignition, racing cams, and a whole lot more has enabled this bike to run a 9.93 at …
1968 BMW R69S
Post Listing Update: This R69S was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. From a 1962 review in Cycle World: “Whatever the BMW’s merits in a contest of speed, it is still the smoothest, best finished, quietest and cleanest motorcycle it has ever been our pleasure to ride. To be honest, we think that anyone who would worry much …
1985 Pulse Autocycle
View PostOne Owner – 1989 Moto Guzzi California III
Built between 1987 and 1991, the Moto Guzzi California III was an evolution of the cruiser Guzzi first developed in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol to replace CHP’s fleet of V7s.