I’ve never heard of this bike before, but the seller claims it’s a rare competition version of BSA’s 500cc single. This bike exposes my lack of BSA knowledge – I’m familiar with the ’48 YB32 Gold Star, and the ZB34 Gold Star which came about a year later – but a YB34 is not something I know anything about. Quick …
Video Intermission – Important Phone Call
At a recent Grand National Cross Country race at Powerline Park, a gentleman named Tim Cosner manages to hurdle an incoming motorcycle – though the bike wasn’t exactly vertical when this happened. My first assumption was that this guy was on the phone, but it turns out he was on the radio. I can’t believe how calm he was after …
1972 Honda CB500 Cafe Racer
Here’s a custom Honda CB500 Cafe Racer that was commissioned by the seller at a local shop in Los Angeles. Since the build, the bike has just 2,000 miles. It apparently runs well and is a reliable daily rider. Minor flaws are limited to brakes that need to be adjusted and a small oil leak. Find this Honda CB500 Cafe …
Brand New – 1974 Indian ME-100
Post-Listing Update: This ME-100 did not meet reserve at $2,225. Here’s a basically brand new example of a 40 year-old Indian ME-100 – one of the classic examples of Indian’s flirtation with tiny displacement off-road bikes. The ME-100 featured a Fuji F500K engine, which displaced 97cc. In 1974, the ME-100 got upgraded to a 22mm carb, and power went through …
Great Deal – 2005 BMW R1200GS
I think the R1200GS is a great bike, but it’s just a little too common for me to feature regularly on Bike-urious. With that said, I’ve made a point in the past of featuring a less unique bike if it’s a smoking deal – and I think this GS fits the bill. It’s been well loved for the last 26,000 …
Video Intermission – World’s Biggest Exhaust?
I have no words. Enjoy:
1948 BMW R35
By the time production had ended, the BMW R35 was the German firm’s most successful motorcycle in history. It was introduced in 1937 and was capable of about 100km/h (60mph).
Converted to Street – 1970 BSA Victor
In the early 60’s, BSA’s race team was developing a large single in the hopes of winning the 500cc world motocross championship. A 441cc engine ended up being the ticket, which helped BSA capture the 500cc championship in ’64 and ’65. The following year, the company released the BSA Victor 441 Special to the public. “The 441 single is a …
1947 Harley-Davidson FL Knucklehead
Here’s a gorgeous Harley-Davidson FL Knucklehead (VIN: 47FL9239) that’s got a 20 year-old restoration. It’s not completely OEM – the front end is from a late model springer, the transmission is from a ’50 model, there’s a disk brake up front and it’s been converted to foot shift, hand clutch, and a 12V electrical system. But I’m not a purist …
2000 Ural Deco
Take your normal Ural sidecar, add some ‘style’, and you get the Ural Deco. I’d call it rare, but aren’t all Ural’s? This has been well sorted thanks to a 2006 engine, 2014 gear box, and 2014 final drive. The 650cc engine is good for about 35 horsepower. Find this Ural Deco sidecar for sale here on ADVRider (registration required) …
1984 Honda Ascot VT500
Named after Ascot Park, a former flat-track raceway in Los Angeles, the Honda Ascot (also known as the VT500) was a V-Twin standard that was styled after flat-track bikes. I always thought the front headlight looked silly, and in the process I unfairly over-looked the Ascot. It didn’t sell well, but owners are passionate about this bike – an excellent …
Desert Racer – 1970 Trackmaster Norton Commando 750
Post-Listing Update: This crazy Commando got no action on eBay. Is this the coolest Norton Commando I’ve ever seen? Maybe. Maybe not. But it sure is one of the most unique. This Commando has a beautiful nickel finish Trackmaster oil-in-frame to turn it into a desert racer that will make you stand out.
Video Intermission – Bears of the Last Frontier
Reader Jeff Z. gave me a heads up that on the PBS show Nature, they once aired a 3-part (each is an hour long) special about two guys who covered 3,000 miles in Alaska on a quest to document bears. The piece is called Bears of the Last Frontier.
Well Farkled – 2011 KTM 530 XC-W SixDays
The KTM 530 XC-W SixDays was already an impressive dual-sport from the factory, but this specific example has been customized beyond belief to turn it into the ultimate trail bike.
Bedlam Werks Rocket – 1976 Honda CB550
Bedlam Werks is a 3-year old custom motorcycle shop based out of Athens, Georgia. The brainchild of Travis Christopher, Bedlam has evolved from making custom parts – usually for cafe racers – into now building custom motorcycles. Here’s a revamped version of their first build, in which they’ve modified a CB550 to create a bike they call Rocket.