Post Sale Update: This Rune sold for $15,602 after 10 bids on eBay. The Honda Rune made a huge splash back in 2004, as Honda brought to market a bike that no one believed would ever make it past concept. Just look at it! I’m still stunned that Honda released this bike, and I’m in love with the rear fender. …
Picture Intermission – Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club Rally 2014
This past Saturday, I went to see the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club Rally, which was fantastic. Unfortunately, I was only able to spend about an hour there, so I didn’t have a chance to see as much as I would have wanted to. With that in mind, I also didn’t get as many photos as usual, so I apologize in …
Rathmell Rep – 1976 Montesa Cota 348
Malcolm Rathmell was a champion trials rider who rode a prototype Montesa Cota 348 in the Scottish Six Days Trial in 1975 – he placed second. During his career, he won the British Trails Championship six times in a ten year period, as well as the World Championship in 1974. He went on to start a mail order business in …
1974 Rokon RT340
Post-Sale Update: After 15 bids on eBay, this Rokon RT340 sold for $2,449. The Rokon RT340 was a rare ‘one-wheel’ drive bike featuring an automatic transmission from the company best known for making the go-anywhere Trailbreaker. Because of the transmission, you might suspect it was geared (no pun intended) towards beginners who wanted to learn in the dirt without worrying …
Video Intermission – Honda RC148
Jesus Christ. Turn your speakers down, because this is just incredible. I wasn’t paying attention the first time I watched this – you hear a tiny idle and I naively thought it was the motorcycle. Then you see that the noise was just a generator for a wheel to bump start the racer. 5 cylinders, each 25cc, could rev up …
Born Free 6 Entrant – 1940 Harley-Davidson UL Custom
This Harley-Davidson UL Flathead Chopper was built for the Born Free 6 Show by Joey Cano of Slabside Cycles. As you might expect, there’s plenty of custom work here. That includes plenty of handmade parts, the custom paint job, and brass molding. The 1940 engine was rebuilt by Live Free Cycles, wrapped by a 1948 Panhead wishbone frame. For more …
2005 Honda Big Ruckus PS250
Post-Sale Update: After 23 bids on eBay, this Honda Big Ruckus PS250 sold for $2,425 The Ruckus was a surprising hit for Honda, due almost entirely to the aftermarket customization that has skyrocketed around the 50cc scooter. What many people don’t know is that Honda offered a ‘full-size’ version called the Honda Big Ruckus for 4 years in Japan and …
Dirt Cheap – 1995 MZ Skorpion 660
The MZ Skorpion was the result of an international partnership between a British design firm, the East German manufacturer, MZ, and Yamaha. Weighing 380 pounds and packing 48 horsepower, this is a rare sportbike that has become quite the cult classic. The Skorpion utilizes the engine and electrical systems from a Yamaha XT660, and the brakes/suspension from Italian firm Grimeca. …
Your Own Race Team – 2 2014 Triumph Daytona 675R DSB Racers
Riders Discount is proud to have licensed racers on staff, and that means they’re often out on the track. That also means that they’re building race bikes, and now they’re selling 2 Triumph Daytona 675R race bikes that were prepped for Road America.
Two Harley Dual Sports
Here’s a couple of oddballs for you: two Harley-powered dual-sports. The first is based on a ’93 Sportster 1200. Modifications include cartridge style forks, custom skid plate, MX bars and pegs, conversion to chain drive, a swignarm modified for the shocks, and plenty of Screamin’ Eagle engine upgrades. Find this Sportster converted to a dual-sport for sale here on Craigslist …
1967 Honda CB450 Black Bomber
The Honda CB450 Black Bomber is easily one of the most significant motorcycles to ever come out of Japan. Produced for just three years, it was the company’s first ‘big bike’ (and the first production bike with DOHC).
Rare in the US – 2007 Honda Varadero XL1000V
I’m still trying to figure out how this bike came to the United States, because Honda never imported them here. But the Varadero has been around since 1999, steadily plugging along as an adventure bike with the heart from a Superhawk.
16k Miles – 1989 BMW R100 GS
The BMW R100 GS was the bike that broke open the mold for BMW. While the R80GS was the first of this new category of bikes, the R100 updated everything and sold over 34,000 units. The best way to sum up this bike would probably be in the words of my mechanic, who calls it a “pavement-indifferent” touring bike.
Reader Ride – Norton Commando VR880 Sprint Special
Kenny Dreer, the man who almost brought Norton back from the grave several years ago, got his start restoring motorcycles from the British marque at his shop called Vintage Rebuilds (VR) near Portland, Oregon. As the 1990s came to an end, he started building his own variant of the Commando, which he called the Norton Commando VR880 Sprint Special.
1964 Honda Dream Police
I always thought the Dream was an ugly bike, particularly due to the square headlight and front fender. With that said, its impact on Honda is undeniable, and this Honda Dream Police variant is just too cool not to share.