Produced for just two years, the Ambassador was never as well known as bikes like the Eldorado. Built to target the American market, MG saw a way to compete with Harley with a 757cc variant of the venerable V-Twin. This specific example (VIN: 26161) is a numbers-matching beauty with less than 20,000 miles in a lovely shade of gold. Oh …
1991 Suzuki RGV250 VJ22
Nowadays, the mention of a Japanese 250 usually makes on think of the Ninja, a solid learner bike that doesn’t normally excite the senses like other current motorcycles. But 20 years ago, Suzuki built a 250 two-stroke race-replica of its Gamma V-2 racer – good for over 50 horsepower in the narrow power-band. The Suzuki RGV250 was born, and it …
2013 Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer
The rebirth of the Norton Commando now comes in 3 different models – the SF, the Sport, and this – the Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer. Note that I’ve previously featured one of the limited production Special Edition models, as well.
Video Intermission – Waltz of the Machine Equestrians
Reader Jeff Z. told me about a museum exhibit he was planning on checking out at the RISD Museum (Rhode Island School of Design), and as soon as I took a look I knew I had to share one of the rare instances when our favorite two-wheeled vehicles were used to create art – plus as a bonus, it’s not …
2006 BMW HP2 Enduro
Post-Listing Update: This HP2 Enduro was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. The slimmer (but still ugly – and I say this as a GS owner) brother of the R1200GS, the BMW HP2 Enduro took the GS engine and CANBUS electronics but instead utilized a trellis frame and normal forks to save a whopping 53 pounds – this …
Rally Raid – Modified 2012 KTM 690 Enduro
If you’re looking for a true off-roader from your production dual-sport, I’m not sure it gets better than the KTM 690 Enduro. Built to serve as the base for KTM’s Dakar Rally efforts (which they won in 2007, 2009, and 2010 with this bike before regulation changes forced them to switch to a smaller engine for competition), the 690 is …
2011 Honda CB1000R
I love naked bikes and when I was in Paris I couldn’t help but notice quite a few examples of the Honda CB1000R, a bike I almost never see in the US. What’s hard for me to understand is why it sold so poorly here in the US.
2000 Bimota SB8R Special
Post-Listing Update: This Bimota SB8R Special sold for $8,000 after 17 bids on eBay. I’ve featured a couple of SB8R’s before – they’re almost “common” in the world of Bimotas, ignoring how the words common and Bimota should never be used in the same sentence. But the Bimota SB8R Special lives up to its name, by taking the base bike …
1967 Ducati Mark 3 250 Racer
Post-Listing Update: This Ducati Mark 3 250 Racer only got one bid at $5,999 and did not meet reserve. Of the Mark 3’s, the Ducati Mark 3 250 is usually considered the most beautiful example of classic Italian design. This example has been turned into an AHRMA legal vintage racer, yielding a different kind of beauty.
Video Intermission – Perfect Dismount
Take a close look at that screenshot. Yes, there’s a guy standing on the roof of a car. What’s going to surprise you is how that guy manages to get up there: This video brought to you by reader Vic N!
1989 Honda GB500
Post-Sale Update: This GB500 sold for $6,600 after 36 bids on eBay. In the late 80s, Honda took a risk and gave the world a beautiful motorcycle inspired by 60s thumper racers of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race – bikes like the Manx Norton and AJS 7R. Originally created as a 400cc bike in Japan, the bike got …
2007 Buell Lightning Super TT
Post-Listing Update: This Super TT did not meet reserve with bidding up to $3,250. When it comes to streetbikes, it’s harder to have much fun (at legal speeds) than when you’re riding a supermoto. For just two years and 1,700 units, Buell channeled the supermoto feel and created the XB12STT, a tweaked version of their Lightning streetfighter, also known as …
To the Top of Alaska, Day 14 – Part 2
June 17th, 2014 – Prudhoe Bay, AK to Fairbanks, AK ~500 miles We had made it to the top! Now, sadly, it was time to make our way back home.
1980 Kawasaki Z1R KZ1000
Post Sale Update: After 28 bids on eBay, this Z1R sold for $12,100. The Kawasaki Z1R was the brainchild of Wayne Moulton, known as the “Father of the Japanese Cruiser.” His belief was that a solid motorcycle could be moderately tweaked to form four versions, one of which is a sport-tourer. So he took the KZ1000 and turned it into …
Beautifully Restored – 1976 Yamaha RD400C
One of the true giant-killers in motorcycling history, the Yamaha RD400C was given plenty of praise by reviewers when it first came out. It had plenty of power, it didn’t weigh much, you could handle it with relative confidence, and even the brakes were decent. All that, and the price wasn’t bad either. Nearly 40 years later, expectations have changed …