Post-Listing Update: This Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Custom got no action on eBay at the $5,000 opening bid. In 1989, the Super Bowl halftime show changed forever. After decades of parade floats and marching bands, a production company convinced the NFL to all out with a large performance. That first year, audiences were treated to a 50s-themed performance that featured, among …
Video Intermission – Choosing a Dual Sport
The dual-sport market has plenty of choices, which can make it tough to pick the best one for you. The fine gentlemen at Half Throttle Motorsports have come up with a quick test to help you pick the perfect two-wheeled exploration tool:
1947 Velocette KSS
Known for being the last “cammy” Velocette, the KSS was produced in varying forms from 1927 all the way through 1948. A toned down variant of their production racers (which were replicas of the Works racers), the KSS is usually translated as “Kamshaft Super Sports” – though as Paul D’Orleans notes in the comments, the Kamshaft is a ‘nonsense word.’ …
Sounds Like Opera – 1980 Moto Guzzi LeMans II CX100
Post Sale Update: This CX sold for $6,299 after 27 bids on eBay. The successor to the legendary 850cc Le Mans, the Moto Guzzi LeMans II CX100 was created to satisfy the American mantra of “no replacement for displacement” and as competition to the BMW R100RS. Guzzi took the engine and lower fairings from the 1000SP sport tourer, and threw …
1970 Bridgestone GTO 350
Post-Sale Update: As noted by reader Tom down below, this Bridgestone sold for $5,650 after 31 bids on eBay. The Bridgestone GTO 350 was the scrambler version of the absolutely incredible GTR, a bike that could leave 650 and 750cc bikes in the dust in the quarter-mile. What did Bridgestone think would be required to turn a street bike into …
1997 Moto Guzzi Centauro
Post-Listing Update: Despite 15 bids on eBay, this Moto Guzzi Centauro Racer did not meet reserve at $6,110 Designed for the 75th anniversary of the MG factory, the Moto Guzzi Centauro was a limited production model (just 1918 ever built) that was a sporty variant of the classic Italian cruiser with very distinctive bodywork, made out of bodywork that the …
1988 Moto Guzzi NTX650
Very few people know that in the 80s, Guzzi tried their hand at the large-displacement dual-sport market that BMW blew open with the GS. After a pretty poor first attempt with the 650TT, the Italian company made several revisions and released the Moto Guzzi NTX 650 (the NTX stands for Nuevo Tipo Cross). By some accounts, just 24 of these …
1972 Yamaha TR3
During the 60s and 70s, Yamaha offered racing versions of its street bikes for use by privateers and even Yamaha factory racers. The classic R5 provided the base for the Yamaha TR3, a David among goliaths that was the first 2-stroke (and smallest bike at the time) to ever win the Daytona 200.
1983 Moto Morini 500 V Sport
Most riders think of the 3 1/2 when they hear Moto Morini, but the firm was also known for their 500 Sei-V that was produced a decade later…to very little fanfare. What was once a classically beautiful motorcycle became an odd jumble of plastic and angular lines as the Italian company tried to compete with bikes coming out of Japan.
Worth the Risk? 1996 Aprilia RS250
I’m one of the many that believe the RS250 is the best 250 street bike the world has seen in decades. One of the best-handling bikes ever made, Aprilia worked their chassis magic around a reworked engine from a Suzuki RGV250. It produced a nutty 69 horsepower from a 250cc 2-stroke engine, and redlines at 12,000rpm (which is good, because …
Bought on Bike-urious – 1966 Kawasaki B8
Easily my favorite part of running this website is the fact that I get to meet a lot of passionate motorcycle enthusiasts all around the world. As you might expect, plenty of them have accumulated a collection of various bikes that make them happy. But few come close to the dedication shown by loyal reader Jim R. to a narrow …
1978 Yamaha SR500
Post-Sale Update: After 13 bids on eBay, this Yamaha SR500 sold for a very reasonable $2,801. The Yamaha SR500 has been a popular bike for decades, due to clean styling and a reliable single-cylinder engine. These traits have also led this bike to be the base for thousands of custom works, including choppers, dirt-trackers, and cafe racers. Here’s one that’s …
1971 Ducati 450 RT Desmo
Not many people know it, but Ducati had a one-year, one-time-only foray into the world of motocross. The Ducati 450 RT Desmo was created and imported after its American importer convinced them to bring a big thumper dirt racer to the states.
2011 Harley-Davidson VRSCDX Custom
Post-Sale Update: After 37 bids on eBay, this Harley-Davidson VRSCDX Custom sold for US $21,100.00. The Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special, otherwise known as the VRSCDX, is a drag race-inspired cruiser marketed as the custom variant of the VRSC. Producing 125 horsepower from 1,250cc of engine, the bike could move. This bike has been customized beyond my belief, with one off …
1953 BMW R67/2 Sidecar Racer
The first postwar 600cc BMW, the R67 was produced for one year before the R67/2 was sold between ’52 and ’54. 4,226 units were sold before BMW moved to the /3, but this specific /2 has been converted into a very cool sidecar racer.