Post-Listing Update: I thought the opening price was a little high, but I’m surprised to report that there were no bids at $7,495 for this Buell RS1200. Erik Buell got his start working for Harley-Davidson, but he made his name when he built the Buell Battletwin, a racebike built to extract as much speed as possible from a Harley engine. …
1919 Indian Power Plus Sidecar
Post-Listing Update: Despite 16 bids up to $29,000, this Indian Power Plus Sidecar did not meet reserve. The Indian Power Plus was a successful roadster and canvas for racing bikes, especially with Erwin “Cannonball” Baker (after whom the Cannonball Run was named after). Today we’ve got an example that forgoes the racing pedigree and instead adds a sidecar.
1970 Muskin El Gato
Post Listing Update: This El Gato got no interest at the BIN of $900. Marketed as a “Midi-Cycle”, the Muskin El Gato wanted to separate itself from minibikes by completely making up a new category of motorcycles. Utilizing a 80cc Fuji two-stroke (predecessor to all the Hodaka units that would soon make their way to US shores), this bike had …
Prairie Green – 1948 Indian Chief
The Chief was one of Indian’s most popular models, and was built for over 31 years in the first run. Over this 30+ year run, it evolved to gain several innovations, including OHV and 4 valves per cylinder, though it seems most innovations never made it past the racing bikes. Still, this beauty was capable of 85 miles per hour. …
Colossal Failure – 2003 Cannondale X440
The Cannondale X440 was the swansong of Cannondale motorcycles, a subsidiary of the well-known American bicycling company. In the late 90s, Cannondale tried to move into motorsports, with an off-road bike and an ATV. Long story short, it was a disaster. $80 million later, the company declared bankruptcy, having left behind an interesting story of what happens when you can’t …
Little Bike, Big Engine – Custom 1961 Cushman Eagle
3-1 Update: Four months later, and it’s back! Find this custom 1961 Cushman Eagle for sale with bidding up to $10,100 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay. Post-Listing Update: After 21 bids on eBay, this bike did not meet reserve at $15,612. During World War II, very few vehicle manufacturers were allowed to continue civilian production, as …
1953 Indian Brave
After Indian went out of business in the late 40s and they were scooped up by a British firm, they sold off the remaining “true” Indians and created a new model before starting to sell rebadged Royal Enfields like the Tomahawk and the Lance. That model was the Indian Brave, designed as a low budget runabout for the American market.
Show Rider- 1978 Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider Custom
Post-Sale Update: After being relisted, this Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider Custom sold for $12,500 on eBay. In 1971, HD released the Super Glide, their first ‘factory custom’. In 1977, the company introduced the Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider, with a 74 ci engine surrounded by the FL frame. Seat height was just 27 inches, meaning nearly anyone could ride it.
240 HP – Carpenter Racing Triumph Rocket III
Post-Listing Update: This Carpenter Racing Triumph Rocket III got one offer, but it wasn’t good enough to move the bike. 2-25 Update: 2 months later, this Carpenter Racing Triumph Rocket III is back up for sale, but this time on eBay. Find it with a BIN of $17,499 or best offer here on eBay. The Triumph Rocket III made quite …
2001 Buell S3T Thunderbolt
As I was admiring a friend’s Ducati Paul Smart this weekend, I remarked that more motorcycles should have frames in colors other than black. This Buell S3T Thunderbolt (in addition to being the basis of the police-spec Defender) features a very distinctive paint scheme of Volcano Gray plastics on an Orange frame and wheels. This beauty is being sold by …
50+ Bike Collection For Sale
Reader John S. tipped me off about a private collection of over 50 bikes that’s come up for sale – if you can’t find something you like in this set, you probably don’t belong on this website!
Featured First – 1980 Harley-Davidson FXB Sturgis Edition
Post-Sale Update: After being relisted, this Harley-Davidson FXB Sturgis Edition sold for a best offer under $12,999, final sale price unknown. In honor of the famous Sturgis motorcycle rally, HD released the Harley-Davidson FXB Sturgis – a FX (Low Rider chassis/engine) customized with a black/orange paint job and a slight extension of the front forks to give it more of …
1958 Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster
Post-Listing Update: The sale of this bike did not go through. It was relisted several times, eventually dropping to $12,000, until finally the bike was pulled off without a sale. In 1957, HD introduced the world to its Sporster. The next year, they released only 711 copies of the Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster, which was a higher-compression touring model, starting a …
Red, White, and Blue Part 3 – 1971 Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide
2-14 Update: Well, apparently that didn’t work out. This Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide is now back up for sale with an opening bid of $18,399 here on eBay. Post-Sale Update: After 29 bids on eBay, this Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide sold for $18,300. My trilogy of patriotic paint jobs concludes with a bike that’s actually made in America. Considered by …
1948 Mustang Model 2
Post-Listing Update: After 21 bids on eBay, this Mustang Model 2 did not meet reserve at $3,200.01. It’s now back up for sale with bidding already quite active at $1,925, find it here on eBay. Sold for nearly 20 years, the Mustang was developed and built in Glendale, California by Gladden Products Corporation. It started as a homebrew bike built …