Post Sale Update: This Trophy Trail did not meet reserve despite 22 bids up to $5,800 on eBay. The Triumph TR5T Trophy Trail 500 was based on a trials machine designed for off-road use. For just two years (’73-’74), Triumph built the Trophy Trail, also known as the Adventurer, which was fairly successful in competition events such as the ISDT.
Needs Tuning – 1969 Greeves Ranger
Post Listing Update: This Greeves was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Founded by Bert Greeves, the Greeves motorcycle company started when Bert was mowing his lawn and thought of mounting a lawnmower engine to the wheelchair of his disabled cousin to help with mobility. That led to a government contract, and Bert was inspired by his success …
UK Nostalgia Project – Sidewinder Sidecar
Alright, so it’s not a motorcycle, it’s in the UK, and it needs a little bit of work. But I think the Sidewinder sidecar is very interesting, and they’re hard to find. Why are they so interesting? Because they’re all about flaunting the rules.
2000 Triumph Adventurer 900
Post Sale Update: This Adventurer sold for $2,150 after 9 bids on eBay. The Triumph Adventurer combines the smoothness of their 900cc triple with a laid back, standard frame. A larger front wheel and longer forks set it apart from the Thunderbird, giving it a relaxed sense and riding style. It can’t be described as sprightly, but is that really …
Black Shadow Spec – 1953 Vincent Rapide
Post Listing Update: This Rapide did not get any interest at the opening bid of $65,000. In 1917, while serving as a prisoner during WWI, the British Royal Flying Corp pilot Howard Raymond Davies imagined a motorcycle design that he wanted to create at the end of the war. In 1924, with his partner EJ Massey, he launched the brand …
1973 Triumph X75 Hurricane
Post Listing Update: This Hurricane did not get any interest at the asking price of $26,900. At the end of the 60’s, British motorcycle makers like BSA/Triumph were facing the end of their supremacy. Japanese makers were growing and while the Brits were doing their best with 650cc twin cylinder that leaked oil, the Japanese were preparing 750cc inline fours …
2015 Royal Enfield Continental GT
Post Listing Update: This Enfield was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Royal Enfield is a brand steeped in British history that has been given new life thanks to Indian investment. The Continental GT was once Britain’s fastest 250; a title to be proud of. The current model has deviated as little as possible from the formula, remaining …
2011 Triumph Tiger 800
Triumph introduced the mid-sized Tiger in 2011 to very little fanfare. I personally never cared for this bike, but several people I trust in the industry swear by it thanks to its 3/4 size compared to big ADV bikes, excellent ergonomics, and a hell of a triple that owes its existence to Triumph’s famous 675 with longer stroke and less …
1951 Vincent Rapide Series C
Post Listing Update: This Rapide did not meet reserve despite 20 bids up to $49,100 on eBay. The baby brother to the legendary Black Shadow, the Vincent Rapide was sold from 1936-55 in 3 distinct ‘Series’. The final run was the Series C, which commenced in 1949. It offered the Rapide as a base model and the Black Shadow as …
1989 Honda GB500 TT
Post Sale Update: This GB sold for $5,500 after 13 bids on eBay. Every once in a while, for a variety of reasons, a good bike goes unsold. The Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy was a replica of a 60s racers that competed in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. It had a 500cc single, gorgeous lines, weighed less than 400lbs, …
1966 Triumph Thunderbird
Post Listing Update: This Thunderbird did not meet reserve despite 4 bids up to $3,100. Foreign manufacturers often have to tweak their models to make them more desirable to the massive American market. I can certainly speak for myself and at least a few other motorcyclists in saying that I would always be happier with “more.” The Triumph Thunderbird, or …
1966 Matchless G15CSR
Post Listing Update: this G15CSR did not meet reserve despite 32 bids up to $8,200 on eBay. The last few years of Associated Motorcycle Corporation can be somewhat confusing as they combined Norton and Matchless parts to build bikes because money was tight. One example was the Matchless G15CSR, which the author of this period review from Cycle World said …
1 of 700 – 1963 Velocette Viceroy
One of Velocette’s least-known creations is a scooter called the Viceroy. It made sense in theory but sales were poor and production ended after just 700 were sold over 4 years (1960-1964). Obviously, they’re now hard to find, especially in the US.
TR7T-Inspired – 1978 Triumph T140E Custom
Post Listing Update: This custom Triumph did not get any interest at the opening bid of $5,000. In 1981, Triumph created a dual-sporter based on the TR7V Tiger in response to BMW’s R80GS. It was called the TR7T Tiger Trail, and it was never officially exported to the US because of emissions regulations. It was an interesting (and very yellow) …
1969 Norton Commando 750
Post Listing Update: This Commando did not get any interest at the opening bid of $11,500. The end of the 60’s was kind of a turning point in the world of motorcycling. British and European bikes were falling behind the Japanese manufacturers in terms of technological and mechanical innovations. In 1967, Norton-Villiers (ex-Associated Motor Cycles) released the mighty Norton Commando …