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1976 Bandit9 Ava

In Custom, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

Based out of Southeast Asia, Bandit9 is run by Daryl Villanueva. He offers a series of customs – all of which are built in production runs of 9. The Eve was their first eye-catching model. It got picked up by all the usual news sources, and Bandit9 has responded by offering a variety of Eve models in addition to completely …

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1995 Suzuki Ryca 650 CS-1

In America, Cafe Racer, Custom, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

The Suzuki LS650 Savage is a simple, low-powered entry-level cruiser. A Los Angeles based company called Ryca saw a way to spice up the S40, with the Ryca 650 CS-1 kit. It takes a rather ugly semi-Sportster clone and turns it into a lithe cafe racer styled bike with some actual semblance of personality.

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1984 Yamaha RZ350 Kenny Roberts

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Only sold in the states from 84-85, these were the first bikes in the US to come equipped with catalytic converters and the first Yamaha street bike in the US to use a perimeter frame. The ’85 RZ was available in red/white and yellow/black – either option came with Kenny Roberts’ signature on the front fairing.

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1967 Honda Z50M

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

The first model of Honda’s legendary Z50 lineup was the Z50M, which was adorned in Shasta White bodywork with a Magna Red frame and a plaid seat. US riders rarely saw the original bike because they were initially just sold in Europe and Canada – it even took a few months before Honda offered it in its home market of …

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1984 Honda XLV750R

In Dual-Sport, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This XLV750R did not meet reserve with 2 bids up to $5,200 on eBay. Honda has a fairly illustrious history of big dualies – the Africa Twin, Varadero, Big Red Pig, Transalp…the list goes on. Yet the family lineage goes back to a bike that not many people know about – the XLV750R. It was not a …

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3 Miles – 1979 Suzuki GS1000 Wes Cooley

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1978, Yoshimura had the incredibly talented Wes Cooley campaigning a Kawasaki KZ1000, but they weren’t winning races. Then they switched to the Suzuki GS1000 and started dominating – Cooley won the ’79 and ’80 AMA Superbike Championships. While this was happening, Suzuki decided to release a Euro-only sport version of the GS1000. Once American dealers got a peek, they …