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No Reserve – 1986 Honda XL600R

In Dual-Sport, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This XL600R sold for $2,476 after 18 bids on eBay in Carrollton, Kentucky. Honda’s XL/XR series has been the mount of choice for enduro riders for decades, and the XL600R was a popular option in the 80s – Dirt Rider magazine said it was the best in the dirt of the open class dual purpose bikes (including …

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Restored with No Reserve – 1983 Yamaha IT250

In Dual-Sport, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This Yamaha IT250 sold for $3,850 after 11 bids on eBay in Littleton, Colorado. In 1983, Yamaha’s IT dirtbike lineup consisted of the 125, 175, 250, and 490. The 83 bikes were known as the “K”s, and they featured some 80s-appropriate styling with more straight edges and a square headlight. Yamaha marketed the IT250 by calling it …

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1980 Honda “SL750”

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

No, Honda never actually made a SL750, but someone thought it would be fun to take a CB750 and make it look a bit like a SL70 had taken steroids thanks to the custom paint on the bodywork, powdercoat on the frame, spoked wheels, and dual-sport tires.

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Restored – 1969 Honda CT90

In Dual-Sport, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

The Honda CT90 has an interesting folk tale of a creation story: Honda America’s first sales manager, Jack McCormack (who would go on to create the American Eagle line of bikes) noticed that a Honda dealership in Boise, Idaho was selling more Honda 50cc bikes than all 6 dealerships based in Los Angeles. The Boise dealership had swapped out the …

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1982 Kawasaki KZ1100

In Japan, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1982, Kawasaki grabbed some headlines with their KZ1000-based Eddie Lawson Replica. But for riders who wanted 100+ horsepower in a more relaxed ride, the shaft-drive KZ1100A was sitting right alongside the ELR in Kawi dealerships.

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1969 Nova Ruff Rider

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Nova was pulled off of eBay “because the item was lost or broken”. Based in Gardena, CA, “Nova Products of Calif.” called themselves a “developer of recreational vehicles” with a lineup of mini-bikes and even a mini-boat called the Guppie. One of their five mini-bikes was a trail model called the Ruff Rider, itself available in …

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1986 Honda Interceptor VF500F

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: did not sell on Craigslist, then (as noted in the comments) went to Bring a Trailer with no reserve where it sold for $3,200 after 14 bids in Portland, Oregon. The smallest of the Interceptors, the VF500 is claimed by some to be the best, thanks to absolutely incredible handling.

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No Reserve and 89 Miles – 1966 Honda 50

In Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This nifty fifty sold for $5,005 after 42 bids in Fresno, California. The most produced motor vehicle in history, Honda’s Super Cub is still in production (and just got a 125cc facelift with the powertrain from the Grom). These wonderful bikes, which changed the face of motorcycling in the United States in conjunction with the famous marketing …

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1979 Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

The last in the long line of Yamaha’s RD series, the RD400F (also known as the Daytona Special) is considered by many to be the best of the model line. The press went nuts for it – Cycle magazine called it “Dennis the Menace on Yokohama tires, and…the most fun street motorcycle currently available for sale.” Compared to the RD350, …

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1994 Yamaha FZR1000

In Japan, Less than 5k, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Here’s a slice of the 90s in one paint job, found on the Yamaha FZR1000 – predecessor to the now-ubiquitous Yamaha R1. The Fizzer was an instant classic when it was introduced in 1987. Just two years later, Cycle World named it the “Bike of the Decade”, thanks in part to a 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds and a top …