By now, many of you know that I am extremely fond of the post war Chiefs. It was the first motorcycle that I rode on and my personal obsession dates from that day in 1956. I just love the valanced fender Chiefs. In 1939 Indian went to Bonneville Salt Flats to set LSRs with Chiefs and Scouts. Out of that …
2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200
Post Listing Update: This XR1200 got not interest at the BIN of $6,899. Ask a sport bike rider what their favorite Harley is and there’s a good chance their answer will be “none of them.” But for those in the know, the XR1200 was an unexpected joy from Milwaukee, the land of big twins and relaxed riding styles. Clearly drawing …
Ending Soon – 1962 Harley-Davidson FLH Panhead
Good photos make a for sale listing so much better, and the snaps of this Panhead kept bringing me back to it. There’s some modifications that you might not agree with, but you can’t deny this bike looks good.
Last and First – 1948 Harley Davidson FL
Big news from the motor company in 1948 – the motor that would soon become known as the Panhead. Not only was the shape of the rocker covers different, but the heads were aluminum alloy (as opposed to cast iron) which greatly helped the cooling. The cam and rocker arms were redesigned to facilitate oil circulation and hydraulic lifters were …
$4.75 Million – 1996 Coca-Cola Road King
View PostNo Reserve – 1997 Yamaha Royal Star Palomino
In 1996, Yamaha took the V-Four motor from their Venture Royale tourer and built a cruiser with it. It was the first of what has become Yamaha’s Star cruiser line, and it stood out from the competition in a few ways. Most notably was the engine – it looks like a V-Twin but it packs four cylinders with DOHC. It …
Unexpected Custom – 1976 Moto Guzzi T3
The Moto Guzzi T3 was an 844cc transverse V-twin that put out that put out approximately 59HP through a 5-speed transmission with shaft drive. Weight was 540 pounds, so it was not exactly fast, but it was comfortable and reliable, with typical big-twin torque. As such, it was selected by many California cities for Police duty. Supposedly this has a …
1920 Excelsior Series 20
Excelsior introduced its first motorcycle in 1905 after starting in the bicycle business. In 1910 Excelsior introduced their first V-Twin and by 1911 the company had been bought by Ignaz Schwinn of the bicycle firm that bore his name. 1915 saw the introduction of the ‘Big X’ V-Twin, a 61 CID power plant that would carry on to 1925. The …
2003 Jesse Rooke Custom Kali Kruiser II
Post Listing Update: This custom Kruiser did not meet reserve with 15 bids up to $8,000. Jesse Rooke released his first custom bike in 2002, and since then he’s built a series of wild hardtail designs. This is apparently one of 11 examples of his Kali Kruiser II design.
Indian Chief Replica – 2005 Kawasaki Drifter 800
Post Sale Update: This Vulcan Drifter sodl for $4,550 after 54 bids on eBay. In 1994, Denny Berg worked with Cobra USA to take a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 and create an “American Classic” custom. It was a success on the show circuit, and the next year Kawi released a “Classic” version of the Vulcan. The next year, Kawasaki went back …
Stored Since 1986 – 1981 Yamaha XS650 Special
The Yamaha XS650 was introduced in 1970, though it wasn’t until the end of the decade when Yamaha created a “Special” variant – it featured a teardrop fuel tank, pullback handlebars, and a wider rear tire.
The Time Machine – 1972 Honda CB750 Chopper
2-8-17 Update: 14 months later, this Tracy-bodied CB is back up for sale with a lower asking price. Find it (still in Houston) with a BIN of $2,350 here on eBay. Post Listing Update: This CB750 got no interest at the asking price of $3,750. Based out of Tracy, California, Tracy Fiberglass Fabricator Works used to create custom bodywork for …
Free – 1986 Kawasaki LTD454 Project
No, that’s not a typo. If you’re in the Bay Area, Evolution Motorcycles has a Kawasaki LTD that’s been sitting for a while (with compression issues in one cylinder) that they’re trying to get rid of. It needs work, but you can’t argue with the price!
Bookends – Harley Davidson VLs: 1930 and 1936
The Great Depression ravaged the entire economy of the United States, and Harley Davidson was no exception. Total production plummeted and dealers and the company struggled to survive. The 1930 model year saw the introduction of a brand new 74 CID V-Twin motor. Sidevalve design it would become known as ‘the Flathead’ in the HD lexicon. It offered a huge …
One Year Only – 1936 Harley-Davidson VLH with Sidecar
A one year only model, the VLH was arguably Harley’s ultimate flathead. This example stands out as it was ordered with several choice options: the 80 ci engine, 4-speed transmission (a $15 option), 19″ wheels/tires, speedometer, and a sidecar. It has been sitting for 3 decades but it runs and rides!