Post Sale Update: This Renegade sold for $1,903 after 5 bids on eBay. American Eagle was John McCormack’s moderately successful attempt at importing models from Italjet, Kawasaki, and most prominently, Laverda. While AE didn’t last very long, it was a wonderful introduction for Laverda, who continued to sell big bikes in the US. This oddball started as a Laverda 125 …
Hefty Markup – 2020 Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition
Post Listing Update: The seller lowered his ask to $39,999 but this listing did not get any action. Triumph’s had a bit of a hit on their hands with the new Scrambler 1200, a bike that was supposed to make its film debut in the newest Bond movie (No Time to Die). The movie’s been delayed, but the limited-edition partnership …
In Canada – DR BIG – 1988 Suzuki DR750S
Post Listing Update: This DR750 did not get any action at the opening bid of $6,000. The DR750 was also known as the DR BIG, meaning it’s got one of the best model names in motorcycling history. It also had the world’s largest single cylinder engine used in a production bike – at least until Suzuki bumped up displacement to …
1965 Yamaha YDS3C Big Bear Scrambler
Post Listing Update: This Big Bear Scrambler did not meet reserve despite 22 bids up to $5,101 in Chicago, Illinois on eBay. Even though Yamaha never won the Big Bear race (a run to Big Bear Lake through the Mojave desert), they took the name for 125, 250, and 350cc scramblers. Yes, it’s from the same seller that’s been listing …
Needs Some Work – 1981 Bultaco Frontera MKII Model 215A
7-18-20 Update: Almost exactly a year later, this Frontera is back up for sale. It looks to be just about the same, though the seller now says that the engine runs well. Find it for sale in Alameda, California with bidding up to $2,200 and the reserve not yet met (as a reminder, the previous asking price was $4,800) here …
2000 Cagiva Gran Canyon
A street-focused adventure bike, the Gran Canyon presents an interesting option for those of you that want some Italian style and speed with all-day comfort. This one’s had a serious amount of recent maintenance so that it’s ready to criss-cross the country.
Comes With a History Lesson – 1991 Husqvarna WMX600
Post Listing Update: This WMX did not meet reserve despite 10 bids up to $3,001.99 on eBay in San Jose, California. The bodywork says WXE610, but the seller notes that this is actually a WMX600. Either way, it’s an interesting machine from the end of Husky’s run in Sweden, and the seller’s includes a great recap of 80s Husqvarna in …
1971 Suzuki TS50
Post Sale Update: After being relisted, this TS50 sold for a BIN of $2,500 on eBay in Reno, Nevada. Though the model name was TS50, many riders preferred Suzuki’s other name – the Gaucho. Suzuki advertised it by saying it that it was the “only one 50 made that’s a real motorcycle.” Here’s a first-year example that’s said to be …
1975 Hercules 250 Enduro
Packing 7 speeds in the transmission, the Hercules 250 was an interesting German competitor to the upmarket enduros of the day coming from KTM and Husqvarna.
1981 BMW R80GS Paris-Dakar With R100 Motor
Post Listing Update: This GS did not meet reserve despite 12 bids up to $9,900 on eBay in Seattle, Washington. Hindsight has shown that the introduction of the GS model line was one of the best things BMW did for their Motorrad business. But at the press launch in 1980, journalists (and the public) shared a general sentiment of “what’s …
No Reserve – 1969 Honda CL350 Scrambler
Post Sale Update: This CL350 sold for $4,250 after 46 bids on eBay in Mentor, Ohio. As Honda’s scramblers got bigger, they became more street focused. Cycle magazine called the CL350 not “really a scrambler at all, but a street-scrambler…doubt arises regarding the bike’s suitability for bashing around rocks and pines.” Sounds awfully similar to today’s current crop of scramblers, …
1965 Suzuki K15 Hillbilly
Introduced in 1965, the Suzuki K15 (also known as the Hillbilly) was a 2-stroker for the trail with features like a skid plate, luggage rack, and swappable sprockets.
Never Ridden – 1977 Yamaha XT500
Post Sale Update: This XT sold for $14,500 after 57 bids on eBay in Chicago, Illinois. From the seller of the never ridden YZ80 yesterday comes something just as pristine but a bit bigger. The Yamaha XT500 was the original Yamaha thumper, and an instant sales success. This enduro bike was produced for 15 years, eventually leading to an entire …
1975 Rockford Taka 100
Rockford Motors was the American importer for Bridgestone, but when the Japanese firm stopped selling bikes in 1971, Rockford had a bit of an issue. They made a deal with Bridgestone to take over manufacturing rights for the 3 smallest bikes – two 60cc models called the Tora and the Chibi, as well as the 100cc Taka you see in …
50th Anniversary Euro Bodywork – 1989 Honda Transalp
Post Listing Update: This Transalp did not get any action at the opening bid of $4,250. In the late 80s, Honda offered both an AT and a TA – the Africa Twin and the Transalp. Both were ahead of the times, though the latter was more street-biased. Consider it a jack of all trades sort of bike with a cult …