6-30-18 Update: The last time I featured this bike, I didn’t mind there wasn’t as an asking price but I was very curious. Now I know, as it’s available on that auction site with an unmet opening bid of $100,000 or a BIN of $300,000. Let’s see what the market thinks it’s worth. Find it here on eBay. In the …
1989 Honda Africa Twin XRV650
Post Listing Update: This XRV650 did not get any interest at the BIN of $15,500. The first generation of the Africa Twin was introduced in 1988 in response to Honda’s success with the NXR750 racebike – it would end up winning Paris-Dakar four years in a row, starting in 1986. Honda already had the single-cylinder NX650 and the V-Twin Transalp, …
1989 Honda Transalp XL600V
In 2012, this Transalp was rebuilt to a high standard and then lightly enjoyed. But the seller already owns two other TAs, so this mostly sits as a garage queen. Go get it dirty!
3 Miles – 1976 Yamaha DT100
Post Sale Update: This DT100 sold for $3,556 after a healthy 58 bids on eBay! Yamaha’s DT100 was never a world-beater, but after 40+ years of existence it’s hard to find one that’s been ridden as little as this one!
Restored – 1974 Yamaha DT250
In 1968, Yamaha introduced one of their most important motorcycles of all time – the DT-1. They sold 50,000 units in the first year, which is a mind blowing number when you consider that last year, the FZ/MT-07 was Yamaha’s best seller in the US with 3,981 units sold.
Video Intermission – Hagerty’s Redline Rebuild – Kawasaki KE100
Hagerty Insurance has made some fun strides into the content game recently, including the “Redline Rebuild” series that I’ve previously featured. The series normally covers cars, but every once in a while they rehab a motorcycle, and the results are worth watching.
1974 Suzuki TC185 Ranger
Post Sale Update: This TC185 sold for the BIN of $3,500 on eBay. In the 70s, Suzuki had a TS185 and a TC185 – the latter stood out with features like a 12V electrical system, ten-speed transmission (5 high, 5 low), and one of the first electric starters available on a dual-sport.
2,482 Miles – 1986 Honda XL600R
Post Listing Update: This XL was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Honda’s XL600R was a popular dual-sport for a wide variety of riders in the 80s – Dirt Rider magazine said it was the best in the dirt of the open class dual purpose bikes (like the Kawasaki KL600 or Yamaha XT600). Most have been adorned in …
2001 BMW R1150GS
The GS has been a huge money maker for BMW, and it really took off in with the 1150. Many riders were inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s Long Way Round, which ended up being quite an advertisement for BMW (and a decent-sized debacle for KTM).
KLR650-B – 1990 Kawasaki Tengai
Did you know that Kawasaki actually made three versions of the original KLR? The “A” model is the one everyone is used to, but there were two alternates that occasionally come up for sale. This is the “B” model, better known as the Tengai.
1962 Yamaha YDS2
Post Sale Update: this YDS2 sold for $4,060 after 38 bids on eBay. 1962 was the first year that Yamaha sold bikes in the US, and it was also the debut year for the YDS2, a 2-stroke that Yamaha said featured “water resistant designs”. How times have changed.
“Royal Tracker” – 2014 Royal Enfield Continental GT Custom by MotoRelic
If you’re on Royal Enfield’s email list, this bike should look familiar. Back in late 2016/early 2017, R-E partnered with Sean Skinner of MotoRelic and Sasha Valentine of Cafe Racer XXX to crowdsource a Continental GT build. Over a four-month period they had the public vote on features like the style and color – the final request was a ‘white …
1995 Ducati E900 Elefant
Post Sale Update: This Elefant sold for $3,500 after 15 bids on eBay. Ducati was sold to Cagiva in 1985, and one of the things the latter did with this infusion of bikes and technology to try and compete in the Paris-Dakar rally. They created the Elefant, which won the rally in 1990 and 1994. In the US, the bike …
1988 Yamaha DT50
Post Listing Update: This DT50 was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. This bike always makes me think of Thomas the Tank Engine, with its baby blue paint scheme and the “little engine that could” possibilities.
1995 BMW R100GSPD Classic
Post Sale Update – this GSPD sold for $7,751.51 after 8 bids on eBay. 1995 was the last year of the airhead GSPD (Paris Dakar), and BMW named it the Classic. Approximately 70 black examples were brought over that year before BMW debuted the oilhead R1100GS. The last time I featured one for sale, a reader/contributor picked it up and …