Post Listing Update: this Ducati did not meet reserve despite 25 bids up to $12,065. I’m going to need some Ducati experts to chime in here, because I find this bike fascinating but I don’t know enough about classic Ducatis to know if the seller’s description is accurate. This is claimed to be one of 20 to 25 early “scramblers” …
1971 Bultaco Matador 250
In the post war world of enduro motorcycling, a few brands have earned legendary status: the Swedish Husqvarna and three famous Spanish brands: Ossa, Montesa, and Bultaco. Bultaco was founded in 1959 by famous Spanish road racing champion, Francisco Xavier Bulto. It was not Francisco’s first shot, as he created Bultaco right after he resigned from Montesa (which he co-founded …
2018 Alta Redshift EX
Last month, Alta announced that they were updating the dual-sport Redshift EX model with the new EXR. To clear out space for the new model, Alta recently started offering $3,500 factory rebates on the 2018 EX. If you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to own an electric bike, this is probably the sign you’ve been waiting for.
1968 Kawasaki Bushwacker F3 175
Post Sale Update: This Bushwacker sold for $1,826 after 31 bids on eBay in Sanford, Florida, but there’s a lot more to the story. From commenter Rod down below: “Abhi, did you know I was awarded this bike. Then the seller backed out! His made up high bid was $1850 I believe. My top bid was $1325 I think. He …
The Captain America Bike
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.