Post-Sale Update: This Bultaco El Tiron sold for $2,392.67 after 31 bids on eBay. Here’s a rare off-roader from Bultaco – I can’t say that I’ve ever seen one in the wild. It will need a little bit of work, but it runs. All that’s missing is the front light bulb, lens, and rear tail light. Find this Bultaco Tiron …
1965 Parilla Wildcat 125
5-22 Update: Factual errors corrected, see comments below. Post-Sale Update: After 14 bids on eBay, this Parilla Wildcat 125 sold for $2,150.
1968 Greeves Challenger
Founded by Bert Greeves, the Greeves motorcycle company started when Bert was mowing his lawn and thought of mounting a lawnmower engine to the wheelchair of his disabled cousin to help with mobility. That led to a government contract, and Bert was inspired by his success to start building motorcycles as well. The company was quite successful with exports – …
1974 Honda MT250 Elsinore
Post-Sale Update: After 54 bids on eBay, this Honda MT250 Elsinore sold for $3,000. I just featured an Elsinore (though it was a CR250M), so I won’t waste your time with too many details. The reason I’m featuring this one is because it has just 484 miles! The story is that it was just uncovered from a basement where the …
Video Intermission: Romaniacs Slo-Mo Suspension Study
It’s back to Red Bull Romaniacs for this entertaining video of motorcross bikes getting pushed to the limits of suspension travel throughout the challenging course: Sit back and enjoy – and if you’re a fan of AWOLNATION, you might as well turn the volume up, too!
Three Wheeler – 1982 Honda ATC 110
In my book, any vehicle that’s been banned because the government thought it was too dangerous is instantly worth featuring. So with that, here’s a not-very-scary-looking Honda ATC 110.
1974 Honda CR250M Elsinore
Post Listing Update: This Elsinore did not meet reserve despite 13 bids up to $2,600. The Honda CR250M Elsinore is historically significant as it was the first serious dirt bike to come straight from an OEM – other bikes required serious modifications from the factory floor.
1943 NSU Kettenkrad
Today is all about off-roaders, and this might be one of the craziest of all. The NSU Kettenkrad (Ketten = tracks, krad = German military abbreviation for motorcycle), was a half-track designed initially as a light tractor for airborne troops. Due to its diminutive size, it was the only ‘gun tractor’ capable of fitting in certain Nazi aircraft. The formal …
Ending Soon – 1983 Husqvarna WR 430
The Husqvarna WR 430 is a big, funky enduro that I find visually appealing in a semi “ugly-duckling” sort of way. This specific Husqvarna WR 430 (VIN: W00004656) is offered by the second owner, and it has just received a complete mechanical restoration, while preserving the faded palstics that let you know this bike has been enjoyed. This is the …
Mini Enduro – 1988 Yamaha DT50 MX
This bike always made me think of Thomas the Tank Engine, with its baby blue paint scheme and the “little engine that could” possibilities. I think I was just stunned that it could actually get around in the dirt. Sold unchanged for nearly 15 years, the Yamaha DT50MX is a baby motocrosser that might be one of the best campground …
Video Intermission – Austria to Egypt on KTM 500EXC’s
As if you didn’t feel bad enough that you’re not out on the road right now, feel free to be jealous (or get inspired) by this:
Colossal Failure – 2003 Cannondale X440
The Cannondale X440 was the swansong of Cannondale motorcycles, a subsidiary of the well-known American bicycling company. In the late 90s, Cannondale tried to move into motorsports, with an off-road bike and an ATV. Long story short, it was a disaster. $80 million later, the company declared bankruptcy, having left behind an interesting story of what happens when you can’t …
1974.5 Maico 440 GP
Simply put, the ’74 1/2 Maico 440 GP is one of the most desirable vintage MX bikes ever produced. Today we’ve got an example that’s gone through the catalog from the marque experts at Maico Only, including a brand new reed valve engine built by Eric Cook. You’ll get Ohlins shocks, Sun rims, and Works Wheelsmith forks, along with a …
Ducati Motocrosser – 1971 Ducati 450 R/T Desmo
Post-Sale Update: After 17 bids on eBay, this Ducati 450 R/T Desmo sold for $4,280. Not many people know it, but Ducati had a one-year, one-time-only foray into the world of motocross. The Ducati 450 R/T Desmo was created and imported after its American importer convinced them to bring a big thumper dirt racer to the states.
1973 Cooper 250 Enduro
At one point in time, Frank Cooper was the US distributor for Maico. He thought he could create a bike that slotted between Japanese and European dirt bikes in price, with the hope that it would handle like a European bike but be reliable like a Japanese bike. Enter the Cooper 250 Enduro, created to give off-roaders the best of …