One of the most interesting two-wheelers of all time, the Italjet Dragster is the only scooter to have ever combined a space frame and a RAAD forkless front suspension (think of what was equipped on the Yamaha GTS1000. It was built between 1998 and 2003, and very few made it to the states as the bike was never officially imported …
Folding Scooter – 196x Italjet Kit Kat
The Kit Kat was Italjet’s solution for people who enjoyed flying and boating but then found themselves at a destination without wheels for land. It weighed just 73 pounds, so you could even throw it in the trunk of your car if necessary.
1947? Indian Papoose
I’m an Indian fan, and I’d never heard of this model. I was skeptical until I did some research and lo and behold, there it was. The Papoose was actually a rebadged Corgi model built by Brockhouse Engineering in England. The model was a civilianized version of the Welbike which was developed during WWII for British Special Forces to use …
Sleeper Scooter – 1999 Italjet Formula 125
At first glance, you might think this scooter was only good for quick runs to a coffee shop at 25 miles per hour. But thanks to a 2 stroke 125cc engine, this Italjet Formula can get you up to an indicated 85! The seller says he’s never seen another example of this model in the US, and I haven’t either. …
34 Bikes – Cushman Collection
Some Cushman nut has accumulated 34 scooters spanning 56 years of the company’s history. You’ll also get thousands of extra parts, boxes of original literature, and signs up to 8 feet long. Now he wants to get rid of it all in one fell swoop. Feel like starting a Cushman museum?
Needs a Taillight – 1984 Honda Motocompo
Post Listing Update: This Motocompo did not get any interest at the opening bid of $3,000. One of the true cult classics of scooters, the Motocompo was designed to fit into the trunks of Honda’s subcompact cars of the time. To minimize dimensions of the scoot when it needs to be stored, the handlebars and seat can be folded in …
1986 Honda Helix Custom
A cheap Honda with custom seats and a body kit? It’s the Fast and Furious of scooters!
1955 Mustang Stallion (Model 8)
Mustang Motorcycle was a division of Gladden Products. They started developing motorcycles during WWII and shortly after bought Busy Bee Company to guarantee the supply of motors for their motorcycle division. The 1947 Mustang Model 2 is said to be the first motorcycle manufactured in the US with a telescopic front fork. The Model 2 was the basis for almost …
1957 Cushman Eagle
Introduced in 1949, the Cushman Eagle was an attempt to copy ‘real’ motorcycle styling, and it obviously worked. The Eagle was by far Cushman’s most successful model, the flagship of the venerable company.
Restored Cheetah – 1961 Puch DS60
Puch called it the DS60, though you may have seen it in the US as the Cheetah – it was sold through Sears Allstate department stores. Pre ’65 models featured a twistgrip shift, later bikes went to a foot shifter. These aren’t too hard to find (I’ll share three with you in this post), but it’s rare to see a …
1959 Cushman Highlander – Or Not?
The Cushman company was created in 1903 in Lincoln, Nebraska and in 1913 they incorporated as Cushman Motor Works. The company built engines for pumps, farm equipment, lawn mowers and boats, most notably their ‘Husky’ brand. A strategy for survival in the Great Depression the company began making scooters in 1936 and continued until 1966. OMC (Outboard Marine Corp) acquired …
A Roman Holiday Lives! – 1952 Vespa
In 1952 Audrey Hepburn was certainly one of the most beautiful women on earth, and when she rode on Gregory Peck’s Vespa in the movie A Roman Holiday the scooter’s success was assured. First introduced as a 1947 model they sold 2,500, by 1950 the numbers were up to a very respectable 60,000 units, but 1952 and Roman Holiday and …
1950 Express
The ad clearly lists this as an Express brand, but all the information I could find lists them as Sachs brand Express model.
Rare Project – 1947 Powell Challenger C-47
Post Sale Update; This Challenger quickly sold for the BIN of $1,000. Based in Compton, California, the Powell Manufacturing Company was founded in 1926 by Hayward and Channing Powell. They started with radios but by the 30s they were building the scooters that they became best known for.
1955 Cushman Eagle
For many of my generation, our first experience on two wheels came on something like this Cushman Eagle. They were incredibly popular right after WWII and by the time I came of age they were mostly reduced to ‘beater’ status which meant that 10 year old and a screwdriver couldn’t hurt it much. “If you can make it run, you …