Now based out of Vietnam, Bandit9 has made a name for themselves by building some distinctive customs, typically based on small Hondas. As hinted at by the name, each production run of Bandit9 bikes is for just 9 bikes.
1961 Demm Dick Dick
Yes, that’s the real name. Demm was an Italian manufacturer based out of Milan that specialized in small (50-175cc) two wheelers. They created bikes between ’53 and ’82 (some were briefly imported to the US between ’76 and ’78) and had some truly interesting names for their bikes, like the Dick-Matic, Ping Pong, and this Dick Dick.
In Australia – MV Agusta Monoalbero
In 1952, Cecil Sandford won the 125cc World Championship on a MV Agusta – the first of the firm’s 37 titles. The next year, MV released the Monoalbero (single cam), designed to be a privateer racer you could get straight from the factory.
1970 Yamaha G6S
Very similar to the FS1 “Fizzy” that was popular in Europe, Yamaha’s G6S was a tiny tiddler with a 80cc engine. This impressive example sat for 30 years but now “runs and rides” as it should.
1962 Laverda 60
Did you know that Laverda made scooters? I sure didn’t. In 1959, Italy changed their highway code, allowing for riders without licenses to finally use ‘mopeds’ without pedals, as long as they were limited to 40 km/h. Laverda immediately started building a 4-stroke scooter with a 49cc engine.
Cleans Up Nice – 1975 Honda TL125
Post Sale Update: This TL sold for $3,500 after 23 bids on eBay. Impressively, this Honda has not been restored, it’s just had a ‘major detailing’. The seller says you’d be hard pressed to find a TL125 in this condition, and he/she is probably right.
Four 100c Ducati Barn Finds
Someone is offering 4 small Ducatis – all are 100cc, and three may be Mountaineers.
Mini Chopper – 1970 Bonanza CR500
This insane idea by Bonanza took a Hodaka Ace engine and threw into a mini chopper frame, presumably creating the world’s greatest wheelie machine for little riders.
Still New – 2004 Honda Dream 50
Though the Dream was offered for a few years in Japan, Honda only exported the bike to the US in 2004. Here’s one of those few bikes that has zero miles.
Parascooter – 1944 Cushman Model 53
Post-Sale Update: This Model 53 sold for $7,631. The Cushman Model 53 is probably as cool as a scooter gets. 4,734 of these bikes were produced to serve the US in World War II. These bare-bones scoots were intended to primarily be messenger bikes, helping to increase the mobility of troops and assist in communications. Their diminutive size was supposed …
In Canada – 1997 Honda Dream 50
Honda has always been one of the world’s best at sub-100cc bikes, from commuter bikes for the people to full on works racers. Over the years, however, the company slowly moved towards bigger bikes in an effort to capture more of an American market that has always been obsessed with power. For a couple of years in the Japanese market …
1989 Kawasaki KD80X
A rare minibike, the Kawi KD80X that is normally hard to find in good shape nowadays because most were beat up as play bikes. The seller of this example has had two bikes – one went to the Moto Armory museum, and the other can now be yours.
Baby RD – 1974 Yamaha RD60
The RD60 was a tiny two-stroker that was built just between ’73-’75. It featured more gears in the transmission than horses out of the engine (5 vs. 4). Weird fact of the day – this bike didn’t have a green neutral light indicator.
Centaur Folding Scooter
When it was released, the Centaur was claimed to be America’s only “full-size” folding scooter. It was marketed as a portable transportation solution that could be carried on a boat, plane, trailer, or car.
1978 Bultaco Streaker
One of the most desirable models from the Spanish company, the Bultaco Streaker was a beautiful little cafe racer that was only produced for 3 years. Rumors suggest that just 28 were imported into the US before the EPA changed emissions regulations in 1979, effectively rendering this bike (and most other two-stroke highway vehicles at the time) illegal.