Most riders think of the 3 1/2 when they hear Moto Morini, but the firm was also known for their 500 Sei-V that was produced a decade later…to very little fanfare. What was once a classically beautiful motorcycle got a bit fatter and more angular as the Italian company tried to compete with bikes coming out of Japan.
11 Miles – 1993 Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000
Dr. John Wittner made a name for himself in the late 80’s thanks to his ability to modify the hell out of MG’s – his bikes won consecutive US Endurance Championships, among other racers. Due to his success, the Guzzi factory asked him to come to Italy and help develop a superbike unlike anything the Italian firm had produced before. …
1973 Triumph X75 Hurricane
Post Listing Update: This Hurricane did not meet reserve despite 25 bids up to $37,100. Behold: a unicorn. Less than 1,200 of these were ever made. Designed specifically for the American market but inherently unable to succeed there, this bike is, in a way, an encapsulation of the weird and tumultuous period of British motorcycling history in which it was …
1969 BSA Rocket 3
If you’re thinking this bike looks a little like a Triumph Trident of the same era, that’s because they were basically the same machine; Triumph and BSA were, at the time, basically the same company.
1967 Bultaco Metralla 250 MKII
Sometimes in life you’ll encounter something that will befuddle you, that you’ll look at and think: “What was the starting point for this? Surely this wasn’t the original idea.” An example of this phenomenon is the seat on this 1967 Bultaco Metralla MKII. Surely what they ended up with is not what they initially had in mind. How did this …
1972 Ducati 750 GT
Post Listing Update: This Ducati did not meet reserve with 3 bids up to $15,000 on eBay. I’m not sure I’d want to touch its $20,000 Buy It Now asking price, but there’s no question this iconic Ducati is a beauty. The first of the L-twins, the 750 GT was manufactured from 1971-1974. Designed by Ducati legend Fabio Taglioni, its …
In Australia – 1997 Drysdale 750 V8
Post Sale Update: This Drysdale V8 sold for approximately $46,066 ($73,850 AUD). One of the craziest motorcycles I’ve ever featured on Bike-urious was the creation of Ian Drysdale – it was called the 2x2x2 because it was a “two wheel drive, two wheel steer, two wheeled bike.” Ian also created a Superbike but even in a more traditional situation he …
Four Kilometers – 2000 MV Agusta F4 750
Post Sale Update: this MV Agusta sold for $21,400 (including the buyer’s fee) after 32 bids on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. Seeing as I was just whining about the looks of MV’s newest bike and hoping that they’ll bring back the F4, it only seems fair to share an early example of the original…with just two and half miles on it, …
1961 Honda CB92
Post Listing Update: This Honda did not meet reserve with 25 bids up to $8,900 on eBay. The Honda CB92 Benly Super Sport was built between 1959 and 1964, and was considered by many to be the best small-displacement sport bike of the time. American Honda says that just 599 examples made it into the US between ’59 and ’62, …
1975 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Sport
Post Listing Update: This Moto Morini was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. Inspired by the 3 1/2 that I saw at the Hansen Dam show, here’s an example you can take home for yourself.
#19 of 45 – 2020 Bimota Tesi 3D Final Edition
10-28 Update: Four months later, this bike is now up on Iconic. Nothing has changed on the bike itself but we made sure to get additional details that you may want to check out. If you want to be Tesi twins with me, here’s a good chance! Find it for sale with bidding up to $19,090 and the reserve not …
1991 Honda CBR600F2
Post Sale Update: this Honda sold for $5,029 (including the buyer’s fee) after 30 bids on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. The successor of the Hurricane, the CBR600F2 was considered to be quite innovative when released in 1991. Many were sold, but few have withstood the test of time (both in terms of staying rubber side down and in terms of originality) …
2004 Moto Guzzi V11 Coppa Italia
Post Listing Update: This Moto Guzzi did not meet reserve with 22 bids up to $5,400 on eBay. One of the rarest versions of the V11, the Coppa Italia was built to commemorate Guzzi’s success in the National Naked Bike Championship of the Roadster Cup in their home country of Italy in 2003. To properly pay tribute to a racer, …
1982 Suzuki GS1000SZ Katana
About a decade ago, I rode up to my father-in-law’s house astride a Suzuki V-Strom 1000. He visibly recoiled at the sight of my bike and hissed, “Suzuki” in the tone one might use for a sworn enemy. “I had a Suzuki in the ’70s,” he said. “Can’t even remember the name of it, it was so boring. Nothing wrong …