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1973 Yamaha XS650

In Japan, Standard by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This XS650 did not meet reserve with 3 bids up to $2,800. You’re a motorcycle enthusiast, which is why you know the 70’s were a decisive decade for the motorcycle market. Reliability and performance steadily improved, there were more options, and because of that, prices were lower. We can essentially thank the Japanese brands for all of …

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British Factory Custom – 1983 Triumph TSX 750

In England, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

By the dawn of the 1980s, Triumph was struggling to survive. New offerings from Japan left the once mighty Bonneville looking increasingly long in the tooth, and with the British marque’s bank accounts and credit lines rapidly diminishing, the company was on its last leg. A last ditch effort was taken to spruce up the Bonnie, but with limited resources …

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1979 Kawasaki Z650

In Japan, Less than 5k, Standard by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

Based on the success of the Z1 that put Kawasaki at the top of the large displacement motorcycle market, the Japanese manufacturer decided to update their offering in the mid-size engine market. But unlike the big bikes – where the Z1 was nearly by itself at 900+ cubic centimeters, the mid-size market was already full of models: the Honda CB400, …

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1983 Yamaha XJ900RK Seca

In Japan, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This Seca sold for $3,850 after 44 bids on eBay. Offered in the US for just one year, the XJ900RK Seca is now a rare find. You might be asking, why was the bike only produced for one year? Two reasons: First, in ’84, Yamaha released the FJ1100, which was much better suited for the needs of …

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No Reserve – 1975 BMW R90/6

In Germany, Standard by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: This R90/6 sold for $4,050 after 58 bids on eBay. Between 1970 and 1973, BMW was producing its /5 motorcycle series with three displacement options of 500cc, 600cc and 750cc. The 70’s were a decade of modernity and development of power for motorcycle manufacturers and competition pushed BMW to make its 750cc engine grow to a 900cc …

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1956 MV Agusta CSTL 175

In Italy, Standard by AbhiLeave a Comment

Though MV’s first bike was built in 1945, it wasn’t until 1953 when they debuted their first production four-stroke motor. The CST and CSTL (Turismo Lusso) were ahead of their time thanks to features like an overhead cam in the stressed-member motor, a motor that was used as a stressed member of the frame, and a full suspension front and …

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1979 Honda CX500 Deluxe

In Japan, Less than 5k, Standard by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

While the motorcycle market in the 1960s was essentially dominated by Europe and America, the 70’s allowed Japan to show off their skills. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki were very competitive with European manufacturers when it came to mid-market bikes in the US. Honda had released bikes at a wide variety of displacements based on the same design as its …

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1984 Honda Nighthawk 700SC

In Japan, Standard by Mathieu Guyot-SionnestLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: This Nighthawk did not get any interest at the BIN of $2,700. The 80’s were a fascinating decade for motorcycles, and I appreciate the products of that era nowadays as they are basically classic bikes with newer designs. Or recent bikes with older design, depending on how you see it! In the US, lots of these 80’s …

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Bevel Drive Single – 1965 Ducati 160 Monza Junior

In Italy, Less than 5k, Standard by Tim Huber1 Comment

Brothers Joseph and Michael Berliner played a highly influential role in the motorcycle industry for several decades starting in the 1950s. Their company, the Berliner Motor Corporation, was the US distributor for a number of European marques such as Norton, Moto Guzzi, Zundapp, and Ducati. With the American moto market being one of the world’s biggest purchasers of bikes, the …