Let’s start with a slight discrepancy in this ad. The bike is listed as being from 1953. However… although Triumph started manufacturing the Tiger T110 (aka TT110) in 1953, it reportedly didn’t start selling them until 1954. Confusing things a little more: thanks to the meticulousness and transparency of the United Kingdom’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, I’m able to …
Supermono Replica – 2000 Tigcraft/Rotax Racer
My buddy Al Charles is the former road race director at AHRMA and he’s been selling some of his very cool motorcycle collection over on Iconic. Here’s my favorite so far – a Ducati Supermono tribute built with a custom aluminum Tigcraft frame surrounding a 519cc Rotax engine. Even better is the reason why he bought it: Al used to …
Custom Mini Bike
Today we’ve got an interesting pair of customs – one uses a custom aluminum frame with a Rotax motor….and this one has a custom stainless steel tube frame with a Honda GX390 motor (13 horsepower)!
1975 Norton Commando Custom
Here’s an interesting custom take on a Norton Commando that was built in the 80s by Specialized Motorcycles, Inc. out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
My Old Track Bike – 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 400
You guys all know that my track/race bike is a Kramer 690, but the bike that really got me into track riding was a wonderful Ninja 400 that I remember fondly. I sold it last year but the bike is back at Iconic as the owner has to unfortunately but his track aspirations are on hold due to injury and …
2007 KTM 690SM
Sold between 2007-2011, the KTM 690SM was an excellent option for riders who wanted the handling joy of a supermoto racer that was toned down enough to be street friendly. These bikes won’t win any all-around competitions, but if you emphasize agility and don’t spend a lot of time on the highway, it’s hard to do much better.
1998 BMW K1200RS
MCN summarized the K1200RS by saying it “carved its own niche as a superb high-speed distance bike that could carry a pillion and luggage too without breaking a sweat…build quality remains a strong point so big mileages are very possible.”
1985 Yamaha XT350
“Between the small and the large, though, there is a perfect size that enhances the multi-functional nature of these “dual-purpose” motorcycles. That balance seems to be right around 350cc. This is enough displacement so that freeway travel won’t spin an engine’s heart out, without the weight and bulk that can limit off-road use mainly to smooth dirt roads.” Those are …
1980 Benelli 254 Quattro
Back in the early 1970s, Benelli was in a precarious financial position. The brand’s GP efforts from the decade prior proved costly, and their uninspiring two-strokes were struggling to sell. Thankfully, Alejandro de Tomaso (you’ll recognize that name on account of four-wheeled exotics like the Mangusta and the Pantera) stepped in and acquired 85% of the company in 1971.
“OEM Plus” – 1990 Suzuki GSX-R1100
Introduced in 1986, the Suzuki GSX-R 1100 was a speed demon’s dream thanks to 137 horsepower and a wet weight of 434 pounds. Even better, it was released right after the United States lowered the import tax on bikes above 700ccs to 24.4 percent (from over 39 percent), so it actually felt like bargain to American riders. The seller of …
Picture Intermission – Can-Am Origin and Pulse Design Sketches
Can-Am is back in the motorcycle game! Tomorrow I’m going to be headed to Austin, Texas for the press launch of the Origin (dual-sport) and Pulse (street) electric motorcycles. While I wait for my flight out, I thought you might enjoy a small peek behind the curtain because we don’t always get to see this kind of thing when a …
1941 BMW R12
The BMW R12 was an evolution of the iconic R7 concept and it was the first motorcycle in the world with hydraulically damped telescoping forks. BMW produced roughly 36,008 over a production run between 1935 and 1942.
2001 Kawasaki LeoStar
A few days ago we featured an imported Honda NSR50 and commenter Zebulon Pike mentioned that the seller also had an interesting imported underbone scooter and I had to make sure you all saw it as well. Meet the Kawasaki LeoStar!
1960s Sears Allstate Compact
When I was a boy, one of my favorite things to do in the weeks leading up to Christmas was get a hold of the Sears Wish Book, go through it with a marker, and circle all the toys I wanted. You need to be of a certain age to know what the Sears Wish Book was, I suppose. It …
Dunstall Kit – 1974 Norton Commando
Paul Dunstall’s motorcycle business was humming by the time the 70s rolled around, and he was so successful that he had started shipping completed motorcycles over to contracted delaers in the United States. By the mid 70s, he was almost exactly splitting his production between Norton and Hondas, though he was definitely more famous for his work with the British …