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Restored – 1983 Husqvarna 500 XC

In Off-Road, Sweden by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1983, Husqvarna introduced a new 500cc motor for their Open Class bikes, and they promptly won the 1983 Baja 1000 in 14:48:10 with the US team of Dan Smith and Dan Ashcraft. While there were obviously plenty of modifications to the race bike, the production motorcycle was quite formidable in its own right. They’re also not easy to find …

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Round Headlight – 1994 BMW R100GS

In Dual-Sport, Germany by AbhiLeave a Comment

BMW has brought back the famous “bumblebee” livery with the new R1250GS as part of a paint job called the “40 years of GS Edition,” but here’s an example of what inspired the new model. By ’94, the R100GS was using a square headlight, however this example has had a conversion to the older headlight of the previous generation.

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13 Miles – 2015 MV Agusta F4 RC

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

MV Agusta has really got their money’s worth out of the F4 design, and part of that includes a significant amount of special editions. One of the most impressive was the F4 RC (Reparto Corse), an upgraded version intended to be used as a basis for World Superbike competition. Just 250 were produced, and they were significantly changed from the …

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1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Honda’s CB750 was a game changer when it was first released, but by 1975 the bike had been overshadowed by the Kawasaki Z1. Honda responded with the F Super Sport alongside the K5 model. The F got a new gas tank, a rear disc brake, and a 4-into-1 exhaust. Other modifications improved horsepower and the chassis – Cycle magazine said …

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No Reserve – 2001 Honda RC51

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Sold between in 2000 and 2006 in two different versions, the RC51 has gone down as one of the most legendary motorcycles to ever come out of Honda, well-deserving of the “RC” designation that’s graced other famous Hondas like the RC30, RC40, and RC45. It was Honda’s take on the V-Twin replica racer, beating Ducati at it’s own game with …

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1955 Vincent Black Knight

In England, Touring by AbhiLeave a Comment

Designer Phil Vincent called this “a two-wheeled Bentley“, but when Shane A submitted this to me just now he said that “it’s kinda like if Darth Vader had a head-on with a 50’s motorcycle.” That’s an amusing summation of the Vincent Black Knight, which was built to be the ultimate sports tourer – a Black Rapide with ample bodywork to …

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MHR Livery – 2007 Ducati SportClassic Sport 1000 S

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

6-8-21 Update: Five years later, this bike is back up for sale. Interestingly, the seller now claims that the original paint job was done by Ducati North America, though I haven’t been able to find any sort of confirmation of that claim. Bidding’s quite a bit stronger than it ended at last time, however it still hasn’t met reserve – …

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2004 Aprilia RSV1000R Nera

In Italy, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

In the early 2000s, Aprilia decided to launch the “Dream Series” of motorcycles and scooters – limited edition variants of their already-impressive machines. At the time, the Italian firm’s highest performing bike was the RSV1000R, so that’s what they used for the platform of the first Dream Series motorcycle – the Nera. Per Robert Pandya, Aprilia USA’s Promotions Manager: “Our …

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2008 Suzuki B-King With Zero Miles

In Japan, Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

The best way to think about the Suzuki B-King is to consider it a naked version of the famous Hayabusa. Sold only for one year in the US, it features the 2nd generation, 1340cc Hayabusa engine that was retuned for more mid-range torque. When it was unveiled to the world as a prototype, this bike featured a 240 section rear …