Monthly Archives: October 2014

Yamaha October 31, 2014 posted by Mike

Bring on the smoke: 1984 Yamaha RD 500 LC in Utah

Perennial fan favorite, the RD500 LC (also known as the RZ500) is seen often on these pages. Not so often that you wouldn't think they are rare, but RSBFS responds to what readers want to see, and you have told us that this ranks way up there on the top 10 bucket list of wanted motorcycles. This particular example looks pretty good, although it has seen its fair share of use. With nearly 17,000 miles on the clock, this bike is proof that two strokes can be more than garage queens; they can be riders too. Admittedly this one is not perfect - the bodywork leaves something to be desired and the new plastics on order may well be non-OEM NOS reproduction items. Hard to tell from the details. The pipes look pretty mean on the bike, although I would be a bit concerned with the lack of miles on the new pipes after the jetting change; there may be more work involved to get this one to a proper state of tune. All in all, this looks like a great bike for someone who wants to ride and be involved. The buy it now price is set at $13,900, but the seller is open to offers. Check out the pictures below, with more at the auction itself. Good Luck.

1984 Yamaha RD500 LC for sale on eBay

From the seller:
1984 Yamaha Rd 500 LC – Runs great starts in one or two kicks. Great power and Nice condition low miles. Stored in garage. Clean Utah title in my name. Has new JL Gp pipes stainless bodies and carbon fiber tips. 4 Carberators cleaned and re- jetted with over sized jets 200 main jets and 25 small jets. Less than a 4 miles on with new pipes and jets it was stack before. Comes with stock pipes. These were very heavy and I think had a catiletic converter but not sure. The new pipes are much lighter and it feels faster with the new pipes. This bike also has a new lithium light weight battery. I have ordered a new planstic kit for $1200 and it has not come yet and It does not come with it because I'm not sure if it will ever come. The original plastic is shown in the pictures. . It does have a couple small scratches on the bottom of the pipe.

-MI

Bring on the smoke: 1984 Yamaha RD 500 LC in Utah

Yamaha October 30, 2014 posted by Dan

NOS Continued: 1979 Yamaha RD 400 Daytona Special with 8 Miles!

While the RD400 might be better suited to our sister site, they've graced the pages of RSBFS from time to time with positive reactions. This one is in California and is advertised with only 8.1 miles. Unfortunately the pictures are terrible but I suppose no one is buying this sight unseen anyway. But if you want an instant new-old-stock collectible, this should fit the bill.

1979 Yamaha RD400 Daytona Special for sale on eBay

from the seller:

1979 Yamaha RD 400 Daytona Special. Motorcycle in immaculate condition. Original 8.1 miles. This beauty has never seen the California roads. Original dealer in Berkeley, Ca did not retail or registered. Motorcycle has been stored and preserved for the last 35 years. This is truly a motorcycle that has been in a time capsule for its entire life. Must see to appreciate. Condition on this motorcycle is one of a kind, an investment that is going to grow and can be passed down for generations.
We are looking for the right person that will give this gem a good home.

NOS Continued: 1979 Yamaha RD 400 Daytona Special with 8 Miles!

Ducati October 29, 2014 posted by Tad Diemer

Pared Down to Perfection: 2003 Ducati 999VX by Venier Customs

I saw this particular bike on BikeEXIF a while back and thought it was stunning, so I was very excited to see it up for sale. If you’re not familiar, Venier’s 999VX was basically a stripped-down Ducati 999 that turned the Italian firm’s ugly duckling into a swan.

From its introduction, Pierre Terblanche's follow up to the iconic 916 was controversial. The aggressive face was replaced by stacked projector-beam headlamps, the slick single-sided swingarm was replaced by a stiffer, lighter dual-sided unit. And the bodywork was very technical, almost futuristic, with aerodynamic winglets and vents. In spite of a forward-looking design that addressed its predecessor's many and well-documented shortcomings, there was something strangely un-sexy about it. Like Hajime Sorayama's “Gynoids”, [do not Google that if you’re at work] the shapes, while superfically sexy, are maybe too clinical, not organic enough...

Or maybe I'm just overthinking it, and the 999 was just plain weird-looking.

But that tank. That sexy, sexy tank. It’s a beautiful shape, easily my favorite part of Terblanche’s design, next to the trellis frame. And apparently, I'm not the only one to notice. I’ve seen a couple other custom 999/749’s that strip away the fairing to reveal that heavily-sculpted piece, and Venier’s VX takes the controversial 999 and pares it back to the basics: two wheels, a tank, and an engine.

From the original eBay listing: 2003 Ducati 999VX by Venier Customs

I have always admired the subtlety and thoughtfulness with which Stefano Venier approaches his custom builds. They are never flashy, almost always black, and have a purity of form to them that is often lost when builders try to hard to make a statement. He does not use over-the-top components to grab the eye, but instead focuses on making a design that feels unified and whole.

Over the last few years, he has become one of the most well known and respected custom bike builders in the industry. Very few builders have had more bikes featured on BikeExif and other popular sites.

With this 999, he has taken that concept and applied it to a 999 that was formerly the race machine of fashion photographer Riccardo Vimercati. The bike was upgraded in many ways (listed below) and also has a brand new motor with only a 10 or so test laps on it. As a race bike it saw action on some of Europe's most famous circuits, but Vimercati decided he wanted to create a street bike. We think the result is stunning. The bike is located at my shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

It's likely that almost any design to follow the iconic 916 would have failed, but the flack the 999 generated was pretty shocking, for a machine that was a definite step forward in terms of both performance and comfort. All I know is that I like the 999 as a motorcycle, but not as a Ducati. I really loved the concept bikes Terblanche did for Moto Guzzi, and I’m disappointed those ideas haven’t found an expression in their production motorcycles.

This particular custom addresses the problems most people have with the style of the bike: it’s simple and classic, and shows off the beautiful frame and sculpted tank, while retaining the high-spec suspension and engine, shaving weight off an already lightweight machine. This should be a pretty amazing bike to ride, assuming it’s been properly set up: removing the fairing can play a bit of havoc with weight distribution. Not that anyone’s likely to ride a gorgeous one-off like this very aggressively.

There are two days left on the auction, with bidding up over $11,000 and the Reserve Not Yet Met. No surprise, since the level of craftsmanship and taste on display here is pretty hard to beat at any price. One of the best, classiest customs I’ve ever seen.

-tad

Pared Down to Perfection: 2003 Ducati 999VX by Venier Customs

Ducati October 29, 2014 posted by Marty

Existence Denied? 1988 Ducati 900ss in Australia

Is this a Ducati that Ducati doesn't want to admit exists? Read on!

Earlier this year I wrote about what collectors look for when assessing a rare vehicle; age, number produced of a particular configuration, technological impact, and availability in the country being sold in. When I noticed this pristine-looking 1988 Ducati 900SS located in Australia I thought it would make a nice RSBFS posting, in part because we hadn't previously posted a 1988 Ducati 900ss.

But as I researched this model a bit more I found something quite unexpected; the 1988 Ducati 900ss doesn't appear in the history section of the Ducati website. Yes, you read that right...Ducati does not appear to acknowledge the existence of this bike.

1988 Ducati 900ss for sale on Ebay Australia

Now before you start thinking maybe this is a custom bike made to look like a 80's Supersport, I was able to find some very limited info about the bike on the web and also a link to the existence of a Bike magazine review so it does appear to be a real Ducati. This begs the question, why isn't it listed in the history section of the Ducati website?

From what I have been able to determine, when Cagiva took over Ducati in the mid-80's one of their first actions was to resurrect the SuperSport name. This isn't really surprising since the name had a long and proud history within Ducati, including the now uber-collectable 750ss and 900ss of the 70's. In 1987, Ducati/Cagiva relaunched the SuperSport edition, first on a 750cc model that came equipped with the same engine as the luscious 750F1 but was detuned/intended to be a bit softer than the hardcore F. But apparently the new SuperSport had some serious problems, including issues with the casting of SuperSport 16-inch wheels, the Weber carburetors were described as "kludgy" and there were even instances of cracking swingarms.

So what did Ducati/Cagiva do? Well, in somewhat typical-of-the-times-Italian-small-value motorcycle-manufacturer thinking, rather than hold off introducing new models until they fixed the issues with the 750cc lineup, they instead plowed ahead and offered a more powerful version of the SuperSport. The 1988 Ducati 900ss SuperSport used the same tubular trellis frame but was fitted with a Pantah based 904 cc air-cooled 90° V-twin, which had crankcases derived from the 851 motor. It's not really surprising that the 900 SuperSport had the same issues as the 750cc model while also having a reputation for running very hot and a notchy transmission. This is probably why in 1989 the 900 SuperSport received a revised air/oil cooled motor and a new six-speed gear box from the 906cc Ducati Paso. But in any case, the result was very few were sold and fewer are known to survive.

So now we come to a question; if the 1988-1989 Ducati 900 SuperSport was really just a more powerful version of the 750cc model that ran even hotter and still had all the same problems as the 750cc model, would it really be a surprise if Ducati wanted people to forget about this bike? And if Ducati does want people to forget about this bike, does this make it a good acquisition for a collector?

This particular 1989 Ducati 900ss looks to be in absolutely pristine condition with only 11.5 kilometers. In fact it looks so good I would be willing to bet that it has either been in storage or there has been a restoration done to it. The $5990 AUD seems right in line with the values posted on Bikepoint.au.

Perhaps the fact that this bike isn't in the Ducati website history section its just an omission and this is a rare opportunity to get a piece of Ducati history. Then again, perhaps this bike is more like the Morris Ital, a vehicle that it its best to let just quietly fade away and collectors should avoid.

-Marty/Dallaslavonwer

Existence Denied? 1988 Ducati 900ss in Australia

Yamaha October 28, 2014 posted by Dan

Desert EXUP: 1989 Yamaha FZR1000

Here's a great chance to snag a legitimate classic that you can actually ride and admire. It looks to be virtually unmolested and still shines great. Even the stock pipe is still on there! The later EXUP models like this one sport 145hp and the exhaust valve really does help with power deliver in the mid-range. With a tick over 10k miles, this one has an opening bid of $5,630, which is right in the range of what we'd expect for a sale. And if you're in Arizona, your riding season is just about to get underway. A little over 2 days remaining on this auction.

1989 Yamaha FZR1000 for sale on eBay

from the seller:

A survivor from the 80's where it was BIKE OF THE DECADE!
Beautiful bike that will continue to raise in VALUE!
Original tool kit included! Blinkers are installed(not in pictures).
10,167 miles with the last 5000 documented by previous owne

Honda October 27, 2014 posted by Mike

HRC Alert! 1983 Honda Interceptor Factory Honda Superbike

We must be in the season of ex-race bikes, because today we have yet another Superbike offering. This one, however is different. This one goes back to the days before all the large manufacturers threw cubic dollars to go racing, back when smaller teams and independents still had a chance. This bike, this race effort, clearly ruined all of that. Essenetially a "stock" V45 Interceptor built with unobtanium everything, this bike defined the next level of factory Superbike racing. Using the best of the hired guns and components that only the factory could make (or afford), you might consider this a time capsule rocket ship. And if you are young enough to ever have listened to music on CDs or downloadable audio formats, you will note (with amazement, no doubt) at the complete lack of carbon fiber on this bike. Carbon was still finding its structural legs in the aerospace industry and had yet found it's way onto motorcycles, car hoods, or decorative trinkets. Lightness was achieved instead through magnesium, funky multi-piece wheels, and liberal CNC aluminum work.

1983 Honda HRC Interceptor for sale on eBay

From the seller:
I am running two race series next year and am making room in the garage. I must be nuts but....... This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a true factory Honda Superbike!! HRC built factory Superbike with titanium rods, magnesium carbs, gear driven cams, very rare and completely unobtainable HRC built factory Showa anti dive forks and Nissin brakes......all the stuff Freddie Spencer had. The engine has just been completely rebuilt using only HRC parts, (ND5 71mm pistons). The HRC kit engines were $10,000.00 in 1983!! The showa's are almost priceless because so few existed back in the 80's and who knows how many are actually in existence today.

This bike has AMA pedigree, (Sam Macdonald #29), Daytona 200 pedigree, (85 with Ron Haslam, the first year the superbikes ran the 200 miles) and is probably the last full factory bike in the world available for private sale. As I said, I might be a little crazy for selling it so you can guess the reserve!! This bike should be in the Honda collection hall in Motegi, Japan but it could be in your garage! I started it yesterday and it ran perfect and strong. Ran up my street on it, shifted clean. It's a monster motor!!! Don't hesitate!

I have one offer pending so I reserve the right to cancel this auction, (or change my mind lol). Has clear title so this bike can be shipped anywhere in the world. No warranty expressed, implied or given. You must arrange your shipping but I can assist with loading and storage.

We see so few historic examples like this it is really impossible to put an accurate price tag on it. It is clear that this will bring whatever the market might bear. Whether or not that is enough to meet the reserve remains to be seen. Check out the auction here, and be sure and let us know what you think!