When considering buying an older sportbike, maintenance history is always a bit of a black box. Sure pictures, videos and ebay seller feedback rating all help mitigate the risk yet you never actually know what could be lurking behind the bodywork. However there is one way to help reduce the risk; looking for a bike that…
The MV Agusta F4CC might at first look to be something along the lines of Ducati’s endless, blinged-up “S” versions that slap on some carbon, slightly up-spec suspension, and call it a day. But the F4 “Claudio Castiglioni” is far from a paint-and-tape special edition. It is, without question, the ultimate incarnation of the first-generation…
1997 Suzuki RGV250 on eBay Few things are as synonymous with the golden era of motorcycle racing as the now forbidden cigarette liveries. This one has been painted up in the classic Lucky Strike scheme that will remind anybody of Kevin Schwantz and his 500cc GP World Championship in 1993. Making over 70hp in it’s de-restricted state…
After the late 1970’s domination of the 500cc Grands Prix by Yamaha and Kenny Roberts, and the ’80s comeback and 1984 championship with Eddie Lawson aboard, Yamaha introduced a racey 500cc two-stroke for the street. Known variously as the RZ500 and the RD500LC, the bike was never available for U.S. dealers ( though many have…
1985 Honda VF1000R on eBay Honda’s VF1000R was an evolution of the earlier 1000cc Interceptor (the VF1000F) and it was evident that Honda had it’s eyes on the racetrack. While earlier Interceptors had a half fairing, the VF1000R got a full fairing, lower clipon bars, a larger fuel tank (for endurance racing), rearsets and a…
Although forgotten now, Gilera was one a famous manufacturer of serious racing hardware, and this “Nuovo” Saturno was an attempt to revitalize the marque in the late 1980’s. Now owed by Piaggio, Gilera was originally founded in 1909 and had a long history of high-performance motorcycles. These sportbikes were often based around big singles, sort…
Originally showcasing the 5-valve head in 1987, the FZR 1000 enjoyed continued development in 1989 with the EXUP ( EXhaust Ultimate Power valve ) which tailored the header opening to RPM with an ECU-controlled valve. Allowing a large header to flow high engine speeds, and providing linear low and mid-range power and torque, the system…
Rare 1999 Yamaha R7 on eBay UK For many of us who remember the heyday of World Superbike racing, one of the indelible images will always be the maniacal “Win it or Bin it” style of Japanese madman Noriyuki Haga aboard his beautiful Yamaha R7. Haga won almost as many races as he crashed out…