When you think retro-cool, it’s hard not to picture Moto Guzzi. Long the archaic slugger in a room full of mixed martial arts experts, Moto Guzzi created (relatively) modern machinery faithful to the image built over decades. The elder statesman in nearly every motorcycle manufacturer conversation, M-G made their way by choosing their own path.…
Vying for additional power without displacement, the 1980’s saw major cycle makers attempt to tailor the excess heat and complexity of turbocharging to sport bikes. Suzuki’s entry is the rarest and this one has ultra-low mileage, and just one tangle with the mischievous elves that tip stuff onto parked motorcycles. 1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo for…
Looking at the history of the 916/996/998, it’d be easy to think that you were just looking at regular bumps in displacement as allowed by homologation requirements, especially considering that the bike itself appeared mostly unchanged throughout its development, minor changes in graphics aside. Even this very exclusive Ducati 916 SPS really looks like a…
Here is a recent restoration of a venerable classic, the Ducati 900 SS Darmah. Apparently reaching internationally for parts and services, Italian Iron Classics of Tucson presents a new-looking and prize winning 1981 machine. 1981 Ducati 900 SS Darmah for sale on eBay Originally designed in the early 1970’s, the bevel-drive desmo twin went through…
Ducati has an enviable record when it comes to performance motorcycles. Not only do they succeed on the racetrack, but the bikes from Bologna seem to be at home on the street, in museums, as artwork, and in collections everywhere. This is partly due to the legendary record of wins delivered by the big desmo…
Mid-1990s Gixxers get something of a bad rap for being portly, underpowered and undersprung when compared to their contemporaries, but that really does the iconic nameplate a disservice. Take this 1994 Suzuki GSX-R1100, for example. It’s a 500-pound beast stuffed with a 155 horsepower water cooled four banger and a riding position that favors comfort…
Slathered in Kawasaki’s traditional lime green, the ZX-7RR was the homologation version of their 750cc superbike. It wasn’t quite as trick as Honda’s RC45, but its more pedestrian underpinnings make it a bit of an underdog, and the bike had surprising success and longevity for a machine that was updated in 1996, as you can…
While the world was off building 250cc and 500cc two strokes, Honda went their own way. Sure they built 250cc repli-racers (and even 125 and 150cc varietals). But when it came to the big two stroke, Honda took a cagey direction and built a mini hot rod. Emphasizing all the great points of a 250cc…