Being able to give some special bikes a close-up inspection was one of the benefits of last week’s Bonhams and Mecum auctions. Engineering and fabrication marvels are in every row. Arcs of chrome on the 1950 Vincent Black Shadow. Using clip-ons left the factory handlebar mount available to mount a gauge on this 1972…
The 2003 Ducati 999R Fila Edition was just one of a bunch of special edition bikes Bologna kicked out in the aughties to celebrate its myriad World Superbike successes. The Fila bikes were produced to hat tip Neil Hodgson picking up the storied marque’s 200th win, and were more than just a branded sticker package.…
Bonhams auctions returns to Las Vegas this week with 128 lots on Thursday afternoon. Covering the gamut from scooters to dirtbikes to road racers, this year also has a nice selection of sportbikes. Most are collectors with low miles and pedigree, beautifully photographed. Here are a few interesting selections, and you can check out the…
It’s not that hard to come across clean Kawasaki ZX-7Rs these days, even after many of them were used and abused and thrown away. But this 1993 Kawasaki ZX-7R M1 is a lot more special. It’s not quite an RR, but the M1 is an early homologation special of the ZX-7R, and it wears a…
Look, I know it sucks: you’re never going to own a Britten. You’re never going to ride one. Honestly, most people will never actually see one in person. Maybe someday, someone will build a run of nearly perfect replicas built to the original specifications. But even if they do, you probably won’t see one of…
The 1979 Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special made its name by tangling with a breaking wave of magnificent four strokes and excelling in the face of the bigger machines. By ’79, two strokes were supposed to be effectively dead, with emissions and the popularity of the new superbikes rendering them relics of a bygone era. But…
Winter is upon us with its stormy moods. A perfect time to sit inside by the fire and reflect. What better time to take a look at a pretty cherry CBR600F model Hurricane and revel in its ability to survive. Sure, I know what you’re thinking: there is no way that a UJM that was…
Even among new bike announcements, manufacturers at the New York edition of the IMS looked longingly over their shoulders. Better late than never, we made it in for the last day of the show, and enjoyed with the crowd, happy to be out of the weather. Suzuki showed a nice 1982 GSX-1100S with their new…