Big Bird: 2002 Honda CBR1100XX

Before the Suzuki Hayabusa swept in at the turn of the century to claim world’s fastest production bike status, the Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird ruled the top speed roost. When it came out in 1997, the Blackbird, named for the Lockheed SR-71 spy plane, stopped the motorcycling press in its tracks. 2002 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird With…

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Silver Wolf: 1987 Suzuki RG400 Gamma

If memory serves, this is only the second 1987 Suzuki RG400 Walter Wolf we have featured with silver livery instead of the much more common navy blue. Further adding to the intrigue is this bike’s 400cc displacement, as we much more often feature its bigger 500cc brother. The seller claims to have had a bunch…

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Garish but Good: 1992 Yamaha FZR600 Vance and Hines

The 1992 Yamaha FZR600 Vance and Hines was little more than a garish factory-applied graphics package to celebrate the two manufacturers’ AMA Supersport partnership. We’ve covered a few of these things over the years, and I might be the only person on the RSBFS team who legitimately digs heinous ’90s graphics packages. 1992 Yamaha FZR600…

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Slab with Spares: 1987 Suzuki GSX-R 750

As age takes its toll, even bikes that were fairly commonplace are getting rarer and rarer, a fact that is amplified when the many examples of the model in question were victims of racetracks, inexperience or bad hack jobs. The result is that bikes like this 1987 Suzuki GSX-R 750 are becoming more desirable and…

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Stored indoors: 1985 Honda VF1000R

The 1985 Honda VF1000R answered a lot of prayers when it finally came to the States, after the press and public here had for years praised everything Honda threw a V4 at, but clamored for the serious sportbike Europe got. The VF1000R was the first Honda V4 outside of a full-on racebike to have gear-driven…

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Spawn of Sausage Creature: 2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera

This 2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera has barely covered its break-in period, and comes complete with a boxful of accessories and two Akrapovic exhaust setups. And, if you’re so inclined, the option of a two-year warranty. On a 200-horsepower, 400-pound Scud missile. With a license plate. And turn signals. 2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera It is nigh…

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Throwback Thursday: 1974 Norton Commando Fastback

In the mid-20th Century, Norton occupied rarefied standing in motorcycling, making itself legendary among racers in Britain and Europe, taking home Manx TT trophies and trading wins with other big names on the continent and in the Isles. Its big-bore engines and revolutionary vibration-isolating frame designs made the brand wildly popular, cutting edge and fast.…

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Pint-size superbike: 1992 Honda NC30

The diminutive brother of the legendary 750cc RC30, the Honda VFR400R did not let its small displacement soften its hard-edged pedigree. By now, we have repeated all the tropes about tiered licensing and the popularity of small engines overseas ad nauseam, but the Honda mini v-fours are stout enough to stand apart from their reputation.…

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