The 1976 Yamaha RD400 came out screaming in 1976, a mag-wheeled exclamation point on Yamaha’s range of popular, fast-paced two strokes. To make sure the message landed, Yamaha re-tooled its factory to build the RD400’s parallel twin, which was more than just a rebored version of the RD350’s mill. A longer stroke necessitated new crankcases,…
Update 4.8.2019: Sold for full asking price! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc We showcase a lot of two strokes, and we wax poetic about their knife-edge handling and peaky, unforgiving powerbands. Most of the time, we’re showing off nice but rider-quality machines that will make the new owners very happy on the track or…
update 4.1.2019: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc We’ve gone on enough about how important and cool the first Gixxers are, so I’ll spare you more of that here. This 1986 Suzuki GSXR-750 has been set up perfectly, and stands alone as a really cool old motorcycle that is made cooler…
The boxy, purposeful 1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R Eddie Lawson Replica is one of those machines that elicits reverent guttural grunts from the most jaded superbike fans, connected as it is to American roadracing history. Before Lawson flew the flag on the 500cc World Championship stage, he won back-to-back AMA Superbike titles in ’81 and ’82 aboard…
This is what a sportbike should still look like, if you ask me. Loud, high-contrast, aggressive graphics wrapped around a stubby, purposeful chassis carrying more engine than makes sense. There are, of course, a ton of newer bikes that hit the right aesthetic notes, but none have the same Air Jordan vibe of the mid-late…
Update 3.15.2019: Now relisted on eBay with a buy-it-now of $37,900. Good luck to buyers and seller! Links updated. -dc Before Honda and Suzuki engineered machines with turbocharged engines in the early part of the 1980s, Kawasaki pioneered the idea by using forced induction to make their musclebound Z1R a truly brawny street machine. By…
The 1986 Yamaha RZV500R was the neighborhood knee dragger’s chance to ride the machine that carried Kenny Roberts to three world titles and helped Giacomo Agostini break MV Agusta’s ridiculous streak of 17 Grand Prix titles. It was billed as a 500cc GP machine with headlights and blinkers, though the similarities were actually pretty tenuous.…
For the Suzuki RGV250’s last few model years, Suzuki gave the popular machines a thorough redesign, with updated fairings and a brand-new 70-degree v-twin replacing the long serving 90-degree mill that helped make the bikes famous. In most trims, they were choked down to around 40 horsepower. But a limited number of Lucky Strike liveried…
