Posts tagged as “Race Bike”

2004 Aprilia RS250 Challenge Cup Race Bike!

Published September 27, 2021 by Doug

2004 Aprilia RS250 For Sale on eBay!

There’s no doubt about it- Aprilia was the little Italian company that could from 1994 to 2007. Undersized and well under funded, Aprilia built a near perfect MotoGP racer and landed the best of the best to put the RS250 on top of the box for the majority of a 14 year span.

1994 Max Biaggi Aprilia
1995 Max Biaggi Aprilia
1996 Max Biaggi Aprilia
1997 Max Biaggi Honda
1998 Loris Capirossi Aprilia
1999 Valentino Rossi Aprilia
2000 Olivier Jacque Yamaha
2001 Daijiro Kato Honda
2002 Marco Melandri Aprilia
2003 Manuel Poggiali Aprilia
2004 Dani Pedrosa Honda
2005 Dani Pedrosa Honda
2006 Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia
2007 Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia

It’s not uncommon to hear the RS frame and banana swing arm to be perfect in every way. The RS motor was also said to be near perfect-cranking out around 60hp while producing around 30 pound feet of torque. This combination propelled the the RS to a top speed of about 130mph and was a strong enough package to lure in the hottest of young European talent. As previously mentioned, Aprilia won 9 our of 14 championships starting in 1994 and ending in 2007. Granted, I don’t think us mere mortals can compare to the likes of Biaggi, Capirossi, Rossi, Melandri, Poggiali or Lorenzo, but we can sure dream- right?

The seller of this Challenge Cup machine has some serious advice for any would be buyer. I feel it’s my duty to cover it before moving on to all things pictures, fantasy and drool.

The sellers warning
Don’t consider buying this if:
– The only 2-stroke you have ever started is a weed-whacker. This bike is the real deal.
– You have no idea what a carburetor does
– You want to ride it on the road. (This is only for the track). Has a 15 digit VIN (ZD4LDA5004S0043)
– You need electronic aids (ABS, traction control etc). There aren’t any.

Thanks to my buddy, Jay- former RSBFS.com writer and guru of all things Aprilia, I used to own one of these and I’d always park it next to my trusty Stihl FS85 line trimmer as a reminder that I wasn’t a worthy candidate for RS250 ownership.

Now that I’ve covered the disclaimer lets check it out-

Low mileage: Check!

Shiny bits and true Racer Boy exhaust: Check!

It has a motor: Check!

More from the seller
2004 Aprilia RS250 Challenge. (The last year this track-only bike was made)

Legendary frame and handling with huge Brembo brakes and nearly 60 BHP from its Suzuki 250cc engine
This machine is small and agile enough to teach you great track craft without ludicrous speeds. You’ll out-handle and out-brake almost anything on the track and still be able to reach 115mph on the straightaway

Never raced. Only used for track days by mid-level rider. I believe I am the second owner.
Used a few times a year, it now has only 3,765 miles

Run on 100% pure gas (no ethanol) 91 Octane with Motul 2-stroke oil. Has an oil pump so no need to premix.
Gas tank has been treated with epoxy
Original body work including tank and panels
Front and rear stand included

Owned by motorcycle enthusiast with 40 years of 2-stroke experience. I rebuilt the top end of the engine with advice and spares from TheTuningWorks (UK) who are renown experts in these engines. Used Evans coolant to prevent corrosion.
Nearly new Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa tires with about four track days of wear.

There are pictures of the naked frame and subframe to show you that everything is straight, clean and undamaged.

The Aprilia forums reckon this is worth $9,000!

THIS BIKE IS THE REAL DEAL! TRACK-ONLY! NO REGISTRATION, NO PLATES, NO TITLE. Bill of sale only (as is always the case with track bikes).

And there you have it folks! If you fancy being like Rossi and kicking ass at your next track day- I’d highly suggest you skip the clapped out 2015 GSX-R and pick up this extremely nice RS250. I guarantee you’ll have more fun, track side conversation and a much higher resale value when you’ve had enough. Oh!, but let’s not forget, you must be pre-qualified in chainsaw or higher to purchase this machine.

Check out this track weapon here!

Ciao!

10 Responses.

Isle of Men: 1982 Ducati TT2 ex Tony Rutter racer!

Published February 12, 2021 by Mike

If the RSBFS faithful required additional proof that Ducati is a racing company that also builds street motorcycles, I give you the curious case of the TT2. Wildly popular with racers due to its small and lightweight stature, decent torque and power and impeccable handling, the TT2 was a mere 600cc of Pantah-powered goodness that became the genesis for the fabulous 750cc F1 racer (and street bike) that followed.

1982 Ducati TT2 for sale on eBay

The foundational underpinnings of the TT2 include a surprisingly lightweight frame crafted by Verlicchi. If you look closely you will note several familiar elements, including the straight tubing trellis construction. This should not be shocker given that the entire project was headed up by noted Ducati designer Fabio Taglioni. The resultant package looks not unlike a 1980s Bimota. As a racer the Pantah motor is air cooled, but there is an oil cooler mounted high up behind the fairing to augment temperature control. Standard issue suspension was a very Italian affair: a fully-adjustable Marzocchi fork up front and a Paoli monoshock at the rear. Handling was quickened by the optional use of a 16″ front wheel. If all that goodness isn’t enough, this bike has some honest track creds and star power in the form of Isle of Man expert and 7 time TT race winner Tony Rutter.

From the seller:
Purchased directly from Tony Rutter after the IoM and properly stored for the last 40 years You can look at the head stock VIN stampings this frame has never been repainted. The bike has never been crashed. Underside of fork legs and axle nuts area ll clean no signs of road rash. Bike is full of works details like dished head bolts for example see caliper photo. Please see the photos for details. Note shift linkage is included, it was not installed at time the photos were taken

More from the seller:
I actively raced Ducati TT2’s and TT1’s in US and Europe. The modified 750CC TT1 in US Battle of the Twins from 1982-1986. I purchased bike direct from the factory rider and built up supporting parts inventory accordingly principally from the factory, Sports Motorcycle Racing and NCR. This bike is very special in its own rights with factory racing history. The TT2 was a giant killers in the day. They are the epitome of nimble, lightweight tools with favorable power to weight ratios and just the right amount of chassis compliance harmonics that enable a rider to ‘dance’ with the bike, never a need to fight with your partner here. These bikes went where you wanted to go with a vengeance. Very tractable power delivery made the TT a formidable opponent able to execute and complete a pass at any and all opportunities.

IMPORTANT: note this is a racing vehicle sold with Bill of Sale only. This is the ‘clean title’ referenced above. This is not a street bike conversion therefore there is no conventional title.

Also available but not included in this sale are complete spares suitable to campaign the bike as well as update to NCR clutch and TT1 spec

In the world of used race bikes, this beautiful TT2 has held up amazingly well. It appears to be devoid of major modifications, crash damage, illicit trackside repairs – basically all of the ugliness that racing wreaks on mechanical systems. Instead you see what looks to be totally museum worthy or, if you are of the brave sort, vintage race worthy after a mechanical refresh and safety check. These are wonderful motorcycles that are beautiful to look at, wonderful to hear, and (so I’ve been told) even better to ride. The TT2 was a very successful model for Ducati, and helped spawn both their racing reputation as well as larger capacity racers.

This bike is available in sunny SoCal, but you’d better bring your sponsor along. There is no reserve that I can see, with a $35k ask. These bikes are a little hard to value as they are ex-racers and all potentially different in terms of setup and trim, but that is probably fair number for such a clean example with documented history on the island AND a mountain specialist as the previous owner/rider. Sadly we lost Tony Rutter in 2020, making this a rather difficult to duplicate opportunity. Check out all of the details and beautiful photography here, then Dream, Drool and Decide. Good Luck!!

9 Responses.

Factory Race Bike: 1999 Ducati 748RS Corse for Sale

Published January 26, 2021 by Tad Diemer

Back in the 90s, it was pretty clear that Ducati was a racing company that made roadbikes, not the other way round, and this 748RS is an example of that ethos. Today, Ducati’s R-designated bikes are typically homologation machines, designed to make certain components legal for production-based racing series. They’re generally in a higher state of tune than the regular or S-designated motorcycles, but are most definitely roadbikes. That’s not the case for Ducatis with an “RS” in their name and this 748 was built from the ground up to be a race bike. It wasn’t even issued with a title!

The Ducati 748 was intended to compete in World Supersport and AMA classes, maximizing the permitted displacement advantage to match the power of the screaming 60cc inline fours favored by the Japanese manufacturers. An extra 148cc wasn’t enough on its own, and the RS featured a raft of internal modifications required in order to produce the 124hp Ducati needed.

Radical cams, valves specific to the RS, a 54mm Termignoni exhaust, a close-ratio gearbox, high-spec suspension combined with lightweight bodywork and a simplified wiring loom to increase performance in every dimension. Today, these are sought-after collectibles, and often have extensive racing history. That’s certainly the case here, as this bike happens to have won an AMA Championship in the Pro-Thunder class!

From the original eBay listing: 1999 Ducati 748RS Corse for Sale

Ducati enthusiasts! I’m starting to list many bikes from my Ducati collection… This one is a very rare opportunity to own a piece of history… a Ducati race bike that actually raced and WON a AMA event!

This is a TRUE factory built race bike. This bike was 1 of 100 built in 1999 and one of only about 40 that were imported to the USA. It was purchased directly from the factory in Bologna Italy along with 3 others for the HMC Ducati Racing Team. This bike was 1 of 2 bikes prepared and used by Shawn Conrad. He rode both bikes to win the 1999 AMA Pro-Thunder Championship. Yes that’s correct… this bike was raced and won!

He beat some big name guys such as Jeff Nash, Tom Montano, and Monte Nichols.

The machine as it sits, is effectively new. The owner prior to me had it rebuilt from the ground up and any part not 100% has been replaced. The engine was rebuilt by Chris Boy’s team at Motocorse Ducati in Fort Lauderdale and has few miles and little time on it. Everything has been refurbished except the side panels which are original and “as raced”. This is again, a factory race bike and ready for your living room or to take racing or for track days.

I have ridden the bike minimally just to keep it happy 🙂 Otherwise idled regularly.

As with any pre-owned bike, you would want to do your own safety/mechanical checks before use.

And yes there are nicks and scratches as expected from a bike that was raced.

No kickstand.

There is no title as this is a factory race bike. Ebay makes seller choose title status so I chose Clean. But again, factory race bikes didn’t come with titles. But I will create a bill of sale that transfers ownership and lists VIN/engine and description.

VIN and engine numbers correlate to the factory race bike history.

Here are some specs and parts as I’ve been told and researched. I’m not a mechanic, just a fanatic for the sight and sound of these bikes. Happy to take close up pics or look for specific things to answer your questions.

Full “Corse RS” spec motor with cams, ti rods, and factory installed slipper clutch

Superbike style wiring harness, keyless ignition

Full Carbon Kevlar bodywork by Carbo-Tech

Dymag magnesium wheels

Harris fully adjustable rearsets

Full Termignioni 50mm exhaust

Brembo 18×20 radial front master cylinder

EBC Pro-Lite full floating rotors

ITG airfilter

Everything on the bike that matters is carbon fiber, underseat oil breather box, undertail plate, one piece airbox, air runners, large intake upper fairing.

This is a collectors item. It really is a piece of American Ducati Racing history!

Here is more info from online about this era…

The Ducati 916/748 was the poster child for performance motorcycles throughout its production, with the same sort of ubiquity the Lamborghini Countach enjoyed in its heyday. With so many of them made over such a long timeframe, it’s easy to forget how huge an impact the bike had when it was new: Tamburini’s creation may have been uncomfortable, temperamental, and expensive, but Ducati sold streetbikes so they could go racing, not the other way around. This makes today’s 748RS one of the purest Ducatis you can buy… aside from a used World Superbike machine.

The 748 was the baby-brother to the 916 and came in standard, S, R, and RS flavors. Naturally, the RS was the trickest of the bunch, a pure factory racebike with plenty of trick parts and a highly-strung engine with maintenance requirements to match. The 748cc v-twin was pitched against 600cc inline fours and the displacement bump allowed by World Supersport rules helped the Ducati compete, but heavily-revised internals were also required to keep them on relatively equal footing. Wild cams opened RS-specific valves needed to make the claimed 124hp, while a 54mm Termignoni exhaust ferried exhaust gasses to the undertail “mufflers.”

Happy to assist with your chosen shipper but cost and insurance is your expense. Happy to provide a video of bike starting and running. Please be respectful and only inquire with serious interest. Located in Monterey, CA area.

Thanks!

The seller is asking $17,900 for this 748RS. That’s a bit more than the last one we featured, although this example is extremely clean, features a fully rebuilt engine, and has an AMA title to its name. If you’re a well-heeled Ducatisti, this would make a pretty great classic racebike, or an extremely cool trackday ride.

-tad

4 Responses.

A Winning Formula: 1979 Laverda Formula 500

Published January 22, 2021 by Mike

Imagine you are a motorcycle manufacturer and need some publicity. What is the best way to make a splash? Racing is the traditional route to make some noise, but comes with the risk of being beaten (sometimes badly) by the very competition you wish to minimalize in the market. One make race series are a great way to drum up some business – regardless who wins, it will always be your bike. A few manufacturers have attempted this over the years, with the BMW Boxer Cup being the most recent on the big bore side, although the KTM RC390 series that ran with Moto America also applies. A lesser known (at least in the US) series existed in Europe, known as the Coppa Laverda (Laverda Cup).

1979 Laverda Formula 500 for sale on eBay

Formula 500 bikes were developed to drum up interest in Laverda’s smaller lineup of motorcycles – in this case the 350cc and 500cc models. These were air-cooled parallel twins that looked to capture a market outside of the big twins such as the 750 SFC and even bigger triples such as the 1000cc Jota & RGS. The bikes were marketed in the US as the Zeta platform. The race bike (track only, with no lights or other street legal accessories) was essentially a stripped down version of the 500cc street bike. Mild tuning netted about 53 ponies, and the whole shebang was wrapped in beautiful fiberglass bodywork. Laverda provided technical support to the racers, who were all privateers (no professionals allowed). And while the race series was a success in terms of participation and action, Laverda was purported to have lost money on every small bore bike sold.

From the seller:
Sold on Bill of sale. No title. Not for street. Mileage unknown, no odometer.

This is the motorcycle that was reviewed in Motorcycle Classics March/ April 2014.
I acquired it to race in AHRMA, but change of plans.

This bike was restored by the leading Laverda experts here in the U.S. and has not been ridden since it’s latest refresh 18 months ago. Besides the original exhaust that is installed, I have a custom made exhaust that will work with the Montjuic body kit (I do not have), or with the original body kit with a slight mod to the headers to fit under the original fairing.

New spare tires also included. No paperwork available as the collector I bought it from did not pass along any he had. I will pass the collector name to the buyer so he / she can try to get any available. Also the original restoration photo CD of the bike should be available from the expert who did it.

By modern standards these Formula 500 bikes are vestiges of the Stone Age. Air cooling, ~~two~~ four valves per cylinder, small-ish disk brakes and twin rear shocks – all very adequate but nothing that screams “cutting edge.” But the race bikes were successful and competent machines, and today they are quite rare (numbers are uncertain, but are likely in the low 200 range of total units).

I’ve been tracking this example for a bit as it makes its way through the usual relisting process. To be honest, I’m not really sure why the lack of interest by the market in general although the opening ask may scare off some bidders. This bike has gone through a relatively recent restoration, however it sounds like some recommissioning may be in order before running this bike in anger. Rear shocks look to have been replaced with more modern units, and the seller indicates some extra pieces are available. The bike looks clean, and the starting bid of $16,500 is market correct (even if the Buy It Now is rather high). This would make a fantastic collector, vintage racer, or track-day standout. Check out all of the details here, and Good Luck!!

5 Responses.

Featured Listing: 1974 Yamaha TZ750 Racer!

Published November 3, 2020 by Mike

Update 7.10.2021: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

When it comes to bikes that have made their mark on history, few can stack up with the Yamaha TZ750. A winning GP factory racer built for the Formula 750 class, the TZ750 was remarkable in its adaptability; from dominating Daytona, to winning the Isle of Man TT, to being converted into a dirt tracker of sorts, the mighty TZ sent a message to the world that to win you needed to be on a Yamaha. And far from the factory-only efforts of today, the TZ750 was available as a customer race bike. Show up to your local dealer with references and some cash, and factory speed and power was in your hands. Today’s 1974 example of the TZ750 is just such a privateer bike, and includes some interesting history and a trip to Daytona as some of the stories it has to tell. This Featured Listing is an amazing part of our motorcycling past, and can be raced in historics, parked in your man cave museum as artwork, or even ridden on the street (!). The sheer volume of quality pictures should say enough, but read on about this labor of love.

Featured Listing: 1974 Yamaha TZ750 Racer!

From the seller:
This is a 1974 Yamaha TZ750A, with true 750cc D-model cylinders. It was purchased by the current owners in 2015 from the previous (2nd) owner who had it since 1979. It was raced at the 1975 Daytona 200 by the original owner Doug Libby (from Michigan). We have been in touch with him, and he confirms that he did race this bike there, finishing mid-pack (pictures of Doug on this bike below).

The bike will come in the original race trim, as seen in the pictures with the flat-side open pipes and the #1 bodywork. The TZ also comes with a rare, clear Nevada Title so that it can be ridden on the street. We have the street trim equipment available to the buyer which can be negotiated separately, and includes the street exhaust (Swarbrick pipes built by Rusty Bigley), extra bodywork #40 (AirTech), kickstand, and electronics (headlight, taillight, license plate holder, turn signals, cooling fans and battery). All street parts were all installed with a “do-no-harm” mentality. Nothing was drilled or damaged to the bike in any way and parts can be added/removed as if they were never there. Both sets of bodywork have been professionally painted with automotive grade paint and clear coat over the pinstripes/color. The stickers are over the clear and can be removed by new owner.

First-year TZ750’s are very rare and we know of fewer than 10 in the United States and most of those are in museums. Ours also comes with a clear Nevada title and is the only twin-shock TZ that is street legal that we know of in the United States. Historically there may only be 3 or 4 TZ’s of any generation that were titled in the United States for the street.

More from the seller:
The bike went through a full restoration about 10 years ago by the previous owner. It has run 2-3 hours since 2015, when we purchased it. The previous owner stated that he inspected the engine for wear and compression and all is within spec, we have done a borescope inspection on cylinders and gearbox with no concerns found. Some of the fasteners i.e., bolts, washers, etc are non-factory Yamaha. It is always stored inside our home. A new set of Mikuni carburetors are installed that have idle screws (originals did not have them, making it hard to idle at a stop sign). The original 409 carbs will come with the bike and are in excellent condition however, they were all drilled for idle screws by the previous owner (see photo), as such the drill holes would need to be sealed to return them to original condition. Also, a new aftermarket radiator has been installed and the original is preserved and comes with the bike. Finally, a set of mid-80’s Michelin slicks will come with the bike if someone wants to make it truly period-correct for show. The slicks are not showing cracking but are only good for static display (due to age). The engine case does not come stamped with a serial number, indicating it was a factory replacement. The frame # is: 409000177 meaning it was the 76th TZ750 built in 1974.

For reference, we attended the Mecum motorcycle auction in Las Vegas in January 2020 where another first year TZ sold for $60k plus $6k premium for a total of $66k. That machine wasn’t even close to the quality ours is. It was missing various parts, and the finish was subpar at best. We constantly keep track of TZ750s that are for sale and only one or two per year come on the market. Most have not been restored or require significant time/money investment to become ridable. Ours is a ready to ride, race, or show either on the track or on the street.

Asking price: $65,000 USD

More from the seller:
The street gear can be negotiated as part of the sale. The original flat-side “open” pipes will come with the bike in race/original trim. We also have significant spares that can be negotiated as we have another CMR chassis TZ750 that we are building to race. We are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and can assist with shipping or transporting, depending on the situation and location of the buyer.

All of the pictures and videos posted in this ad were taken on 10/31/2020 (except for the vintage pictures, of course). We have put comments on the pictures to make it clear what comes with the bike. We took photos of all the parts available and made comments on each photo stating which come with the bike and which are negotiable.

A bike this magnificent needs to be seen in motion to truly appreciate the visceral elements of the breed. Check out this video of the bike running (in full race trim), and tell me that the sound does not send chills up and down your spine!

How do you like this view from the office? Not many riders have had occasion to enjoy this particular view, but the lucky buyer can chose what they see through the bubble: the racetrack, the canyons, or the man cave!

Another video provided by the seller shows this incredible TZ750 sporting street trim. That’s right. Forget all about those “GP Replica Racers” such as the RG500 Gamma or RZ500 – how about an *actual* race bike on the street? Where do I sign?! Once again, the sound is glorious – and I could only imagine how this would feel on my morning commute:

The TZ750 went through several iterations over the span of years, including frame updates (and a change to single shock rear suspension) and motor mods that greatly increased horsepower. Weight was also marginally reduced over the years. But like all racers, these privateer machines were generally used hard and funds were not always available to put them back together again. Many were crashed – hard. Others were destructively modified as rule books changed and teams struggled to keep older bikes competitive. Surviving racers in this kind of condition are a rare gift; we do not see them often because they did not live in a collector world. With a comprehensive restoration behind it, tons of documentation and photos, and the rarity of being a first-year, twin shock bike, this 1974 Yamaha TZ750 is sure to drive a lot of interest. Serious parties should contact father and son team Jerall & John Lawrence for questions or negotiations. At $65k USD, this bike is priced right in line with the market, and has plenty to offer in terms of history and potential add-ons. Good Luck!!

Lighter Makes Righter – 1987 Ducati 750 F1B

Published August 1, 2020 by Donn

Ducati found its Taglioni-engined twins a good match for the fledgling Formula TT series, and produced road and track versions. This California example has apparently never seen the road, and not much of the track as evidenced by the unfettered condition.

1987 Ducati 750 F1B ( Racebike ) for sale on eBay

The F1 refers to its Tourist Trophy class, the 600-750cc segment of the race series which got its start when FIM decided the Isle of Man was too dangerous a venue. As presented for the street, the F1 claimed 63 hp, with two valves per cylinder and 36mm Dell’Orto carbs. The artfully crafted chrom-moly chassis and swingarm had Marzocchi dampers front and rear. Brembo brakes are not oversized at 280mm, and the six-spoke alloy wheel sizes were staggered at 16 inch front, 18 rear. The sub-400 lbs. weight came through judicious use of lightweight materials and drilling everything else.

Hard to expect a full ownership and maintenance history for a find like this though the seller does posit an odometer issue. Can’t tell all from the pictures provided, but the finishes look excellent and lack the patina that not much actual use would provide. Carburettors have been upgraded to 38mm Mikunis, and fuel plumbing had to be changed to accommodate. From the eBay auction:

1987 Ducati F1B that was never titled for the road. The speedometer has 4 miles. I don’t believe it to be original miles. The 750 F1 was a factory prepped track bike that saw very little use. The paint is in beautiful condition and as you can see in the photos. Bike is fitted with a harness for track, with out a left side headlight switch. The bike starts and runs flawlessly. Carbs are Mikuni race 38 mm flatslides. The bike would need little work to return it to a road bike but at the end it is a original factory 750 F1. The frame paint shows no use and is in beautiful condition without any damage or scratches. The bodywork has some small spider cracks on the mono seat, fairing is in beautiful condition. The plastic windscreen shows a small crack visible in the photos.

Ducati started out in Formula TT with their 600 F2 under Tony Rutter, who laid down 4 consecutive championships. The 750 F1 wasn’t quite so lucky, but has become an iconic model. Special F1 editions commemorating wins at Montjuich, Laguna Seca, and Santamonica may have put Ducati on the path to continuing limited editions. This F1B is a classic piece of exotica and has the ask to match – but looks worth a daydream or two.

-donn

5 Responses.

Singular Simplicity: 1997 MZ Skorpion Sport

Published July 27, 2020 by Tad Diemer

The sad thing about being a serious motorcycle geek is that most people don’t really understand my obsession with and enthusiasm for weird motorcycles. Even other motorcyclists. I was thinking about this today as I was poring over the engine of a friend’s Velocette Venom, trying to suss out the function of the little cable-actuated device at the base of the pushrod tube [compression-release, we decided]. I mean, I happen to think bikes like this MZ Skorpion Sport are incredibly cool, but most motorcyclists are ignorant of their existence. That’s a shame, since [East] German brand MZ has a storied history and basically single-handedly ushered in modern two-stroke performance when they developed the first expansion chambers for their race bikes.

The Skorpion Sport doesn’t have those, however.

What the Skorpion Sport does have is Yamaha’s five-valve single that displaced 660cc, just 6cc short of being an engine of pure evil. As it was basically an off-road drivetrain repurposed for sportbike duty, a Yamaha five-speed gearbox transferred power to the rear wheel, and the package was suspended in a tubular steel frame. The engine and frame formed the foundation for a whole range of interesting and generally very competent motorcycles from MZ, from the Mastiff supermoto and Baghira dual-sport, to the Traveller sport-tourer, Replika, and the Skorpion Sport.

Overall, the bike is simplicity itself, the purest incarnation of a sports motorcycle you’re likely to find at this price point. Weight was a hair over 400lbs wet, and handling generally considered to be excellent. Styling looks a big like a Gilera Saturno and the bike does feature passenger pegs, although there’s no guarantee there is a pillion pad hiding under the seat cowl, or included with the bike. The 1990s were weird like that.

From the original eBay listing: 1997 MZ Skorpion Sport for Sale

Looks great. Runs Outstanding. Low mileage. I’ve taken it on several long rides with no problems at all. Yamaha reliability. Made in Germany. Designed in England. Lots of Italian bits. Buyer responsible for pick up. I’ll help get it on to the transporter. I have the unsigned registration papers, and original manual. New tires. Small scuff on right side of engine where someone dropped it. It’s in the pictures. I have the under-belly fairing, and the original muffler as well. I never registered it in CA. (DMV-phobia) Bill of sale only.

There hasn’t been much interest in this MZ so far, with bidding up to $2,300 and about one more day left on the listing. That’s on the low side, but Skorpions don’t go for much more money than that right now: they’re rare, but not especially collectible. What they are is great value, with an exotic nameplate, nimble handling, stone-axe reliability. With single-cylinder classes a popular way to get into racing on a budget, Skorpions often get snapped up to be converted into lightweight track-hacks. They’re good for that, but it does seem a little sad that such interesting machines

-tad

9 Responses.

Road or Track: 2000 Aprilia RSV Mille R for Sale

Published April 15, 2020 by Tad Diemer

If you’re looking for a track bike, your best bet is something as modern as possible, with broad parts availability. A reliable tool for going fast as effortlessly as possible. Something completely disposable. There’s a reason you see a ton of GSX-R600s and 1000s, R6s, the occasional SV650, even a new crop of Ninja 400 and other relatively modern tackle that offer anvil-simple reliability. Basically the opposite of this Aprilia RSV Mille R in almost every way. But personally, I know I’m nowhere near fearless enough to delude myself into thinking I’ll ever be more than a B-Group trackday rider, so I’m willing to make some sacrifices to style, and this would be at the top of my personal trackday bike list.

Styling is subjective and, while Aprilia’s first foray into full-size sportbikes isn’t exactly pretty, it didn’t make the mistake of trying to out-Ducati Ducati: the looks were wild and very modern, with a gorgeous aluminum beam frame and curving swingarm. Handling felt much more “Japanese” in terms of turn-in and agility, compared to the 996’s incredible mid-corner stability. Austrian firm Rotax eschewed old notions of what made a v-twin smooth and revvy, and created an engine with a relatively narrow 60° layout kept smooth with balance shafts, while four-valves and liquid-cooling gave it power to compete with the Bolognese brutes. In addition, they included something that seemes to have eluded Ducati until pretty recently: reliability.

So it was exotic, fast, blessed with excellent handling, and surprisingly durable. And it came with lots of trick equipment straight from the factory: Öhlins components at both ends, along with a steering damper from the famous Swedish suspension specialists, and a smattering of nice carbon bits. The biggest limitation here is that the bike is sporting what appears to be largely original bodywork. Certainly, it’s painted to look the part. That makes a trackday crash a pretty pricey proposition, so if you’re really planning to flog it, perhaps some less stylish trackday bodywork is in order.

From the original eBay listing: 2000 Aprilia RSV Mille R for Sale

With a total of 2,293 original miles this was a one owner bike bought brand new in 2000. A well cared for, great riding great sounding clean bike. Has been in indoor climate controlled storage for years. No ethanol fuel was ever ran through this bike. Also on a battery tender.

I purchased from original owner with the idea of making a track bike. I reworked the seat and put brand new Dunlap SportMaxx tires on both front and rear of the bike (high speed balanced). Change oil filter (K&N), fresh oil (Motul) all new fluids for brakes and clutch (Motul) and radiator. Pingel deadman kill lanyard switch was installed.

Bike is safety wired for tech. I removed mirrors and installed mirror block off plates, removed turn indicators, tail lights, disconnected head light, etc. All wiring was not cut and factory din connectors are all labeled and properly routed and zipped tied for ease of re-installing lights. All stock turn indicators, rear tail light, mirrors, an extra Motul oil filter, Motul oil, Motul DOT5 brake fluid, full 5 of Sunoco race fuel, are all included in sale along with a manual and factory books & key. This bike has a clear clean Ohio title in my name and is street legal with lights installed.

This bike has Full Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, carbon fiber fenders, chain guard, and side panels. It is completely stock except for chip and upgraded exhaust, installed by previous owner. Here is your chance to get a track made bike ready to go for cheap. I even have full Vanson race leathers and boots in another listing to make it a full race package. Can help with shipping but shipping cost is on buyer. Please check out photos as bike is sold as is and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Thanks.

The asking price? $3,400 and that includes all of the road-legal equipment, making that a very nice price for a track-ready machine and a pretty screaming deal for an Italian exotic. I’m not the biggest fan of the RSV’s styling, but you can’t argue that the package offers tremendous bang for your buck: it looks very trick, the specification is amazing. I’ve always wanted one just like this as a track bike…

-tad

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