In the early 1980s Honda was flexing some serious technological muscles. Sure, they nearly single-handedly created the big bore standard with the CB750 in the 1970s, but the avenues they pursued in the 1980s were a fantastic mix of avant-guarde ideas seeking performance. Imagine the breadth and scope of Honda’s R&D department during this time:…
Update 2.4.2020: This bike has SOLD at Bonhams for $14,950. Congratulations to all parties! -dc Update 11.20.2019: Joe’s bikes are being sold at Bonhams 2020 Las Vegas Auction. The auction is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 23rd 2020 at Caesar’s Entertainment Studios, beginning at 12 noon. For information about the bikes and the…
It’s common for manufacturers to fudge things a bit when identifying their cars and motorcycles. Often, the name specifically referred to at least the approximate size of the engine, but liberties are often taken, especially when the displacement changes, but the name stays the same. The Mustang 5.0? Actually 302ci works out to 4948cc, which…
Honda’s middleweight Ascot shared the legendary dirt track’s name with a basic fun-looking design. Marketing knew better than to play up the innovative engine and low-maintenance shaft drive. This low-mile example has been lightly customized as an HRC lookalike. 1984 Honda VT-500FT Ascot for sale on eBay Never just sticking a toe in, Honda had…
The Ducati 900 Supersport series is one of those bikes that is just so solid that it persists in company that is far more exotic, expensive, and technologically advanced. Even in the day the 900 SS was a bit of a dinosaur – an air-cooled, 2-valved, carburetted throwback to the 1970s – while the competition…
Values of Ducati’s wasp-waisted superbike have been shockingly low, considering their status as one of the most important, and most beautiful superbikes of the modern era. Sure, an SPS or 998R might pull decent money, but examples of the garden-variety 916 and especially the more refined Ducati 996 were available for as low as $4,500…
By 2001, the entire quarter-liter sportbike class was basically dead, leaving the Aprilia RS250 Cup a bit of an orphan. Yamaha TZR250 production ended in 1995, Honda’s NSR250R in 1996, and the Suzuki RGV250Γ held out until 1998. But I guess Aprilia still had some of the older 90° RGV250 engines lying around, so they…
Update 12.1.2019: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc This is the third of four motorcycles being offered from the Stuart Parr Collection. Thank you for supporting the site and good luck to buyers and seller! -dc This 1977 Ducati 900 Darmah is an extremely early example of the bike that helped…