Motorcycle Investor mag
Subscribe to our free email news
What's happening
News archive Feb 2021
Flashback: The Matt Solution, Feb 28
Anyone who buys your pride and joy should have to sign a contract that lets you take it back...see it here.
Mixed results at classic auction, Feb 26
Market may not be as bullish as late last year...see the story.
Silly bloody idea, Feb 26
Winning the world backpedalling championships...see the story.
Indian throwback, Feb 25
Indian's Chief Vintage was a huge part of the company's 2014 brand relaunch and makes it in to our 'You Again' series on modern replicas. See it here.
Honda RC30 fleet, Feb 24
We had to bring you this story from Simon Gloyne, former Honda Australia staffer. He recently shared it on social media:
"I was working for Honda at the time the RC30 was released and took this photo inside the Tullamarine warehouse.
"Back then dealers could order units crated or assembled. They could also submit crate damage claims.
"Because the fairings were very expensive and the model was focussed on racing, Honda felt the crate damage provision may get abused and be very costly, so the decision was made to build all units so the dealers had to take them rolling.
"Some dealers still wanted the empty crates so collectors could recrate the unit. If only you could turn back time, eh?"
See our profile on the VRF750F road versions
You again 6 – Royal Enfield Continental GT, Feb 23
Nicely crafted, but needed a little more fire in the belly – meet the bike that relaunched Royal Enfield.
Ride like it's 1997, Feb 21
It's 1997 and Two Wheels magazine reckons the then new generation of V-twins from Japan – Honda's VTR1000 and Suzuki's TL1000 series – are causing quite a stir among enthusiasts. See the period road test on the VTR1000F Firestorm from Classic Two Wheels.
See our buyer and collector guide on the RC51 superbike homologation versions, the VTR1000SP-1 (below) and SP-2.
Buell is relaunching, Feb 20
Buell motorcycles is relaunching, albeit without direct involvement from founder Erik Buell. More here.
Suzuki Waterbottle up for auction, Feb 19
This 1976 Suzuki GT750A is up for auction via Shannons and is getting solid bidding. More info, including a gallery, plus links to a model history, brochures and road tests, can be found here.
Twitter feed, Feb 18
Since Facebook has decided to act like a corporate thug by blocking our Australian audience, we've kicked off our Twitter feed. Look for us via @allmoto.
Our friends at Info Moto are also on the Twittersphere at @infomotoau
You again 5 – Suzuki Katana, Feb 18
It is all about appearances – see it here
See the 'You Again' home page
You again 4 – BMW R NineT, Feb 17
Retro mystery – see it here
See the 'You Again' home page
You again 3 – Ducati MH900e, Feb 16
The replica’s replica – see it here
See the 'You Again' home page
You again 2 – Kawasaki Z900, Feb 15
Part 2 of our 'You Again' series on factory replicas – Kawasaki Z900RS. Did they get it right? See the story here.
See the 'You Again' home page
You again 1 – factory replicas, Feb 14
The good, the bad and the ugly of factory clones.
Do really good motorcycles ever go out of fashion? That’s up for debate, but there’s no doubt that assorted factories around the globe have seen potential gold at the end of the historical rainbow.
We're bringing you 10 clones over 10 days...today's victim is Triumph's revival Bonneville. See it here.
See the 'You Again' home page for the full list.
New owners for Staintune, Feb 14
A happy ending for the change of ownership saga for motorcycle exhaust system maker Staintune: "At the final hour (literally) Staintune has been able to secure a sale deal. This will assure the name and more importantly the product, quality and customer support lives on!
"The Australian based company Torqit of Beresfield NSW, saw the opportunity for Staintune to be able to be incorporated into their production and business plan. The deal was done!" (Torqit makes, among other things, 4WD stainless exhaust systems.)
Remember Suzuki's wild Falcorustyco? Feb 13
It was all about 2WD, out-there tech and high eighties style. See the story here.
The key conundrum, Feb 12
Pondering the rampant friskyness of motorcycle keys...see the story here.
One for the Wing nuts, Feb 11
This 1976 Honda Gold Wing is coming up for sale at Shannons in its Feb 16-23 online auction. See it here.
What ride today? Feb 10
Sport scalpel, touring lump, or sports tourer? See the story here.
The good oil on oil, Feb 9
From Info Moto: Spannerman looks at the problem that keeps motorcyclists awake at night: What’s the best oil I can use in my bike? See the story here.
Sporty stroker – Yamaha RZ350, Feb 8
The appearance of a Yamaha RZ350 at a local auction has prompted us to put together a mini-profile. See it here.
New record for Honda RC45? Feb 7
The zero-mile Honda RC45 that was up for auction via Iconic in the USA (we covered it on Feb 2) has gone for a gob-smacking Au$131,000 (US$101,000, GB£74,000). That puts it in the value territory of its predecessor RC30. We suspect it's a record. See the lot here.
Honda's RC30 has up to now been more valuable and has a monumental race history. However the later bike had some success on the race track and is more rare, with just 200 produced compared to 3000 for the RC30.
Bimota DB1 – retro ad for the day, Feb 7
Remember the Ducati-powered DB1? Several versions were made, with the 62hp 750cc Pantah-based Italian powerplant being the mainstay. However a 400cc version was built for the Japan market.
The fully-enclosed bodywork was very much a 1980s thing and the bike as a whole was largely the work of Dr Frederico Martini, formerly of Ducati.
See this profile at Motorcycle Specs.
Magni Italia, Feb 6
Today's eye-candy – see our mini gallery on the sexy Magni Italia.
New-gen Hayabusa revealed, Feb 5
Major make-over claiming lots more electronics, slicker handling, updated styling...see the story here.
Big sky dreaming, Feb 6
Sometimes you need to forget the bike and instead concentrate on what it’s for. See the story here.
Winter sports, Feb 5
Yamaha's next big thing? Probably not. It appears to be a home-built snowbike based on a first-model R6. Ten points for creativity and 11/10 for bravery...
(We sneaked this one from the 1980s and 90s Sports Bikes feed on Facebook.
Moto Guzzi V7 Sport period test, Feb 5
Classic Two Wheels has recently published its period Moto Guzzi V7 Sport road test, from the November 1974 edition of Two Wheels mag. See it here.
The 1972 model shown here was auctioned by Mecum in early 2019 for Au$17,000 (US$13,000, GB£9500)
Buying a motorcycle helmet, Feb 5
In the market for a motorcycle helmet? Greg Leech from Info Moto dives into the pool of what's available and comes back with some handy advice. See it here.
Unnecessary Hayabusa? Feb 4
From Visor Down: Why the heart has to win over the head again with the launch of a new Suzuki Hayabusa 22 years on from the record-obliterating original...see it here.
See our Gen 1 Hayabusa feature here
And the Classic Two Wheels period test here
Buell’s big dream machine, Feb 3
It may have flamed out, but the 1125R deserved a whole lot better. See the story here.
Zero mile Honda RC45, Feb 2
The collector market loves a zero-mile premium model motorcycle, even if it seems like a terrible waste. Iconic in the USA has this 1994 Honda RC45 on offer and bidding has already reached the level of a 'normal' used RC45 at Au$46,000 (US$35,000, GB£26,000) with three days to go. Any guesses on where it will end up? See it here.
The RC45 was the successor to the RC30, which is more valuable and has a monumental race history. However the later bike had some success on the race track and is more rare, with just 200 produced compared to 3000 for the RC30. See the RC45 profile at Motorcycle Specs.
Kocinski Cagiva on the block, Feb 1
Interested in owning one of the best-looking racers of the 500cc GP two-stroke era? Then John Kocinski's 1993 Cagiva may be just the ticket.
The American rider and 1990 250 GP world champion switched from the Suzuki 250 GP team to Cagiva's 500 outfit well into the 1993 season, scoring a win on this bike in his home event at Laguna Seca.
He began 1994 well, winning the opening Phillip Island (Australia) round. All up, he scored a credible third for the latter season.
As for the machine, it's a V593 and has extensive use of carbon parts, including the wheels and brakes. It's being auctioned by Mecum in Las Vegas during a four-day event that begins April 28. See the listing here.
No estimate is mentioned at this stage. Classic motorcycle expert Ian Falloon says it appeals to a small market and, unless the bike has a championship-winning pedigree, pricing is difficult to predict.
See a V593 backgrounder at Motorcycle Specs.
Want more news? See our archive.
-------------------------------------------------
Produced by AllMoto abn 61 400 694 722
Privacy: we do not collect cookies or any other data.
Archives
Contact
