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What's happening
News Apr 2022
R90S racer, April 30
Ian Falloon's second edition
of the book on the R90S is almost ready. It also
includes a chapter on the racing R90S. Here's a taster.
Yamaha MT series v1.0, Apr 29
Yamaha's mighty MT-01. Remember these?
So far so good,
Apr 29
We recently
picked up the ‘new’ 1999 BMW land yacht and some hours
later booked a room at the Holbrook
Hilton for the night, 600km from where we started out.
The K1200LT was pitched
as a direct competitor to Honda’s GL1500 Gold Wing and
cost $32,000. This one set us back $8500. That’s with
under 50,000km on the odo.
And the verdict? So far
so good.
Plan A is to shout it a
new front tyre, then use it for a Melbourne-Brisbane
and return trip in June. We’ll let you know how we get
on.
Turbo time, Apr
25
Arguably the pick of the turbo bikes from the eighties,
the Kawasaki GPz750T delivered on the promise of
scintillating performance in what was for the time a
high-tech package. However, like its ilk from Honda,
Suzuki and Yamaha, it disappeared off the market in a
short space of time.
This 1984 example is for sale with a Melbourne retailer
for Au$26,000 (US$18,800, GB£14,600) and is listed with a
host of performance upgrades including an 810cc big-bore
kit. See it here via
Bikesales.
We've had one of these in the shed – see our feature
on it.
And see our Turbo
Kings feature on all the turbo machines of the
eighties.
NOS Ducati
cracks $115k, Apr 25
The unused 1976 Ducati 900SS we
highlighted a few days ago has sold for Au$115,500
(US$84,000, GB£65,000).
That fits a pattern where factory-fresh
commands a huge premium at auction – often double the
value of a good used example.
All British
Rally gallery, Apr 23
See our quick gallery from
this year's BSA Owners' All British Rally, at
its annual morning run to Maldon, Victoria
(Australia).
Ducati's
big day, Apr 23
From Ian Falloon: Today
marks the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Imola 200 F750
race. Here is a story about it...see
it here.
4km Ducati 900SS
at auction, Apr 22
While some will see it as a criminal
waste, unused motorcycles are a hot ticket in the
auction world and this 1976 Ducati 900SS seems to fit
the pattern.
With just 4km on the odo, the machine
has seen bidding reach Au$65,500 (US$48,000,
GB£37,000) with two days to go. See the lot
here at Collecting Cars.
Ducati racer on
market, Apr 21
Definitely something you don't see every day: A factory customer racer version of a Ducati 916. The Melbourne-based bike being offered via Facebook for Au$89,000 (US$66,000, GB£51,000).
Here's what
the seller has to say about it: "The first of the 916 factory
race bikes available to race teams. One of four
purchased by Frasers Ducati for their Ducati Dealer
Team.
“The bike
competed in the Shell Superbike Series 95-96 ridden by
various legends like Giles and McConnell. Check YouTube.
Lots of race wins and epic battles. Great piece of
Australian motorcycle racing history.
“The bike
was purchased from Frasers in 1998 with a bunch of
spares that were used to restore the bike. Also the
motor was freshly rebuilt just before sale with new
cases. Since complete restoration it has done two tracks
days and then sat in an office for 20-plus years. 150hp
- 150kg.
“The best of
everything was used to build these bikes and they went
on to dominate the WSBK for years winning 94, 95, 96,
98, 99, 01. Original race livery supplied by Frasers
back in 98. Comes with document of authenticity from the
Ducati Dealer Team. Originally over 80k in 1995.” See the listing.
Moto Guzzi's
V50, Apr 21
The Italian maker's diminutive V50
series was probably under-rated, says Ian Falloon. See the story here.
Hailwood's
Ducati 250 twin, Apr 18
Ducati's 250 parallel twin racer was a fascinating
project. Ian Falloon unwraps its
troubled history.
Wagner cycle,
Apr 17
Thought for the day, courtesy of a BMW
R100GS print ad.
Big XS – where
are they all? Apr 16
Remember Yamaha's mighty XS1100? Once
upon a time they were a common sight on our roads, usually
loaded to the gills and/or hauling a sidecar.
These days, they're a very rare sight – so what happened to them all? Did they simply get worn out?
Snow rider,
Apr 16
We couldn't resist sharing this oddball travel yarn...
BMW K1 – bargain
classic, Apr 15
BMW's wild K1 represented a different
era. See the Falloon profile here.
And the story
on our example here.
Oddball for the
week: Magni Australia, Apr 14
When was the last time you saw one of
these? The intriguing name came about as a tribute to
former long-term Moto Guzzi importer Ted Stolarski, who
campaigned a couple of Magni race bikes.
As for the bike itself, it's a Daytona
powertrain in a Magni chassis and is somewhat rare. This much-used
1995 example was up for auction recently at Bring a
Trailer, however it failed to sell at a top bid of
Au$21,300 (US$15,900, GB£12,100).
See the Magni
specs sheet here
Look for our
Moto Guzzi features here
Benelli therapy,
Apr 13
Benelli minibikes from 1968.
We all need a few of these…call it therapy.
More on Benelli minibikes at Myron's mopeds.
Random ad for the day, Apr 12
Moto Guzzi circa 1925.
Crazy success,
Apr 10
Yamaha's first XS650, the XS1, was rated
highly by the USA mag Cycle World on its 1970
introduction.
The author wrote: "In its introductory
year, the XS-650 must be considered a succes fou (crazy
success), having supplied all the ingredients required
to please the big Twin fancier in an up-to-date,
beautifully styled package. It looks good, rides good,
stays clean and shows few of the faults one would expect
in a first-year model."
See it here at the Australian owners club site.
RE Sellout, Apr 9
Royal Enfield's recently-announced
120th anniversary model 650s sold out its Australian
allocation of 60 machines in just 24 hours. That's despite
them being offered at around a 30 per cent premium over
the standard models.
Rocket Ron
style, Apr 8
Random ad for the day – dress up your Honda CB250/400N to
look like Rocket Ron's ride!
Big Bimmer
result, Apr 7
This 1976 BMW R90S showing 73,000 miles on the odo has just fetched Au$39,900 (US$32,250, GB£23,100) on Bring a Trailer.
While prices on most other airheads have been moderate, these and early GS series have been galloping along.
BMW /5, Apr 7
One of BMW's most influential motorcycle series now
qualifies as a bargain classic. See the story
here.
Triumph T120,
Apr 6
Today's random ad.
Bonneville
backgrounder by Falloon.
NOS Ascot, Apr 5
Here's an eighties oddball for you: A
Honda FT500 from 1982, still in the crate and up for auction
via Bring a Trailer. It sold for Au$10,600 (US$7900,
GB£6100)
Known as the Ascot in the USA, after
the flat-track circuit of the same name, it ran a
variant of the XR/XL series four-valve 498cc single,
with electric starter. It claimed a modest 34 horses
for a 175kg wet weight.
They were sold in low numbers in
Australia from 1982 to 1984, with the price starting
at Au$2200 (US$1700, GB£1300) plus on-road costs and
eventually reducing to Au$1800.
See the stats
at Motorcycle Specs.
Hagrid's ride,
Apr 4
A 1950 Sunbeam S7 Deluxe once owned by UK
actor Robbie Coltrane is up for auction via Bonhams. And
yes, the only reason we've picked up on this is we had no
idea we shared anything with Coltrane, even if it is just
taste in oddball motorcycles.
The S7 was a courageous post-war design,
running an overhead cam, alloy, unit construction, tandem
twin 500 powerplant with four-speed transmission and shaft
drive.
Coltrane evidently owned the machine for
some years and sold it in 2003. It was restored some 10
years later.
The series began production in 1946 and
had a troubled early history. Launched in 1949, the Deluxe
scored mechanical updates and was usually painted in the
Mist Green shown above.
Coltrane, meanwhile, has had an
interesting screen career across drama and
documentary. He of course has become most famous for
playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter movie
series.
The bike is being auctioned by Bonhams
with an estimate of Au$14-17,500 (US$10-13,000,
GB£8-10,000).
See the story
on our S7 (above).
Great
all-rounder, Apr 3
Flashback: Honda VFR750...what a great
all-rounder. See our
feature.
Final fling, Apr
3
MV Agusta’s 850 SS
Monza was the last hurrah for the legendary America
platform. See the Falloon story.
Norvin auction,
Apr 2
Interesting hand-built Norvin single up
for auction - see it here.
See our story
on this machine.
Former Norton
boss sentenced, Apr 1
From MC News: Stuart Garner, former
owner of Norton Motorcycles has been given a
suspended prison sentence for illegally investing
pension schemes’ money into his business. See the
story here.
Previous reports: See our Feb 1 and Feb 18 stories
from 2020.
Sharp
Bridgestone buy, Apr 1
Just the thing if you're
looking for a cheap and cheerful classic to take on
the odd squirt: A 1968 Bridgestone BS90 said to be in
good running order with unrestored cosmetics.
At just Au$2600
(US$1900, GB£1500) you'd have to think it was worth a
punt.
More on this long-lost brand at Scott's
Bridgestone Motorcycle site.
Want earlier news & views? See our archive.
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