Motorcycle Investor mag Subscribe to our free email news News Mar 2023 Flashback:
Discovery, Mar 26 ![]() Getting Sprung with a new classic, and other shed disasters...see the story here. Blade runner,
Mar 25 ![]() Would you believe it's over 30 years since the first Honda FireBlade was launched? The CBR900RR of 1992 was a trend-setter and has good potential as a collector bike. See the period
road test of this and the 1994 model from Classic Two
Wheels. Look for our Future
Collectible feature on this bike, complete with
video review. Random engine
for the day, Mar 22 ![]() Random engine for the day – what's if from? (Answer: Kawasaki ZX-12R) Flashback:
Tiddler time, Mar 21 ![]() Getting a bit jaded? Go buy yourself something small and senseless...see the story here.
Guzzi gold, Mar
20 ![]() Here's one for the Moto Guzzi collector
who thought they had everything: a 1993 Daytona 1000 still
in its shipping crate. You have to wonder how people lose and
forget these things for 30 years. Losing a pen down the
back of the couch...yep. Watching that 10mm socket roll
out of sight and go to that mysterious place where all the
others are gathered...yep. But this...?! Anyway, it's located in the USA and is
up for
auction through Bring a Trailer. It was at
Au$28,000 (US$19,000, GB£15,600) with six days to go.
Any guesses on where it will end up? (Our thanks to Mark Galli for alerting
us to this one.) Retro Ducati
auction, Mar 18
A locally-owned Ducati MH900e has
popped up for auction at Collecting Cars and we
suspect this could turn out to be an interesting test for
the current strength of the Australian market. * Ed's note, March
21: it sold for Au$50,500 (US$33,700, GB£27,500), with
bids climbing from Au$37,000 in the last hour. Mid last year we noted:
Ducati's MH900e Hailwood tribute is famous for a couple of
things – most notably being the first model the company
(or any motorcycle maker) sold exclusively via the
internet, as far back as Jan 1, 2000. More recently, however,
it's become more notorious as an investment vehicle. A
remarkable number of the 2000 sold have never been used,
or so it seems. Every now and then one of these unused
gems pops up on the market, with a recent example via Bring a
Trailer in the USA. That sold at the end of
May 2022 for Au$64,000 (US$45,000, GB£36,700).
Mecum offloaded a
similar machine
January 2022 for Au$63,000 (US$44,000,
GB£35,900).
We
have however seen them go higher, with an example sold
in Australia by Collecting Cars
in May 2022
for Au$76,400 (US$53,400, GB£43,600). ![]() However
a recent sale in the USA suggests people are looking for
perfection in these machines. Iconic recently saw an
example with 21 miles, with some very light corrosion in
a couple of places, sell for
Au$38,500 (US$25,900, GB£21,100). See our quick MH900e
profile; And a profile of the SportClassic range that followed. EnZed gems, Mar
17 ![]()
![]()
Spannercast, Mar
17
From
Info Moto:
In the latest podcast, Spanner and Snag discuss the old bloke's criminal past, our superhero unloads on US gun laws, our knackered roads are put under the microscope, and we make a date to delve inside the murky depths of Spanner's hidden domain. Find it here. Suzuki GSX-R1000
– the contender, Mar 13 ![]() It's 2005 and Suzuki has launched it's
much-revised GSX-R1000 K5. Not only does it impress at
launch, but it walks away the winner in a five-way sports
bike comparo. See the stories
at Classic Two Wheels. ![]() Also see our
future collectible backgrounder for the K1 and K2
series. Forgotten gem
for the day: Suzuki GSX1100G, Mar 12 ![]() Remember these? Launched circa 1991 the Suzuki GSX1100G
combined Suzuki's four-valve 1100 inline four with a
five-speed transmission and – the big feature – a shaft
drive. In Australia, the 100hp all-rounder would have set you
back Au$10,400 plus ORC (US$6800, GB£5700). They lasted a
few years in the market and sold in modest numbers. These
days, they're a rare sight. See the
Motorcycle Specs stats and profile. See our feature on its
predecessors, the two-valve GS-G series. Ducati as art,
Mar 11 One of the more unusual offerings so far this year was this, a 1974 Ducati 750 SS, not so much because of what it was but because it was included in an art collection sale, conducted by Christies. The collection belonged to Adam Lindemann, an American art collector and dealer. This was among 36 lots, dominated by contemporary works, and scored a top bid of Au$287,000 (US$189,000, GB£157,000) but did not sell. See our story
on the Imola race that started the 750 SS legend Plus
contemporary 750 GT and 750 SS road tests from
Classic Two Wheels Bike bit for the
day, Mar 10 ![]() Oddball bike bit for the day: thanks to young Ian, an
AllMoto reader, we managed to get our hands on these –
1971 Honda workshop manual and supplement for the mighty
CB750-Four K1 (below). ![]() The books came with a bit of a story: "Dad was a wharfie and one day he saw a red Honda four (a first model) come off a ship in a cargo net, which piqued his interest. "So he took charge of it and waited for the owner to show up, which he did, shortly after. "Turns out he was a Japanese guy and the first mate on the ship. He’d bought the bike in Japan and it went everywhere with him so that he could ride around the waterfront dock areas until the ship left. I’m guessing that if he was picked up for riding a strangely number plated bike he would soon be long gone and didn’t worry about it. Simpler days... "Dad was riding an orange Suzuki Hustler at the time and
they had a few short rides around Sydney together,
checking out the sights. "Anyway, they bonded, as only bikers seem to be able to do and Dad asked him if he could pick one up for him in Japan, to which the guy agreed. "So, Dad handed over $900 and waited. "Some months later, the ship returned and off came the red Honda again, followed by two crates. "Inside the first one was Dad’s brand new gold K1 Honda.
Inside the second smaller crate was a replacement exhaust
system and eight tyres – four front and four rear! And the
manuals, all for $900!" And the Classic
Two Wheels 1970 road test Random bike shot for the day,
Mar 9 ![]() First-model Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, by Ben Galli. Completing the
set, Mar 9 ![]() Adding number three to the lunatic end of the shed...see the story here. Daytona Day, Mar
8 ![]() A bit of fun
with the InfoMoto crew...see the story. Old Pug, Mar 7 ![]() The National
Automobile Museum of Tasmania has recently added
a 1908 Peugeot to its display. It was sold new in the
state and remains a runner. See it here. Givi fuel cell,
Mar 6 ![]() Today's random accessory: This 2.5lt
fuel canister from Givi. There have been occasions when I've felt more comfortable carrying spare fuel, such as the trip from Alice Springs on the Kawasaki GPz900R. While the bike had good range, I carried extra as the weather was unpredictable and had been causing sporadic road closures – so having to double back was a real possibility. Since then I've
bought a Honda Valkyrie Interstate which has a
legendary thirst for fuel, to the point where it's 26lt
tank might be a bit marginal if I stuff up the
fuel-planning. Come to think of it, the Triumph T160 with
its 13lt US tank is seriously challenged when it
comes to range. The problem is most canisters, even those
holding just five-or-so litres are too big to pack
comfortably and often won't fit in panniers. Just as we started looking for
alternatives, the Andy Strapz e-newsletter
landed advertising these Givi fuel cells, made of a
sturdy plastic. I bought two. Cost is $33
and you'll find them here. Indian refresh,
Mar 5 ![]() Was out playing with this monster today –
2009 Indian Chief Vintage out of Kings Mountain. Fresh
rubber (by Shinko) makes all the difference and we'll soon
bring you a long-term ownership update with one or two
little surprises. See our
previous story on this bike. Speed trip, Mar
4 ![]() It's a perfect day for taking the
Triumph Speed Triple for a gallop...see the story
on this bike here. Flashback:
Ageing gracefully, Mar 4 ![]() Is there such
a thing as ageing gracefully, or is 'patina' just
another word for 'rooted'? See the story
here. Power hounds, Mar 2 ![]() Generation 3 and 1 Hayabusas...story coming soon. Meanwhile you can
see our Gen 1 profile here; The 1999 Gen 1
road test at Classic Two Wheels; The Gen 1 in our
shed, aka Hannibal; Plus the Gen 3 factory development story. Bargains and blowouts at Shannons auction,
Mar 1 ![]()
There were some sharp buys and some
blowout results at the latest event...see the story here.
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