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News Septembe
2024
Roy Parker Collection – meet the owner, September 30
With some 24 projects under his belt
and another on the go, Victorian enthusiast Roy Parker
would rate as one of Australia’s more prolific and
dedicated private motorcycle restorers. And at 97
years of age, he's still on the job. He's also putting
much of his collection on the market with Donington
Auctions.
.
See the video and full story
here.
Norton V8 fire-up, September 28
The saga of the Norton V8 rebuild by
Briton Allen Millyard recently reached another
milestone when he managed to test-fire the
freshly-rebuilt engine on his bench. Watch it here.
Aussie MotoInno
goes racing, September 27
An Australian-developed Moto2
prototype with a centre-hub-steered front end is soon
to go racing in Europe. See the Australian
Motor Cycle News story.
Speaking of bikes with unusual front
ends, see our
Yamaha GTS1000 feature.
Slabbie
restomod, September 26
When it comes to restomods, there is a fine line between cocking up a perfectly good motorcycle and adding a new twist to a much-loved design. We reckon this early Suzuki GSX-R1100 'slab-side' or 'slabbie' gets it just right.
The project with its more current 'angle of attack' look
was built for a Swiss customer by London-based Marc Bell of
Haxch Moto.
While motorcycles are clearly his passion, his day job is
his eponymous furniture design
firm Haxch.
We've owned a few early GSX-R1100s and most recently added this 1987 H-model to the fleet. Must do a report on it some time...soon!
In the meantime, see our Suzuki GSX-R1100 backgrounder.
Aprilia launches
MotoGP replica, September 25
Aprilia has launched what it says is the
closest thing you can buy to a pukka MotoGP bike, in the
form of the RSV4 X ex3ma.
Developed with the assistance of former GP ace Max Biaggi (pictured), only 30 examples of the track-only weapon are being made available, priced at €80,000 (Au$130,000, US$90,000, GB£67,000). They are being sold online via Aprilia Racing.
So, what comes in the tin? According
to Aprilia:
“This motorbike represents the most extreme evolution of
the programme we initiated to deliver cutting-edge
technology directly from our racing division to our
customers. The transfer of racing technology to the
public is often talked about, but at Aprilia Racing, it
is a tangible reality.
“Our
engineers have created something far beyond an
evolution of the already exceptional RSV4. This is
most evident in the aerodynamics, featuring
innovations typically reserved for a MotoGP bike.
“The
ex3ma is the first motorbike on general sale with a
complete ground effect package, increasing lateral
load by three times compared to the previous X
model. The stepped fairing and cornering wings are
innovations Aprilia first introduced in MotoGP.
“The
legendary 65-degree V4 engine, with a displacement of
1099cc, has been fine-tuned by Aprilia Racing’s engine
specialists, delivering 230hp at 13,500rpm (with a
maximum speed of 13,900rpm) and 131Nm of torque at
11,000rpm.
“This
performance is achieved through specific tuning of the
V4, which includes a higher compression ratio, a
high-permeability Sprint Filter air filter, and an SC
Project exhaust system with titanium headers and twin
tailpipes.”
MV Agusta leads
auction resurgence, September 23
There's a very old proverb that says one
swallow doesn't make a Summer, however the results of the
Donington (Australia) collectible motorcycle auction that
concluded yesterday suggest the local classic market is
cheering up a little.
Top result was for a restored and very
desirable 1973 MV Agusta 750 S, at Au$151,000
(US$103,000, GB£77,500) – thought to be a local
auction record for the marque.
Indian Spring,
September 22
A rain-free day was too good an opportunity to miss to
get the 2009 Indian Chief Vintage out for a much-needed
gallop. With the battery charged, it seems surprisingly
tolerant of being neglected for a few months.
Though not everyone's proverbial cup of tea, it's a good
thing to cruise around on.
This was the generation of Indian Motorcycles known as
Kings Mountain and was built when Stellican owned the
company. It was then sold to Polaris.
Just 1134 were made, including the 225 assembled by
Polaris. Of them, the Chief Vintage was the most popular
model, accounting for around 500 bikes. When new, they
retailed in their home market for Au$51,700 (US$35,500,
GB£26,600).
See the full
story on this example.
Fork seal week –
Travels with Guido, September 21
It’s
been a great week for the fork seal industry –
not so much for Guido’s fleet...see the
story.
Auction pick for the day,
September 21
Donington's
current collectible motorcycle auction wraps up
tomorrow, and we reckon this would be pretty
high on our shopping list. It's a restored 1973
Laverda 750 SF1, one of the company's most
successful models with around 18,500 made.
It's
carrying an estimate of Au$18-22,000
(US$12-15,000, GB£9-11,000).
See the
full auction list here.
See our Laverda 750 SFC
feature.
Engineer
inspiration for the day: flying single, September 20
Here's the plot: you're sitting around, looking for
trouble. You spot a giant and old cylinder head from a
Wright radial aircraft engine, and it's for sale.
So you buy it, and build a 1700cc kick-start single-cylinder custom bike around it. What could possibly go wrong?
The creative young Al Hackel in the USA reckons the first
ride was "equal parts abject terror and unbelievable
euphoria".
Speaking of one-off singles, see our feature
on a locally-built Norvin.
Croz Kawasaki,
September 19
Antipodean GP and superbike legend Graeme
Crosby, now a bike
builder and dealer in New Zealand, has put a 1976
Kawasaki Z1-B restomod up for sale via local website trademe.co.nz.
Now billed as a street fighter, the host
bike apparently sat dormant for years and boasts a ZX-6
front end, with a ring-in rear alloy swingarm suspended by
Ohlins shocks. Front brakes are late-model Tokico
four-spotters.
The engine features some new plumbing
that includes CR carburetors and Moriwaki exhaust.
To finish off, it's been given a 1973
'Jaffa' colour scheme. You can find
the auction on trademe.co.nz, with a
starting price of NZ$28,000 (Au$25,600, US$17,500,
GB£13,100).
Crosby, aka Croz, has been
involved in doing a string of low-volume builds
based on legendary models, such as the Suzuki
GS1000S superbikes he and Wes Cooley raced
successfully back in 1980.
He has produced an entertaining
autobiography, Croz – Larrikin Biker. Find it here.
Blast from the
past: Suzuki XN85, September 18
Suzuki's 650 turbo, the XN85, was a one
of a string of attempts from Japan to open up a new market
in boosted street bikes.
Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki all
had a go, with the latter arguably coming up with the most
convincing offering. However the market soon said no.
Flashback:
Suzuki B-King, September 17
In a period when Suzuki stylists
seemed fearless, we were presented with the
Hayabusa-based B-King.
It was huge fun to ride, though its looks
were very controversial.
See our
Suzuki Hayabusa resources page.
Our bikes: Bimota YB11 Super
Leggera, September 16
Is there such a
thing as value-for-money exotica? Maybe. Bimota's YB11
Super Leggera back in 1996 cost more than double a new
Honda Fireblade and promised superbike performance in a
600-size package. Now you can get a good one for Au$20k
and under. Join us for a run with the one
in our shed...see the video and story, here.
Classic style,
September 15
Something that got our attention in the
current Donington collectible motorcycle auction in
Australia is this, a modern take on a classic outfit,
matching a 2014 Triumph T100 865cc twin to a Dusting
sidecar. Nice...see it
here.
Speaking of Triumphs and outfits,
here's a little lesson on how we never seem to
learn...from our Travels
with Guido series.
Dead reckoning –
Rooth, Groff and Mr Smith, September 14
Classic Two Wheels has
published a nice trio of columns from three gents who
had something to say about death and near misses. See it here.
More lifestyle columns? See our Travels with Guido section.
Flashback: the
forgotten MV Agusta, September 12
It may not be the prettiest bike ever launched by MV Agusta, but it was running some pretty nice specs under the paint. See the profile by Ian Falloon.
Don't push it – winch it, September 11
One of our least favourite things is
wrestling a large motorcycle on to a trailer or into the
bed of a utility or SUV. However there is a neat and
relatively inexpensive solution to make the job a whole
lot easier, called Winch It.
It's a simple and very effective set-up
that employs a reinforced wheel chock, matched to a
demountable winching post and an electric winch with
remote control. It's designed to take nearly all the
muscle required to load or unload the bike so all you have
to do is steer it.
All up, it costs Au$800 (US$530, GB£410)
installed and it works. Great value.
You can contact the developer, George,
via georgefitzpat@gmail.com
Big numbers for
Japanese classics, September 10
It seems a bike in its original shipping
crate is catnip for a few collectors, given the staggering
result of a recent Melbourne (Australia) auction.
A 1988
Kawasaki GPZ900R A5 in its box went for
Au$62,000 (US$41,300, GB£31,600), or about three times
our expectations.
See the
GPz900R model lineage.
Meanwhile a 1979 Honda CBX1000 – the first variant – went for a more predictable Au$45,500 (US$30,400, GB£23,200). It's a model which has been steadily rising in value in recent years, and this was an original-looking example claiming just 2651km (1647 miles) on the odometer.
And the Classic Two Wheels period test.
Flashback: MV
Agusta F4, September 9
Back in 1999, just before the turn of the century, plans were firming up for the relaunch of legendary marque MV Agusta. It was a big deal, pairing an historic name with a serious design talent in the shape of Massimo Tamburini.
See our feature on the F4 750 Strada from that year.
Amber the
multi-tasker, September 9
From the Beattie files: Trying to stage-manage a photo shoot at the 2001 world launch of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod turned into a big day out...see it here.
Donington collectible motorcycle auction preview, September 8
Join us for a quick walk around of three lots at the
upcoming auction in Australia: Bimota YB11, Triumph
Vetter Hurricane and MV Agusta Ago.
Bimmer
shed-dive, September 7
With some decent weather in our neck of
the woods, we're shed-diving. One of today's targets
(there were a few) was this, our recently-acquired 1975
BMW R75/6.
We're a bit fond of this thing, not just
because of its traditional looks but also its back-story.
The gent we bought it from was a long-term rider and
racer. He
had owned it since 1977, a time when things must have been
going well to afford such a big-ticket item.
It would have been expensive because
at that stage it was a two-year-old low-mileage
machine. New, it was priced at Au$2850 (US$1900,
GB£1450), when a Honda CB750-Four was Au$1850
(US$1230, GB£940).
Today's surprise was having to fix a
minor fuel leak and, since we had the tools out, we
replaced the air filter.
The next issue is the exhaust system.
Both the headers and crossover pipe have become
paper-thin over time thanks to rust and stone damage.
It's not a pukka restoration target,
so we've gone with a full stainless steel aftermarket
system that mimics the shape of the original and will
report back when it arrives.
See our previous story on this bike.
Some of the
unusual collection it came from is for sale – more
here.
Low-flying
Interceptor, September 5
"Cruise all day at 85mph" was the promise
from the "King Kong of motorcycles" according to this
lurid 1965 ad placed by the USA distributor.
You don't often trip over them these
days...where have they all gone?
See the Classic
Bike Guide review.
See the Royal
Enfield history at bikesales.
Of course you can buy a modern
Interceptor 650, which is also a parallel twin.
See our story on the
Continental GT535 revival model.
Long low Guzzi,
September 4
Moto Guzzi's long low and elegant
Sport 1100 mimicked the shape of its exotic Daytona
1000 predecessor and was a better proposition as a
road bike. See the Classic
Two Wheels period road test.
Of course none of that logic prevented
us from buying a Daytona instead...see our
Daytona 1000 profile.
Big sixes &
a GPZ in a box, September 3
Burns & Co is currently running a
motorcycle auction with a couple of lots for the would-be
six-cylinder collector.
First up is a 1978 Honda
CBX1000 claiming a super-low 2651km (1650 miles)
that looks to be in original shape. It's had a long
lay-off and would require recommissioning.
And the Classic
Two Wheels period test.
Offered in a similar unused state and
with a claimed 7734km (4800 miles), but showing
significant corrosion, is a 1979 Kawasaki
Z1300.
See the Motorcycle
Specs profile.
The lot that has really got attention
however is a 1988 Kawasaki
GPZ900R still in its original delivery crate.
Bidding is already over Au$14,000 (US$9450, GB£7200)
with a September 9 deadline.
See the full
auction catalogue.
Millyard
rebuild, September 2
We've been following Allen Millyard's
build of the exotic Norton Nemesis V8 over recent
months, which is now up to episode 13 and fitting the
cylinder heads. It's been a
gripping series.
However we're now quite taken with
another of his efforts, which was a strip down and rebuild
of a Honda ST1100, which had low miles but was
experiencing a very mild bottom end knock. Along the way
he discovered a couple of production line assembly issues.
Watching the maestro at work is
educational and, while his skill levels are way beyond the
average, we spotted some useful tips for our own stumbling
efforts. You can find it
here.
We have a lot of time for the ST1100, an
example of which we owned some years ago. It was a fast
and very capable mile-muncher and these days potentially
represents good bang for the buck. Maybe it's time we did
a profile on these and the ST1300 series...
In the meantime you can see
what's on the market at bikesales.
Speaking of Honda V-fours, see our
VFR750F profile;
And our mini
RC40 aka NR750 profile.
Classic stroker
auction: Yamaha RD350, September 1
If you wanted a motorcycle that was
emblematic of the joys that can be provided by a simple
air-cooled two-stroke road bike, you would struggle to
beat a Yamaha RD350 from the 1970s.
Our recollection of owning one is that it
was light, with decent handling for the day and plenty of
performance to keep you interested. And, overall, they
were pretty reliable while being easy to look after.
Sadly, only a relatively small percentage
of the examples sold have survived, though they were a
successful model for the maker.
Two-strokes are definitely on the
collector radar, though currently it's most often the glam
performance liquid-cooled models of the 1980s (for example
RZ/RD500) and 1990s (Aprilia RS250) that really get the
serious attention at a sale.
That might present an opportunity if
you're a little more broad-minded. Donington Auctions
in Melbourne (Australia) has a 1975 Yamaha
RD350B out of the USA coming up in its September
9-22 auction. It's offered without reserve and carries
a broad estimate of Au$6-12,000 (US$4-8000,
GB£3-6000).
See the full auction cattledog.
A retro piece written by UK writer Roland Brown, and published by Hagerty in the USA, boldly describes the RD350 as the best bike of the 1970s. The opinion is based on what people have actually ridden, rather than have dreamed of.
See our mini
Yamaha RD250/350 brochure gallery.
Plus our 1978 RD
series gallery.
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