Author: Buck

Honda

1973 Honda cb350f

Honda CB350F For Sale

Often dismissed because of its weight and small displacement the CB350f used to be looked at as a bike with no reason in owning. The CB350 twin Hondas are lighter, more powerful and look more like English twins. A lot of people figure why get a four when the faster twin is the same displacement. In my experience the four is a bit of a sleeper, with it’s high revving and smooth single overhead cam. I’ve had a CB350 twin, a CB400f and I have a CB350f in boxes waiting to come up in my rotation of projects. I enjoy the Italian race car-ish four cylinder exhaust over the hollow throat of the twin. I like the smooth, low vibration, high revving four over the low revving vibrating twin. These things I like about the four must be some of the reasons other people like the four as well. I have noticed a trend in the prices of the CB350f’s. A bike that just a few years ago could be picked up for around $1500 is now going for $3000.

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I’ve been having a bit of insomnia so I find myself looking at classic sport bikes for sale at all hours of the night. I usually pass over these 350’s because they used to go for cheaper and seemed kind of common. That is no longer the case. I rarely see them on Craigs List and maybe only 1-2 of them on eBay at any given time. I can’t say for sure that they will continue to raise in value in the short term but I can almost guarantee that in the long term these will be fetching some very high prices among collectors. The small fours were produced in a 350cc from 1972-74 and 400cc from 1975-77. The twins were produced for over ten years. The twins might make a better race bike but the fours make a very reliable, smooth runner for going to vintage bike nights and going on short weekend rides.

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This 350 is perfectly preserved and slightly modified. My favorite version of a classic. Not so perfect it can be ridden year around without hurting it’s value. Not so abused that it won’t let you ride it. The seller seems to feel the same.

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I purchased this classic survivor about a year ago in great condition from the original owner. It had spent its entire life in sunny Southern California always garaged. Sadly after being stored properly for the last 10 years, had ceased to be ridden.

After I got it home and went through all the standard Frankenstein Moto-resurrection processes. (carbs/tank/petcock/brakes/cables/controls/tires) The bike started to grow on me. I had over a dozen candidates for modification and restoration in my shop and decided that this smooth running little four was just what I needed for my daily driver.

I toyed with the idea of turning it into a café racer or maybe a street tracker. The classic lines and the honest patina of this 40-year old beauty won me over so I decided on only period correct, reversible modifications that would enhance the looks while making it a very usable rider. First, I swapped that Hindenburg sized taillight and rear fender for a bobbed 350 twin front fender with a more sensible sized Lucas taillight. Next I changed out the stock bars for a nice set from a CB77 Super Hawk complete with a pair of Amal style gum grips and bar end mirrors. Finally I shortened up the stock blinker shafts to make things a little more proportional. Leaving the Honda emblems on the tank has not helped to clear up confusion between this little four and some of its bigger brothers from over the pond.

I am pleased with what I ended up with, a great looking classic bike that I can daily drive or take off on a 300 mile ride with, that didn’t break the bank or destroy this rare piece of motorcycle history.

This is not a show bike and is over 40 years old. Rides great as is or a good canidate for a full restoration. I reserve the right to end auction early as the bike is for sale locally. These bikes are getting hard to find in good condition. If you are interested you should bid before the end of auction or you may miss out.

The seller and I must be cut from a similar cloth. His description and pictures make me want to get my 350 out of the attic and put it together. If you don’t already have one stashed away this would be a good one to grab.

Click here to check it out.

~Buck

Suzuki

1975 Suzuki GT750 M “Waterbuffalow”

1975 Suzuki GT750 For Sale

Hhmmmm, the sweet sound of your motorcycle on an open road doing 75mph all day. The only reason for stopping is to refuel and add oil. Wait, add oil? What’s wrong with my bike that I need to add oil? Nothing, it’s 750cc water-cooled two-stroke that was made for touring the country side. With all the talk about how fast two-strokes of the 70’s are it’s hard to imagine doing any thing with them besides races stop lights or throwing caution aside on some country back roads. The thing is there was a couple Japanese companies that thought two-stroke were for all walks of life. Going fast, beating four strokes and riding two-acoss the country like they did in Easy rider but with suspension and big comfy seats. The idea was to capture the two-stroke fans and infiltrate the four-stroke riders as well. This bikes is a very nice example of an uncommon bike developed during the awkward years of “where are we going next?” tech.

1975 Suzuki GT750 For Sale on eBay

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Seller’s description.

I have owned this bike for over 20 years and I couldn’t tell you how many others have owned it before me!

It has been on many club rides, including several rides in excess of 500 miles. In the past two years there have been many upgrades including tapered steering bearings, bronze swingarm bushings, front brake rebuild, and last November the engine was completely gone through including all gaskets, a crankshaft rebuild, Piston rings, (pistons and rings about two years ago) the gear position indicator switch was replaced, an NOS gear set was sourced as well as new shift forks. New oil pump and lines flushed. O ring chain. It has an NOS gas tank. Double edge sword, it looks new, but it’s 37 years old. The front end was cleaned up last month.

It starts easy when cold, you can ride it away nearly instantly. The youtube is from this morning starting at around 6am. I said in the video it was 58 degrees, but according to Wunderground it was actually 45 degrees out.

This would be a good candidate for a restoration, or just ride it as is. The bad. It could use a thourough detail. The master cylinder cap has just developed some seeping. The right sidecover has been cut in the front, the chain guard was cut for progressive shocks which were discarded, they were just too long. the sidecovers are faded and stained. the exhaust is OK, but not the best. After it sits for a week or so it blows smoke, but the old ones always do. I beleive an oil line check valve is not seating properly and oil is slowly dripping through into the crank case. Suzuki knew this would be a problem from the start and that’s why the SRIS system, Suzuki Recirculation Injection System. If one cylinder gets oil in the crankcase it is distributed to the others. If you are marginal on two strokes, this is not for you, it spits, it drips, it’s rude and it smokes. I am in the process of restoring a sidecar rig from the 50′s and I’m just out of room. I figure I’ve had my fun and now it’s time for someone else to enjoy. This is a 37 year old bike, so if the confabulator falls off, or some things goes wrong, it’s now the object of your affection, not mine.

Pick it up, or have it shipped whole. I might be able to help you with a crate, or drop it at a shipping point. No promises on the crate, sometimes they are available at the local dealers, sometines not. International can be a real problem. If you want the bike that bad, make sure you know how to arrainge everything like Customs, hazzardous forms. I will not go find you a special crate, or some other rediculous government regulated shipping concern. I’ll just relist the bike.

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I wish more sellers were like this guy. He just tells it like it is and lets the cards fall. It’s nice to see this type of description instead of some over the top “my bike is the best bike in the whole galaxy” description. Anyway. I’ve often dreamed of owning one of these and taking off on some ride covering 48 states or something.

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Happy bidding and click here to see the auction.

~Buck

Yamaha

Another 1977 Yamaha RD 400

1977 Yamaha RD400 For Sale

I see a lot of RD350’s and 400s for sale. Maybe a new one everyday. Almost all of them say they are rare and gonna go up in value due to the  rarity and cult following.  To me these are one of the most common rare bikes I see. I couldn’t find a solid number or proof of production numbers from Yamaha but the general consensus is that there was about 17,000 RD400C’s and 14,000 RD400D’s. I wouldn’t put those numbers in the “super rare gonna be worth a million dollars some day” category but those numbers are pretty low. The fact that every time I look up classic sport bikes for sale I see one of these shows me they’re not all that rare or every single one of them is for sale at any given point. Having said all that I do love these bikes. There was a add that Yamaha ran in the 70’s that was an apology to all CB750 riders that had just lost a race to the 350cc powered RD. It went on to say you’re not alone, a lot of 750 riders had also been beat and they shouldn’t feel bad for spending more for a slower bike because they weren’t alone. I love that add. It had some 750 rider with his head all hung low and stuff. haha. I’ve added the ad for reference.

1977 Yamaha RD400 For Sale on eBay

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The seller has a pretty good description of all the aspects of the bike and a video.

1977 Yamaha RD 400 Runs awsome
sweet original paint /few bruises
17687 original miles
everything works ,lights,gauges,signals,switches

This bike is a appreciating classic rare toy
dual disc brake model

Low miles on this fun and fast 2 stroke
fresh tune up with plugs,points,oil change and filters

* List of new**

* DG expansion chambers
* Dual sport tires (2)
* Brakes pads front and rear
* K&N air filter
* carbs rebuilt and rejetted for pipes
* battery

Selling with no reserve Bid to own it

Title in hand

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What is up with those tires? They make me want to take it trail riding. Anyway, IMO his starting bid price is about what the bikes consistently sell for so I don’t expect it to sell for much more than that but I’ve been wrong before and I’m sure I’ll be wrong again.

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Click here to so the auction.

~Buck

rd_ad

Honda

1980 Honda CB750F Super Sport DOHC

1980 Honda Cb750F For Sale

This one of the bikes that seemed awkward and unimpressive to me when they were new. I didn’t like the squarish tank or the way the side covers synced up to it. The seat bump was also kind of annoying to look at. For some reason as time has passed I have found myself enjoying the squarish styling. I always liked the paint. I’ve never liked the Comstars and probably never will though. This was a awkward era for a lot of MC companies. They were making bigger better machines that had more power but every cc they added also added weight. It was before everything went to plastic, aluminum and box or trellis frame construction. The 1980 750 weighed 500 lbs and new CBR1000 weighs 460 lbs. Not a lot lighter but a lot more powerful. This bike is a nice clean example of an era of pre full faring bikes and post simplistic tech.

1980 Honda CB750F For Sale on eBay

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Here’s the seller’s extensive description.

Runs and drives great. Frame off restoration approx 3 years ago. Needs nothing, clear title.
Here is a list of the parts replaced during restoration.
Everything from the frame to the engine has been painted, polished, buffed or replaced.
Clear title, up to date Oklahoma tag.
Many NOS parts including exhaust system.
Carburetors rebuilt.
Fork tubes replaced.
Brake calipers and master cylinders have all been rebuilt.
Halogen headlight from 82 model.
Custom led bar graph voltmeter installed.
New alternator rotor and stator.
Many of the original wire connectors have been replaced with reproductions for good electrical connections.
New seat cover.
New battery.
New tires.
New steering bearings and cups.
New chain.
New Handlebars.
NOS valve cover gasket.
NOS side cover gaskets.
NOS fuel petcock.
NOS exhaust system for 82 model.
New 1982 decal set because I liked the wider 1982 stripes better then the thin 1980 ones.
High quality activated urethane paint on tank, side covers, headlight bucket, rear seat extension and front fender.
Parts were stripped to bare metal, primed with high quality 2k primer, painted with 3 coats of Jet Black paint, decals installed then all was followed with 4 coats of custom clear. No need to worry about premature fading, peeling or accidental gasoline drips on the decals.
Much more. Too much to remember. Ask any questions before bidding.

$T2eC16dHJHwE9n8ii+O+BRTfPcFU6!~~60_3

Fully restored and needs nothing he says.

Click here for a the auction.

~Buck

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Norton

1962 Norton Custom Isolastic Featherbed

Looking for a race ready street legal British bike with lots of cool upgrades for handling and power? Hey, me too. Have a soft spot for Norton engines sitting in Featherbed frames? Hey me too. Have lots of money to spend on a vintage bike that’s built the way you would have built it? Yeah, me neither. A guy can dream though.

Norton Featherbed For Sale

This is one of those bikes that always made me wonder something until I did it myself. For years I always wondered, why spend all the time, money and effort to build your dream bike to just turn around and sell it? Well, I built a very nice custom CB400f once, It took me a long time because I was short on budget and long on wants. Once I got it close to done I began to ride it. At some point I realized it would never really be “done” and so much time had passed I wanted something completely different now. I sold the bike for a fair price but still came out as little bit of a loss. Then I started building a KZ1000 but before that got done I started building a Ducati 250 bevel drive. Maybe that’s what happened here. Somebody has a custom frame built and spends countless hours scouring the internet for the perfect era correct parts and then puts together his dream bike only to find out its not his dream bike anymore.

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Anyway, the buyer of my CB400f got a neat cafe racer for half of what it would cost him to build one and you might be able to buy this Norton for half of what it would cost you to build it. Building motorcycles is nothing like I see on TV where parts magically show up at your door and fit together perfectly the first time. Engines rarely start on the first try. I also find there’s at least one purchase that you have second thoughts about and you spent to much on so it just goes on a shelf waiting to be repurposed someday. Who ever cleans my attic when I’m gone is gonna be stoked. Alright, I’ll get to the point. My point is, if you would like to fast forward threw all the headaches and bad purchases of building a bike buy this one. It’s done, and ready to ride. No crying over midnight eBay parts purchasing or nothing. Turn key and go ride.

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Here’s the sellers long list of stuff and things.

FRESH- NORTON COMMANDO 750 SHORT STROKE IN  A  ISOLASTIC FEATHERBED FRAME, ONE OF A KIND, AND ALL PARTS ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, BORRANI,BREMBO , GRIMICA, TOMMASELLI, DUNSTALL, GIRLING DUCATI CUSH DRIVE HUB AND SWINGARM ECT,ECT. EVERYTHING IS FRESHLY POLISHED,PAINTED, REBUILT ECT.  BIKE WAS BUILT BY THE BEST NORTON GUY IN THE BUSINESS. BELOW ARE THE SPECS, ON THE BIKE, ALSO INCLUDING A HALF FAIRING WHICH I WILL SEND PHOTOS IF SOMEONE IS VERY INTERESTED.THIS BIKE CAN BE VIEWED ANYTIME IN LAS VEGAS, ALSO FOR SALE LOCALLY AND MAY END AUCTION IF IT SELLS. GOOD LUCK BIDDING.

LIST OF SPECIAL ITEMS:

ENGINE

770CC SHORT STROKE, 78MM BORE X 80.5 MM STROKE WITH CUSTOM MADE TITANIUM RODS, ARAIS SLIPPER PISTONS, SPECIAL LITE STEEL FLYWHEEL, BALANCED BY LINDSKOG BALANCING IN FOXBOROUGH, MASS. (THEY DID ALL THE WORK FOR THE BUTLER AND SMITH BMW’S IN THE 70S AND 80S.  CAM IS A NORRIS RADIUS LIFTER TYPE USING SPECIAL TAPPET BLOCKS INSERTED INTO BARRELL WHERE STOCK LIFTERS SIT.  BLOCKS ARE MADE OF AMPCO 45 MATERIAL AND TAKE SPECIAL CUSTOM ONE PIECE LIFTERS TO FIT INTO BLOCKS MADE FROM P20 OR H13 TOOL STEEL (CAN’T REMEMBER WHICH TYPE MATERIAL) THEY HAVE STELLITTE WELDED TO BOTTOMS AND RADIUSED, NOT BRAZED ON PADS.

CARBS ARE 36MM MK2 AMALS WITH CUSTOM MADE VELICITY STACK ON SPECIAL MADE STEEL MANIFLOWS.  TOMMASELLI.QUICK THROTTLE.  HAS CABLE OPERATED CHOKES FOR EASIER STARTING.

GEARBOX

HAS A NEW CLOSE RATIO 4 SPEED GEAR CLUSTER.  HAS A QUAIFE GEARBOX SHELL WITH NEW BEARINGS.  20T SPROCKET.  CLUTCH IS A NEW BARNETT.  PRIMARY DRIVE IS BY CHAIN.

ALL NEW CABLES.

INSTRUMENTS WERE REBUILT.

HAS NEW BOYER IGNITION AND BOYER POWER BOX, FULL LIGHTING AND HORN.

FRAME

NORTON SLIMLINE FEATHERBED, MODIFIED TO ACCEPT AN ISOLASTIC CRADLE.  ISOLATED CONCEPT IS THE SAME AS A COMMANDO.  HAS A SPECIAL MADE CHROME-MOLY SWINGARM TO CLEAR SUB-FRAME.  MADE  LIKE A DUCATI AND SEELY OF THE 70’S.  HAS A SPECIAL ISOLISTIC HEAD STEADY, LIKE A NORTON PRODUCTION RACER. FRONT DOUBLE DISC IS A DUNSTALL AND REAR WHEEL IS A TRIUMPH WITH A SPECIAL CUSH DRIVE.  ALL DISCS ARE MATCHING IN SIZE AND SHAPE.  LOTS OF STAINLESS THROUGHOUT.  ALL THE FIBER GLASS WORK IS ONE OFF.  EXHAUST IS SPECIAL TUCKIN TYPE  WITH STOCK MUFFLERS, FOOTPEGS, BRAKE PEDAL AND SIDE PLATES ARE ALL SPECIAL MADE CLIP ONS ARE MOTO GUZZI LEMANS.

Now, click, buy and ride.

~Buck

$T2eC16h,!)8E9s4l90(,BRQ6cK62W!~~60_3

Norton

1975 Norton Commando MK III

Norton Commando For Sale

A Baxter Bikes restoration? Usually once a bike goes through Baxter Bikes and is sold you never see it again. Like there’s some special place that has perfect bikes stored and only owners of said perfect bikes are aloud to know of it’s location. The kind of place that if you found by mistake you might have to be killed to keep the secret safe. No loose ends sort of thing, sorry it’s just business. Actually I have no idea if bikes restored at Baxter have any clout at all. Its sounds good though and after checking out their site I did see and endless page of customer reviews praising the place for helping them get their British bike back on the road. The seller of this Norton certainly considers them to be top notch. I also looked up a few brochures from that time period and the bike could easily be one of the ones I saw in there almost 40 year old pics.

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This bike falls into the category of “bikes that maybe shouldn’t be ridden but I would”. With only 2114 miles on it I would feel guilty every time I saw that odometer roll over another mile. Well, maybe. Something tells me I might be to busy thinking about how fast I can take the next corner or if that’s a cop to notice most of those blasphemous miles. In other words I should not own a bike like this but maybe you should. Maybe you’re single or you have a “cool” wife that will let you store motorcycles in your front room. Maybe you are the “cool”  wife  and you’re looking for something for the husband that has everything. Maybe you’r the “cool” wife that wants the bike for her self. Maybe you own a museum or volunteer at one. If you’re one of those types of people check this bike out. You can also check it out of you’re just into looking at cool bikes.

$T2eC16V,!)sE9swmZv57BRRIu-MBjg~~60_3

Here’s the seller’s account of this very well documented motorcycle.

 

Really Rare, Gorgeous, correct, stock, matching number

Please read all paperwork-includes recent letter & documentation from original owner-who only put aprox 2,114 miles, after 34 years of storage (see owner documentation-certified mileage, titles, sold to Baxter Bikes, renouned English Bike Restorer, who disassembled, completely rebuilt bike, repainted in rare MK III Red White & Blue colors, new exhausts-put on 3 test miles to 2,117 miles-which is current documented original miles- (see 2 page Baxter Bikes parts & labor enclosed).

I’ve only ridden 2 blocks in almost 3 years since purchased!

Final & BEST year of this amazing, landmark Mortorcycle…only year with Electric Start (also rebuilt).

No motorcycle collection complete without a Norton, and this is the one to have-final & most desired stock Norton, and impossible to find with mileage this low!

Bought bike from Mid-America Motorcycle auctions, when delivered, my wife refused to look at the bike.

For 3 years, just considered putting in Living Room & admiring!

This bike will do nothing but appreciate!

You won’t find one as pure, honest, & with this mileage-very, very rare.

Realistic reserve.

So, click here to see this cream puff’s auction and turn your screen to read the documents not your neck like I did. I’m neck will be stiff for days now.

~Buck

$T2eC16J,!zcE9s4g0uSfBRRIvGu4HQ~~60_3

Benelli

My Dad always called the place Monkey Wards but I never saw a monkey there: 1969 Wards Riverside Benelli Cobra

1969 Wards Riverside for sale

When I was kid Montgomery Wards was at the mall and they sold TV’s, clothes, tools and other necessaries for the common Merican. I liked going there but only because trips up town with my Dad were funny. He never used the right words for anything. He replace the correct words with similar words and I giggled every time. Here’s something I never saw at Monkey Wards though. If I knew these were there I would have begged to go. In the late 60’s and early 70’s the Italians were making some of the sexiest motorcycles in history and rebranding them with any name the distributors wanted. Did you know you could buy a whole house from Sears? Yeah, and when you arrived at your newly purchased sears built house with all sears appliances a Sears branded Benelli could be sitting in the garage. You could just order it out of a catalog. Amazon? You paying attention?

This particular Wards bike is a very desirable bike among collectors and is priced very fairly with it’s BIN.

1969 Wards Riverside for sale on eBay

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From the seller…

Selling a rare and mint condition 1969 Binelli Cobra 125cc,This bike condition from 1-10 is an easy 9.A beautiful Italian cafe bike that was produced in Italy but sold by Montgomery Wards hence the name Wards Riverside.

Click here to check out the auction

~Buck

$T2eC16NHJHQE9nzE)k!WBQ)nsQw!FQ~~60_12

Ducati

When you think Sport Touring does 50cc come to mind? 1962 DUCATI SPORT 48

1962 Ducati For Sale

Well if it does, you’re a friend of mine. For a short period of time Ducati insisted that small cc two strokes were the basket that all the eggs should go in. They weren’t right for the long term but for awhile two strokes kept them afloat. The Sport was imported to the US as the Falcon. They are a rare find in any condition and one that’s all original in this kind of condition could set some kind of record for most money paid per cc or something. There are claims that it will go more mph than it has cc’s, can your 1000cc do that? Aside from being rare they are so simple and so aesthetically appealing that they can be a pretty neat addition to any collection.

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Seller’s words:

1962 DUCATI SPORT 48. Completely original and in good running and riding condition. 48cc. 2 stroke. 3 speed. Maker’s claim 50mph (downhill with a slight tail wind??).

    Hard to find. Interesting addition to any serious Ducati collection. It was my intention to restore it but it has great patina as is and I would recommend leaving it alone.  It is a duplicate in my collection so I have put a fair reserve price.

    Sold with BILL OF SALE ONLY. eBay does not show a “bill of sale” category in the listing so I have put “clear title”. I repeat: this bike is  SOLD WITH BILL OF SALE ONLY. Please check the registration requirements in your state before bidding. This bike cannot be exported until a title is obtained.

    You are welcome to visit in Tarzana (San Fernando Valley part of Los Angeles).

    Speedo reads 6960 kms but this may not be the original mileage.

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OK, but does it have a title? Haha, I like how there are so many annoying people out there that sellers have to write in all caps to get their point across. Oh wait, I don’t like that but it is kinda funny. Do yourself a favor and check this auction out.

~Buck

BSA

Wish upon a Gold Star 1962 BSA Gold Star Catalina

In 1937 Wal Handley came out of retirement to ride a three-lap race for BSA at Brooklands. (A track I’ve been too that is pretty much gone but it has a neat museum there now.) This was unusual in itself, as BSA had taken no involvement in road racing since the disastrous 1921 Senior TT when all the machines entered failed to finish. Winning the race, with a fastest lap of 107.5 mph, Wal earned himself the Gold Star (awarded for race laps in excess of 100 mph) and with it launched the Gold Star marque.

As I understand it the Gold Star was made up the best components BSA was making at the time. They were a Factory made race ready bike. Because of the manufacturing techniques of the era some pieces would be close to perfect and some pieces would just barely meet specs. Parts like cases and cranks. BSA would check these parts as they assembled the bikes and put the cream of the crop in the Gold Stars. That’s not the only thing that set them apart from their standard bikes. They came with Alloy Barrels and Cylinder heads. Out of the box these bikes would go 90mph, pretty good for it’s day. By the time they got to 1955 the bikes were pretty much perfected and became something you would order and not see at a dealership. The later ones have really low production numbers and can bring a pretty hefty value.

Read closely and ask questions… From the seller:

Restoration is almost complete on this rare and collectible BSA Gold Star, the best bike BSA has ever built. The engine and transmission, wheels, frame, and components have been totally and professionally restored. Over $6,800 spent on parts and labor, not including the cost of the bike. Cases vapor blasted, frame coated. New parts include seat, handle bars, levers, lots of stainless hardware and components. All parts included in the sale are pictured. you’ll need a tank, pipes, and ignition. Most of the parts are here and the decision is yours – finish it as a scrambler, Gold Star cafe, custom cafe, flat track, your imagination is the limit. the hard work is already done… Forced sale, this motorcycle is one of my prized possessions and it has been in a climate controlled environment. Located in San Francisco, California. No title, sold with a bill of sale.

No title and missing some key pieces like the tank makes for the possibility of a fair price buy in on this project. If you’ve always wanted to dominate the competition on the vintage race track or just have a very uniques investment this bike is for you. These come up for sale very rarely so it’s hard to put an exact value on it. The Nada Guide has a perfect one valued at $15k. This auction will prove or disprove Nada’s accuracy.  Since “the holy grail” is used to describe certain bikes I hesitate to say this is the Holy Grail of classic sport bikes but I might say it’s the holy grail of the BSA’s.

~Buck

Ariel

Don’t be an Ariel Square Four man.

Ariel got it’s name from a Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”. Shakespeare’s Character was a airy spirit based on a messenger of the gods, Mercury. The company started with bicycles like a lot of other motorcycle manufacturers. One of the things that set them apart is that they made a motorized tricycle in 1898. I’d like to see one of those some day, sounds cool. In 1901 their first motorcycle was released it had a 211cc engine. They moved onto big singles and V-twins. Then in 1931 a 500cc square four was introduced. By the late 1930’s they had released a 1000cc square four. In 1953 they went to a four pipe square four. The bike you see here is a two pipe sq 4. A very unusual engine design with two cranks connected by a gear. This bike has a neat story of procurement from the seller. I like to here about bikes being taken down from the rafters and put back on the road.

1950 Ariel Square 4 For Sale on eBay

From the seller:

1950 Ariel Square 4 in excellent condition and with only 15,293 miles. Absolutely lovely bike, starts on the first kick, and rides perfectly. The 1000cc 4-cylinder engine is factory stock with no mods. Turn on the key, pull the choke, and starts easily on the first kick. Settles into a smooth quiet idle but has a very unique exhaust note that sounds like a V8 that snarls with revs above midrange (I’ve read that the sound is reminiscent of an Offenhauser racing engine). These are unusual engines; basically two vertical twins in one square block, with two separate crankshafts connected together with a large gear. Just rebuilt by Bancroft Vintage Motorworks; runs perfectly and without issue; no leaks, no noises. The 4-speed transmission shifts perfectly and the factory gearing allows relaxed 60 mph cruising while providing strong acceleration. Very pleasant bikes to ride; draws much interest at shows & bike night  events. The headlight (high & low beam), tail light, brake light, and horn all work properly and the speedometer is accurate. Perfect chrome gas tank with red & gold trim. Perfect black lacquer forks, frame, and fenders. The original decals from Ariel are still in place and the original dealer’s sticker (Johnson Motors on West Pico Blvd in Los Angeles, California) is still on the rear fender. There is no rust. Perfect original exhaust & mufflers. Perfect chrome spoke wheels fitted with Dunlop tires. Incredibly nice bike.

Note: I found this bike suspended from the ceiling over the bar in an Ohio restaurant, being used as a display. After much wrangling with the owner (who subsequently wanted my Velocette), I bought and brought it to Bancroft Vintage Motorworks since, although in perfect cosmetic condition, the bike had not been started or ridden in a few years. Mr. Bancroft disassembled & rebuilt the engine, repaired the electrical wiring, and went through the bike. A new battery, engine rebuild, carb rebuild, valve job, all new seals, all new fluids, and complete tune-up later, it started on the first kick and rode perfectly down the road. It now is fully road ready and will win trophies at virtually any show entered. It is still every bit a museum quality show bike but also a very capable rider as well. Gorgeous.

See additional full-screen size photos and other interesting vintage bikes at sportscargallery.com

This a very fine example of people trying new things to make their mark. The sq 4 has unique looks, sound and performance. I tend to like the unusual, it reminds me of a saying I heard somewhere, “if a bunch of people tell you it won’t work then your onto something special”. Sometimes they’re right and sometimes you leave a bookmark in history. Edward Turners 500cc OHC sq 4 left a mark that’s for sure.

~Buck