Tagged: 250cc

May 28, 2014

1963 Honda CB72 Road Racer

I know there are people out there that study, and search, and have re-created lost motorcycles, but this 1963 Honda CB72 Road Racer might be a small study in motorcycle Archaeology. The last sentence in the seller description make it sound like a mystery, but it would be fun spending a weekend or two out at the track solving the puzzle.

From the seller

Was raced into the 70’s in Ontario Canada…..sold to a previous Honda dealer in Saskatchewan who did some restoration work but the seat had been misplaced when it went out for re upholstery’s. I purchased the bike in 1985 and eventually bought a replica seat and had it painted to match. Other than displayed at a couple of bike shows over the years, it has sat on a display shelf at my dealership for 27 years. Unfortunately the race log book with tuning settings and maintenance was lost before I acquired it and I’m unsure of any other details. Believe the bike is based on the CYB Honda race kit.

There are TV programs were people go out and dig through peoples homes and property to find hidden treasures. How many Honda Dealerships have been gone through to see what can be found? Are there racers hidden in the rafters? Are there CYB parts in boxes that haven’t seen the light of day? Especially in the Great White North of Canada were the racing season could be 2 weeks long?

There was a time when Honda offered over the counter road racers. This was a combination of user demand, with a hint of marketing. Honda was new to the scene in the early ‘60’s, and what better way to get people to come see the showroom then racing and winning on the weekend. This then generated the privateer coming to the parts department and filling out the forms to get their own racer for next season. Bikes like this 1963 Honda CB72 Road Racer can be found in garages of people, and the back rooms of dealership. Go find them. BB

Yamaha

January 28, 2014

1964 Yamaha TD1b production racer

The old saying that the first motorcycle race started when the second motorcycle was made, tells you a lot about people who ride motorcycles. Yamaha offered the TD1 to give anyone the best possible racing motorcycle over the counter. There were still going to be Factory bikes, the manufacture will always hold a little back, but this 1964 Yamaha TD1b production racer was offered up to anyone who had the cash to put on the Yamaha dealers counter.

From the seller

Yamaha TD1b production Race Bike frame Number T1-408 Engine Number D6-408. I purchased this bike as a project a few years ago and now have another project that I will need to fund so I am offering it for sale. Frame has been stripped checked and painted. Wheels have been cleaned polished and re-spoked. I have not dismantled or run the motor, but appears to be in good condition. Bike comes with spares that I have collected for the restoration. A pair of unused Niksal bores, a pair of production race heads, set of pistons, 4 sets of rings, set of pins, fairing with screen and correct mounting brackets (not pictured), and all spares pictured on the table. This bike has been lightly assembled in order to reconcile all parts and will require further restoration/finishing . Please study photos as the form part of this description. I will endeavor to answer all your questions and will supply more photos if required, so don’t hesitate if you are interested. These bikes are rapidly becoming scarce and would make an excellent parade bike and solid collectible investment.

The TD1 did not come out of the factory as the fastest and most reliable motorcycle. There were some growing pains and the TD1a and TD1b both had issues that were continually addressed by both Yamaha and their owner and tuners. The predecessor came out in 1959 as the YDS-1 twin cylinder 2-stroke. It was offered in both scrambler and road going models, and with the success of the privateer, Yamaha had found a market for a racing 2-stroke.

The b model list of improvements included a larger crankshaft, changes to the cylinder bores to increase life, and port improvements. These were not all the improvements that were needed for the design. The frame was still lacking stiffness, the ignition timing tended to wander, and carburetion was hindered by the decision to mount the remote floats to the engine crank case. As these points were address, the TD1 became the TD2, but that’s a different story.

This 1964 TD1b up for offer is what it is. The mid point in the development by Yamaha for an over the counter racer. If you take ownership, you may not be the fastest Vintage 2-Stroke on the track, but you will be representing a long line of people who went to Yamaha and wanted the best that they offered at the time. BB

BMW

December 12, 2013

1955 BMW R25/3

Does anyone know the weight limits for carry on luggage for international flights? The reason I ask is because this 1955 R25/3 in scrambler dress is currently offered from a seller in Indonesia. I have family in Indonesia, and I am wondering how many visits it would take for them to bring this BMW over in their carry on, one piece at a time?

From the seller

I am selling this bike 1955 BMW R25/3. I restored this bike for him last year that still fresh for “show bike”. This motorcycle has just had a complete restoration by a certified BMW mechanic who has had many years of experience in restorations especially for BMW Classic. The engine, transmission and final drive (gear ratio 25/6) were completely rebuilt with ALL new bearings and seals. The frame and frontend was bead blasted and powder coated black. It was bead blasted and painted with a single stage black paint and was hand pinstriped like they were originally.

If you remember your lessons on deciphering BMW designations, you will know that this is the 3^rd incarnation of the 250cc single from BMW. To confuse you, this is not the 3^rd 250cc single ever, but the 3^rd revolution of this particular design. The first in line was the R25 offered from 1950 to 1951, the /2 was offered from 1951 to 1953 and the R25/3 from 1953 to 1956. And to further confuse you the next 250cc single offered by BMW was the R26.

More from the seller.

No have title but will have bill of sale. The speedometer is the original VDO. This electrick have 12 volt and good run in the night. and The rims are the “Weinmann” aluminum and has re-paint black and silver. The exhaust is NEW reproduction, but is very nice for fish old model scrambler. Pagusa solo seat. Original Bing carburator and were cleaned, blasted and rebuilt… Starts, runs and everything works.

The one feature that sets this 250cc people carrier apart from the 109,750 other R25 build between 1950 and 1956 is the exhaust pipe. This one feature gives you the starting point to build yourself a BMW Scrambler. Now it’s not going to be a Paris Dakar winning R80GS, but with some knobbies, some thinner fenders and you could go explore those local fire roads.

This BMW R25/3 is not by design a classic sports bike. With only 13hp driving the bike and rider to a top speed of 73mph from the factory, by definition this is far from a sports bike. But with the great Fishtail muffler high enough to clear obstacles you find in the woods, you could be one of the few people out in the forest riding a Classic BMW. But if you just like the looks of this R25/3, you could join this group.

Bultaco / Uncategorized

December 3, 2013

1965 Bultaco TSS water cooled

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If you missed out on this 1963 Bultaco TSS road racer we had highlighted early, you now have a chance at another TTS. This 1965 Bultaco TSS 250cc water cooled racer is now for sale from Japan.

From the seller

1965 Bultaco TSS 250 Watercool. Bike was in museume past 15years. Frame and engine no. does match. I do not have any doccument but I heard EX-owner was Jim Redman. Bike has compression and sift thru all gear.　Will help worldwide shiping. Shipping will be $1500(crate, fright, doc fee, export custom) to CarsonCA.

The seller doesn’t really give an idea of how the bike has spend its last years. Just looking at the bike, it may have just been in the back of someones garage after coming off the track. Check out the the Gardner carb.

As noted with the previous 125cc TSS, these Spanish smokers could put out some horse power. Not to the level that came just a few years later from Japan, but still enough to put it too 4 stroke bike to get to the podium on a International level in both GP and Endurance events.

So if you really want a TSS, this 1965 Watercooled 250cc model if not the pinnacle of Bultaco’s road racing developement, this its sure close, but you need to be quick. BB

Norton / NSU

November 15, 2013

1950’s NSU SuperMax in British frame

You don’t always have to cruise eBay to find great bikes for sale there. Like others, I follow a few personal blogs of people that have at one time or another posted something about vintage motorcycles. This 1950’s NSU in a unique frame was posted to a blogger who may have raced or raced against this bike.

From the seller

1950s Racing NSU with 250 Supermax engine and special one-off lightweight racing frame, believed to have been raced in Irish road race events of the 1950s/1960 period. Lightened wheels with alloy rims, old racing tyres fitted. Engine turns over and gears engage but not in running order. Needs re-commissioning before using. Lovely patina and ‘period feel’, probably a unique bike in this form. Dustbin fairing as originally fitted to the bike available to successful bidder for an additional £250, if required, as a separate transaction. For further information or viewing please contact 01373 834407, bike located near Bath

Having just posted about a NSU SuperMax racer last week, I can tell you that this blue frame is far different from the pressed steel frame when the SuperMax road bike came with. The Earles style front forks are similar to the road going Super, so there is some wonder as to the choices made by the builder.

Looking at the huge carb with its velocity stack sticking out from under the gas tank lets you believe there is something inside that small 250cc engine. The swiss cheese drilled frame also lets you know the builder wanted every advantage that they could get. The one downside to any auction, is mentioning an important feature that is not offered for sale. The fairing was on this 1950’s NSU SuperMax, I believe it should be offered up with the bike. BB

NSU

November 4, 2013

1953 NSU Sportmax

If you were to guess who the largest motorcycle manufacture in the 1950’s was, would you guess NSU? Would you then believe how influencial that company would be on the track? A company which started out making sewing machines and came to an end in 1969 when it was absorbed into the Volkswagen Group made the Sportmax for both the road and track. This 1953 NSU Sportmax with full dustbin fairing traveled the world, and took some hardware home from the tracks.

From the seller

Here is a very rare NSU Sportmax, 250cc production racer. To my knowledge there have been only 30 built in the early 50s by NSU in Neckarsulm, Germany,. In 1956 there have 17 of them racing actively in Germany. It is a masterpiece of German Engineering. The fairing itself is a beautiful piece of workmanship.

Chassis # is 171710, engine# is 791629R.

What I was able to glean from the world wide web is that the road going Sportmax had some unique ways of generating the power. The overhead cam was not driven by chain or gears, but by connecting rods, linking the cam to the crank. I would guess there are some more modifications on this race prepped bike. The road going Max also had a pressed steel uni-body frame, but it is hard to tell from the pictures if that transferred to the racing frame work.

More from the seller

It has a well documented history:

From Germany it was sold to Guatemala . Their racing star Luis Giron took it to Willow Springs in 1954 and won the Lightweight class. He then raced it in the 500cc class blowing off most of the Manxes. He finished 2.nd. I have the original article from “Motorcyclist”. Then it was bought by Sonny Angel a well known figure from California in the motorcycle racing scene. I bought it from Sonny in 1986 and had it in my Racing Department, Bley Vintage , a Division of Bley Engineering , Elk Grove /Il completely restored. All parts came from Germany , crankshaft by Hoeckle . It was kept in our private museum and I ran it in a few AHRMA events such as Laguna Seca, Road America, Steamboat Springs without fairing, and in Daytona with fairing. Because of being such a rare bike it was never pushed for winning but rather keeping it as a show piece.

When ever these ex-factory racers come up for auction I always hope that and ex-factory mechanic would come with the bike. With such limited production, limited documentation on improvements and upgrades, you need more then a set of wrenches to turn on these bikes. The seller drops a few names from past racing glory, and current vintage racing names. I am guessing that the number of bidders looking at this 1953 NSU Sportmax as a display bike is going to be higher then those looking for a bike to make lots of noise on the weekends. BB

BMW

November 1, 2013

1962 BMW R27

BMW has not been know as a Sports Bike company by many. Sure there was a guy named Ernst Henne who worked for the company and set lots of world speed records on NA and Supercharged BMW. But when you look at this 1962 BMW R27, you don’t think its an Italian sporting single, you see a people carrier. You might want to get ahead of the curve on this one.

From the seller

BMW R-27 1962 Nice original 250 cc R27 30,119 original miles. I bought it in Jan. 2012. When I bought it, it had new Heidenau tires, head light ring, throttle cable, exhaust system, carb boot and clamps and tail light ring. The bike seems very original. It is by no means a show bike, but it is a totally complete, solid R 27. The aluminum rims are in excellent condition. I had Bore Tech bore the cylinder and put a new piston in. That cost $315. I had Memphis Motor Werks rebuild the head, 2 new valves, new valve seats, new valve guides. This cost $603. I put the motor together, rode the bike for a few miles and back it went into storage. This would be a very easy restoration project or just tune it and put it into service. I also have spare clutch and brake levers and original Hella bar end turn signals, one orange lense is missing. The inside of the gas tank is very clean. Bike sold as is, no waranty. Also, I have some history of this bike that will go to the winning bidder. This bike sat in a BMW dealership from 1962 until1983, when it was sold new. I also have a repair manual and parts manual that go with the bike and receipts for the motor work I had done.

From 1960 until 1966 the R27 was BMW single cylinder, 250cc people mover. With over 15 thousand made, they were marketed as a way to get from point A to point B. But what you can do with its 68mm square engine, at 247cc should not be surprising. The factory 8.2 to 1 CR, 26mm Bing would generate 18HP at 7400 rpm to a reported top speed of 80mph. Not bad. But what about the tried and true improvements of Cam (a little more lump lump) Carb (a Dell’orto can be adapted) and Compression (a hot R50S piston could fit?)

With a little bit of effort, a little money, and getting to know the right people you can make a very quick Black German single. Something that might put it to some Italian Red Singles. Bonneville Salt Flats are known as the Great White Dyno, and if you check the record books for vintage 250cc motorcycles, you will see that BMW is listed multiple times. Yes these are race prepped bikes, but think what can be done to a daily rider. Something that was designed to get you from point A to point B, with a little effort, and now that trip is a little quicker. I think the secret is out on these BMW singles, so bid on this 1962 BMW R27 to get ahead of the curve. BB

Aermacchi

October 29, 2013

1961 Aermacchi 250cc

When ever The Motor Company heads over to Italy, you know two things are going to happen. Harley-Davidson is going to spend a lot of money, and Harley-Davidson will leave Italy with twice as little as they went over with. In recent history the brand from Milwaukee went to MV Agusta, then left. When this 1961 Aermacchi single rolled of the production line, the men in Wisconsin rolled them into showrooms next to the latest Shovelheads. The question is will Harley head to Italy in another 30 years, or have they learned their lesson.

A list from the seller

1961 AERMACCHI 250 CC CUSTOM CAFE RACER STYLE MOTORCYCLE

12 VOLT CHARGING SYSTEM

ELECTRONIC IGNITION

ENGINE COMPLETELY REBUILT

CUSTOM MADE TANK WITH FUEL GAUGE

CUSTOM SEAT

CERLANI FRONT SUSPENSION

WORKS PROGRESSIVE REAR SHOCK SUSPENSION

FRONT GRIMECA 190MM FOUR LEADING BRAKE SHOES

ALA ALURRA REINFORCED FRAME

TACHOMETER

CUSTOM STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM

ACKRON ALLOY WHEELS WITH STAINLESS STEEL SPOKES

FRONT TIRE PIRELLI MT25 90/90-18MC

REARTIREPIRELLICITY DEMON 3.25-18 MC-52S

Aermacchi started in the world by building air planes, but because of the lack of transportation after the world wars, started making small engines for small motorcycles. By 1960 when Harley Davison walked into the offices of Aeronautica Macchi and bought a 50% stake in the company, this 1961 was what landed up in the same showroom as the other Motor Company Mounts.

Most people do not think of Harley-Davison when they think of small Italian Café racers. But from 1961 until AMF-Harley sold its interest in 1978, you could see 250cc single sitting next to a 74ci potato saying V-Twin. But luckily for those fans of Italy, this 1961 Aermacchi came to these shores. BB

Ducati

July 10, 2013

1965 Ducati Monza Race Bike 250cc

Ducati and motorcycle road racing are synonymous, they go and sound like nothing else! This bike is a very cool piece, can be used as a weekend track bike and a sculpture when not carving out corners.

I really couldn’t have said it better. There is something about a single cylinder racing bike. Its just fuel, air, compression, explosion and go. There doesn’t have to be any fancy timing, one cylinder, one spark plug. You get any more cylinders and you start to get complicated. This 1965 Ducati Monza race bike is simple.

More from the seller

Offered here is 250cc Corsa Tribute bike, not the real …. This is a replica of the factory bikes in proper working order. It runs well and has excellent compression. It was bought “as is” from the previous owner and has not been raced since mechanical restoration, only used as a paddock bike for a vintage race team. The plan was to do a cosmetic restoration and paint it up to match one of the race cars, plans change, now it is your chance to own this little bike. The previous owner listed the following as work completed/parts purchased to do the bike:

Frame w/ swing arm/ rebuilt race motor/competition carbs., wheels, tires, swing arm outriggers, taper bearing mount, brakes shoes, Cerrani Front forks (shortened), S-arm bushings, handle bars, lower sets, shocks, chain, throttle and cable, ignition coil, fly wheel, stator, and grips .

The bike is very presentable, I would favor a higher quality paint job, that said it is a race bike and it will do until the new owner customizes to suit their taste.

It is NOT street legal and does NOT have a Title — Will be sold on a Bill of Sale only.

Nice pit bike, but I bet this 1965 Ducati Monza would be more fun with the throttle wide open. BB

Ducati

June 27, 2013

Project or turn key Ducati Single?

There are people who buy motorcycles to ride. And then there are those that buy boxes of motorcycle parts to spend evenings and weekends in their garage putting those pieces together. If you are looking for a 1966 Ducati 250cc single, then those that buy to ride and those who build to ride will both be satisfied.

Not done 1966 Ducati

In this auction we have a 1966 Ducati Monza 250. This is a rolling project bike and will come with a bill of sale. The motor turns freely. It also shifts through all gears. This will need re-bored and will need a new piston due to rust pitting. This will also need a clutch. Despite these small issues, everything else in the motor appears serviceable. The crankshaft and rod turns smoothly. We have had the top end off of this and the rod and crankshaft appear to be in good condition. This comes with the correct rear wheel hub and the rolling chassis seen in the picture – this doesn’t come with tins. . . what you see is what you will be getting. This could be a fun project for a custom Ducati 250, or as a donor bike for the parts for an existing ride.

Done 1966 Ducati

Ducati Single 250 Cafe, Road Racer 1966 DM250 91546. The bike was built last year, but I need the money so I have to sell it. The motor has been gine through with new bearings, gaskets, rings a rebuilt carb and new points. It runs good and starts good. The carb could use some work or a new squre slide carb. The muffler is a little loud, no baffle. Benelli forks, old school race hubs with air vents and vintage race tires. There is no title, no title, no title!

Just looking at the bidding history after one day (less then one day) there appear to be more builders then buyers. But there might be other factors. The built one doesn’t appear to have a title. And its not stock. The not done one is likely going to need a few parts sourced, but if you want to go original, that is your choice. With the built one the choice has been made.

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Which one are you? BB