Tagged: 125

Moto Guzzi

Little Starling: 1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport for Sale

1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport R Side

Characterful little bikes like this don’t really exist anymore: today, 125’s and 250’s are starter bikes and commuters, designed to offer maximum value and a dash of style and color. But under the skin, they’re designed and built as cheaply as possible, and often look pretty nasty if you look too closely.

1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport Dash

Make no mistake, the Stornello or “Starling” in Italian, was designed to be built cheaply, but, like many small Italian bikes of the 50’s and 60’s, although designed as practical, affordable transportation, still managed to infuse some style, class, and quality.

1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport Seat

Equipped with lower bars, a racing seat [here replaced with a solo saddle], cut-down fenders, lightweight wheels, and increased fuel capacity, the Sport version of the little Stornello produced a bit more power than stock, a thundering 8hp from the 123cc motor. That may not sound like much, but the long-stroke, undersquare engine made good torque in the best Guzzi tradition.

1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport Engine

From the original eBay listing: 1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello 125 Sport for Sale

All original accept horn and rear view mirror. Finish and all body parts with original patina clear coated. All mechanical components completely gone through. Engine: complete rebuild including Valve guides, valves, piston, rings, sleeve honed, new wrist pin, new kick start return spring, complete gasket set, cases buffed and detailed. Motor starts on first kick every time, all electronics work. Aftermarket turn signals added for safety. Tires are ok and original. Single saddle is correct and original from Italy but original American long seat is included. Not many of these in the US and this one turns heads. Current Indiana Title, plated

Condition: All original as found in barn, completely disassembled cleaned and assembled with original barn rust spots, all fender and case rust was treated and clear coated to preserve the look. Tank perfect, no rust, no clear coat. Italian seat and parcel rack has been added but original large seat is included. New wiring harness, lights and turn signals added for safety, original 6 volt system. Engine complete top to bottom rebuild, piston, rings, wrist pin, value guides, valves, kick start return spring and carb. Cases and cylinder buffed and detailed. Exhaust original all the way back. I am the second owner, found this bike in a barn in Ohio where it had been sitting for the past 20 years

1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport Front

With a “Buy It Now” price of $3,000 for such a sweet little piece of history, although those turn signals would have to go: a nice set of small, black LED signals would do the same job, draw less current, and be far more subtle than the bits currently fitted. A very cool bike for a pretty low price.

-tad

1967 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport L Side

MV Agusta

One for the Moto Giro: 1958 MV Agusta 125 Turismo Rapido

1958 MV Agusta 125 Tourismo L Side

While both modern and vintage motorcycle enthusiasts generally associate the name “MV Agusta” with expensive, exotic, competition-oriented motorcycles. But without more affordable, readily-available machinery like this little 125 Tourismo Rapido to plump up the company’s bottom line, much of their famous racing success would have been impossible.

1958 MV Agusta 125 Tourismo Engine Detail

Certainly even when this bike was new, the name MV Agusta was associated with top-tier racing success. But the 125 and 175 models were designed to be sold by the bucketload to help finance those successful exotic machines. These were very popular, due to their quality construction and extremely frugal fuel consumption.

1958 MV Agusta 125 Tourismo L Tank

The bike used a four-stroke engine to add refinement to the package: two-strokes make plenty of power for their weight, but they’re rattle-y, dirty, and generally antisocial. Handling was excellent, even if power was unremarkable: bore and stroke for the overhead valve single were “square” at 54mm each, for a total of 123.6cc that put 6.5hp through a four-speed box.

1958 MV Agusta 125 Tourismo Speedo

From the original eBay listing: 1958 MV Agusta Turismo Rapido

Very rare and hard to find – original vintage MV Agusta – Turismo Rapido 125 cc – Legendary Italian Design at it’s Best. I personally hand selected and purchased this Bike in Germany from a private collector who had the Bike completely restored all to Factory specs in Germany about 9 years ago. No money has been spared not only to restore the Bike but also to preserve history.

At the beginning of the year I decided to display the bike at two well known shows here in Florida, my goal was to find out if the US Judges do have that trained eye needed to appreciate a bike like this one and the precision German craftsmanship going into a Restoration, THEY DID: 

On January 31st. the Bike made 2nd. PLACE – in European Bikes – at the – DANIA BEACH ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE SHOW – and it made – BEST IN CLASS – at the Prestigious – BOCA RATON CONCOURSE D’ ELEGANCE – on February 22.nd 2015 – They did not skimp on the Trophy either, it is made by TIFFANY & CO. – Both awards goes with the bike, they belong to the bike and they are documented.

The 1958 Year marks the last year of this model and you’ll not find to many in all red. I’ll include some factory pictures that will show the bike with a black / red seat plus I found one factory picture showing the all red seat. In one of the pictures you’ll see Magura – plus a serial Nr. that’s the Manufacturer & nr. engraved in the handle bar, only the original MV Agusta handle bar has that, you’ll not find it in the after market parts.

I would grade the bike a 9 ( from 1 to 10 ) – you’ll find some very minor flaws like a small paint chip here and there and in one picture you’ll see a very minor surface rust spot on the rear rims chrome. There is nothing really that can take anything away from the overall Beauty of this bike. It is already a show winner but this is not just a bike for show you can actually ride this every day. I just changed the Engine Oil.

If you want to come by and check the bike out before you bid on it, that’s very welcome. The bike is so special that I keep it in the living room to my wife’s delight.

1958 MV Agusta 125 Tourismo Rear Suspension

These seem like such fun machines and are far more durable than their exotic nameplate would suggest, since they were originally designed to provide regular transportation with a dash of style. And with 40,000 of them sold during their lifetime, keeping one running shouldn’t be impossible, considering we’re talking about a sixty-year-old motorcycle. This would be a great way to participate in classic events like the Moto Giro, or just make a great weekend ride for puttering around your neighborhood.

-tad

1958 MV Agusta 125 Tourismo L Front

Ducati

1966 Ducati Sport 125 for Sale

1966 Ducati 125 R Front

Today’s small-displacement motorcycles are really either “learners” or “commuters”, with few aspirational qualities to encourage pride-of-ownership. There really isn’t much cool about a Honda 250 Rebel other than the fact that it is, in fact, a motorcycle. Ducati doesn’t even really make an entry-level bike anymore: a 695 Monster may be an “entry-level Ducati,” but it sure isn’t an entry-level motorcycle…

1966 Ducati 125 L Dash

Although most smaller-engined Ducatis of the 1960’s were intended more as transportation than as racing tools and were clearly built to a price, they were still imbued with some of the passion and engineering of their more race-oriented siblings. This example is clearly nicer than when it left the factory, but Ducatis of all stripes were designed to appeal to the heart as well as the pocketbook.

1966 Ducati 125 Engine Detail 2

This is the sort of thing I really love: a vintage bike rebuilt to look period, but with upgrades and improvements implemented during the rebuild, instead of slavish devotion to “from the factory” originality. Everything here is for go as much as show, and the seller does a great job of describing what went into this build.

From the original eBay listing: 1966 Ducati 125 for Sale

The bike was complete when I got it, but the engine internals were unknown. Everything was taken down to the last nut and bolt, cleaned, inspected, then polished, plated, painted or otherwise finished as required.

At this time, I decided to build up the engine to 160cc. I brand new NOS piston and cylinder were fitted, along with a 160 head. The new head got new valves, guides, seats and retainers, and the ports were massaged, all courtesy of Mike Libby, C.R. Axtell’s partner.

The engine was completely disassembled, and every bearing and bushing was replaced. The crankshaft was rebuilt, and everything was expertly assembled and correctly timed and shimmed by Ducati ace Frank Scurria, who worked at, and raced for the ZDS Motors (West Coast counterpart to Berliner) with the legendary A.J. Lewis in the ’60s. The entire clutch was replaced with new, the transmission inspected and properly shimmed.

Externally, there are no clues that this is not a 125cc, that is, until you notice the little bike is nipping at the heels of your 175 Elite. Even the casting numbers on the head are the same.

Now, for those who are aghast at all these deviations from original, remember, it was built to be ridden with confidence and vigor, day and night. Modern traffic has no tolerance for shiny little traffic obstacles.

1966 Ducati 125 R Tank 2

It’s a shame that small-displacement sportbikes are thing of the past. Perhaps KTM’s 390 will make it to these shores and give us a machine whose quality is not measured in cubic inches… Bidding on this Ducati is active and up to over $13,000 with the reserve not yet met. There’s very little time left on the auction, so move quickly and bid aggressively on this beautiful little machine.

-tad

1966 Ducati 125 R Side

 

MV Agusta

1957 MV Agusta Superpullman for Sale

1957 MV Agusta Superpullman R Front

Today, we view the Italian manufacturers like MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, and Ducati as makers of high-end, relatively exotic performance bikes, and they’re certainly not doing anything to dissuade us from thinking that. But most of these Italian marques got their start or a very big boost at the end of World War II, supplying cheap and stylish transportation to a population devastated by war. So while racing was a real part of their heritage, and seriously sporting machines a part of their model line up, it was their less expensive offerings that were perhaps more important to the bottom line.

1957 MV Agusta Superpullman Controls

Bikes like this little MV Agusta Superpullman. Interestingly, this bike has little mechanically in common with the other small-displacement MV Agustas of this era, and in fact has little to do with the regular Pullman. This little two-stroke made about 6hp and put those ponies through a 4-speed box. MV made both two and four-stroke models and this particular bike was designed to bridge the gap between economical, unintimidating scooters and more sporting, practical motorcycles, much like the Moto Morini Corsarino we featured recently. The little Superpullman was priced competitively, but did not sell very well and was discontinued after only a few thousand were sold.

1957 MV Agusta Superpullman L Engine

From the original eBay listing: 1957 MV Agusta Superpullman for Sale
This really neat bike (one of only 3000 of this model ever produced) is ready for instant use, starts at first kick, is running and riding well (where everything on the bike works normal/like should!) and is, because of all the nice details, color-scheme and appearance just a pleasure to look at.
It has been restored very long time ago and is now showing light patina again. Some of the cromed parts are not nice, as on places some chrome has come off* (especially on the handlebar and exhaust-system, though both wheels and many other parts are ok!).
..*Basically this is a matter of having things re-chromed, or just to simply leave things like they are.
The paint is showing a very small scratch on top of the fuel-tank and furthermore a couple of really very small markings are visible on places, though these can, in case disturbing, easily be touched in.
Like often the case with these models has also on this bike the front-suspension been upgraded, where still today the telescopic and correct period MV Agusta front-fork is giving the machine excellent roadholding (as well as a very comfortable ride!).
1957 MV Agusta Superpullman R Rear

This example has lovely blue paint as opposed to the more familiar MV red and silver. The bike is currently titled in Belgium, so keep in mind it may not be very easy to check the bike out in person. But the listing is clearly written with very nice photographs and the seller seems motivated to sell it anywhere it can find the right buyer.

If you’re looking for something small and classy to decorate your livingroom, or a neat little weekend toy and don’t mind hunting up spares, this could be your bike!

-tad

1957 MV Agusta Superpullman L Side

 

Moto Guzzi

1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport for Sale

1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport R Tank

The Little Guzzi trend continues with this nice, restored 1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport, also known as the “Stornello.” Don’t let the bright red paint and Italian style fool you: this was designed as practical, reliable transportation for the masses. The dash of style just helped move product out the door and differentiate Guzzi’s bike from competing bikes.

1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport L Rear

Its 123cc pushrod single made a modest 7bhp, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story. The little Stornello had a supremely flexible powerband and Guzzi’s characteristic spread of usable torque, perfect for the commuting and general riding duties for which the bike was intended.

1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport Front

From the original eBay listing: 1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport for sale

I am selling my rare and collectable Moto Guzzo 125 Sport, I have too many bikes. The bike is completely restored. The engine was bored to .040 with new piston, rings, pin, new valves and guides. The carb is original, gearbox is smooth and has a new kickstart spring  and seals. Original exhaust system in beautiful condition. Frame was media blasted and powdercoated in black. Tank, fenders, and all sheet metal are original and re-sprayed with PPG in original color. New Michelin tires and tubes, new battery. Seat was rebuilt on original seat pan. The ignition/light switch in not functional and the lights run off the battery-no recharge. This is a beautiful and nice riding bike and a true collector machine. No starting price but there is a reserve. I would prefer that the buyer pick up but I could crate if you arrange shipping. I have a clear Texas title. Bid high-this is a sweet Guzzi. Buy yourself a Xmas gift.

1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport Dash

These little Guzzis aren’t particularly exotic in Europe, but here in the land of 800 pound motorcycles, they didn’t sell too many, and they’re correspondingly rare as a result. The 125’s are very robustly built and reliable, as they were intended as sporty commuters, not highly-strung racers, but parts to keep them running can prove difficult if you plan to ride, rather than show your bike. This looks to be a fun one, and bidding is still south of $2,000 with two days left in the auction.

-tad

1966 Moto Guzzi 125 Sport Tank Close

Moto Guzzi

1960 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport for Sale

1960 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport R Front

My unofficial Guzzi Week continues with a machine that’s pretty rare, at least in the USA.  I love the idea of small exotics from manufacturers with a serious racing pedigree: in most cases MV Agusta, Ducati, and Moto Guzzi were active in all levels of racing, not just the big-bore classes.  And the idea of a scaled-down sports machine is appealing, although it’s clear from the photos that it probably helps if you’re a scaled-down rider as well…

1960 Moto Guzzi Stornello Owner

Interestingly, this little, sporty-looking vintage machine was not designed as a small-displacement track-terror endurance racer.  It was intended to be simple, durable transportation for the masses: a painless to buy, easy to maintain everymachine.  That being said: Italians seem to be largely unable to keep from infusing even their most pedestrian models with passion and sporting feel, and this is no exception.  The Stornello Sport’s 123.175cc motor put 8.5hp wide spread of usable power through a four-speed gearbox.  In addition to a 20% increase in power, the Sport model also featured a racing seat, low bars, cut-down fenders, lightweight wheels, and slightly increased fuel capacity.

1960 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport R Engine

Take a look here for the original eBay listing: 1960 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport for Sale.

“This bike is immaculate!  Never down, no tip overs . . . No stories! It is in perfect running condition.  It needs nothing.  You will not be disappointed.  

It is also Moto Giro eligible and still has the last Giro sticker on headlight lens.  As a testament to its mechanical condition, this Sport finished 1st in it’s class in the Arizona Moto Giro 2011, and 3rd in it’s class in the California Moto Giro 2011.  It also won 2nd place in the Concurs d’Elegance in Huntington Beach California 2011 before being retired to a leisurely life tooling around my neighborhood. Always stored inside.  This is probably the cleanest and nicest Stornello Sport in the United States.  It could be put in a museum as it sits.   You will have a smile from ear to ear, and people will gather around to ogle this beauty where ever you park on your pub runs.   This is a rare opportunity to own a vintage piece of Italian heritage.  I have priced this motorcycle to sell quickly to the discriminating buyer who wants only the best.  Clear title in hand and registered in Oklahoma in my name.  

Engine and frame all matching numbers.  Restored in California to near show room condition.  230 total miles since restoration. The only flaw on this bike are a few tiny spots on the chrome muffler.  Hardly noticeable. Suitable for daily riding around the city or to display in your motorcycle shop or private collection.  Over $14,000 spent in restoration with many new hard to find parts ordered from Italy.”

1960 Moto Guzzi Stornello Dash

I’ve no idea what the real value of this bike is: they’re not rare at all in Europe, but are pretty uncommon here in the states, especially in this condition.  And its age and displacement make it eligible for MotoGiro events, so this might be a classy way to get into the vintage bike community!

-tad

1960 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport L Rear

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

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Benelli

1969 BENELLI 125 SPORT SPECIAL

Had to post this. It has the word “sport” right in the name. Also, these are pretty special bikes. I have recently started gaining knowledge of 1960’s Italian bikes. The more I learn the more I like them. These bikes are a perfect example of form and function blended together to make a very sporting small cc bike. I know 125cc’s probably don’t come to mind when you think and race bikes. In the beginning or road racing though small cc races were every bit competitive and translated to sales for the motorcycle companies that could consistently win. The Italians were a big part of that time period.

1969 Benelli 125 Sport Special for sale on eBay

The seller is to the point:

  A very nice original 1969 BENELLI 125 SPORT SPECIAL 125. This is a fairly hard to find model and is one of the best Italian motorcycles of the sixties. Overhead valve 4 stroke. 5 speed. A FAST 125!!

    Original factory paint. Correct Radaelli Aimon Sport rims. New exhaust system. Good running and riding condition.  Speedo reads 11625 kms (approx 7220 miles).

    Clear California title in my name.

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

    Can crate and ship to most major US cities for approx $300 depending on distance.

Even if you aren’t interested in small cc bikes this one needs to be seen. Everything about this bike flows into the next. Also if you want to see a small bike go for big money this one is something to see.

~Buck

Honda

Vintage Racer: 1975 Honda Elsinore 125 MTR Road Racer

For Sale: 1975 Honda Elsinore 125 MTR Road Racer AHRMA

What is more “classic sport bike” than a vintage road racer credited with starting the careers of numerous racing legends? Essentially an “over the counter” racebike that was sold to the public, the MTR 125 featured an engine borrowed from the 125 Elsinore dirt bike, and many other bits taken from existing Honda parts bins. The result was a surprisingly capable racer, pushing 26 horsepower and six-speeds and creating a close, competitive class.

These bikes are also surprisingly popular – see this one on RSBFS, and this one as written up by fellow contributor Brian right here on CSBFS.

With a tiny engine, tiny cockpit and tiny clip-ons, these are not for the large of scale individual. Still, it is more fun riding a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow, and maximixing the potential of the little MTR taught many riders the key components of maintaining momentum and making smooth, controlled movements.

From the seller:
This is the second time this has been listed and found out a few things about this bike from a keen eyed ebayer. There is a lot of aftermarket high dollar upgrades on this. The pipe, gas tank, brake rotors ect. This is a 1975 Honda Elsinore 125cc factory road racer. This is as Rare as they come, this is in excellent condition. It has matching engine and frame #’s. Here is a little history of what i know about it. I talked to the original owner (dealer) who had the bike in the 70’s, he wasnt sure if it was in 1974 or 75. But he had a couple of them and he couldnt remember if it was sold or a bike he sponsered. But being that his shop’s name was on the fairing he would tend to think it was a sponsered rider. I bought it off of a person who had bought it out of a garage in west virginia 27yrs ago. He never rode it only started it. He kept it in a climate controlled warehouse on a shelf where it was still sitting when i bought it. This thing is almost like new, there are no major dents or scratches on the tank. The fairing is all intack without any breaks or cracks that i can see. The rear tail seat section is not original and has been changed and is scratched. The shifter is stock but the toe piece has been broke off and replaced with a bolt. The pipe looks near perfect with no flat spots or major dents. The gas tank is aluminium and near perfect. The frame is nice and straight, the forks have no rust or pitting. I can not find one piece of rust anywhere on this bike. I have not started this but I have got it to spark and it seems like it has good compression. i believe this is a 6 speed and it seems to shift thru all the gears fine. They added a tach but it is broke off and was told it got broke when the person i bought it off of was loading it 27yrs ago by turning the handle bars to far. The rims are perfect with no dents, cracks or rust. This is absolutely beautiful and would make a great addition to a collection or in a musem or as a vintage ahrma racer. This comes with 2 extra cylinders, 1 ported and polished and 1 stock.

Unlike many of the beautifully restored MTRs we have seen, this one is a racer and a survivor. Sure, there are some scuffs, scratches and damage on the panels, but there is also the knowledge that this bike has run in anger on racetracks across the country. There are also some spares – some modified and some stock – that are usually not included with a perfectly restored bike. For me, I’ll take the authentic racer any day of the week!

There are a few discrepencies with this particular ad. The listing shows the bike both as a 1974 AND a 1975, however the MTR was not officially introduced until 1976. It could be that the engine dates the bike back to that age (the Elsinore motor was introduced in 1973), but the factory roadracers were not made available until 1976. Be that as it may, this is still a relatively rare, and undeniably cool piece of motorcycling history. The best part is that you can actually ride it in vintage events!

This auction is going on right now. The opening bid is set at $3,900. While the original bike only sold for $2,000 new, we have seen the prices on these models going up in recent years. Considering the history and the spares, the price is not really out of line at all. For more pictures and more details from the seller, be sure and . These are great little bikes from a time you could purchase a real race bike at your local Honda dealer. Enjoy, and tell ’em you saw it on CSBFS!

MI