Motorcycle Investor mag

What's happening

Gamma Racer, August 10

Suzuki RG500 Gamma

A profile on one of our favourite two-strokes, the Suzuki RG500 Gamma. See the story here.

Almost Done, August 9

Yamaha FZR1000 1987

Project 6-Hour, the 1987 Yamaha FZR1000 we bought cheap a few years ago with a blown head gasket, is just about done. We're going over the front brakes this afternoon and then it should be right. Look for the story later in the week. Meanwhile you can see the trials and tribulations so far on the 'our bikes' page – look for Yamaha FZR1000.

Museum Piece, August 8

Kawasaki ZRX1200R

With another transport of delight on the way, and no money in the bank, it was time to sell – quickly. See the story here.

Norton Commando JPS on the block, August 7

Norton Commando john player

The next Shannons online classic auction – August 19-26 – features this rather nice 1974 Norton Commando John Player, with the lightweight replica race glass. See more here.

Across Africa, August 6

Honda Africa Twin

Though still more or less the new kid on the block, Honda’s late-model Africa Twin adventure tourer has a fascinating history and potential as a collector piece. See the story here.

Honda XRV650

Cover up, August 5

Yamaha SR500

Two attempts. You wouldn’t think fitting a set of fork gaiters was that hard, would you? See the story here.

Mecum Indy proves USA market still buoyant, August 4

Kawasaki Z1 1975

The results of last month's big Indy auction by Mecum suggest that, despite the USA going through torrid economic times, the collector market is very much alive and well.

Norton Commando MkIII

Seventies motorcycles scored solid results, with three from the one collection proving to be good bellweathers:

The 1975 Kawasaki Z1-B (900) shown at top, with 1250 miles, went for US$20,350 (UK£15,500, Au$28,500);
A 1975 Norton 850 MkIII (above) with just 28 miles went for US$24,200 (UK£18,500, Au$34,000);
And a 1973 Vetter Triumph X75 Hurricane (below) with 4900 miles fetched US$27,500 (UK£21,000; Au$38,600).
Of the three, it was the Norton result that came as the biggest surprise.

Vetter Triumph Hurricane

Meanwhile the really big guns were wheeled out for the 1911 two-speed Pierce Arrow, recognised as the USA's first four-cylinder motorcycle and to some extent based around the earlier Belgian FN four. The example above fetched US$225,000 (UK£172,000, Au$316,000).

See more results here.

Time Travel, August 3

Kawasaki Z1-R

Dammit. I thought I was over this stuff. Back in 1979 muggins happened to be living in a share house in Canberra when one of the residents came home with his latest acquisition: a shiny new Kawasaki Z1-R. To say it was impressive would be understatement of the year. See the story here.

How much for the R80G/S? August 2

BMW R80GS

A well-preserved 1986 BMW R80G/S in Italy is scoring solid interest at Catawiki, with bidding reaching 12,000 Euros (Au$20,000) with a week to go. The site estimates the bike, with 24,000km on the odo. will reach €22-25,000 (Au$36-41,000).

Interest in this model has skyrocketed in recent years. In part that's due to the rise of adventure tourers in the market, and that this model is credited with being the first of the modern genre. Just four to five years ago, you could have picked up a good one for around $7-8k.

See a local blog on this model, by Chris Harris – Paris Dakar Melbourne.

Brisbane motorcycle exhibition to go ahead, August 2

black knight by mark hazam

Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) has scheduled to open its big motorcycle exhibition late this year, on November 28. The event appears to be similar in spirit to the Guggenheim's Art of the Motorcycle from 1998. More info here.

Yamaha OW-01 on the block, August 1

Yamaha OW-01