Came across some old photos that make me smile. They will probably make you laugh.
Moto Memories – Jimmy Mac’s Early Laps
Tag: vintage motorcycles
Honda Cafe Racer Should Be Running When Sold
I post a lot of dubious “projects” in Running When Parked, but this is not one of them. This Ride Red racer is an solid example of a street bike converted to a cafe bike. The price would be a steal if the bike was running. The price is a little high for non-running condition. The seller says all it needs is gas and a tune-up. I would budget for a battery too. The seller might have better luck by adding gas and doing the tune-up and setting an asking…
Captain America Fails To Sell His Motorcycle (UPDATED)
We watched this Captain America motorcycle auction carefully, thinking someone might make a last-minute bid to capture this crime-fighting motorcycle. Didn’t happen. The $100,000 opening bid didn’t attract any bidders, proving the buy-it-now price of $300,000 was a pipe dream. Maybe the bike will be relisted with more realistic asking values. The original story…. Times are tough for super heroes. Captain America, who lives off his meager social security checks and small payments from sporadic personal appearances, is trying to sell his beloved 1977 Yamaha. The bike looks like a…
1964 BSA Starlite Motorcycle A Rare Opportunity
This “Running When Parked” is a rare find for any BSA collector and the asking price is realistic. The bike appears to be in good shape and was probably stored properly (no major sun damage, ripped saddle or cracking tires). I like the forward-mounted rear shocks (done way before motocross bikes re-started the trend). The bike looks like BSA’s response to the Honda 50 from the same period. Very cool. The phrase “running when parked” (RWP) is code for a once treasured possession that has been neglected in the corner…
Captain America Falls On Hard Times, Looking To Hawk His Motorcycle
Times are tough for super heroes. Captain America, who lives off his meager social security checks and small payments from sporadic personal appearances, is trying to sell his beloved 1977 Yamaha. The bike looks like a road racer with a full fairing, rearsets and aerodynamic tail section. That impression ends at the tires that are off-road knobbies. The asking price? The bidding starts at $100,000 or you can buy it now for only $300,000. You better act quickly, though. Rumor has it that Bruce Wayne is watching the bidding.
Harley-Davidson Sportster Ironhead Perfect For A Knucklehead
This Running When Parked is unique because the owner removed the gearbox from a bike that “ran great when parked.” If it was running great, why did the owner disassemble the gearbox? Maybe it was running great, but I’ll bet it wasn’t shifting great. And it pays to read the ad carefully. The seller is “asking $2000” but the headline lists the price as $1500. The buyer already saved $500. Does that make it a good price? Nope. The bike is missing the battery, an exhaust pipe and probably a…
An Unmolested 1972 Maico 501 Barn Find For A Skilled Negotiator
This seller gets an A+ in collectable Maicos, a D-minus in salesmanship and an F in motorcycle appraisal. Although missing the front fender, this 1972 Maico 501 appears to have few hours of operation (a rider’s knees rubbed the paint off the fiberglass tank after the 10-hour mark) and chances are it was never raced (aside from a total lack of aftermarket parts, there are no number plates). The bike doesn’t appear to be missing components (except for that fender). The seller should have given more history and additional photos…
Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction Reveals Volatility And Opportunities
Mecum holds two motorcycle auctions in Las Vegas every year. The January auction (read about it here) is the big daddy and the June auction, while smaller than January, still packs in a lot of amazing bikes and, some would say, much better values for buyers. While I didn’t make the fear and loathing road trip for the June auction, watching the action on the live stream provided by Mecum and browsing the results gives a pretty good idea of what went down before the gavel hit the wood.
Start A Business With This Moto Scoot Delivery Motorcycle
Looking to pick up a little spare change? Why not grab this 1946 Moto Scoot delivery scooter? You could be the coolest pizza delivery business in your neighborhood. It was “Running When Parked” so it shouldn’t take too much effort to get it delivery ready, right? No, not right. This old workhorse needs a total rebuild from the frame out and replacement parts will not be easy to find even in this day and age of eBay. The best home for this neat little scooter will be somebody’s private collection.…
Hanford Vintage Motorcycle Rally Faces Tough Competition
The Hanford Vintage Motorcycle Rally celebrated its 50th anniversary this year so I figured it was time to check it out. But first, you have to find Hanford. It is unlikely that you’ve ever passed through Hanford on your way to anywhere else because it is off the beaten path. The town sits in the south central portion of California’s San Joaquin Valley, 28 miles south-southeast of Fresno and 18 miles west of Visalia. This location could actually work in favor of vendors because the riders who attend are serious…