old motorcycles
When Kawasaki Motor Co. worked with Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ aerospace and turbine divisions, what resulted was one of the fastest, most powerful production motorcycles ever built. Sporting a 998cc inline-four-cylinder and the first supercharger on a production motorcycle, the H2 makes up to 210 horsepower and hits 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. To commemorate the partnership, the River Mark logo, a badge reserved only for Kawasaki’s most historically important motorcycles, adorns the H2 along with angular and aerodynamic bodywork. Learn More: Here
Triumph motorcycles symbolize an entire generation’s passion for riding. Brando rode one in The Wild One, McQueen in The Great Escape. The Bonneville—named for the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where Triumph set many land speed records—was the cool bike to own when it arrived in the Sixties. It still is, and our $10k budget can get you on a terrific example.
Lindsay Brooke, author of three books on Triumph motorcycles, notes: “The iconic T-120R Bonneville remains Triumph’s stud machine for collectors, with 1968 to 1970 representing the best of the breed—12-volt electrics, twin leading shoe front brakes, improved engine breathing and steering geometry, and flashier livery.” Late-Seventies T140 Bonnevilles came with American-market high handlebars, left-side shifters and a single front disc brake; for 1980, the T140ES offered electric start and disc brakes all around. Today’s Triumphs are very contemporary bikes, but there’s nothing like a classic big twin with wire wheels and aftermarket megaphones. Find a good one, and you’ll be on the absolute pick of the Britbike litter.
In 2000, Glenn & wife Deni went out on their own and started Bator International, the premier source for Classic and Vintage Motorcycles of all types, the world over. In addition to offering high quality motorcycles and automobiles for sale, Bator International is also available to help you sell your special vehicle, help with sales and auction consulting and to properly vet any vintage motorcycle before you purchase.
Ken’s Tips: Never buy sight unseen, and inspect the machine carefully for crash damage, rust, errant wiring and non-original or poorly judged upgrades. If the tires are more than a decade old, no matter how good they look, replace them. Along with eBay and Craigslist, you can find old motorcycles at CycleTrader, Walnecks, Barn Finds, Bring a Trailer, Hemmings and Old Cars Weekly.
When it comes to freedom, nothing beats a motorcycle. Carving through corners, savoring near-instantaneous throttle response, you’re totally committed, balancing and defying gravity at once, inhaling the outdoors. Why a vintage bike rather than something new-fangled? There’s a reason we call these classics. Mechanical simplicity often means they’re easy to maintain, and there’s just something intangibly stylish about an old motorcycle. Also: the price. Sure, you can ride off on many new bikes for less, but would those be bikes you'd worship? Serviceable examples of these 10 old-school motorcycles can all be found for $10,000 or under… if you know what to look for.
When it comes to freedom, nothing beats a motorcycle. Carving through corners, savoring near-instantaneous throttle response, you’re totally committed, balancing and defying gravity at once, inhaling the outdoors. Why a vintage bike rather than something new-fangled? There’s a reason we call these classics. Mechanical simplicity often means they’re easy to maintain, and there’s just something intangibly stylish about an old motorcycle. Also: the price. Sure, you can ride off on many new bikes for less, but would those be bikes you'd worship? Serviceable examples of these 10 old-school motorcycles can all be found for $10,000 or under… if you know what to look for.Here are our picks for the best affordable vintage bikes, and some advice for potential buyers, counting down to number one.10. BSA Rocket 3 (1968-1972)
They are equal parts simple and complex, a mechanical interpretation of form meeting function with attitude to spare. Whether it’s chrome glimmering in the sun, the artful engineering behind a single-sided swingarm or their ability to outrun just about anything, motorcycles are more than just simple transportation. They strangle attention. Ride one down the street and watch as babies point and smile mid-whimper, dogs chase joyfully, angsty teens fight the curling in the corners of their mouths, old biker types in leather nod with supreme comprehension. There are countless combinations of weapons-grade speed, sex, beauty, design and freedom found between two tires, sure — but these fifty-one, specifically, are the icons hand-picked by Gear Patrol as our favorites of all time.
Norton motorcycles and the Isle of Man TT go together like strawberries and Devon Cream. Having competed in every Tourist Trophy race since its inception , Norton made the race their raison d’etre. In 1950, the team was working with an antiquated and underpowered package — the engine was a variation on a 25-year-old design. The “Featherbed” frame featured a fully welded duplex frame and pivoted rear fork suspension setup, instantly reducing weight and exponentially improving handling. Add to that some minor tweaks to find an extra 8 hp (for 36 hp in total), and it was no longer just about winning for Norton. They secured 5 of the top 6 finishes.
The designers at Confederate Motorcycles don’t mess around. Straddling the line between kinetic sculptures and mechanized, apocalyptic “horses”, their bikes are what Satan would ride if he had the balls. Case in point, the Confederate R131 Fighter. In-house milled Aircraft grade 6061 aluminum abounds, along with carbon fiber wheels and a carbon/ceramic/aluminum matrix compound for the brakes to hammer home that function dictates form. A huge 2.1-liter, thumping V-twin is used to push a mere 460 pounds in the Fighter, meaning it will undoubtedly pack a punch. With an extremely limited production run and pricing at just over $100k, we may want to start being nicer to the devil.
In 2000, Glenn & wife Deni went out on their own and started Bator International, the premier source for Classic and Vintage Motorcycles of all types, the world over. In addition to offering high quality motorcycles and automobiles for sale, Bator International is also available to help you sell your special vehicle, help with sales and auction consulting and to properly vet any vintage motorcycle before you purchase.
Ken’s Tips: Never buy sight unseen, and inspect the machine carefully for crash damage, rust, errant wiring and non-original or poorly judged upgrades. If the tires are more than a decade old, no matter how good they look, replace them. Along with eBay and Craigslist, you can find old motorcycles at CycleTrader, Walnecks, Barn Finds, Bring a Trailer, Hemmings and Old Cars Weekly.
When it comes to freedom, nothing beats a motorcycle. Carving through corners, savoring near-instantaneous throttle response, you’re totally committed, balancing and defying gravity at once, inhaling the outdoors. Why a vintage bike rather than something new-fangled? There’s a reason we call these classics. Mechanical simplicity often means they’re easy to maintain, and there’s just something intangibly stylish about an old motorcycle. Also: the price. Sure, you can ride off on many new bikes for less, but would those be bikes you'd worship? Serviceable examples of these 10 old-school motorcycles can all be found for $10,000 or under… if you know what to look for.
When it comes to freedom, nothing beats a motorcycle. Carving through corners, savoring near-instantaneous throttle response, you’re totally committed, balancing and defying gravity at once, inhaling the outdoors. Why a vintage bike rather than something new-fangled? There’s a reason we call these classics. Mechanical simplicity often means they’re easy to maintain, and there’s just something intangibly stylish about an old motorcycle. Also: the price. Sure, you can ride off on many new bikes for less, but would those be bikes you'd worship? Serviceable examples of these 10 old-school motorcycles can all be found for $10,000 or under… if you know what to look for.Here are our picks for the best affordable vintage bikes, and some advice for potential buyers, counting down to number one.10. BSA Rocket 3 (1968-1972)
They are equal parts simple and complex, a mechanical interpretation of form meeting function with attitude to spare. Whether it’s chrome glimmering in the sun, the artful engineering behind a single-sided swingarm or their ability to outrun just about anything, motorcycles are more than just simple transportation. They strangle attention. Ride one down the street and watch as babies point and smile mid-whimper, dogs chase joyfully, angsty teens fight the curling in the corners of their mouths, old biker types in leather nod with supreme comprehension. There are countless combinations of weapons-grade speed, sex, beauty, design and freedom found between two tires, sure — but these fifty-one, specifically, are the icons hand-picked by Gear Patrol as our favorites of all time.
Norton motorcycles and the Isle of Man TT go together like strawberries and Devon Cream. Having competed in every Tourist Trophy race since its inception , Norton made the race their raison d’etre. In 1950, the team was working with an antiquated and underpowered package — the engine was a variation on a 25-year-old design. The “Featherbed” frame featured a fully welded duplex frame and pivoted rear fork suspension setup, instantly reducing weight and exponentially improving handling. Add to that some minor tweaks to find an extra 8 hp (for 36 hp in total), and it was no longer just about winning for Norton. They secured 5 of the top 6 finishes.
The designers at Confederate Motorcycles don’t mess around. Straddling the line between kinetic sculptures and mechanized, apocalyptic “horses”, their bikes are what Satan would ride if he had the balls. Case in point, the Confederate R131 Fighter. In-house milled Aircraft grade 6061 aluminum abounds, along with carbon fiber wheels and a carbon/ceramic/aluminum matrix compound for the brakes to hammer home that function dictates form. A huge 2.1-liter, thumping V-twin is used to push a mere 460 pounds in the Fighter, meaning it will undoubtedly pack a punch. With an extremely limited production run and pricing at just over $100k, we may want to start being nicer to the devil.
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