The rarest, most unusual bike you've ever OWNED

[mtnbikeboy]

1989 Transalp. Not super rare I know, but it's the rarest I've owned. My first motorcycle, stolen 3 wks after I finished a 2 year assembly. Insurance did give me triple what I had in it though.


From This:


To This:

[Donkey Hotey]

One of 110 Buell RS1200-5 bikes in the world and only one of fifteen California 'kit' bikes, complete with the controversial flip-up passenger backrest:


One of 25 or so, low-pipe KTM Adventures brought to the US (documented here):


500 made per year, worldwide, one of about 50 a year that came to the US. KTM's first electric start bike--the 620 Duke


One of 200 Cagiva Elefants brought to the US. Badged here as a Ducati, they didn't even bother making MPH speedometers for them:


Most people never even heard of Excelsior Henderson, though they DID build 1,950, genuine, American motorcycles that had no Harley clone parts.I bought this one in 2000 and vowed to never sell it.


Having one of the 1,950 wasn't rare enough so I added one of the final bikes: one of fifty Touring Limited Editions--their only fully loaded touring model.

[Moronic]

Originally Posted by ttpete

I think you have a VERY unique bike there. It's obviously built on the rotary valve crankcase of the 125 cc scramblers and roadracers. I was involved with the first of the rotary valve models back in the 1960s. I've never seen one of those.

Thanks guys, nice to see it appreciated. Yes, I believe it was built up on a crankcase from the 125s.

I was excited to get the bike - had lusted after it as it sat for months in the showroom of the local Maico dealer.

Eventually it came up used and I bought it with a brother of mine who also rode. But the ownership experience was a sad one, largely due to dealer inexperience with the model and some inattention on his part and bad luck.

It went off the road needing new rings, which I couldn't get at the time. As I say, it is not out of the question bits could be scavenged now that would get it running. All the rubber bits have perished, of course. One day ...

[Al Goodwin]

1976 TY250......YEAH, its BLUE. I've got one in the garage now.

[orangebear]

Originally Posted by Al Goodwin

1976 TY250......YEAH, its BLUE. I've got one in the garage now.

i learned to ride on one years ago. i had happy times frashing one down the road.

[catweasel67]

probably my first and second bikes were the "rarest" I've owned. Well over 25 years ago.

a garelli 50cc PoS and a Bantam Bushman 175 PoS :).

[Crash48]

I think it's a four way tie for my low budget and short five year riding history... I also owned a '74 GT380 for about 3 months back in 1980.

'78 KZ400 in '08


'01 W650 in '09


'90 RC342 from 2010-12


'87 XL600V (Current)

[spanky]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

Currently owned, 5093 made, maybe 2000 imported to the US.

Jim

In terms of rarity I have you beat. BMW imported to the U.S. approximately 720 K1's over four years of production. But your bike is by far the uglier of the two.

Next up is my '92 Ducati 907IE in charcoal black. Only 50 were brought to this country that year.

[Roadracer_Al]

Not precisely rare, but perhaps low volume.

I owned two interesting Suzukis: a 1980 GS1000S (the Wes Cooley model -- technically it wasn't a replica, but rather the bike Cooley's race bike was based on) and a 1983 Katana 1100. Both had US production numbers in the 1000~1100 range. Both were stolen. Bastards. Of the two, I'd own the 1000S again to use, but not the Katana.... except to look at --- it was an uncomfortable torture rack to ride.

Pix aren't mine, just what came up in a google search.

[corzapp]

I am pretty sure that I own the only 1954 Zundapp KS601 with a Corvair engine.

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

Originally Posted by corzapp

I am pretty sure that I own the only 1954 Zundapp KS601 with a Corvair engine.

Pics?

[corzapp]

Pics of my Zundapp
http://twofastdogs.smugmug.com/Motor...030922&k=7V3D2
http://westbankmc.com/photoalbums/20.../img_2206.html

[southwade]

A Z1000...







I haven't owned many bikes

[motu]

1975 - 1964 Rickman Metisse with a '73 T100C engine. Life was an adventure, and we had no labels. Best handling bike off road, gravel and seal I've ever had....my Holy Grail...still searching for the perfect bike I once had. The dirty auld mug no one wanted has turned into a jewelled golden chalice I can only look at.



1971 Yamaha XS1 - again who would ever think that a $200 bike would fetch more than 10 times that amount in today's market.



1987 Honda XLV750, sold in 2004 with much regret, only now being appreciated as a rare and special bike.





1997 Yamaha DT230, sold in 2008 - high tech 2 stroke, end of an era, sure to a collectors item someday.

[Tim]

Well Donkey Hotey has beaten me to the draw with the MK1 620 Adventure, and the 900 Elefant

So I'll start with previously owned bikes, 2 Caponord Rally Raids



Not rare in Europe but rare in the U.S, 2 Africa Twins





And currently owned, an Aprilia Tuareg Wind



Tenere



a TDR 250