If you’ve been following this site for a while, you’re more than familiar with the Honda Monkey. But did you know that starting in 1978, Honda made a bigger brother called the Gorilla? There were no folding-to-fit-in-a-trunk pretensions, it was just a small motorcycle with an excellent name! They’re incredibly difficult to find in the US, but here’s one waiting for you in Austin, Texas.

Honda themselves called the Gorilla a “leisure bike” when they put it back in production in 1998 after a 10 year hiatus (it continued on until 2017). The main differences between the Gorilla and its smaller brother were the seat and the larger tank (2.37 gallons) – not bad when the mileage was claimed to be 160 mpg! The Gorilla also got luggage racks on both ends of the bike. While the Gorilla and Monkey shared motors, the former got a 4-speed transmission with a clutch.

This example (VIN: Z50J-1337814) has just under 3,000 miles and it’s been recently serviced with a oil change, new air filter, and new battery. Find this Gorilla for sale in Austin, Texas with bidding up to $990

LaRay Engineering and Equipment Company was a short-lived American manufacturer based in Milwaukee. LaRay’s only model, the Power Cycle, was built for only one year supposedly somewhere between ’46 and ’48. A reported 2,500 units left the Wisconsin factory prior to the IRS shutting La Ray down for unpaid back taxes.

The Power Cycle featured an air-cooled, four-stroke Clinton Eagle 701-ASL single-cylinder engine paired with a centrifugal clutch from the Mercury Clutch Company that utilized actual mercury. The 2 hp single sat low in a primitive frame, resulting in a particularly low center of gravity that aided the model’s handling. This was furthered by fore and aft suspension with dual axles and tension-style independent springing upfront. A pair of coil springs soaked up bumps before they were transmitted to the bicycle-style saddle.

This particular restored 1947 example is in excellent condition both cosmetically and mechanically. It features the model’s original Clinton Eagle engine and is said to be in full working order, down to the lighting-coil-powered head and taillights. It’s definitely an interesting bike with some unique features.

You can find this 1947 LaRay Power Cycle for sale here on Craigslist in Elk Grove, California with a price of $6,500.

Cosmopolitan Motors of Hatboro, Pennsylvania closed down earlier this decade, but for a while they had claim to the title of America’s oldest motorcycle distributor. Back in their heyday you could stop by and find bikes from a wide range of smaller Italian manufacturers – many Parillas, Benellis, Capriolos, Garellis, Betas, (and more) featured here on Bike-urious were originally sold out of their shop. In the late 70s, they also offered a series of Italian-built mopeds under the brand name of “Cosmo”.

Period Cosmo ad from Myron’s Mopeds.

According to Myron’s Mopeds, the “Colt” was a top tank moped with a Morini motor in a frame that’s identical to the Baretta Magnum. Colts were built by Piccoli Motori and then shipped to the US.

This Colt is said to run great and be in “generally fantastic shape.” Find it for sale in Grand Rapids, Michigan for $850 here on Craigslist.

This bike-uriousity brought to you by Dan D!

This is the second yellow Motocompo we’ve had in as many weeks on the auction site – but this one’s got a California plate!

The Motocompo is very much an emotional purchase and not a logical one, but it’s rare to find one with a California plate on it. And how can you not smile when you see these tires?

Find this Honda Motocompo for sale here on Iconic Motorbike Auctions Powered by Bike-urious in Marina del Rey, California with bidding up to $2,750 and the reserve not yet met.

In the mid/late sixties and early 70’s, Honda was busy. For one, they were developing and releasing arguably one of the most important motorcycles of all time, the CB750. Simultaneously, they were also putting a reliable, well-built engine into a series of purpose-built motorbikes. The single cylinder 90cc engine was the heart of their CL90, CT90, CD90, the iconic C90, and our bike in question, the S90.

The Honda S90 was Honda’s small displacement, lightweight sports bike. It was in production from 1964-1969 and featured the air-cooled 90cc single cylinder engine mentioned above, producing 8 horsepower. The transmission in the S90 was a 4-speed unit that was fitted to all the 90cc bike produced in these lines. The S90 didn’t come equipped with a tachometer, what it did have was suggested shift points on the speedometer. The frame was pressed steel rather than tubular to save weight, so trail riding is not recommended.

This Super 90 has traveled 5,151 short miles in it’s 54 years of life, and there’s a few things to note – new seat cover, missing tank badges, a black muffler, and a sticker from the original dealership – Skip’s Honda Center in Keyser, West Virginia. This is one of the lower asking prices we’ve seen for a S90 as of late, so find this 1965 Honda Super 90 in Phoenix, Arizona for $1,500 here on Craigslist.

Ian Falloon called the 98S Ducati’s “first true sporting model”. It debuted at the 1952 Milan Show and it was one of the Italian firms better sellers at the time despite a relatively high price tag.

The 98cc push-rod motor powered four models: TL, T, N, and S. The Sport (S) is the one you want thanks to a power bump to 6, dual seat, and four cogs in the gearbox. There was also an exceedingly rare SS (Super Sport), but it’s hard enough to find the S that you see here. For more on the 98 series, check out this excerpt from Mick Walker’s Illustrated Ducati Buyer’s Guide.

This example is said to be complete and in running condition – the seller notes that this has an upgraded Dell’Orto SS22 carb. Find this little Ducati for sale in Tarzana, California with bidding up to $4,550

9-7-19 Update: This adorable Honda has actually made its way to my new auction site, and it has met reserve with the auction ending in just a few hours. If you want to snag it for yourself, head on over to Iconic Motorbike Auctions Powered by Bike-urious, where you can find it in Marina del Rey, California with bidding up to $2,500 (plus 7% buyers fee).

Post Listing Update: This EZ-9 did not meet reserve despite 25 bids up to $2,650 on eBay.

This is one of the coolest, quirkiest two-wheelers I’ve ever featured. The regular EZ-9 (known as the EZ-90 Cub in the US) is already interesting enough with the 2-stroke motor, enclosed bodywork, and swingarm that doubled as the rear suspension. But this JDM version has an aftermarket street legal kit and it’s adorned in a Rothmans livery that matches the iconic replica paint job that Honda applied to the NSR250!

NSR250 not included!

The seller (who has offered several cool JDM bikes through Bike-urious in the past, such as this Suzuki SW-1 and this Yamaha SRV250) had two examples of the EZ-9 with scratched and faded bodywork, so he had them both painted in the Rothmans scheme you see here.

This bike has an aftermarket street legal kit (headlight, mirror, turn signals, etc) and it was imported from Japan with paperwork that makes it street legal in the US (in all states except California due to the Japanese 11 digit VIN). It’s currently plated with “clear US title and registration”, though it’s not clear what state the bike is plated in. Everything is said to work except for the turn signal relay. It just got a new battery and the carb was cleaned. If you’ve already got a Rothmans NSR250 in your garage, how can you say no to this?

Find this custom EZ-9 for sale in San Jacinto, California with bidding up to $1,150 and the reserve not yet met

In the late 60s, Zundapp was having tremendous success at the ISDT with little bikes that emulated David vs. Goliath as they beat Husky 360s and Triumph 650s. As companies often do, Zundapp released a Replica of their 100GS for the public to enjoy.

For more on this little Zundapp, check out this classic test republished in Walneck’s Classic Cycle Trader, in which Cycle magazine calls it “probably the toughest 100 alive.”

Last tagged in the ’90s, this Zundapp (VIN: 6090533) shows just 663 miles on the odometer. It’s being offered by the second owner and it’s claimed to be all original. Find this Zundapp for sale in Quincy, California with bidding up to $2,000

The nomenclature is pretty straightforward – what’s bigger than a Monkey? A Gorilla! Honda started offering a big brother to the Monkey in 1978, though they’re very difficult to find in the US. This one’s even harder to find, as it’s a limited edition called the Tokyo Limited (they made a similar version of the Monkey). Thankfully, Cycle Refinery in Austin, Texas has you covered.

Honda themselves called the Gorilla a “leisure bike” when they put it back in production in 1998 after a 10 year hiatus (it continued on until 2017). The main differences between the Gorilla and its smaller brother were the seat and the larger tank (2.37 gallons) – not bad when the mileage was claimed to be 160 mpg! The Gorilla also got luggage racks on both ends of the bike. While the Gorilla and Monkey shared motors, the former got a 4-speed transmission with a clutch.

This example (VIN: Z50J-1423672) has 9,928 miles and it’s just been given a tune-up with an oil change and a new battery/chain/air filter. Flaws include a missing headlight switch, faded decals on the right side of the tank, a small dent in the tank, and a little bit of the corrosion that seems to befall every motorcycle that spends significant time in Japan…

Find this Gorilla for sale in Austin, Texas with bidding up to $2,499 (note that they have an asking price of $4,500 for a very similar bike on their website)

In 1991, Honda released a new variant of the Monkey/Z50R. Called the Baja, it featured rally-style dual headlights in addition to the taillight and turn signals. They were not officially sold in the US, but this example has made its way across the Pacific for you to enjoy.

Honda used to make some great limited edition versions of the Monkey – my favorite is the “Africa”, which is clearly inspired by the Africa Twin/Paris-Dakar racers, but I still haven’t been able to find one for sale for you guys. I’m hoping someone in the custom world creates something similar with a new Monkey…

This example (VIN: Z50J1702852) has a recent oil change and carb cleaning, and it’s been titled in Texas. Find this Monkey Baja for sale in Luling, Texas with bidding up to $4,245

This bike-uriousity brought to you by John K!

Never sold in the US, the TDR50 is a mini version of the awesome TDR250…that we sadly didn’t get here, either.

Yamaha has an example in their internal museum collection in Communication Plaza, “a space that presents the past, present, and future of the Yamaha Motor group.” On that site, Yamaha themselves call this a “scaled-down 50cc replica of the on/off-road TDR250 sport model.” It utilizes the same 50cc motor that America got in the YSR50, 12″ cast wheels, disc brakes, and over 5 inches of suspension travel at both ends!

This example (VIN: 3FY000847) has covered just 246 miles, but time has not been kind to the cosmetics with lots of scrapes and cracks in the bodywork. Despite that, the seller claims that the bike runs very well, so you may need to research what replacement bodywork would cost (or decide if you can live with the flaws because these are incredibly difficult to find in the US).

Find this baby TDR for sale in Luling, Texas with an unmet opening bid of $2,495

Imported through the Rockford Scooter company, Bridgestone sold a variety of motorcycles in the US, ranging in displacement from 50cc from 350cc. Here’s one of the babies, a 50cc BS7-D, sometimes called the Surfrider Sportster.

The name might be the most exciting part about this scoot (VIN: 10662377), though it’s in pretty nice shape and it has just 821 miles. The seller is the second owner, and he just acquired it this year. Basics include a 50cc 2-stroke motor paired with an electric starter, 3-speed transmission, and 12 volt electrics.

The bike was “lovingly rehabilitated as it needed only cleaning and detailing to bring it to life”, which included a redone fuel tank by Motorcycle Fuel Tank Services a new battery, and new petcock. The seller has run the bike but not with the new fuel tank, which has not yet had gas put in it. The sale includes the owner’s manual, parts manual, bill of sale, some print ads, a sales brochure, and “a trove of personal notes from the original owner.” You can find extra photos (such as of the sales brochure) in this Facebook album.

Find this Bridgestone for sale in Chicago, Illinois with an unmet opening bid of $1,500

Officially, 1994 was the last year of production for the venerable CT70. 4 years later, Honda’s patent would expire and the world was flooded with clones.

This example has just 148 miles and the seller claims it’s like new. In his or her words, “this bike has always been stored in a climate controlled environment and it shows.” The sale includes the title, owner’s manual, brochure, as well as a Honda Club of America pendant/patch/decal/keychain. The original mirrors are not shown in the photos but they were wrapped up from the day the bike was sold new and are also included in the sale.

Find this last-year CT70 for sale in Woodruff, South Carolina with bidding up to $2,600

The XL100 evolved into the XL100S in 1979, and it continued that way until the model was discontinued in 1985. This ’83 model looks to be in good shape and it has just 463 miles.

As you can guess from the name, this has a 99cc OHC thumper, and it’s capable of producing 8.5 horsepower pushed through a 5-speed transmission. Dry weight is just under 180 pounds, and the wheels are 19″ front/16″ rear.

This example was originally bought at Lawrenceville Honda Yamaha (which closed in 2014) and it comes with the title, owner’s manual, sales brochure, setup and pre-delivery checklist, and warranty documents. The seller says he or she “would consider this bike to be museum quality.”

Find this XL100S for sale in Woodruff, South Carolina with bidding up to $2,055

Considered by some as the ultimate Honda Z50, the “Christmas Special” was a limited edition that officially had the model name of “Z50RD” – the D was for “Dealer”. Honda gave two examples to each of their top dealers, though some called it the “Chrome Edition” seeing as nearly every part on the bike (even the frame!) was chromed.

This example is being offered by the third owner, who says that it’s almost entirely original with the exception of a NOS tank that he bought for $1,500 on eBay, new spark plug, new air filter, new OEM-spec tires, and an oil change. The new tank has not had fuel in it yet.

Find this chromed Honda for sale in Ararat, North Carolina with bidding up to $5,500 and the reserve not yet met

No Reserve auctions are always fun because we’re guaranteed to have a winner. Will it be you this time?

Today on the auction site we’ve got a ’70 Honda Mini Trail (you may also know it as the Z50). It’s a beautiful blue/white example that’s been sitting for a while and will need a carb clean, battery, and oil change if you’re looking for a fun project.

If that sounds like you, find this Z50 for sale here on Iconic Motorbike Auctions Powered by Bike-urious with bidding up to $1,875 in Marina del Rey, California.

Per the seller, the story with this sidecar is that “an enlisted man commissioned two of these to be built to bring back to the U.S., hence the painting on the front. So, if the story is true, there is a sister car somewhere in the States.” Who knows if the story is true, but this sidecar is still interesting in its own right!

The seller has owned this CB+sidecar (VIN: CB125S-1210929) for approximately a decade, noting that he initially saw it for sale online over 15 years ago but missed it at the time. The sidecar has a luggage rack on the roof and a folding luggage rack on the rear. There’s a two-speaker stereo system powered by a 12 volt battery for music (the bike runs off a 6V system), and the Honda is said to run without issues.

If you’re looking for supercar levels of attention on a much cheaper budget, it’d be tough to beat this thing. Find this fun pairing for sale in Michigan City, Indiana with bidding up to $1,675 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.

Based out of Schenectady, New York, the Yankee motorcycle company was the brainchild of John Taylor. Yankee was best known for the impressive Z500, but John also wanted a minibike in the lineup so he partnered with Bonvicini Marino out of Bologna, Italy to distribute the 50cc “Boss”.

The Boss utilized a 48cc 2-stroke Morini Franco motor, and it rolled on 12″ wheels.

Find this Yankee Boss for sale in St. Louis, Missouri for $1,950 here at Michael’s Motorcycles.

In 1964, Bridgestone introduced a series of 90cc motorcycles – there were 9 different models based around 4 primary designs. One of the designs was the Mountaineer, and you can probably guess by the name that this was built to go off-road.

The Mountaineer’s engine produced 8 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and it was paired with a 4-speed transmission. It was claimed to be able to climb a 45 degree angle or have a top speed of 60 miles per hour, depending on which one of the selectable rear sprockets you had chosen.

This example (VIN: 507004692) is said to have had just one owner. It’s claimed to run great and it shows only 881 miles on the odometer. Find this Bridgestone for sale in Madison, Wisconsin with a BIN of $2,999 here on eBay.

The seller of this bike is a long term Bike-urious reader, and he’s got a great story about how his connection to the Honda Mini Trail.

As he told me, he first saw the Mini Trail in 1969 as a 6 year old at a friend’s house – he hopped on and rode into a tree. “My parents wouldn’t get me one no matter how much I begged and I vowed to defeat them.” I suspect many of you can relate to that.

30 years ago, he bought a 1969 model from a friend, and 14 years ago he had it restored. “It runs perfectly and is a 9/10 cosmetically. All parts are either original or NOS Honda, including the bolts/nuts. The engine received a full tear down when restored and it runs perfectly. While the pre-rebuild picture looks rough, it has the original pipe, muffler, carburetor, handlebars and many other parts. The restoration was mostly cosmetic; new seat, headlight bucket, grips, paint, etc. In total, since it was restored, it has only been ridden 10-20 miles per year and after each ride the carburetor is drained. I change the oil once per year just to ensure there’s no condensation in it and once a month I start it and let it run for 15-20 mins.” The only reproduction item is the tank, though the badges are original OEM.

This example (VIN: Z50A-157356) is said to run perfectly and need nothing. Here’s a cold start video with choke:

Find this restored Mini Trail for sale in Seattle, Washington with an unmet opening bid of $1,499 here on eBay.

This bike-uriousity brought to you by Rob G!