12-19-19 Update: Kudos to the seller, who has converted this from what I previously called a “Rare Project” into a runner! These are very rare, which is why I’m impressed that he or she was able to make this Cagiva (VIN: zcgccxax6gv005021) a runner again. The seller notes that he threw in a Polini 162cc cylinder, but it’s otherwise stock. The turn signals are cracked and have been repaired, and special note is made that the dash and lights work as well. Find this rare Italian for sale in Brooklyn, New York with bidding up to $2,000 here on eBay.

In 1985, you could have won a few bets with the knowledge that after the big four Japanese firms, the largest producer of motorcycles in the world was Cagiva. That spring they introduced a new model called the Aletta Oro (which roughly translates to “little Gold Wing”), and Cycle World called it “the most eagerly anticipated motorcycle in Italy. A second generation (S2) was released the next year, and that was it. The production run was small and very few examples made it to the US, which makes this quite a rare find.

The Aletta Oro utilized a previous-gen 125cc 2-stroke Cagiva MX motor that produced 25 horsepower, and the S2 got upgrades like an electric starter and a revised cylinder design. One cute feature is the flap on the right fairing – it looks like a fuel filler door on a car but this is actually to give access to the radiator cap!

The seller acquired this example as a project, and he replaced some gaskets and rebuilt the carb to see if he could get it to fire…though all he says about his success level is that the “bike pops a few times.” The intake boot is dry rotted and will need to be replaced, and you’ll need to flush the tank of old gas, but there’s no guarantee that the work stops there. The seller simply says that he’s looking to change up projects because he is “short on cash and dreams” – I think we’ve all been there ourselves.

Find this rare Cagiva for sale in Nashua, New Hampshire for $1,500 here on Craigslist.

Never officially sold in America, the Moto Guzzi Dingo was a platform of several 49cc 2-stroke small motorcycles with distinct style that made for cheap personal transport.

I’ve only seen a Dingo once before, and that was during my tour of the Moto Guzzi museum at their headquarters in Mandello del Lario, Italy. Meet the “Dingo Cross” – this one was tested by a journalist named Roberto Patrignani who rode it over 4,500 miles from Cape Town to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea.

In addition to the Cross above, Moto Guzzi offered a Sport, Super, Turismo, Super Sport, and even a MM (“monomarcia”, or “one gear”). The MM was basically an automatic. In 1967, Guzzi introduced a Dingo GT (Gran Turismo), which came with a 4-speed gearbox, solo seat, and a large luggage rack.

This example shows 7,003 kilometer (4,376 miles) on the odometer, and it’s said to be a runner as the seller rides it once a year. With that said, it may need some “possible tinkering” and it only has Italian paperwork.

Find this Dingo GT for sale in Galena, Illinois with bidding up to $1,327 here on eBay.

One of the true cult classics of scooters, the Motocompo was designed to fit into the trunks of Honda’s subcompact cars of the time. To minimize dimensions of the scoot when it needs to be stored, the handlebars and seat can be folded in to become just about flush with the top of the bodywork. These were only sold in Japan and offered for just a few years, making them a rare and delightful sight in the US.

Honda specifically designed the Motocompo to fit in the trunk of the City (which was also called the Tall Boy), and the available colors of the scoot (like red, white, and yellow) matched up directly with the offerings on the City as well. Claimed to be fully restored, this Motocompo (VIN: AB12-1064719) has a rebuilt engine, several new parts, and is ready to ride, which I sincerely hope the next owner does.

Find this ‘compo for sale in Long Beach, California with bidding up to $3,205 and the reserve not yet met or a BIN of $4,500 here on eBay.

Not the sexiest name in the world, but the MTD 368-850C is a rare minibike that rides better than you’d think thanks to the leading link front suspension.

Per this site, MTD copied the Desert Fox with this machine – check out the bottom of this page for some reference photos. The 850C utilized a 2-stroke Tecumseh AH817 engine that was good for 5 horsepower and a torque converter, and the wheels were 16″/14″ front/rear.

This first linked site above has photos of this exact example (VIN: 548493), nothing that it’s been restored “but the torque convert and [fairing] decals are not quite correct.” The seller says that it has the original drivetrain and also claims that it’s “very original”, even though he or she includes photos of it presumably being restored. Who knows, maybe it’s truly original and the seller took photos of it stripped down.

Find this MTD for sale in Spring Hill, Florida with bidding up to $1,725 here on eBay.

This bike-uriousity brought to you by Rob B!

Founded in 1922, the Japanese firm Tohatsu is now best known for their outboard motors. But in the 50s and 60s, they produced some excellent two-stroke bikes and dominated the market – in the 50s, they had 22% of their home market, outselling all other Japanese manufacturers. One of their better known two-wheelers was the Runpet, also known as the CA-2.

A 1962 ad by the US distributor (Hap Jones) shows that the Runpet Sport 50 was sold alongside a base Runpet 50 and a Sport 125. The bike featured here had a claimed 63 mph top speed thanks to the 6.8 horsepower two-stroke single. For more information, check out this Retrospective on Rider Magazine’s website.

This example (VIN: CA216131) is offered by a gentleman who had a motorcycle dealership and kept a few projects around as they “were good for keeping mechanics busy in the off-season.” He sold the dealership and isn’t interested in restoring, so he’s putting up a few for sale. It’s offered with a Washington title.

Find this Runpet for sale in Maple Valley, Washington with a BIN of $3,000 or best offer here on eBay.

I’ve featured a Conquistador before (though it was a project), yet I still know basically nothing about it. Previously, I only knew of one running example (at the MotoDoffo collection), but this makes number 2.

This image of a period flyer states that ths Conquistador has a 6.5 hp 2-stroke 90cc motor with a 9.5:1 compression ratio that’s connected to a three-speed transmission. Top speed was a claimed 59.5 miles per hour, and the Conquistador was said to be capable of returning 95 miles per gallon from the 2.5 gallon tank (note the distinctive styling feature of the fuel fillers on either side of the tank). The seller doesn’t have much to add, simply noting that it’s used, it’s running, and it has a clear California title.

Find this Conquistador for sale in Santa Monica, California with a BIN of $2,200 here on eBay.

I may never understand why little Hondas that never got out of the crate are so valuable, but I still feel obligated to share them with you. Fresh off a recent sale at Mecum, here’s a pair of ’99 Z50s that are still in the crate. The bidding is already over $16k with over 4 days left to go…

There’s nothing inherently exciting to say about these bikes (VINs: JH2AB0204XK800172 and JH2AB0209XK800135), though it’s worth noting that 1999 was the last year of production for the Z50. These are being sold in their original shipping crate with Arizona titles. Find this pair of little Hondas for sale in Tucson, Arizona with bidding up to $16,500 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.

I’m somewhat surprised that the seller’s reserve is this high considering that this pair of bikes just sold at Mecum Las Vegas in January for $13,200. but who am I to get in the way of a flip?

Here’s one I’ve never heard of before – and it’s still basically new! Meet the Hercules Ultra 80 AC Chopper – boldly displayed on the sidecover for all to see.

Hercules introduced the Ultra 80 in 1981 with a 80cc two-stroke single. There were several models – a standard, a sports “RS”, even a “F” model specifically for riding schools. But what we’re focused on today is the chopper, which was available in LC (liquid cooled) and AC (air cooled) variants. The LC was more expensive as it was equipped with double disc brakes, a more comprehensive dashboard, and a 12V electrical system. The AC had one disc brake up front, a 6V system, and a simpler dash.

This example (VIN: 686019115) has less than 2km on it, and the seller suggests that it’s “possibly the only new one left in the world”. He or she goes on to say that “this bike was acquired by a collector in Germany who found it in the basement of a Zundapp dealer. The family was looking to sell the bike after the passing of the dealer. The original owner of the Hercules had traded it off on a brand new Zundapp, the dealer passed away shortly thereafter and the family decided to store the bike.”

Find this rare Hercules for sale in Harriston, Ontario, Canada with bidding up to $107.50 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.

The base model of this bike is something most people are familiar with – the step through Honda Cub, what James May once called the greatest machine ever. But in the late 60s, Honda was worried that scooters were losing popularity. Their solution was the Roadster Kit, which would completely change the CM91.

This bike is one of the rare examples equipped with the kit, which included a larger gas tank, custom steering neck, handlebars, triple clamps, seat, fender, and plenty more…all for $50. Unfortunately, the entire thing was cosmetic, so you were still stuck with 7.5 horsepower. For more on the kit, check out this article from the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

This specific Honda CM91 Roadster Kit (VIN: CM91A107691) has just 650 miles and it’s been in a “storage unit for years unrestored.” So it’ll need some work if you want to ride it again, but even if you just want to put it on display it’s a cool little Honda!

Find this Honda CM91 Roadster Kit for sale in Boise, Idaho with bidding up to $585 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.

Introduced in 1953, the Zigolo was Guzzi’s first partially-enclosed motorcycle. It was designed to be cheap transportation for the masses and it featured a 98cc two-stroke engine. In 1960, Guzzi introduced the Zigolo 110, which obviously got a slightly larger engine but also gained hydraulic suspension.

This example has approximately 5,800 kilometers on the odometer and the seller doesn’t have much to say about it beyond “runs rides and shifts well”.

Find this Zigolo for sale in Beverly, Massachusetts with a BIN of $2,995 here on eBay.

This bike-uriousity brought to you by Robert B!

Post Sale Update: this Madass sold for $1,175 after 34 bids on eBay in Kaysville, Utah.

Introduced in 2004, the German-designed/Chinese-built Sachs Madass was a 125cc in-town runabout that was way ahead of the current wave of mini motos like the Honda Grom and Kawasaki Z125. Though the Madass debuted in 2004, it wasn’t officially imported to the US until a refresh in 2010. It was an interesting alternative to the typical scooter.

The 119.7cc engine pushed around 10 horsepower through a four-speed transmission, enough to achieve a top speed of ~55 mph. It weighs just 220 pounds. For more information, check out this review on Motorcycle.com.

This example has just over 1,200 miles and it is offered with a clean Utah title. Find this Madass for sale in Kaysville, Utah with bidding up to $555 here on eBay.

Post Listing Update: This Capriolo did not meet reserve despite 13 bids up to $1,711.66 on eBay in Escondido, California.

3-29-20 Update: Almost six years later, this bike is back up for sale. The seller (who is a Tom Cruise impersonator) acquired it the last time I featured it and has bumped the mileage up from 2 to 16, typically keeping it as a display piece in his home. Everything is said to work, though you may want to replace the tires if you want to keep adding miles to it.

I mean, look at this guy. With the sunglasses on, I can’t differentiate him from Cruise:

Find this Capriolo for sale in Escondido, California with bidding up to $26 and the reserve obviously not yet met here on eBay.

Post-Sale Update: After being relisted, this Capriolo sold for $4,200.

Capriolo is a little-known Italian ex-motorcycle manufacturer that built bikes from ’48-’64, until they were bought by Laverda. Interestingly enough, Cosmopolitan Motors of Philadelphia (importer of many fine small Italian bikes) bought the tooling and remaining stock, and the owner of the dealership still has the rights to the Capriolo name.

This TV 75cc was a high-quality runabout powered by a four-stroke, overhead cam engine with a high compression ratio. You got Aprilia (!) electrics, Tomaselli controls, and…just 2 miles! Find this Capriolo TV 75 for sale in Brooklyn, New York with bidding up to $2,650 and the reserve not yet met or a BIN of $5,200

The most produced motor vehicle in history, Honda’s Super Cub is still in production (and just got a 125cc facelift with the powertrain from the Grom). These wonderful bikes, which changed the face of motorcycling in the United States in conjunction with the famous marketing campaign, “You meet the nicest people on a Honda.” It was a motorcycle for the people, with features like an underbone frame to make mounting the bike easier, an enclosed chain that kept clothes clean, and a leg shield that blocked road debris. All this plus the semi-automatic transmission turned the Super Cub into an appliance, as opposed to a hobby, and opened up motorized two-wheel transport to a much broader consumer base.

This example (VIN: P035951) has just 89 miles and it’s got the original CA license plate. The seller basically includes the famous phrase “ran when parked”, but this is in great cosmetic shape and it wouldn’t need much to get running even if it’s been sitting for decades. Plus it’s being sold with no reserve so we’ll see what the market thinks it’s worth.

Find this nifty fifty for sale in Fresno, California with bidding up to $1,700 in Fresno, California here on eBay.

Based in Gardena, CA, “Nova Products of Calif.” called themselves a “developer of recreational vehicles” with a lineup of mini-bikes and even a mini-boat called the Guppie. One of their five mini-bikes was a trail model called the Ruff Rider, itself available in two options (50cc/100cc).

Either way, you got 8″ wheels, a front suspension, collapsible handlebars, a 1 gallon tank (100 mpg claimed), and my favorite feature: “motorcycle type brakes.” According to a factory brochure, the 100cc motor was supposed to be paired with a 5-speed transmission and some rear suspension for your trouble with the bigger motor, too. On Old Mini Bikes there’s a thread about the Ruff Rider, and a couple of weeks ago someone left a post stating that the model was introduced in 1970. He states that he was “currently restoring one from the ground up which came from a 85 year-old Gardena resident who says this one I have was the original 100cc demo model that was never sold by the Nova Company and acquired by this man after the Nova company was first sold in 1980.” Who knows if that’s true…but that’s the bike that’s for sale today.

Back in March the seller was restoring the engine and sourcing original tank decals, but it looks like he wasn’t able to find the latter as the bike is now rocking some Honda tank emblems. The seller is apparently a motocross instructor who also maintains a fleet of vehicles for use in film. He’s got a page dedicated to this bike with 60+ photos. Despite the brochure’s claim that this model should have a 5-speed, this example has a 4-speed transmission – it’s all down to if you believe the story of this being a prototype. I wasn’t able to find anything conclusive either way. Frankly, I had never heard of a Nova Ruff Rider before today, anyway!

Find this Ruff Rider for sale in Menifee, California with a BIN of $6,500 or best offer here on eBay.

Ducati had been quite successful with their 125cc motor in a variety of applications, however the US distributors of Michael and Joseph Berliner believed Americans would be more open to purchasing a bike with a bump in displacement. Ducati responded by boring out the cylinder from 55.2mm to 61mm, resulting in 156cc of displacement and a model called the Monza 160 Junior.

The tiny thumper was reportedly capable of putting down a mean 11 horsepower at the 8,000rpm. The chassis of the 160 wasn’t reworked to better accommodate the slightly larger power plant, and instead Ducati just stuffed the 160 into the 125’s steel tubular frame (which used the bevel-drive engine as a stressed member). For more on the little Monza, check out this Retrospective from Rider Magazine.

This example has been sitting since January so the seller recommends that you go through it before riding it, but he’s letting it go as he has a medical emergency. Recent parts include a Powerdynamo electronic ignition, Dell’orto carb, and Mark 3 style exhaust. The sale includes the original carb, original tall handlebars, a 6V magneto ignition system, and 18″ WM1 alloy wheels.

Find this Monza Junior for sale in Felton, California with bidding up to $1,500 here on eBay.

In the late 60s, Benelli had a surprisingly large lineup of minibikes, most of which were powered by a 65cc 2-stroke motor. Some model names you may remember include the Hurricane, Tornado, City, Dynamo, and the ludicrous Volcano, the last of which got an absurd 180cc two-stroke motor! This is the Buzzer, which featured a seat that could be raised as your child grew.

The Buzzer was also equipped with folding bars/footpegs so it could it fit in a car trunk. But it was more than your basic minibike – thanks to lights and a speedo, you could even legally ride it on the street.

This example (VIN: 598308) is going to need a little bit of work – the seller notes that this bike sat for about 20 years and that it idles high, but other than that you’ll just need to source a return spring for the kickstarter and a speedo cable. It’s offered with a bill of sale.

Find this Benelli Buzzer for sale in Eaton Rapids, Michigan with an unmet opening bid of $1,299 here on eBay.

The Indian MM5A was a mini bike designed for little children (4-5 year olds) to become familiar with motorcycles, but also the Indian brand. There were two marketing goals with this bike – encourage older riders to share the Indian experience with their children, and also prime the pump for the next generation of riders to want Indian motorcycles. Training wheels were an optional extra that could be mounted on either the axle or the shock mounting bolt. If you chose the latter option, the bike could still be leaned over approximately 25 degrees before the training wheels touched.

Everything about this bike is small. The top speed was 10-12 miles per hour – so slow because the intake manifold is absolutely minuscule. The engine is a 50cc unit made by Morini, producing all of 1.5 horsepower. Dry weight was just 57 pounds, and was equipped with a centrifugal clutch, no transmission. You got a twist throttle and two hand brakes, one for each wheel. It’s just 18 inches tall and the MSRP was a scant $249. In fact, the only number that was big was the estimated miles per gallon – a whopping 200!

The seller of this example got it for Christmas when he was six years old – he says that he quickly grew out of it and that it originally came with training wheels which were ‘thrown out a few weeks later.’ The “Indian” script on the tank was hand painted by the seller’s father, the seat has been recovered, and the fenders + chain guard were special ordered. The fuel tank has been drained but the engine has oil and the seller says that he kicks it over “bi weekly to make sure it stays lubed and compression is good.” It’s offered with a bill of sale.

Find this MM5A for sale in Georgetown, Texas with bidding up to $1,725 here on eBay.

Primarily produced in the late 60s and 70s, Indian’s range of off-road-oriented tiddlers included some very cool offerings such as the Boy Racer, the ME100, the SS125MX, even a kid bike with a full-on mini sidecar. One of the most visually distinctive options was the MT5A, mono-tank-and-bodied MT5A, a miniature trials bike with one piece bodywork and fuel tank.

The baby trials machine featured a .75 gallon tank, a 48cc Morini 2-stroke engine, and a 12mm Dell’Orto carb. It was offered with optional training wheels and it weighed just 57 pounds dry.

This example (VIN: 1910069) was given to the seller as a Christmas present when he was seven years old. He says it runs perfectly though the tank is currently drained. There’s still oil in the motor and he kicks it over “bi weekly to make sure it stays lubed and compression is good.”

Find this MT5A for sale in Georgetown, Texas with bidding up $2,000 and the reserve met here on eBay.

4-24-20 Update: It’s back! I love this thing, and reader Christian E has just let me know that this Motra is back up for sale after 18 months since we last saw it on eBay. Back then, the seller passed on bidding up to $7,100, but now he’s willing to take $5,700 according to this sale listing here on Craigslist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Post Listing Update: This Motra did not meet reserve despite 56 bids up to $7,100.

In the 80s, Honda offered what they called a “heavy duty” minibike called the Motra. Unlike the Z50 or original Monkey, the Motra was designed to be loaded up with gear and ridden just about anywhere you could imagine. A commonly-shared-but-unverified tale says that “Motra” is a combination of Motorcycle-Truck because the Japanese pronunciation for truck is “Torakku”.

Motras were available in either yellow or green, and they all came with high/low stages for the 3-speed gearbox (with an automatic clutch) depending on if you were in tough terrain or on the street. In the low stage, Honda claimed that the Motra could climb a 23 degree hill in top gear. If you squint, it looks a bit like the short-lived Big Ruckus. With that said, it’s much smaller, and it features a 49cc motor that produced 4.5 horsepower. You might be able to carry a lot, but you’re not going to do so quickly!

This example is said to work well and the sale includes a few spare parts. The seller notes that the bike needs nothing but he “has contacts in Japan that can…secure spare parts in the future”. He also notes that he can only offer a bill of sale. Find this Motra for sale in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with an unmet opening bid of $1,000

Some states will allow you to run this on the street – otherwise you can just race in your backyard and never worry about breaking quarantine!

Built to look like a mini RZ500, the YSR50 also featured mini performance. The 49.3cc two-stroke engine was capable of pushing the bike up to 38 miles per hour, but companies like Team Calamari have been making stock performance numbers useless with years of aftermarket parts and performance modifications.

This example (VIN: JYA2RRA01LA045198) has 5,740 miles and it’s been with the current owner for over a decade. The seller says it’s in great condition and that “I just don’t ride it any more and would like to see it go to a new caretaker for them to enjoy.” This is one of my favorite YSR liveries, so I’d also like it to go to a new caretaker…

Find this YSR for sale in Chalfont, Pennsylvania with bidding up to $3,500 and the reserve met here on eBay.