Legendary Bikes

Noteworthy Historic Motorcycles

MZ’s Moto Memories: Kawasaki W650

Posted by Mark Zweig | Apr 15, 2025 | Legendary Bikes | 2 |

Resurrecting a Laverda, Part 3

Posted by Neale Bayly | Apr 2, 2025 | Legendary Bikes, Ride Life | 0 |

My Scooter Youth: 1962 Vespa 150

Posted by Mike Boyd | Mar 31, 2025 | Legendary Bikes, Ride Life | 1 |

MZ’s Moto Memories: Yamaha Road Star Warrior

Posted by Mark Zweig | Feb 18, 2025 | Legendary Bikes | 9 |

Resurrecting A Laverda, Part 2

Posted by Neale Bayly | Feb 11, 2025 | Legendary Bikes | 0 |

The Little Sportster That Could

by Mike Boyd | Feb 6, 2025 | Legendary Bikes, Ride Life | 4 |

It was the summer of 1984. I was riding my Harley-Davidson FLH to California with my wife at the time, on one of our many road trip adventures. We stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona and visited the Harley shop, mostly because we were always looking for more oil for the Harley. As I walked in the front door, they were using a new black XLX Sportster for a doorstop to keep the front door open.

Resurrecting A Laverda, Part 1

by Neale Bayly | Jan 13, 2025 | Legendary Bikes, Ride Life | 1 |

In early 1981 I rolled into the town of Colchester on a well-worn Yamaha XT 500, flat broke wearing a leather jacket, a pair of thread bare jeans, and just a bag of clothes on my back. As I pulled over in the high street to get my bearings, it happened. A bright orange Laverda Jota fired up a few hundred yards away, filling the high street with the most blood-curdling roar as the owner blipped the throttle to warm the engine. Watching transfixed as he then climbed on, clicked the snarling beast into gear, before dropping the clutch, and taking off with the most intoxicating cacophony of sound I had ever heard. Winding the big triple up close to red line in first gear before letting off to slow for the traffic light, the noise the big Laverda made on the overrun was as equally stunning as it snorted and backfired in the quiet English afternoon.

MZ’s Moto Memories: Sears/Gilera 106SS

by Mark Zweig | Jan 9, 2025 | Legendary Bikes | 2 |

I was taught by my father at a young age not to go walking through other people’s yards but eventually, my curiosity got the best of me and I rode my bicycle down that driveway to see what was in that garage. There leaning against the wall was a super crusty/rusty little silver single cylinder machine with just the metal framework of a seat left on it. I had no idea of what it was. It didn’t have any badges or emblems on it that I could see. I just knew it was old and it was a motorcycle.

MZ’s Moto Memories: Christmas Motorcycles

by Mark Zweig | Dec 23, 2024 | Legendary Bikes, Ride Life | 0 |

Back when my oldest girls were young, I also owned a bunch of motorcycles. I was riding pretty much every day myself, and I used to occasionally “ask Santa” to get them motorcycles for Christmas.

First Look: 2025 Triumph Bobber TFC

by Rob Brooks | Dec 10, 2024 | Bikes & Gear, Legendary Bikes | 2 |

Triumph Motorcycles has a custom bike division, called “TFC” for “Triumph Factory Custom”, not unlike Harley-Davidson’s CVO line. Each year, the brand designs and builds limited edition models for their TFC line, and sent us a few early press photos of a Bobber TFC 1200 they are looking to bring to market in the new year. They’ve made more than aesthetic upgrades for this custom model- they have also made a few significant changes to the overall design and function of the Bobber in general. We’re unsure if these will translate to the base model Bobber, or remain on this custom version.

MZ’s Moto Memories: 2001 Suzuki TL1000S

by Mark Zweig | Nov 27, 2024 | Legendary Bikes | 2 |

With colder weather finally here, and Thanksgiving upon us, besides being sure our RVs are winterized and our gas fireplaces are functioning, it could be time to think about what bikes we’ve owned over the years that we are most thankful for. One of those for me was my 2001 Suzuki TL1000S.

Through the Lens: Kenny Roberts at Barber Vintage Fest

by Geoff & Barb Nickless | Oct 24, 2024 | Legendary Bikes | 0 |

At this year’s 19th Annual Barber Vintage Fest, a new display was unveiled. Three-time Grand Prix World Champion Kenny Roberts and his son, Kenny Roberts Jr. were featured in a new exhibit at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, Alabama. Three historic bikes are now on display for motorcycle fans to enjoy their racing significance. Kenny Roberts, Grand Marshal at this year’s event, and his 1980 Yamaha YZR500 (OW48) along with Kenny Jr.’s 2000 Suzuki RGV500, and the 1998 Modena KR3 500 ridden by Kenny Jr. were prominently featured. The Barber Museum is a bucket list trip for anyone who loves any type of motorcycle.

MZ’s Moto Memories: Kawasaki Concours

by Mark Zweig | Oct 21, 2024 | Legendary Bikes, Rides & Roads | 0 |

While there, I also happened to see a brand new, gleaming fire engine red Kawasaki ZG 1000- the Concours- sitting on the showroom floor right next to the Triumphs. I had been a Kawasaki man since my first G4TR “Trail Boss” I got as a kid and had probably already owned at least 20 more Kawasaki street bikes by then, mostly 3 cylinder two-strokes. And they had a reputation for being fast. The Concours was based on a 1000cc Ninja, which I knew was fast, but the Concours had a shaft drive, which appealed to me for distance riding. It also had a 7+ gallon fuel tank and detachable hard “briefcase” bags that looked like they should be on a BMW airhead, with an optional dealer-installed trunk bag as well. And it was only $8800 brand new. The decision wasn’t difficult. I put the beautiful Hinckley sport tourers right out of my mind, and wrote a check for the Kawa Concours.

MZ’s Moto Memories: Honda VT500 Ascot

by Mark Zweig | Sep 27, 2024 | Legendary Bikes | 0 |

Business was good and life was sweet, and that always meant (for me, at least) that it was time to buy either a new (to me) car or motorcycle. In this case, it was a Craigslist ad in the next town over, Holliston, for a super clean 1984 Honda VT 500 Ascot. I always liked those bikes. They have 50 horsepower V-twins with 6-speed gearboxes and shaft drive, along with a radiator and a 1980s interpretation of flat track styling.