From poster ishmac on ADVrider.com's VFR Thread, comes this beautiful postcard-like photo from Scotland. In stark contrast to the rustic backdrop we have ishmac's 1999 VFR along with an equally exceptional Gen-4 in factory teal color, err, colour. Lovely.

Despite the gloomy reports swirling around the U.S. motorcycle market, the fact is that America repesents a small portion of world moto sales, which is led by the emerging economies of India, Latin America and SE Asia. In fact, while global sales are rising year over year, American sales declined 1% last year and Canada 4%, much of that due to our penchant for large displacement bikes in a world focused on small, practical scoots.

From top to bottom, here's the top ten in two-wheeled production….

1. HONDA. Honda has held this top spot for an amazing 52 years! With numbers frankly hard to comprehend, Honda sold 20.7 million motos last year, an average of 56,000 per day, more than Ducati makes in a year. Honda also holds the distiction for the current best-selling two-wheeler in the world, the PCX125.

2. HERO. Vitually unknown to most of us in the west, Hero is the leading Indian manufacturer, selling 6.1 million units, mostly concentrating on the small displacement Inidan and South American market.

3. YAMAHA. Always one of the world leaders, Yamaha posted 4.8 million sales.

4. TVS MOTOR. Running a close fourth but definitely a future player, TVS sold 4.5 million bikes, mostly in its homeland of India. TVS is also the parent company of Norton and has built small bikes under license for BMW. They're also betting on the electric future of two-wheeled transportation.

5. YADEA. One of two Chinese companies to make this list, Yadea makes only electric bikes — 4.3 million of 'em actually.

6. BAJAJ AUTO. With 3.3 million of their own sales, Bajaj has also partnered with KTM, producing two smaller models in their Indian factory.

7. SUZUKI. With possibly their best production year ever, Suzuki manufactured 2.2 milliion units last year.

8. ITALIKA. The largest manufacturer in North America, Italika serves mostly their domestic Mexican market with 1.3 million bikes, but also builds under license for Hero and Benelli.

9. ROYAL ENFIELD. Gaining steam in each of the past three years (+46% just last year!) Royal Enfield is fighting sucessfully for off-shore expansion but still sells most of their 1.2 million units on their home turf of India.

10. NIU. The second Chinese manufacturer to place in the top ten, Niu also makes only electric motos, 1.1 million last year.

So, for national bragging rights, India takes the lead with four in the top ten, followed by Japan with three, China with two, and Mexico with one.

And the future looks bright. According to MotorCycles Data (.com), "Despite a highly uncertain global economic environment, the motorcycle industry continues to expand at a solid pace. After four consecutive years of growth ended with the new record established in 2025, the first quarter 2026 started with double-digit growth. Indeed, Q1 2026 global 2-wheeler sales have been 16.8 million (+11.0%), the highest quarter ever…."

What: 2005 VFR800 Interceptor
Why: Low miles, all-round rider
Where: Ottawa, Illinois
Price: $4500

This VTEC 800 looks like a nicely-optioned example of a very useable sport tourer. It shows only 8300 miles and sports some nice extras, like factory luggage, Delkevic slip-ons, aftermarket seat (Corbin?) and aftermarket windscreen. The seller, Scott, is a man of few words, but states the original seat and exhaust is included. I wrote for more details, but, again, few words: "It has a scratch on the left side. It can be easily touched up. Tires have some age on them. But they have tread. Runs perfectly."

I suspect that this is simply mid-western straight talk from a mid-western straight shooter, as the bike is located about 1.5 hours southwest of Chicago's O'hare airport, so a possible fly-n-ride opportunity. And, I would say the asking price of $4500 is just about right.

Back in the heyday of print magazines, I devoured at least four each month, including Rider. Upon fetching the magazine from the mailbox I would immediately get comfortable and open to the last page, where would be found the "Retrospective" column, penned by Clement Salvadori. I enjoyed the informal, opinionated, entertaining accounts of an eclectic selection of classic motorbikes.

​Clem was a modern renaissance man who lived with purpose and conviction, ivy league educated and serving as a Viet Nam-era Army Green Beret. His friend and long-time editor, Mark Tuttle, offered his personal remembrance:

"Sad news, especially after hearing of his wife Sue passing a few months ago. If there was ever a full life well lived, it was Clem's. I had the honor of being his editor at Rider for many years (which he tolerated but didn't always relish), and in 50 years of publication he was by far the magazine's most popular contributor. When Clem didn't have a pair of handlebars or a keyboard at hand, he was generally reading a travel book of some sort (or taking a nap), having touched feet and tires in more than 70 countries on six continents. He called himself the "Literary Motorcyclist" on his business card, and I always looked forward to reading his Road Tales columns and countless travel stories written for Rider and many other publications. I will miss his boisterous laugh, his story telling and even his infamous sneezing attacks, which could be heard in the next county. Mostly I will miss just riding with the guy, which always felt more important somehow. Godspeed Clem! I hope you made arrangements for the cats."

Spotted on my local Facebook Marketplace, this is a new, in the wrapper, set of Leo Vince carbon slip-ons for the 2002-12 VFR800. Adaptor pipes and other mounting hardware is included. $800. These are also listed on eBay for $860 with shipping included.

As far as I can determine, Leo Vince no longer supplies mufflers for the Gen-6, so the classifieds might be your only choice these days. A quick check on eBay brings up only one other comparable, used, for about half the price. There's a few more new examples, but located in Japan with higher prices.
I have no affiliation with this sale.

What: 1994 VFR750 "Custom"
Why: I got nothin'
Where: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Price: $2800 OBO

Satirist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg once quipped, "It is impossible to have bad taste, but many people have none at all." Georg lived a few centuries before motorcycles existed, but were he with us today, I'm sure he would point to this situation as validation.

The colorway is enough to put me off my lunch, but those chrome bullet speakers on a sport bike, paired with open exhaust, is an indicator that this seller may have been dropped once too often as a baby. Predictably, there's also LED lights mounted, "with remote." Our seller notes, "bill of sale," so not sure about the title situation, not that I would actually operate this baby on a public road…or on my trailer for that matter. The ad includes a walk-around video for your enjoyment. Good luck with the sale.

This past weekend I hosted a reader in the shop for a "gab n' wrench" session. Reader Bill has recently acquired an exceptional example of a 1990 VFR750, complete with a leaking set of carburetors. After some discussion, Bill decided to hit the easy button and swap out his carbs for a rebuilt set I happen to have on the shelf. He's only two hours away so arranged a trailer and motored down from Wisconsin for some garage therapy…for both of us.

Bill arrived around noon, but our work session was delayed for a bit while I ogled Bill's stunning Italian Red survivor. This is, of course, the only year that Honda combined this brilliant red with white wheels, giving the classic '90's sportbike look. I was first impressed by the low 17,587 miles but even more so with the very correct details of an original survivor and the obvious loving attention lavished on this bike for the past 36 years. The only variations from stock are the Delkevic carbon slip-on, a perfect Corbin seat and a bobbed rear fender. Not pictured, but included, is the passenger seat cowl.

Eventually we did get busy with the task at hand, beginning with the removal of the tank, seat, tail cowl and side fairings, affording access to the carbs and fuel lines. This was fairly new to Bill and I'm happy to share any knowledge I can, so that's where the "gab" came in. Things progressed well and, once primed with fuel, the "new" carbs fired up and ran well, the Delkevic singing its perfect V4 score. With everything accessible, we replaced the tank-to-pump fuel line and filter. The rear brake fluid was a little dark, so we did a quick flush. By the time we got everything buttoned up the day had moved on, leaving too little time for a two-bike local test ride, which Bill completed the next day, reporting the "bike is running great."

It was a pleasure to meet Bill and share some wrenching time on such an exceptional machine. An afternoon well spent — we're already thinking of pairing up for a Gen-3 ride in Wisconsin's Driftless Area. What a rare experience that would be.

Reader and forums contributor, Baz, seems to be on a mission to rescue as many of the 1987 blue/silver VFR700 F2 models as he can manage. He recently sent along a photo of a portion of his collection. These four are "complete and operational," he says. He also has the other Gen-2 colors and a Gen-3. Baz is definitely doing more than his part to save these beautiful bikes.