What: 1986 VFR750F RC24
Where: Monticello, Indiana
Why: Clean & original
Price: $3500

Ten years ago, nice, original second-gen VFRs were more available, at least in my experience. As time goes by the supply of good ones sleeping in barns and garages just waiting to be rescued seems to be diminishing. And good examples that have been loved and kept on the road aren't so common either. But here's one.

With the ad indicating 30,000 miles but the odometer showing 34,867 (if my eyes don't deceive) the bike appears to be a very complete and very original example. Sporting a great-looking shorty Yoshimura single-muffler slip-on and no other apparent mods, the bike presents itself very well in the photos. The seller indicates that he has the original mufflers in like-new condition and the passenger seat cowl is in place. No crash damage is evident from the pics, and the wheels are nearly spotless, indicating a well cared for Interceptor. The fuel tank also appears to be in excellent condition. The seller indicates that the bike has newer tires, regular maintenance and is in "immaculate original condition."

The $3500 asking price seems to reflect the higher miles, and if that's not a deal breaker this one would make a great rider and should never lose any value.

This weekend Chicago hosts the International Motorcycle Show. Patti and I make the show every year for a winter bike fix. This year we braved a 10-inch snowfall to make the 45-minute drive, but the experienced Chicago area snow crews had managed to clear a path just for us. We take in the Friday afternoon show for lesser crowds and this year the snow kept more folks safe at home. Even though it's a lot of "more of the same" each year, we still like to make the rounds to see what's new and collect our Progressive Insurance T-shirt and coffee mug. On the way home we make a traditional stop at nearby Rex's Italian Deli for some epic take-out lasagna to be enjoyed at home with some red wine. Makes for a great day, despite the Chi-town weather.

Honda had their large and impressive space set up to highlight the new Gold Wing. The A/V backdrop wall is a non-stop ride video and really adds to the ambiance. Three Gold Wings were on display and there was lots of interest from paunchy grey-hairs (like myself).

My showroom impression is that the new bike looks sleeker and lighter, has a very comfortable rider/passenger perch but is still a massive motorcycle. Still, it seems to fit me pretty well....

The sole V4 in attendance was this red VFR1200X set up for ADV duty. No sign of an Interceptor.

Royal Enfield stepped up their game this year, what with the introduction of the new 650 twins and announcing that the Himalayan ADV bike will be available in the U.S this year. The twins will come in a cafe-racer style (Continental GT) and a standard street version, using the Interceptor name. Not sure how they get away with that, though in all fairness Royal Enfield was using the Interceptor moniker long before Honda. I was very impressed with the twins; the build quality looks great and they nailed the "heritage" styling. And that chrome tank never gets old.

Allstate Insurance hosted a kid's riding area again this year. I thought that this little girl who chose the Ducati over the pink ATV shows a lot of future promise.

There's a very tasteful display of vintage bikes hosted by a couple of local Chicago vintage clubs. Lots of nice British, German and Japanese oldies.

Customs are not my cup of tea, as a rule, but they line the aisles at the show, and I guess you can vote for your favorite. They're mostly garish, unrideable examples of excess, in my humble opinion, but the craftsmanship and creativity can't be denied.

I thought this rat-style build was cooler than the never-ending lineup of S&S-engined choppers with 40-inch front wheels (?). It's based upon, of all things, a '92 Kawasaki Ninja ZX750. It would fit right in on the set of The Walking Dead, what with its rebar crash bars and a crossbow mounted on the swingarm.

All in all, a great mid-winter respite.

What: 2012 VFR1200F Interceptor
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Why: Rare '12 model in blue, good value
Price: $6800

Honda had high sales expectations when it introduced the VFR1200F in 2010. Too many of the ubiquitous red beasts were produced that year so that, to my knowledge, none were titled as 2011 models in the U.S.

For 2012 the DCT transmission was tweaked for improved drivability and traction control was added (good idea). And the color for that year is this distinctive Glint Wave Blue Metallic. The equally rare 2013 came in Darkness Black — who comes up with those names?

This example shows only 5000 miles and includes some nice-to-have extras. From the seller:
"Looking to sell my Honda VFR1200F which is in beautiful condition with many tasteful mods done by myself. The bike is in exceptional condition and has been very well maintained. I have added a few additional thing to make a great bike better. I have added the Brazzaz Z Bomb, Servo Eliminator, Power commander 5, Dam Exhaust, Pazzo Levers, Throttle Meister Lock and SW Motech Tank Bag. All of which go with the bike when sold. The bike has a little over 5k on the ODO and has been ridden by an older experienced rider. I am selling it for $6800."

The VFRdiscussion.com listing may require registration to view, but here's a video clip of the exhaust music:

Ducati has chosen a new superbike path, and it centers around a V4 engine configuration. Having reached a practical end point in development for their iconic L-twin regarding power, European emissions compliance and a (twin cylinder) racing displacement handicap, the twins are out and a new four-cylinder era begins. Note that this development only applies to their superbike program; the more pedestrian models will continue for the foreseeable future with the L-twin. There has actually been a previous V4 production model, but it was more of a limited production — the Desmosedici RR.

Having owned three Ducatis, I can attest to their appeal, but at the expense of everyday livability. The visceral riding experience, the combination of torque and power, the crisp and composed handling, the sound, even the name on the tank — it's all part of the Ducati experience. But when the ride was over, I was spent. It was work if done correctly. The revs were to be kept above 4000, the brakes had better be ABS-equipped, the traction managed. Then there's the maintenance.... But it's great fun, and when I climbed off the machine, I always stepped back, admired the beast and gave an involuntary, "Wow." Then there's the maintenance....

The first of the street line is the 2018 Pinigale V4. It's gorgeous. And it makes more than 200hp.
There's some good videos on Ducati's website:

From Autoblog:
"To put this in terms readers not intimately familiar with Ducati's history can relate to, the controversial move to a V4 is akin to Porsche's bandonment of air-cooled engines, or the electrification of hypercars. The 1,103-cc V4 shares a layout with Ducati's exotic MotoGP race bike. Unlike the more conventional 180-degree crankshaft found on V4-powered bikes such as the Aprilia RSV4, the Ducati employs a 70-degree crank pin offset and a twin-pulse firing pattern that makes it run like two back-to-back V-twins, firing with a 1-2 pulse along one bank, a brief pause, then another 3-4 pulse. Close your eyes, and it sounds bit like a Ducati V-twin, but with a slightly less irregular and staccato rhythm. The sound is deep, bold and familiar — related, but not exactly the same."

Here's a short video of the heart of the beast, the V4:

From Motorcycle Classics magazine:
The 1951 Vincent Black Lightning ridden by Aussie Jack Ehret in 1952 to an Australian Land Speed Record of 140.509mph sold at Bonhams’ 2018 Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction for a breath-taking $840,000 — a figure that jumps to $929,000 with buyer’s premium! In original, unrestored condition save for a recent mechanical reconditioning by Vincent specialist Patrick Godet in France.

The Vincent was just one of a number of big earners at the Jan. 25, 2018, Bonhams sale. A 1939 Brough Superior SS80 pulled in $120,500, and another Vincent, this time a 1955 Series D Black Prince, drew $104,650. Another record was the $92,000 achieved for a 1990 Honda VFR750R RC30, the most ever paid for the model.

Bonhams’ says it achieved a 75 percent sell-through on approximately 105 lots for a total of $2.86 million. That’s down from 2017’s approximately $4.5 million on 252 lots, but the average sale at the 2018 auction was much higher: $27,238 versus an average sale of $17,857 at the 2017 auction. No doubt the Ehret Vincent pulled the 2018 average up, but overall performance was good.

...which is exactly what a lot of potential buyers must have been muttering during the Bonhams auction last week as the bidding climbed into the stratosphere for this RC30 on auction.

When the hammer sounded the bidding had hit $92,000 (with buyer's premium). I had to double check to be sure this wasn't pesos we're talkin' about. Two web sites I found had predicted $40,000 and $50,000 sale prices, and my guess of $37,000 is just laughable. This sets a whole new bar in RC30 values worldwide. Granted this particular bike may be the finest U.S.-spec example around, but future RC30 sales will surely be riding this wave for some time. Congratulations to the seller, and "well done" to Bonhams.

I've put together some more parts I'm clearing out from my 1990 VFR750. Here's a partial list with some prices (add shipping). Let me know if you need something....

•Carburetor Sets (2 complete sets), rebuilt, new lines/o-rings, cleaned, sync'd, zero miles: $160 and $180
•Front Forks, rebuilt 150 miles ago with fresh seals. Nice condition: $100
•Fuel Tanks (2), OEM, one red (very small dent), one black (larger dent), otherwise nice condition: $60 each
•Tail light Cowl: modified to one piece, in black, with tail light and turn signals. Very nice condition: $70
•Seat Subframe, straight as far as I know. Nice condition: $20
•Rear Fender, looks good, slightly bobbed below license plate. Nice condition: $10
•Handlebar Clipons set (right & left), OEM, straight. Nice condition: $20
•Pulse Generator Assembly (triggers spark plugs), used, working, NLA from Honda. $40
•Triple Tree assembly, complete w/ recent bearing upgrade. A bit scuffed: $35
•Chain Guard, looks good: $12
•Rear (passenger) Brackets (right & left) -- w/foot peg-ectomy , smoothed, polished, look great: $25
•Front Calipers (right & left), rebuilt with almost new EBC HH pads, look pretty good: $100
•Misc: infill panels, emissions stuff, relays, rubber heat shields, etc

Here we have a seller in Reno, NV who "got a little carried away" with a custom build for his son. Starting with 500cc Magna cruiser, our builder went for a scrambler look...and pulled it off pretty well. The goal was the popular 1973 Honda CR250 Elsinore.

Along the way the forks and rear wheel were swapped for early CBR components while the fenders and number plates are Elsinore parts. I have to say that I love the look, though the choice of cruiser-to-scrambler is an odd one. The current crop of street scrambler styled bikes are mostly for...ahh...style, and this build is certainly no exception. The knobby tires are certainly a compromise while the 500cc V4 is pointedly lacking the torquey pull of the old "enduros." The upswept mufflers are spot on, but the square headlight is just wrong on all counts.

I appreciate the work and dollars invested in this build, but the seller's asking price of $5000 is probably on the optimistic side. Having said that, the builder should be applauded for a great job in executing his vision. Below is a view of his staring and finishing points. Here's a link to a Bike-urious feature on this bike.

The other auction in town next week is Bonhams event being held one day only, January 25th. Bonhams is generally known for offering the highest-end collectible vehicles, and this year won't disappoint; rife with hallowed names from the past like Brough, Pope, Indian, Vincent, Ariel, Velocette and many more.

The only V4 Honda in attendance will be a 1990 VFR750R RC30. But, if you want to dance with an RC30, this one is the belle of the ball. Showing only 14 miles, this is a bone fide museum display queen. As the brochure notes, "A never-to-be-repeated opportunity to acquire an as new RC30...." My guess: $37,000.

Here's a link to Bonhams Las Vegas catalog. 

MOTORCYCLE AUCTION WEEK
The 2018 Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction is almost here. In the classic car biz, they have their "Auction Week" every year in Scottsdale AZ, also in January. That evolved out of Barrett-Jackson's huge car auction that attracted so many buyers and sellers that other auction companies joined in. Today there are a half-dozen or so big classic car auctions during that week in Scottsdale, hence the name "Auction Week." In the classic vehicle biz, the Las Vegas auctions kick off the year with a bang.

It all started with one auction company, in this case MidAmerica Auctions, who came to Vegas in 1990 and slowly built up over the years to a 3-day sale with upwards of 700 bikes. The resulting buyer draw attracted Bonhams Auction Co. who hosts a 1-day sale of a couple of hundred bikes each year on Thursday. A few years ago, RM Auctions came in trying to bump MidAmerica from their spot, running their 3-day auction on the same three days as MidAmerica and doing whatever they could to steal the show. MidAmerica's loyal audience stuck with MidAmerica, giving them a record-setting sale, and RM never came back. A couple of years later, MidAmerica sold their business to car auction giant Mecum Auctions, and they've grown the sale considerably. Last year, they boasted 1000 bikes in a 4-day sale. This year, they're promising 1750 bikes in a 5-day sale. Sounds like a good time in Vegas.
Mecum Auction link

Here's what Mecum is offering in the Honda V4 world for 2018.
My WAG for selling prices are shown in parentheses.
Selling prices (including premium) shown in red.

• 1990 VFR750R RC30 — 11,280 miles, all OEM parts ($26,500) $44,000
• 1985 V30 Magna — 2436 miles, rare 500cc mini-Magna ($3200) $3850
• 1984 VF1000F — 1611 miles, red/white/blue ($6300) $11,000
• 1984 VF1000F — 1531 miles, red/white/blue ($6300) $12,100
• 1986 VF1000R — 32 miles (!), all original right down to the tires ($14,000) $16,500
• 1985 VF1000R — 561 miles ($11,000) $14,850
• 1985 VF1000R Race Replica — Euro tank, fiberglass bodywork ($11,000) $4950
• 1985 V65 Sabre — 13,300 miles ($2900) $2200
• 1987 VF700 Magna — Under 7000 miles, rare cast wheels (solid rear) ($3100) $3025
• 1995 VF750 Magna — 10,679 miles ($3000) $3850
(click on an image to enlarge)