Dan Crouch BlogMotoring Enthusiast and Web Services Manager

Back from the dead, I'm wrapping up a little vacation to Georgia to see my buddy FastEddieGTi for his birthday. Having just ate an enormous steakhouse burger from the Vortex in Atlanta (kick ass burgers!), I have some downtime to catch up on some blogging chores while my food digests!

Without further ado, here are the catch up links to GermanCarsForSaleBlog and RareSportBikesForSale:

1993 Honda NSR250 MC21 SE For Sale - At only $5500, this would be a cool addition for the track or the weekend backroads!

Low Miles 1988 BMW M6 For Sale in Montana - $22.5k sounds like a pretty good deal with this kind of mileage, and documented maintenance and upgrades. And the blue on gray with the M5 rims… Yum!

1985 Yamaha RZ500 For Sale in San Diego - At $7900, this falls right in line with other RZ500’s listed previously.

2001 Porsche Carrera Cabrio - Too Cheap to be True? - So why the skeptism? 996’s of any variation start in the high teens, and those have at least twice the mileage of this car. But heaven forbid this is the real deal… well I just can’t believe it is, but it’s fun to imagine.

A Pair of Ducati 900SS Superlight’s For Sale - These are pretty rare bikes and I think it’s an interesting opportunity for a prospective buyer to consider a well worn example or the museum piece.

1993 Ducati 888 SPO: Yep Another One!! - With a $10888 asking (clever), this is one of the more expensive triple eights to be listed on this blog. While most Ducatisti will agree this where they should be, I think this seller may have a long wait before finding a buyer considering what other examples here in the states have been going for.

Two More Titled MC 21 NSR250 Honda’s For Sale in California - Judging from the pictures alone, I like the Rothmans replica better from the point of aesthetics alone. For around five grand, neither one seems like that bad a deal considering they both have titles!

Is This The Cheapest Alpina For Sale in the U.S.? 1984 BMW Alpina 2.8 B6 For Sale - Now I’m sure “Big Ron” is a reputable guy and all, but I don’t expect this car to be a real B6 considering it’s condition and thorough listing on Craigslist. But if it is a Euro car, and it looks like it could be, and it has Alpina pieces, it’s probably worth that much in parts anyway. Could actually be a really cool basis for a project car. And heaven forbid it’s a real Alpina… It’s probably the cheapest Alpina for sale in the country.

1994 Honda CB400 Super Four - Now granted that’s 47,845 miles and no title. But with all the 2 strokes that have been showing up with titles, surely it can’t be that hard to pull off. This would be such a cool in-town commuter bike!

1990 Ducati 851 Loaded With Expensive Upgrades - It’s sacrilege to even suggest it, but parting this bike could probably turn a tidy profit. Of course that would be a shame because this bike looks so well sorted, and for $5k it’d be a real pleasure to the ride balls off of it!

1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 For Sale in New Mexico - I’m having a tough time trying to decide between a Boxster and a 964. My thinking lately is that there are far more Boxsters than 964’s, and that 964 prices might be more stable over the next couple years as a result.

4 Special Edition Ducati Race Replicas For Sale Right Now - I’m really not knowledgable about the values of these bikes. But they are obviously collector examples that will command some premium in the market. Which one would you pick as best value?

1991 Honda NSR250 MC21 For Sale in Vegas Baby - These are getting cheap enough that it’s getting harder and harder to make excuses about why there isn’t one in my garage. Obviously with the sheer numbers of 2 strokes listed on this site, you know I’m a fan. Talk me out of a gray market 2 stroke… or can you at these prices?

2001 M Coupe For Sale in Virginia - 27k miles and an asking of $24k? What could possibly be wrong with this car? I like all the modifications, but they do tend to devalue a car in the eyes of enthusiast buyers. And it also has that terrible two tone interior, red and black leather. But at this price, I’d consider it a bargain purchase and have the leather dyed!

1991 Suzuki RGV 250 VJ22 For Sale in California - $6k doesn’t sound too bad, especially considering it’s plated. And are those Arrow pipes? Yum!

BMW 2002 with Dual Webers, 5 speed, LSD, and Genuine Alpina Wheels - For the asking price, and the pile of rare parts that come with it, this could be a great little driver, a potential fixer-upper, or maybe even a weekend racer project. In any case, it’ll be a load of fun!

1984 Volkswagen GTI For Sale: Clean, Original, and Affordable - As a long time MK1 and MK2 VW fan, I’d have to say it’s been since high school since I saw a Rabbit GTi this clean and original. While $4500 may seem like a lot to some, good luck finding one this nice for less.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, here are the entries for the end of December:

1990 Honda VFR750R RC30 For Sale in Rochester - The title and registration, combined with the the obvious care and thoughtful upgrades, make this bike a standout. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one listed for sale in recent memory. What do you guys think of the $16k asking?

An RVF400 and VFR400 For Sale in the Bay Area - Naturally the VFR400 with original looking bodywork would be my pick. Too bad it doesn’t have registration. The RVF400 is probably the cooler bike mechanically, but restored plastics would be at the top of my list. But with a title and registration, and an asking of only $3k, it’d be a great rider while you tried to determine if it was going to be a track bike or light restoration for the street.

Honda NSR250 MC18 For Sale - With no title, this great little bike will be attractive to collectors and track day enthusiasts. As a track day bike, do you pick something like this or a new Aprilia RS125? I sat on the latter this past weekend at the Seattle International Motorcycle Show, it’s amazing how beautiful it is in person…

1988 BMW M3 w/ 38k Miles Back on eBay - in my previous post, I guessed that the winning bid would be around $25k. Considering brand new M cars are apparently immune to the sales slump, do you think this legendary M car will find a buyer this time?

2001 Ducati MH900e Mike Hailwood Evoluzione - The seller has it listed with a $13.9k buy-it-now shown. Having covered only a few thousand miles, this looks like a great buy considering brand new Sport Classics go for about this much!

1995 Aprilia RS250 Chesterfied Replica - Oh man… I’m very tempted to get myself the best xmas present ever and buy this before the auction ends in a few hours. It’s even titled and street legal. It’s only a couple hours away and I’ve taken all of next week off… But I probably won’t though, so I’m posting it here in case someone else can snag it.

1998 Bimota SB6R For Sale on eBay - For a buyer with some skills or connections to a good technician, this could be a steal. Current bid is around $7k. What do you think it’s worth once it’s running properly?

Stunning 1991 Porsche 928 GT For Sale with 5 Speed - I’m a big fan of the 928 anyway, but in this color, trim, and with the 5 speed, I think this looks like a great example. Current bid is just under $14k (no reserve auction) and 8 days to go. I’ll update after auction for the final sale price.

1993 Ducati Superbike 888 SPO: Just In Time For Christmas - The only other Ducati’s of this vintage and price range that I would consider would be a 748, or a Superlight. And even in that company, I think the 888 is the bike of choice.

1998 Suzuki RGV 250 SP Lucky Strike Replica in Washington - This bike looks incredible, but the only problem is the asking price. It’s $16k! It does have very low miles and a title, but this is an outrageous premium considering the market and other examples of the Lucky Strike replica’s that we’ve posted on this blog.

1988 BMW e28 M5: Possible Project Car? - Obviously this one has a lot more miles than most cars I post on here. And I don’t know what showroom they’ve been hanging out in, but this car clearly isn’t that condition. Despite the fact that this car could’ve really benefited from a detail before shooting pics, the car looks complete and pretty good shape. If the motor was sound, this could be a pretty cool project car considering the asking. Which way would you go: fix it up as a nice driver or maybe enjoy as a weekend track toy?

I'm a little late on this summary, but there were way too many great examples to miss last week.

• 1993 Honda NSR 250R MC21 SE For Sale in California - This bike is priced a little on the high side, but it's titled and registered. Such a great looking machine too!
• Honda CBR900RR - 14 Good Looking Example For Sale Right Now! - Turns out the soon-to-be-classic Honda CBR900RR isn't that rare right now and it was easy to find numerous examples of clean and unmolested bikes. Strike now while they're still affordable and available!
• 1997 Ducati 900 SS/SP Supersport: Only 400 Miles! - Well what can I say, this is bike is practically brand new and it's yellow. What's not to like?!
• 1993 Ducati 888 SPO: Yep Another One For Sale! - Building your stable of modern-classic Ducati's? The 888 SPO should be on your list and here's another beauty for sale.
• A Pair of Classic Yamaha Two-Strokes For Sale: Yamaha RZ350’s - Two RZ350's for sale right here in the Pacific Northwest.
• Surfing the Local CL ads: 1997 Yamaha YZR1000R Thunderace For Sale - This is a random find while surfing my local Craigslist. It's a fine looking machine and I'm looking into how hard they are to find considering this one has an asking of just under $6k!
• 1976 BMW 2002: Beautiful Resto-Modified Example For Sale - While I think the price on this one isn't very palatable, it's beautiful to look at and well done.
• 1984 Volkswagen GTi For Sale: Nice and Clean on eBayMotors - Early VW specials like the GTi and Scirocco are heating up in the market as folks my age recall their high school years.
• I’m Bored: 2007 Ruf 3400K Coupe 25th Anniversary Edition Coupe - A little outside my wheelhouse for regular postings, this was too delicious not to post. I may have to look in the price segment more often.
• 1995 BMW 540i M-sport Dinan V8 6-speed blk/blk For Sale - These have always appealed because the S38 is such an expensive motor to maintain and eventually rebuild. You get all the e34 suspension, looks, and wheels but with the simpler and meatier V8 to match.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's picks. If you have a car you'd like me to keep a look out for, just leave a comment below and I'll be happy to look out for you!

dc

I must apologize for the delay, but I'm in Springfield, Missouri this week and the internet at the hotel isn't stellar. In fact it sucks. And on top of that, I've been swamped at work, so there are fewer posts than there have been in previous weeks. I will work harder to make sure I'm better connected on the road in the future.

But without further ado, a summary of posts from other sites I blog on that I hope dancrouchblog.com readers will enjoy:

{update: Image thumbnails removed due to technical issues. I hate working from the road!!}

• 1987 BMW 325IC b+b For Sale, as in Buchmann of Germany! - This car is loaded with hard to find (possibly impossible) period aftermarket pieces of Bachmann of Germany.
• Euro Spec 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo For Sale - The car pushes some buttons for me: Great color, rare European specification, and great looking upgrade rims.
• 1985 BMW e24 M635CSi For Sale: aka RARE and Affordable! - This is my pick of the week without a doubt. This low miles, European spec example is a bargain at $16k if it checks out. Other M cars of the period are routinely listed at or over $20k.
• 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S ‘Silver Rose’: One of the most Rare 951 Configurations - One of the most sought after configurations amongst Porsche 951 enthusiasts.
• 1991 Bimota YB8 For Sale with only 1 Mile on the Clock! - It's a crime this bike was never ridden. But if you need a museum piece for your living room, this would fit the bill nicely!
• 1994 Honda RVF400 For Sale in San Fran - As you know, I'm a sucker for 400cc gray market bikes!
• 1993 Ducati Superbike 888 SPO: So Are These Rare or Not? - I'm joking a bit in the title, but it sure seems like these are coming up for sale more often than I'd expect.

Thanks for reading at dancrouchblog.com and my other sites. Please let me know if there are vehicles or topics that you'd like to see addressed. Leave a comment!

dc

Here are some quick links pointing to some posts I've made this week outside of dancrouchblog.com:

• I got a quick post up on FastCheapCars.com about the delightful 'Spridget'
• 1988 BMW M5 - Rare Black on Black For Sale
• Porsches For Sale Right Now That Look Like Good Value: 911SC and Boxster
• 2003 BMW Z4 3.0 For Sale in Portland, Oregon
• Two Classic Porsche 944’s For Sale: One for $8k and one for $80k
• 1996 Aprilia RS250 For Sale
• 1992 Honda NSR250R SE MC21 For Sale
• 1993 Ducati 888 SPO For Sale in Florida
• 1996 Suzuki RGV250 Lucky Strike For Sale
• 1992 Ducati 900 SS/SP: Is it a SuperLight?
• 2000 Ducati 748R For Sale: Hello Hotness!

dc

Paul and I hatched this little plan a few weeks before his 33rd birthday to take 3 day road trip over the July 4th weekend. The gist was to actually have no planned agenda for our weekend and to decide as the date got closer. We ended up choosing to go north towards the Olympic Peninsula and would plan our ride as we went.

View Larger Map

Our day 1 was absolutely fantastic! We did our best to avoid interstate and chose a careful route that not only ensured mostly back road twisties-a-plenty, but also happened to be in the opposite direction of most holiday travel. Highway 47 from Forest Grove to Astoria reminded me of the Gran Turismo stage titled 'Deep Forest'. Blasting through gentle 35-45mph corners between the dark forest and under train trestles, on many sections of new tarmac, made for one of the most scenic and delicious rides in recent memory. The last third of the road before Astoria turns to total shit, and is even more 'entertaining' when wet. But the majority more than made up for it. After lunch, we pushed into Washington and took a bit of a detour on highway 101 'alternate', and this road was also totally devoid of traffic, full of fast sweepers, with perfect road surface, and wide lanes that would make anyone feel like Ben Bostrom.

We ended the day at Lake Quinault. This wasn't exactly planned, but it was 5:30 and we needed gas. Pretty badly too after our assault on southwest Washington. As my anxiety built, I kept hearing Merlin telling Cougar, "[...] we've got to land this thing. We are way low on gas!" After miles and miles of absolutely no civilization in the beautiful Olympic Peninsula rain forest, we spotted a sign stating 2 miles to the Chevron, next right. So we turned in and checked out the lake. After filling up with the best gas I've even put in the Ducati at $5.09 a gallon (ouch!), we cruised past the lodge and general store, and found an open tent site. Having setting up camp, we went back over to the lodge for dinner. Little did we know the lodge was actually a really nice place in the middle of nowhere. A fantastic structure built in the 20's, it was quite opulent compared to the campground.

Walking in, you're immediately greeted in the main lounge area with a bar, huge fireplace, and lots of leather furniture. Past that to the open doors of the deck features a large manicured lawn leading down a gentle slope to the lake. The lawn is dotted with small groups of Adirondack chairs and small groups of people pouring wine for each other. A wedding had just finished and the photographer was finishing up with the shots with a fantastic backdrop.

We dined that night in the Roosevelt room, named after President Roosevelt who stayed there once. They were able to seat us immediately and after browsing the menu, it was clear we were going to eat very well indeed. $17 for camping, $85 for dinner. Oh yes we did, donning bug splattered leather jackets, helmet hair and insect repellant! I recommend the beef tenderloin, it was waaay better than my pork medallions LOL!

Our Day 1 couldn't have been more perfect. As we retired to the sounds and sights of a nice fireworks show over the lake, the rain forest began it's thing. It started to drizzle. And then rain. All night. Every time I woke up, the rain sounded more intense. I can't believe how dry we actually ended up considering our campsite had turned into a giant mud puddle. I guess that forestry sign that stated the region gets over 148 inches of rain a year was no joke. It was now about 8:30 in the morning and we had finally resigned ourselves to the fact that the 30% chance of showers had turned into a full on 100% downpour.

We suited up and broke camp in the rain. After a decent breakfast at the general store, we decided going around the Peninsula would only lead to an entire day of riding in the rain, and decided to head south, back in search of dry and hopefully warm weather elsewhere in the state. But after a bowl of soup at the Olympic Club in Centralia, and a search of the weather forecasts to the east, west and south via Blackberry, we realized we weren't going to find anything like that. So we blasted down I-5 to PIR to meet Paul's bosses, who were racing this weekend. Dodging most of the rain, we arrived just in time to see Bob take the checkered flag for his run group.

We treated ourselves to another fantastic dinner, this time at our one of favorites in Portland: Gustav's pub at the Rheinlander German Restaurant. Their fondue is fantastic and it's the only place in Oregon that I know of that serves the wonderful Spaten Helles. I had the prime rib and Paul had the schnitzel. I often consider moving to Portland just to eat here more often!

The last day of our trip, we headed out to our favorite back roads from the Portland area via Sandy, Estacada, Silverton, Mill City, Lyons, and finally back to Albany. We had a celebratory lunch at Calapooia Brewing (try the Pilsner, it's perfect!) and then parted ways to finish off our weekend.

The Ducati made the trip without any hiccups and is now in need of full detail to clean out all the grime from the rain soaked roads. But it was a great and spontaneous trip with some of the best riding I've done since I last rode regularly years ago. Thank you Paul, for insisting we make this trip. I had a great time!

dc

The title says it all. Aside from a handful that are probably hiding in private collections, this has to be one of the lowest mileage 888's for sale anywhere!

1993 Ducati 888 Superbike on eBayMotors:

quote from eBay listing:

Up for auction is this piece of treasure I've kept hidden away in my air conditioned garage. It's a 1993 Ducati 888 and it is in excellent showroom condition. Purchased new and used only occasionally but I made it a ritual to always keep it running and in tune. The mileage is correct and is at a super showroom low of 712 miles. If you see the bike you will understand.

3 days to go, and currently at $9300 no reserve. I'll update after the auction. (Update: Auction ended at nearly $10700!)

Check out previously listed Ducati 888's on dancrouchblog.com

dc

Nice maintenance and upgrades on this 1994 Ducati 888 SPO LTD on eBay (Colorado):

1994 Ducati 888 SPO LTD #99
14,919 Miles
2 Owners
Machesini Magnesium Wheels
Michelin Pilot Sport Tires
Brembo Cast-iron Front Brake Rotors
Brembo GP Front Brake Master Cylinder w/rear brake switch
GIA.CA.MOTO Exhaust
Giacamoto Crank Case Breather

Recent complete overhaul by Cliff's Ducati/BMW
New Timing Belts
New Front Brake Pads
New Plugs
Completely new set of water hoses
New Water Pump Seal
New Fuel Filter
New Clutch
New Rocker Arms and Valve Adjustment

Cyinders have new Nicacell Plating and new rings
New Head Gasket

Total Repairs and Upgrades: $4,146.22
(Receipts for all work available)

If you're on the lookout for an 851 or 888, do yourself a favor and join the Ducati 851/888 Yahoo group. These guys watch eBay and CL like hawks, and often know history and all the right questions to ask.

Check out past Ducati 888 For Sale on dancrouchblog.com

dc

If my Ducati 750SS represents the entry level model for 93, this represents the top of the line - and by a wide margin!

1993 Ducati 888 SPO w/ 15k miles on eBay:

1993 Ducati 888 SPO, exceptionally clean for the year. This bike has been stored for the past six years, but engine started and ran occasionally. Timing belts have been replaced, valves have been adjusted. Bike includes 50 mm Termignoni carbon fiber exhaust, snowflake full floating front rotors, Ohlin rear suspension and a Corbin vented seat. Bike runs super strong, it pulls like a big block Chevy on steroids. No problems of any kind. Handles like nothing you've ever rode. Bike has virtually new tires but should be replaced because of age. The bike has been well maintained throughout its life. This bike was GPS at 172 MPH. The 888 was the begining of Ducati's Super Bike Racing Championships. The SPO was only produced for 2 years, 1993 and 1994. Check out the production numbers to the U.S. in 1993, I've included a picture. Would be a great bike for any collector, you definately will not be disappointed in this bike.

See other Ducati classifieds listed on dancrouchblog.com

dc

Considering I've posted quite a few Ducati 888 SPO's listings, I'm starting to wonder just how rare they are LOL! Here's a 1993 Ducati 888 SPO For Sale in Georgia for $9k buy-it-now:

Of course I'm joking about their rarity, but when you're on the constant look-out, there's more to find than I'd expect. And as a modern collectable, $9k is a pretty cheap entry price if she checks out.

Update 3.1.2008: Sold for $8k

dc