Cool As Hell: Junk Bikes for Sale
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 | 12:20 PMIf you’ve ever searched for a used bike, you’re well aware of the rat piles and hammered heaps on Craigslist. These machines range from spray painted beauties to motorcycles that no longer run and are missing half of the bodywork, and are often described as, “very fast” and, “like new.” The one thing that all these ads seem to have in common, however, is that they are hilarious. So, for your enjoyment, we’ve once again roosted through Craigslist and put together some of the most entertaining ads. Half the fun of this new feature comes from reading the comments section, so be sure to toss in your two cents on which machine is the best, or worst, purchase.
Larry The Cable Guy’s Ride
At first it was hard to find anything about this bike to make fun of, mainly because of the blurry photos. Seriously, were these pictures taken during an earthquake? What we can see is a chain that looks rustier than the Titanic and a couple body pieces that somehow look fifteen years older than the rest of the bike. Also adding to the entertainment is what appears to be Larry The Cable Guy leaning over the rear fender looking at something on the ground. Perhaps he’s trying to find that box of 12-guage shells and can of dip he dropped before the picture was taken. The best part of the ad is where the seller mentions that he doesn’t have a phone and that all contact must be made via email. How is it that someone has internet access, but no phone?
The Silver Lining: If you look closely, you can see that this Pensacola pearl is equipped with passenger pegs. Not only will you be able to take your girlfriend to the bowling alley in style, you’ll save money on gas doing it.
The Frankenbike
This magnificent piece of Massachusetts majesty is the whole package when it comes to Craigslist comedy. Not only is the bike a conglomeration of at least three different machines, the wording is almost as good as the KX125 we featured last week [http://www.racerxonline.com/2012/10/12/cool-as-hell-junk-bikes-for-sale] that had a power band in every gear:
“85 kx 125 w a 87 kdx 200 air cooled 2stroke very reliable,fast,the perfect trail bike. bike was built by joe pinsonnault w new wheel bearings and carb,new alum bars,new alum throttle tube,six" extensions(cost 200)made by joe.take em off or run them handles great like that still wheelies! good deal just need to sell something for car ins.”
One of the more curious parts of this bike is the red kill-switch cord hanging from the right side of the handlebars. It’s not as if a motorcycle will keep going if you fall off, so what’s the deal? The most plausible theory we could come up with is that given the pieced-together mechanics of this Frankenbike, there’s probably been a stuck throttle or two in its history. Wanting to avoid getting bucked off and being forced to listen to the engine grenade while struggling to free himself from a manzanita bush, the seller smartly installed the kill-switch.
The Silver Lining: Somehow this bike has escaped the flat-black spray paint treatment that most of the beaters on Craigslist have received at one time or another. It isn’t without some aftermarket colors, however, as the right side plate looks like the seller once rode this bike through the middle of a paintball warzone.
Extra Parts
When purchasing a used motorcycle, it’s always great when the seller has a few extra parts that go with the machine. A pair of spare grips, the original exhaust or handlebars, or even an extra set of graphics; all are nice extras. But with the laundry list of extras this seller is including, that good, “extra” feeling is transformed into a gigantic warning flag. Extra carbs, cylinders, heads, magnetos, coils, CDI boxes, clutch baskets, gears, rims and more. Who goes through stuff like? Either this seller is extraordinarily hard on equipment, runs some sort of motocross bike chop-shop, or is an extreme patriot who would rather run vegetable oil in his bike than increase the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.
Interestingly enough, out of all those parts, the seller wasn’t able find a brake lever that wasn’t more bent out of shape than the des Nations track after the third moto a few weeks ago. And even more disturbing than the plethora of weird parts is the likening of the bike’s power to rape: “…it ran like a raped date until i ran it too lean and ceased the ring to the piston.” With lines like this, it sounds like the seller has about as much class as he does bike maintenance skills. But then again, what can you expect from someone (excluding Nicky Hayden, of course) who chooses to run #69?
The Silver Lining: The bike is missing a bar pad, and with any luck the new owner will smack his face on the bar clamps hard enough to erase any memory of the previous owner.
Senior CZ-itizen
This bike is actually pretty cool and we almost hate to include it here, but as Jeff Foxworthy might say if he were writing this article, “If your bike is missing the front fender and air cleaner and is sporting a seat held together with duct tape, it might be featured on Racer X’s weekly junk alert.” At least the duct tape is installed in such a way that it looks like the rear portion of the seat is adorned with racing stripes, although the picture is so blurry it’s hard to get an idea of what they actually look like.
As cool as this old bike is, make sure you’ve got a line on old CZ engine parts if you are considering rescuing it. If the seller has run it much without the air filter there’s probably less life left in the motor than Ping’s short stint as a Tornado-mounted factory rider for Sky Team.
The Silver Lining: To the right person (and by right person we mean someone who is deranged completely obsessed with returning vintage bikes to their former glory) with the right knowledge and skills, this bike would make a killer restoration project. Are you reading this, Dave Coupe?
Now it’s time for you, the reader, to cast your vote on this lot of motocross litter. What is the best purchase here? Is it Larry the Cable Guy’s Ride, Frankenbike, Extra Parts or Senior CZ-itizen? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
See a bike you think would make a good fit for this column? Send an e-mail over to [email protected]
If you’ve been offended by anything you read here, you can also send us an email, but first, try taking a deep breath, relax, and remember, we don’t care, it’s all in good fun.
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What a waste of space on a web site find something go to write about lazy RX
The Frakenbike is a wannabe hill bike with a 6 over swingarm, my guess is that the extensions are a highly engineered piece for extra safety from that built 200 special. The kill switch tether is mandatory for hillclimbing, though I don't know how far this hot rod would make it up an ant hill.
Kinda a side not of what I see when people (kids) post their junk for sale. What is up with kids typing there telephone number out, then spelling some, then using numbers again. That seems to be a trend I see a lot more recently, and it drives me nuts. We use numerals for a reason! But these retards find the need to try to be cool and different in one of the dumbest ways they can.... I do not understand people these days. Just type out the stupid phone number with the numbers, Retards!
@josh people do that so the SPAM machine doesn't load up there phone #.......it has nothing to to with mental retardation or being cool....but anyone with common sense knows that.@bobby ...some of these are hilarious....turn away. keep em coming Aaron......
only the second one I've looked at, and I think its waste of time, but how about giving some more privateers some press??
The CR post wins. He tagged practically every known incarnation of street and dirt bike model and brand. I always thought it was "raped ape" I also like how the fresh top -end, even if seized, has some perceived value over some other seized motor
C’mon Bobby - just think about those six extensions! Man that Frankenbike bike must be fast. Especially since it was built by the legendary Joe P! Joe was ahead of his time. After he parted ways with Pro Circuit in the late 50s he designed the famous Klackel rear suspension beam and the Tolar trailing switch. The Klackel was used by every factory team in Europe from 1967 to 1978. Brings back memories..
@frankenweenie ...as long as Joe is tuning we have a shot at the win.......WTF "raped date" someone might wanna look into that history of this one...geezus..........and stop wasting fro-daddys time and doing anything different.....
fro daddy..... Isn't life just a waste of time? Think about it......
The CR with the conga line of hammered parts gets my vote. How do you end up with a pair of spare carbs? What damage do you have to do to inflict enough trauma on a carburetor to require a replacement, then to require another replacement?
Clutch baskets? As in more than two? What sadistic mechanic and rider combination wears through clutch basket after clutch basket, then saves the reminants to sell with the bike? Multiple cylinders yet the bike is in its seized state at the time of sale? How do you go through coil packs??? Magnetos?
Dang it Cooter, throw another coil and magneto on it and then see if it will start...
What is strange is that the tires look stock, as in origional equipment. Maybe it was owned by the coneheads.
youre not supposed to post your phone number on craigslist, have had them take down my post because of it
Super Fro Daddy, Not to worry, no privateers were injured or denied coverage in the writing of this article.
Bobby125, It's okay to do something fun from time to time. Give it a shot!
@Bobby125,
If you don't like this column, don't read it. I personally find it very entertaining. It has quickly become one of my favorite columns.
Thanks for the article, love seeing what you guys come up with. It also has become one I look for.
I gotta give the nod to the kawalski again... I mean the kill switch cord is brilliant, And it does appear to be the "ultimate trail bike" The cz, is a beauty but the history of it, for lack of better words, excludes it from the competition.
The Kawi really isn't that bad, they ran a 200cc class in Hillclimbs and those old KDX's were pretty good back in the day. And as BlueStallion87 said, teather kill switches were required in hillclimbs. I think the CR80 kid wins this one.
I bought an 83 CR480 (for parts/spares for a very sweet AHMA 83 CR380) off a blurry Craig's List ad. Got here and it had the red kill-switch cord and bar receptacle. I KNEW why it was on there (hillclimbs) and was gonna buy it anyway, but I acted stupid and asked him what it was for. Got what I wanted when he told me you needed that in case you fell off the back when the powerbands engaged.
Still have about half that bike somewhere....
er, AHRMA 83 CR480. Fantastic bike. Best MX motor ever.
I'll be dipped...... makes sense...heck....yeah it does look a little like a hillclimber???? Why not? I did not know the cord was for climbing, makes perfect sense. Hillclimber never crossed my mind at all LMFAO. I figured it'd trapped him underneath enough times, where that just made good sense to put a kill switch teather on the gal,....with all the powerbands it certainly has.