2 stroke motorcycles Archives

SWM 320TL trials

One of the delights of running Bike EXIF is the occasional stumble across obscure vintage motorcycle brands. Like this machine: it’s an…

1969 MZ ES 250/2

In the pantheon of oddball motorcycles, the MZ ES reigns supreme. Built in the former German Democratic Republic, it was nicknamed the…

Yamaha YZ250 flat tracker

Modern race bikes leave me cold, but vintage machinery gets my motor running. It’s mostly because you can actually see the bike…

Suzuki T500 racer

Suzuki’s T500 was a rare beast: a large-capacity two-stroke road bike that sold in big numbers in the US. And it’s not…

The ‘Husqvonda’: A CR500-powered Husky from Boyko

One of Southern California’s “go-to” guys when it comes to dirtbike motors is Ted Boyko. A promising kid racer on a factory…

Yamaha RD350 by Analog

I know a couple of people who’ve owned Yamaha RD350s, and both remember the 1970s air-cooled twin with great fondness. I bet…

Suzuki GT550 custom “Honduki”

The best custom motorcycles have a coherent look—a visual balance and flow that literally stops the traffic. And the modifications should perform…

Radical Ducati 48 Sport

Radical Ducati is best known for its ultra-desirable transformations of contemporary superbikes. But the Spanish company occasionally turns its hand to vintage…

Cafe Racer Dreams’ Ossa Copa custom

Café Racer Dreams is a Spanish custom shop with a sleek and pared-back style. So this vintage-themed machine is something of a…

Dark and moody: Twinline’s Kawasaki S1 cafe racer

The Kawasaki S1 is rarely found in the US. Which is a pity, because this air-cooled two-stroke triple is reportedly a fun…

Yamaha YZR500

By Richard Fowler of Motorsport Retro—This exquisite piece of rolling sculpture is Yamaha’s 1975 YZR500. It’s the OW23 variant, the machine that…

Forum Bike Of The Month: Dennis’ Yamaha RD400

If the Yamaha SR400 is the easy-going, easily swayed favorite of café racer builders, the two-stroke Yamaha RD400 is its delinquent half-brother.…