The UK’s rarest classic motorbikes

Rarity is a rare commodity. Many of the most sought-after motorcycles by enthusiasts today are those that were produced in large numbers when new. As a result, many have fond memories of a particular machine and that fires them to own one now. However, there are those who want to own a hen’s tooth machine either because of a passion for that bike or the desire to be different.

Credit - Britten

Britten V1000

Let’s start with something so exotic that only 10 were made when it was new – the Britten V1000. Designer John Britten wanted to create the ultimate bike to compete in the Battle of the Twins race at Daytona Bike Week and he set his clever mind to developing a machine like no other. For starters, it had no chassis frame, instead the engine became the main load-bearing component and the front and rear suspension were hung off this.

As well as this advanced thinking, New Zealander Britten looked into every possible part and function of the bike to see how it could be improved. Given all of this was done in his small workshop in Christchurch with just a few friends to help, the result was nothing less than stunning. The handmade 999cc V-twin engine produced 166bhp when most other litre bikes could muster 120bhp. It revved to 12,500rpm and propelled the 138kg bike to a top speed of 187mph. This was helped by its compact size and aerodynamics, which also helped the V1000 succeed in winning the 1992 Battle of the Twins races at Daytona and Assen in The Netherlands. Plenty more race wins followed, yet only 10 Britten bikes were produced to make them not only among the rarest bikes in the UK but also one of the most desirable.

Credit - MotorcycleSpecs

Yamaha GTS 1000

Yamaha had much higher hopes for the sales of its GTS 1000 sports tourer when it was launched in 1993. The big news here was the bike’s hub-centre steering, which was the first time this unusual design had been used on a mainstream bike. Unfortunately for Yamaha, riders were wary of such ground-breaking tech and the GTS 1000 struggled to find favour even if the steering system worked perfectly well.

There were other problems for the GTS 1000. Its Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP engine had been detuned to just 102bhp for the sports tourer, so it always felt underpowered for such a large bike that was supposed to carry two in comfort across continents. Surprisingly, Yamaha persisted with the GTS 1000 up to 1999, but annual sales could be counted on one hand.

Credit - BMW

BMW K1

Today, we’re used to seeing BMW as one of the prime movers in the superbike sector, yet back in 1988 the German firm was closely associated with touring and off-road bikes. The K1 was a very brave attempt to break out of that type-cast role and its all-enveloping bodywork was key to creating this 100bhp bike. By making the bike more aerodynamic rather than simply applying more power to the problem, BMW thought its cerebral approach would lure in buyers. Some bold colour options also made the K1 stand out in the showroom, but few ever left BMW dealers and it’s now the rarest BMW motorcycle in the UK.

Credit - AllMoto

Triumph Daytona Super III

Triumph experienced a similar outcome when it launched the Daytona Super III. The fundamental difference compared to BMW, however, was Triumph only ever intended this bike to be a limited edition model and built just 805 of them. It was on sale between 1993 and 1996, so sales were never hurried, but those who took the plunge enjoyed a Cosworth-tuned engine with more aggressive cams and flat-side carburettors. It also had bigger brakes to help reel in the engine’s 115bhp.

Credit - SuperbikeNews

Wilkinson Touring

However, if you want a truly rare British bike, you might consider a Wilkinson Touring. Only four are known to exist now of these laid-back machines, which have the rider sat to the rear of the four-cylinder engine that’s mounted along the frame. Lengthy handlebars were required to give the rider control of the bike, which was made by the Wilkinson Sword company that also made razer blades in Acton, London. A number of Wilkinson’s bikes were used by the British Army, but now only a miniscule number are left.

Credit - MotorcycleClassics

Honda CX500

It's not just motorcycle firms from the early days that have bikes now considered rarer than a politician’s straight answer. Honda has enjoyed plenty of motorcycling hits, but the CX500 Turbo was not among them. Turbocharging was all the rage in the car world in the 1980s, while Honda’s CX500 had become a byword for reliability and was usually spotted weaving in and around traffic in the hands of motorcycle couriers. Honda’s thinking was to marry that ability with more power from a turbo. The outcome was a bike with 82bhp from its 497cc V-twin motor and a top speed of 121mph. All quite respectable.

Honda also uprated the brakes and suspension to match the new-found boost in power. The problems arrived when anyone considering buying a CX500 Turbo, or its CX650 Turbo spin-off, and they spotted the price. For the same money, they could have a serious sports bike or a proper sports-tourer with a larger engine. Even if they could reconcile the Turbo’s list price, hefty insurance premiums sealed the fate of the CX500 Turbo and it remained glued to the showroom floor.

Norton 961 SE

It didn’t look like the reborn Norton brand would have that problem with its new 961 SE when it was launched in 2009. Everything looked set to see this bike follow in the same wheel tracks as Triumph as another great British success story. There was nothing wrong with the 961 SE itself, which gained plenty of praise for its looks and smooth engine, even if it was rather pricey. That cost didn’t stop plenty of customer wanting one of the new Nortons, but business problems brought the company to a halt under its then owner. As a result, only a small number were made, but thankfully Norton is now back on track under new ownership, so this may be the rarity that becomes more plentiful.

Have you heard of any of these rare bikes before? Let us know in the comments!