© 2024 New Atlas
Collectibles

Captain America Chopper from Easy Rider sells for US$1.35 million to become world's most expensive motorcycle

By Mike Hanlon
October 19, 2014
Captain America Chopper from Easy Rider sells for US$1.35 million to become world's most expensive motorcycle
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum. The Captain America Chopper will now sit atop our Top 100 most expensive motorcycle list, and we're predicting that it will be there for quite some time.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum. The Captain America Chopper will now sit atop our Top 100 most expensive motorcycle list, and we're predicting that it will be there for quite some time.
View 20 Images
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
1/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum. The Captain America Chopper will now sit atop our Top 100 most expensive motorcycle list, and we're predicting that it will be there for quite some time.
2/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum. The Captain America Chopper will now sit atop our Top 100 most expensive motorcycle list, and we're predicting that it will be there for quite some time.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
3/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
4/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
5/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
6/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
7/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
8/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
9/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
10/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
11/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
12/20
The Captain America machine has spent quite some time on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa and this image is courtesy of the museum.
13/20
14/20
15/20
16/20
17/20
18/20
Prior to the auction several statements were read authenticating that the bike to be sold was indeed the sole remaining Captain America machine actually ridden in the film, (see our prior story for discussion) and bidding for the bike got away briskly with a US$1,000,000 bid, quickly escalating in $25,000 increments before slowing at US$1.3 million.
19/20
Prior to the auction several statements were read authenticating that the bike to be sold was indeed the sole remaining Captain America machine actually ridden in the film, (see our prior story for discussion) and bidding for the bike got away briskly with a US$1,000,000 bid, quickly escalating in $25,000 increments before slowing at US$1.3 million.
The hammer finally fell at US$1.35 million, setting a record we believe will stand for some time. For full details of the Top 100 most expensive motorcycles ever sold at auction, see our analysis of the top 100, our article on why we believe the motorcycle market is currently undervalued, and the top 100 listing.
20/20
The hammer finally fell at US$1.35 million, setting a record we believe will stand for some time. For full details of the Top 100 most expensive motorcycles ever sold at auction, see our analysis of the top 100, our article on why we believe the motorcycle market is currently undervalued, and the top 100 listing.
View gallery - 20 images

The Harley Panhead Chopper ridden by Peter Fonda in the 1969 "road movie" Easy Rider sold today for US$1.35 million ($1.62 million including auction fees), more than doubling the price of the previous most expensive motorcycle ever sold at auction (a 1910 Winchester) and eclipsing the price of the most expensive motorcycle ever sold (the US$1 million "Bathing Suit" Vincent Black Shadow).

The Captain America Chopper will now sit atop our Top 100 most expensive motorcycle list, and we're predicting that it will be there for quite some time.

Prior to the auction several statements were read authenticating that the bike to be sold was indeed the sole remaining Captain America machine actually ridden in the film, (see our prior story for discussion) and bidding for the bike got away briskly with a US$1,000,000 bid, quickly escalating in $25,000 increments before slowing at US$1.3 million.

Prior to the auction several statements were read authenticating that the bike to be sold was indeed the sole remaining Captain America machine actually ridden in the film, (see our prior story for discussion) and bidding for the bike got away briskly with a US$1,000,000 bid, quickly escalating in $25,000 increments before slowing at US$1.3 million.
Prior to the auction several statements were read authenticating that the bike to be sold was indeed the sole remaining Captain America machine actually ridden in the film, (see our prior story for discussion) and bidding for the bike got away briskly with a US$1,000,000 bid, quickly escalating in $25,000 increments before slowing at US$1.3 million.

The hammer finally fell at US$1.35 million, setting a record we believe will stand for some time. For full details of the Top 100 most expensive motorcycles ever sold at auction, see our analysis of the top 100, our article on why we believe the motorcycle market is currently undervalued, and the top 100 listing.

The hammer finally fell at US$1.35 million, setting a record we believe will stand for some time. For full details of the Top 100 most expensive motorcycles ever sold at auction, see our analysis of the top 100, our article on why we believe the motorcycle market is currently undervalued, and the top 100 listing.
The hammer finally fell at US$1.35 million, setting a record we believe will stand for some time. For full details of the Top 100 most expensive motorcycles ever sold at auction, see our analysis of the top 100, our article on why we believe the motorcycle market is currently undervalued, and the top 100 listing.

View gallery - 20 images

Tags

CollectiblesAuction
3 comments
Mike Hanlon
Mike Hanlon
As a photojournalist, Mike’s work has been published in a dozen languages across 20+ countries. He has edited or managed over 75 different print publications, each with a different target audience: sports, automotive, advertising, marketing, design, ad infinitum. Mike has been working in the internet for more than 25 years and was the veteran of five internet start-ups before founding New Atlas in 2002.

Most Viewed

Load More
3 comments
Nelson Hyde Chick
Wow, talk about having more money than common sense. It is just sad there are people with enough disposable income that they can buy this piece of crap.
wahip
More evidence that wealth has little relation to intelligence or taste.
nutcase
Theatrical props command prices according to the success of the production, just like the actors. Like all collectibles, the story sells the junk. The bits of cotton wool Marlon Brando stuffed in his mouth to make his jowls look more menacing in "The Godfather" are probably worth just as much.