An unprecedented number of motorcycles sold in Las Vegas this year and although many of the more fancied lots didn't sell, the strength of the marketplace was clearly evident by a 50 percent increase in turnover. What's more, the market appears to be moving upwards for motorcycles manufactured in the seventies and eighties due to new blood in the collector ranks.
The 2017 Las Vegas motorcycle auctions combined Mecum's four-day auction (January 25 to 28) with Bonhams' one day event on January 26 for a major kickstart to the collectible motorcycle year. More than 1000 collectible motorcycles changed hands over four days, which is enough data to identify a few trends that portend what will happen over the rest of the year. See our trends report from Las Vegas on movement in the collector motorcycle marketplace.
The following sales constitute the top 150 sales in Las Vegas with images and links to the official auction pages.
Note that Mecum, which sold the majority of the bikes in Las Vegas, cites the hammer price of each bike on its website, while Bonhams quotes the total price (including commissions) to the buyer. We think the total price paid is the right number to be looking at, so we have converted the Mecum prices to the total price for the purposes of this listing.
$539,000 | 1912 Henderson Four
A completely original, unrestored 115-year-old motorcycle. This 57 cubic inch (934 cc) F-head four-cylinder Henderson sold with both the original paint and the original tires.
$195,000 | 1914 Feilbach Limited 10HP V-twin
The top seller at Bonhams' Las Vegas auction this year could have gone to any number of motorcycles, but in the end none of the fancied bikes met reserve and this 1130 cc 1914 Feilbach Limited Twin took the honors. One of just a handful of Feilbach Limited v-twins extant, this example came from the Larry Bowman Collection. This was the last Feilbach made before the company was shuttered and was the personal motorcycle of company founder Arthur Feilbach.
$165,000 | 1913 Henderson Four
$150,000 | 1955 Vincent Series D Black Knight
The Black Knight is the rarest of the Series D Vincent V-twins produced in 1954 and 1955, though as an enclosed Rapide (the enclosed Shadow is known as the Black Prince), it is generally less celebrated and sought-after than its slightly faster royal brethren. Just the same, this Black Knight set a new record price for the model with this sale by achieving the highest ever price at auction of the 101 original Black Knights produced.
It also went to Vegas via a rather circuitous route, having been originally sold new to Cuba, before taking up residence in Pennsylvania for many years. The subject of an extensive restoration five years ago it hasn't covered many miles since and presented in Vegas in concours condition. It has also been "sorted" with a Black Shadow specification engine, Lightning-specification brakes and Works Performance suspension at both ends.
$140,250 | 1913 Henderson Four Deluxe
$135,000 | 1952 Vincent Series-C Black Shadow
A fully restored Black Shadow with an interesting history. The vendor won the bike in a raffle ten years ago at the 2007 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days weekend, with his ticket drawn by by Grand Marshal Jay Springsteen. The AMCA-award winning bike was sold with the same 3,669 miles it had on the clock when it was raffled.
$129,250 | 1928 Excelsior 'Big Bertha' Hillclimber
$121,000 | 1949 Vincent Black Shadow
This bike was the subject of a total restoration by the late Dick Busby, and was sold with less than 1000 miles on the clock since the restoration.
$112,125 | 1949 Vincent Series B Black Shadow
The first and rarest of the three Shadow series, with 76 Series B Shadows produced, compared to 1507 Series C machines and 144 Series D bikes. This 1949 Black Shadow is an older full restoration with matching numbers for engine, upper frame member and rear frame section, likewise the center cases are numbers-matching, all per Vincent Owners Club paperwork.
$112,125 | 1916 Henderson Four
$110,000 | 1923 Indian Chief with Princess sidecar
(Ex-Steve McQueen)
$109,250 | 1974 Ducati 750 SS
This was not the original Ducati, but it was the start of something big. When Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari finished 1-2 in the Imola 200 in 19XX, the Ducati v-twin legend was born and has been growing ever since. This was the highest priced Ducati of the week, fetching $109,250
$104,500| 1914 Flanders Model D
$104,500 | 1931 Henderson Four
$103,500 | 1955 Vincent Series D Black Prince
$100,100 | 1929 Cleveland Tornado
$99,000| 1928 Harley-Davidson JDH
$99,000 | 1941 Indian Four
$96,800 | 1929 Henderson Model K
$93,500 | 1931 Indian Four
$93,500 | 1938 Indian Model 438 Four
$93,500 | 1924 ACE Four
$93,500 | 1916 Reading Standard
$93,500 | 1917 Henderson Four
(Ex-Steve McQueen)
$88,000 | 1928 Harley-Davidson JDH Model 2
$85,250 | 1911 Harley-Davidson 7A
$82,800 | 1912 Harley-Davidson X8E Big Twin
(Ex-Steve McQueen)
$82,800 | 1937 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead
$82,500 | 1915 Flying Merkel V-Twin Racer
$82,500 | 1936 Indian Four
$78,375 | 1939 Indian Four
$77,000 | 1977 Suzuki 500 Works MX Racer
(United States Grand Prix winner - ex Gerrit Wolsink)
$77,000 | 1955 Vincent Series D Black Prince
$77,000 | 1928 Henderson K Deluxe Four
$72,600 | 1909 Pierce Four
$69,000 | 1937 Indian Sport Four
$68,750 | 1931 Henderson Four
$67,100 | 1939 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead EL
$66,550 | 1940 Indian Four
(Ex-Steve McQueen)
$66,125 | 1915 Harley-Davidson 11-F
$66,000 | 1910 CCM Lightweight
$66,000 | 1935 Indian Chief
(Ex-Steve McQueen)
$63,800 | 1929 BMW R63
$63,250 | 1949 Vincent Series C Black Shadow
$63,250 | 1919 Henderson Four
$63,250 | 1908 Comet
$60,500 | 1915 Harley-Davidson Board Track Racer
$60,500 | 1911 Indian Big Base 8-valve
$57,750 | 1911 Flying Merkel Single
$57,200 | 1931 BMW R16
$56,350 | 2010 Confederate P120 Fighter Black Flag
$55,200 | 1973 BSA Rob North Formula 750 Triple
$55,000 | 1941 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead
$55,000 | 1971 Triumph Trident Gene Romero Replica
$55,000 | 1914 Pope Model K (Ex-Steve McQueen)
$50,600 | 1937 Indian Chief
$49,500 | 1939 Indian Chief
$49,500 | 1915 Harley-Davidson Board Track Racer
$49,500 | 1916 Harley-Davidson Model J
$49,500 | 1938 Indian Chief
$49,500 | 1928 Harley-Davidson JD
$49,500 | 1950 Vincent Rapide
$48,400 | 1916 Harley-Davidson with sidecar
$48,400 | 1941 Indian Four
