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
Bonhams
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
Bonhams
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
Bonhams
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
Bonhams
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
Bonhams
$110,000 | 1923 Indian Chief with Princess sidecar
(Ex-Steve McQueen)
$109,250 | 1974 Ducati 750 SS
Somer Hooker
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
Bonhams
$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)
Bonhams
$82,800 | 1937 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead
Bonhams
$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
Bonhams
$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
$48,300 | 2008 Confederate Wraith B210
$47,300 | 1941 Indian Four
$47,300 | 1940 Indian Chief
$47,300 | 1951 Indian Chief
$46,750 | 1930 Ariel Square 4
$46,750 | 1915 Harley-Davidson 11F TWIN
$45,425 | 1916 Thor Twin
$45,100 | 1929 Indian 101 Scout
$45,100 | 1974 Ducati 750 S
$44,550 | 1949 Harley-Davidson Captain America Replica
$44,000 | 1976 Yamaha OW 72
(ex Kenny Roberts Snr)
$44,000 | 1919 Henderson Model Z
$43,700 | 1930 Montgomery JAP 750cc Sidevalve
$43,700 | 1925 Excelsior Super X
$42,550 | 1940 Indian Military Chief Model 340B
$42,550 | 1929 Excelsior Super X with sidecar
$41,800 | 1919 Harley-Davidson 19W Sports Twin
$41,400 | 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR
$41,250 | 1912 Indian Board Track Racer
$40,700 | 1953 MV Agusta Monoalbero Sport
$40,700 | 1914 Clyno 5-6 HP
$40,250 | 1973 Ducati 750 Works Endurance Racer
$40,250 | 1926 Nimbus 750 Model B
$39,600 | 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead EL
$39,600 | 1918 Harley-Davidson MODEL J
$39,600 | 1924 Indian Scout
$39,600 | 1964 Ducati OHC F3 Racer
$39,600 | 1918 Harley-Davidson L18T
$39,150 | 1914 Excelsior Model 7-C V-Twin
$39,100 | 1975 Ducati 750 SS
$38,500 | 1965 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
$38,500 | 1945 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead
$38,500 | 1915 Indian Twin
$38,500 | 1929 BMW R52
$38,850 | 1938 BMW R51RS Racer
$37,400 | 1948 Vincent Rapide
$37,400 | 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA Cutaway Display Model
Mecum
$36,300 | 1948 Harley-Davidson FL
$36,300 | 1912 Pope Single
$35,750 | 1956 FB Mondial Twin Cam F2 Racer
$35,700 | 1912 Thor Model U Twin
$35,650 | 1973 Ducati 750 Sport
$35,200 | 1940 Indian Chief Continental Army Vehicle
$35,200 | 1937 Harley-Davidson UL
$35,200 | 1918 Harley-Davidson F Model
$34,100 | 1937 Indian Jr. Scout
$33,350 | 1967 Velocette 500cc Venom Thruxton
$33,000 | 1938 Harley-Davidson W
$33,000 | 1960 BSA DBD34 Gold Star Clubman
$33,000 | 1971 BSA Rocket III
$33,000 | 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead
$33,000 | 1957 FB Mondial Super Sport Production Racer
$33,000 | 1935 Harley-Davidson VLD
$33,000 | 1951 Indian Chief
$32,200 | 1973 Ducati 750 Sport
$32,200 | 1971 Harley-Davidson XRTT Road Racer
$31,900 | 1936 Harley-Davidson VLH Flathead Police Bike
$31,050 | 1953 Indian Chief
$31,050 | 1919 Matchless Model H with sidecar
$30,800 | 1969 Honda CB750
$30,800 | 1938 BMW R66
$30,800 | 1947 Harley-Davidson TT Bobber
$30,800 | 1929 Harley-Davidson JD
$30,250 | 1963 BSA Rocket Gold Star
$30,250 | 1939 Triumph T100
$30,250 | 1936 Harley-Davidson VLH Flathead Police Bike
$29,700 | 1922 Harley-Davidson Model F
$29,700 | 1948 Harley-Davidson FL Panhead Springer
$29,700 | 1973 Triumph X75 Hurricane
$29,700 | 1947 Indian Chief Roadmaster with sidecar
$29,700 | 1940 Indian Sport Scout
$29,700 | 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA
$29,150 | 1949 Triumph TR5 Trophy
$29,150 | 1966 Velocette Thruxton
Somer Hooker
$28,750 | 1969 Velocette 500 Venom Thruxton
$28,600 | 1957 MV Agusta Squalo Formula Racer
$28,600 | 1953 Harley-Davidson KRM
$28,600 | 1967 BMW R69S
$28,600 | 1952 Triumph Thunderbird
$28,600 | 1949 Harley-Davidson F Head
$28,600 | 1940 Indian Scout
$28,175 | 1954 Vincent Series C Touring Comet 500
$28,050 | 1948 Indian Bonneville Chief
$27,500 | 1951 Triumph 6T Drag Bike
$27,500 | 1951 Norton International
$27,500 | 1935 Harley-Davidson Servi-Car GD
$27,500 | 2002 Matt Hotch Designs Pro Street Chopper
$27,500 | 1965 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide
$27,500 | 1918 Indian Powerplus Board Track Racer
$27,500 |1914 Cyclone 11/16 Replica
$27,500 | 1908 Thor Single
$27,500 | 1908 Marsh Metz
$26,450 | 2005 MV Agusta F4 1000 Tamburini
$26,400 | 1990 Honda RC30
$25,850 | 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR
$25,300 | 2012 Indian Larry Panhead Chopper
(ex Ewan McGregor)
$25,300 | 1974 Ducati 750GT
$25,300 | 1953 Moto Guzzi Falcone 500 Competizione
$25,300 | 1973 Triumph X75 Hurricane
$25,300 | 2001 Ducati MH 900 E - Mike Hailwood Replica
$25,300 | 1964 BMW R50/2
$25,300 | 1948 Harley-Davidson WL
$25,300 | 1961 BSA Gold Star 500 Catalina Scrambler
$25,300 | 1927 AJS Model 9 500
$24,725 | 1938 BMW R61 with Stoye Sidecar
$24,150 | 1978 Ducati 900 SS
$24,150 | 1971 Ducati Desmo 450
$23,575 | 1985 Yamaha RD500LC
$22,425 | 1954 MV Agusta 175 CSS Squalo Production Racer
$22,000 | 1949 Norton Manx Model 30
$21,850 | 1971 Norton Commando 750 Production Racer
$20,900 | 1978 Honda CBX 1000
$20,700 | 1929 Harley-Davidson DL Sport
$20,125 | 1970 Velocette Venom Thruxton 500
$19,550 | 1960 Harley-Davidson XLR Flat Tracker
$18,400 | 2001 Ducati MH900E
$18,400 | 1999 Harley-Davidson MT500 Military
$18,400 | 1970 Indian Velocette Venom 500
$18,400 | 1957 BMW R69
$18,400 | 1936 Norton International 30M 500
$18,150 | 1978 Yamaha TZ250
$17,825 | 1970 Rickman Triumph Metisse
$17,825 | 1935 Harley-Davidson VL Bobber
$16,675 | 1964 BMW R50/2
$16,100 | 1952 Harley-Davidson Model K
$13,800 | 1972 Dnepr 650 with sidecar
$12,100 | 1961 Honda C72-250 Dream
$9,375 | Ducati 750 Sport Cutaway Engine
