This January’s Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction was a marathon five-day affair. The proceedings at the sprawling South Point hotel and casino began slowly on Tuesday, January 27th with the auctioneer rolling through a series of recently manufactured machines, many of them less then 30 years old. This and the next early day were filed with some bargains so unexpected, I actually experienced regret for not registering to bid. Fans of early 1990s Triumph triples could have brought home a clean, 40,000-mile Daytona Super III special edition for just $2,200 or a 1999 Thunderbird Sport, considered by may to be the best of the early three-cylinder roadsters, for a paltry $3,675. While these numbers are definitely low for such everyday rideable future classics, they reflect a trend at auctions featuring many high-dollar rarities and museum-quality motorcycles; few of the serious vehicle collectors who turn up or register to bid at auctions have any interest in actually riding motorcycles. Instead, as CRM contributor Blair Powell has famously observed, “the more roadworthy a motorcycle is, the less it seems anybody is willing to pay for it.”
In recent years, mid-20th century American motorcycles from Harley-Davidson and Indian have fairly dominated Mecum’s winter event as these sought-after V-twins have skyrocketed in value. But as with all classic vehicle trends, the ascendant bikes often find themselves in a veritable free-fall over time. Harley’s most desirable antique has long been the 61 cubic inch OHV knucklehead, demanding prices as high as $70,000 for fully restored models. This year, it was surprising to see several Knuckleheads gavel for around the $30,000 mark, including an absolutely stunning 1947 last-year EL that struggled to meet its reserve price before selling for a reasonable $31,900.
Indian motorcycles have also dropped from their previously prohibitive selling prices with a running 1947 Chief rolling out the door for $25,300. Blair attributes the dearth in massive bids for antique Indians to the aging of the fan base for these post-WWII motorcycles and a lack of both awareness and interest in- not to mention finances- older bikes by those under 40. “It’s a lot like you see in the classic hot rod car world where all these ‘55 and ‘57 Chevy’s that guys have invested nearly six figures in now having a hard time selling their cars for a quarter of what they put into them because so many Gen Z kids don’t even know what a ‘57 Chevy is or why it was so important,” he said.
We delve deeper into the jaw-dropping bargains and still skyrocketing prices paid for historic motorcycles at Mecum’s Vegas auction in Cafe Racer’s upcoming April/May issue, on sale April 10.
