Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction Nets $4.1 Million

Buyers spent $4.1 million on rare motorcycles at the inaugural Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction by Auctions America.

The auction, held Jan. 12-14 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, featured 490 motorcycles and other memorabilia. Bidders from across the country and around 10 countries took part, either on-site, over the telephone or on the Internet took part in the auction.

The top seller was a 1910 Flying Merkel, which went for $86,800. The belt-driven 1000cc motorcycle was a barn find, receiving a full mechanical and cosmetic restoration in 2011. The Flying Merkel was found 80% complete, with the wheel rims and spokes, fenders and handlebars replaced with newer parts.

Other high sellers include a 1964 ducati 250 F3 Corsa believed to have been ridden by four-time Grand Prix World Champion Walter Villa. It went for $81,200. A 1926 Cleveland Fowler, believed to have been owned by Steve McQueen and stuntman Bud Ekins (who performed the jump in “The Great Escape”) which sold for $76,160.

Also sold was a custom chopper from the collection of magician Criss Angel. The 2007 custom BeLIEve/MINDFREAK chopper was sold for $19,040 with proceeds, including the auction commission, going to Angel’s BeLIEve Anything Is Possible foundation, benefiting underprivileged children.

A number of other notable items received bids but did not sell, including a 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle (high bid of  $425,000), a 1928 Bough Superior SS 100 (high bid of $190,000) and a 1984 Honda RS500 race bike ridden by Ron Haslam, Reinhold Roth and Karl Truchsess.

[Source: Auctions America]

By Dennis Chung