2011 Classic Motorcycle Auctions in Las Vegas

By Robert Smith
Published on April 8, 2011
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Sold: Restored 1964 Velocette Vogue, one of only 382 built, sold for $7,250 at the 2011 MidAmerica auction in Las Vegas.
Sold: Restored 1964 Velocette Vogue, one of only 382 built, sold for $7,250 at the 2011 MidAmerica auction in Las Vegas.
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Sold: Restored 1975 Honda 750 and 1974 Kawasaki 900 Rickman sold for $20,000 and $21,000, respectively.
Sold: Restored 1975 Honda 750 and 1974 Kawasaki 900 Rickman sold for $20,000 and $21,000, respectively.
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Sold/Unsold: Sympathetically used first year 1969 Norton Fastback fetched $5,700.
Sold/Unsold: Sympathetically used first year 1969 Norton Fastback fetched $5,700.
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No sale: $13,000 wasn’t enough to win this interesting 1956 MV Agusta Squalo 175 replica at MidAmerica.
No sale: $13,000 wasn’t enough to win this interesting 1956 MV Agusta Squalo 175 replica at MidAmerica.
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Original 1977 MV Agusta 850SS, one of 27, was a no-sale at $64,000.
Original 1977 MV Agusta 850SS, one of 27, was a no-sale at $64,000.
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Unsold: Restored, two owner from new factory red 1955 Vincent Rapide failed to sell at $66,000.
Unsold: Restored, two owner from new factory red 1955 Vincent Rapide failed to sell at $66,000.
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Unsold/Sold: Bidding for this restored 1913 Excelsior 7C stopped at $37,000.
Unsold/Sold: Bidding for this restored 1913 Excelsior 7C stopped at $37,000.
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Sold: $7,000 bought this older restoration 1967 BMW R50/2 at MidAmerica, including period Buco saddlebags.
Sold: $7,000 bought this older restoration 1967 BMW R50/2 at MidAmerica, including period Buco saddlebags.
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Sold: Very nice 4-year-old restoration 1913 Yale board tracker found a new home for $37,650 at MidAmerica.
Sold: Very nice 4-year-old restoration 1913 Yale board tracker found a new home for $37,650 at MidAmerica.
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Sold: Restored 1939 Triumph Tiger 100 went for $34,000 at MidAmerica.
Sold: Restored 1939 Triumph Tiger 100 went for $34,000 at MidAmerica.
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Unsold: Original, unraced 1994 Harley-Davidson VR1000, number 15 of 50, a no-sale at $64,000.
Unsold: Original, unraced 1994 Harley-Davidson VR1000, number 15 of 50, a no-sale at $64,000.
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Restored 1967 BSA Spitfire Mk III Special nabbed $11,500.
Restored 1967 BSA Spitfire Mk III Special nabbed $11,500.
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Sold: Restored 1929 Harley-Davidson JDH “Two-Cam” went for $56,000.
Sold: Restored 1929 Harley-Davidson JDH “Two-Cam” went for $56,000.
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Sold: Restored 1939 Brough Superior SS100 was top money maker at MidAmerica, fetching $240,000.
Sold: Restored 1939 Brough Superior SS100 was top money maker at MidAmerica, fetching $240,000.
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A very pretty 1958 Gilera Rossa Extra 175 found a new home for $6,000.
A very pretty 1958 Gilera Rossa Extra 175 found a new home for $6,000.
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Sold: Restored 1959 Mondial 98 Sport looked very nice, went to a new owner for $7,100.
Sold: Restored 1959 Mondial 98 Sport looked very nice, went to a new owner for $7,100.

Every January for the past 20 years, Las Vegas has played host to the world’s largest classic motorcycle auction as MidAmerica Auctions puts some 500 (mostly) classic and vintage motorcycles under the hammer. And for the first time, in 2011, auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields decided to join the party, adding another 200-plus classic bikes for sale.

To minimize conflict and overlap, Bonhams held their auction on Thursday afternoon, January 6, at the Imperial Palace, while MidAmerica commenced selling over dinner the same evening at the South Point, continuing into Friday and Saturday. In a pinch, and with a fast motorcycle, you could just about get to both. And you’d be glad you did.

Bonhams Vegas debut

Anchoring the Bonhams sale were the 53 Hondas from the Kenneth Klem collection, all offered with no reserve. The collection netted more than $94,000, for an average of around $1,700 a bike. Included in the collection were nine CB750s from 1970-1976, mostly in fair condition (though some missing stock mufflers) and selling for an average of $2,900, the older machines typically attracting more money. Bargains included a nice 1966 S90 sport that sold for $1,800, and a rare 1964 C55 step-through at just $650.

The top grossing lot was an original circa-1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, the world’s first production motorcycle, at $140,000, while a 1901 Indian F-head “camelback” single made $115,000 and the ex-Rody Rodenberg BMW R51RS racer from 1939 pulled $112,000. Other sales at $100,000-plus were an unrestored 1913 Flying Merkel and a 1929 ex-factory H-D Peashooter race bike.

There were some excellent deals for bargain hunters. Included in the Klem collection was a 1974 Yamaha TX750, unloved at the time (the oiling problems had been overcome by 1974) and now slowly becoming collectible. In overall nice original condition and with period saddle bags, the winning bid was just $1,100. Similarly, a beautifully restored British classic, a four-valve Rudge 250 Sports from 1935, made just $4,800.

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