We’ve chronicled numerous auctions through the years, giving us a front-row seat to among the rarest and most vital bikes on the planet going underneath the hammer. We revisit a few of our favorites.
There’s a singular electrical energy within the air at a high-end motorbike public sale. It’s a mixture of historical past, horsepower, and excessive stakes, the place legendary machines with unbelievable tales cross the block and discover new custodians. Right here at Bike EXIF, we’ve had the privilege of chronicling numerous auctions through the years, giving us a front-row seat as among the rarest and most vital bikes on the planet went underneath the hammer.
From record-breaking antiques and iconic American racers to jewel-like Grand Prix machines, the range is staggering. Every bike tells a singular story, and watching them promote is a reminder of the fervour that fuels this obsession of ours. Let’s revisit a few of our favourite bikes which have gone to public sale.
The Daytona-Profitable Honda CR750 Manufacturing facility Racer
The story of the Honda CR750 is pure racing drama. Born from the American importer’s want to take the brand new CB750 racing, the CR750 was Honda’s reluctant hero. The manufacturing facility developed over 200 new elements for the engine, together with magnesium crankcases, to create a 96 hp monster.
Rushed into service for the 1970 Daytona 200, 4 of those manufacturing facility racers have been handed to a workforce of world-class riders, together with the legendary Dick Mann.
Throughout apply, Mann’s mechanic, Bob Hansen, found vital flaws with the cam chain tensioner and increasing crankcases, forcing him to rebuild the race engine utilizing normal aluminum CB750 circumstances. After a heated argument within the pits the place he ignored the Japanese engineers’ recommendation, Hansen nursed a misfiring bike to a nail-biting 2-second victory with Mann on the helm. Hansen was fired the following day for his insubordination, however the win cemented the CR750 in motorsport historical past.
This scarce factory-built instance, initially shipped to Sweden in 1971, crossed the block at Mecum’s 2019 Las Vegas public sale. With impeccable provenance, its pre-auction estimate was a staggering $200,000 to $250,000; in the long run, it solely raised $143,000. [MORE]
The Report-Breaking 1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank
Every now and then, a motorbike crosses the block that utterly resets the market. This 1908 Harley-Davidson “Strap Tank” did simply that. So-called as a result of its gas and oil tanks are held to the bicycle-like body with nickel straps, it’s one of many oldest and most authentic surviving Harleys in existence.
Found by a collector in 1941 and saved for 66 years, this motorbike’s unbelievable situation and well-documented historical past made it a once-in-a-lifetime alternative for critical collectors. Whereas fewer than a dozen are identified to exist, this instance is taken into account probably the most right, retaining its authentic tank, wheels, engine belt pulley, and seat cowl after 115 years.
When the gavel fell at Mecum’s 2023 Las Vegas public sale, it didn’t simply meet expectations; it shattered them. The bike bought for a jaw-dropping $850,000, making it the most costly motorbike ever bought at a Mecum public sale. And after we posted the unique public sale story right here, it melted our servers. [MORE]
The Legendary 1972 Harley-Davidson XRTT Street Racer
Born throughout the tumultuous AMF period, and ridden by legends like Cal Rayborn and Mark Brelsford, these bikes have been a thundering sight on the monitor. With solely 15 to 25 examples ever constructed, the XRTT is an extremely uncommon and fascinating piece of Harley-Davidson’s racing historical past.
This gorgeous 1972 mannequin, that includes an engine rebuilt by marque knowledgeable Carl Patrick, appeared at Mecum’s Las Vegas public sale in January 2025. Whereas no particular competitors historical past was identified, its immaculate, better-than-new restoration was plain. The pre-auction estimate was within the excessive $40,000 vary; nevertheless, it far surpassed expectations, promoting for $93,500. [MORE]
The Beautiful 1957 Mondial 250 Bialbero Grand Prix
This 1957 Mondial 250 is a rolling sculpture and a relic from an period of limitless aerodynamic creativity in Grand Prix racing. With its dramatic, absolutely enclosed aluminum dustbin fairing and DOHC engine, it was a top-tier machine from what was as soon as the most important motorbike producer on the planet. Simply seven of those 250 cc Bialbero twin-cam racers have been ever constructed.
This particular bike, numbered 250-1, is strongly believed to be the one ridden by Tarquinio Provini to second place within the 1957 Grand Prix World Championship.
Following a meticulous restoration by a few of Italy’s finest, it took Better of Present on the 2017 Quail Bike Gathering. This impeccable provenance was mirrored in its $165,000 sale worth within the Mecum Las Vegas public sale in 2024, supporting its pre-sale valuation of $160,000 to $190,000. [MORE]
The Unrestored 1974 Ducati 750SS ‘Inexperienced Body’
The 1974 Ducati 750SS is a legend. A barely homologated model of the Desmo L-twin that received the 1972 Imola 200, the ‘inexperienced body’ is arguably probably the most important Ducatis ever constructed. With its fiberglass tank, unfiltered Dell’Orto carbs, and Conti megaphones, it was a uncooked, uncompromising race bike for the road, with simply 401 examples produced.
Whereas pristine examples can fetch over $200,000, this unrestored 1974 mannequin provided one thing totally different: stark originality. Displaying simply over 5,000 km on its odometer and as soon as owned by cannonball legend ‘Gradual Joe’ Gardella, it was a real time capsule.
When it crossed the block at no reserve throughout Mecum’s 2025 Las Vegas sale, it captured the hearts of collectors who worth patina over polish. The bike bought for a powerful $198,000. [MORE]
The B.O.T.T. 1983 Harley-Davidson XR1000
The XR1000 was Harley’s try to offer the general public a road bike with the flavour of the all-conquering XR750 flat tracker. Whereas it was basically a Sportster with XR-style heads and twin Dell’Orto carbs, the bike actually shone on the racetrack within the Battle of the Twins (B.O.T.T.) sequence, the place big-bore American and European V-twins battled for supremacy.
This explicit XR1000 is not any road bike; it is a real B.O.T.T. racer with documented competitors historical past. Raced from 1983 to 1986 by Rick Ranno, it was later bought to Sweden and raced by champion Posa Serenius.
Restored to its authentic Ranno’s V-Twins Cycle Store livery, this uncommon racer represents a pivotal second in American street racing historical past. It was a featured lot on the 2023 Mecum Glendale public sale, promoting for $21,450. [MORE]
The Streamlined 1954 NSU Sportmax
With its large silver-bullet fairing, this 1954 NSU Sportmax is evocative of the streamlined Auto Union and Mercedes race automobiles of a bygone period. For a few years, NSU—not BMW—was the king of German motorbike manufacturing, and within the Nineteen Fifties, they have been the most important motorbike builder on the planet. The Sportmax was the privateer model of the manufacturing facility’s dominant Racemax GP bikes, ridden by legends like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood.
This explicit bike, hailing from the famend John Parham assortment, is listed as a duplicate, making it an accessible entry level into the world of classic GP racers. The streamlined dustbin fairings have been finally banned from racing because of points with crosswinds, making bikes like this an enchanting snapshot of racing historical past.
It was provided at Mecum’s 2023 public sale of the Parham property, with a really approachable estimate of $6,000 to $7,200. Nonetheless, it outpaced estimates, promoting for $10,000. [MORE]
The Charming 1950 Cushman Mannequin 62 ‘Turtleback’
From the wildly advanced to the superbly easy, this Cushman Mannequin 62 is an icon of a unique kind. As a interval competitor to Vespa and Lambretta, the ‘Turtleback’ was a slice of quintessential Americana. With a humble 221 cc single-cylinder side-valve engine producing a modest 4.8 hp, it was designed as low cost, dependable transport for post-war America. The model grew to become a family title after supplying ‘Parascooters’ to airborne troops throughout WWII.
This 1950 mannequin is a real survivor, proudly carrying its authentic ‘Speedy Supply, Quick Service’ livery and a lifetime of patina. Unrestored however with a working engine, it represents a tangible piece of American historical past.
It went underneath the hammer at Mecum’s 2020 public sale, the place it proved that character would not should break the bank. The successful bid was a refreshingly accessible $2,200. [MORE]
Your Flip to Make Historical past
Reflecting on these unbelievable machines reveals the richness and fervour of the motorbike neighborhood. Every bike started as somebody’s concept—now, they’re legends. Wish to begin your individual legacy? Head to Bike EXIF Auctions.
Whether or not you are looking for the proper donor bike to your subsequent construct or you will have a high-quality customized machine prepared for a brand new residence, our public sale platform connects you with a worldwide viewers of significant fans and collectors. Try our present listings or think about auctioning your individual bike—who is aware of, maybe it may make historical past.
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