LAS VEGAS 2014: THE RECAP

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The first shocker of the week; a factory mis-match, original-paint 1940 Harley EL Knucklehead fetched $159k at Bonhams

There are several de facto motorcycle conventions around the world, but none quite like the annual Las Vegas motorcycle auction week in early January.  There isn't a swap meet or evening entertainment, not a banquet or panel discussion or even art show, although elements of all these can be found at Vegas.  The focus is the auctions, even though hundreds of people arrive with no intention of bidding on anything, content to meet friends from distant places.  Some buy bikes they weren't expecting, some take home bikes they expected to sell...such is the unpredictable mystery of the auction process.

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Hello handsome!  Tight quarters at Bonhams as the crowd filled up walkways and every seat was taken.

What can we glean from this year's auctions?  The #1 trend I spotted this year was a solidification of prices for up-and-coming bikes, some of which have now truly entered the big time...and I'm talking about Harley Knuckleheads.  A world record price was set for an H-D EL at Bonhams on Thursday, when an unusual original-paint 1940 Knuck, with a factory mismatch of paint scheme, engine, gearbox, forks, and other parts sold for $159k.

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A few of the Silverman Museum Ducatis; green-frame 750SS, a pair of F1s, and a round-case 750Sport

Two days later, this record was broken at the Mecum/MidAmerica auction, when an essentially perfect 1936 Knucklehead - the coveted first-year model - from the George Pardos collection sold for $165k.  Both of these prices are double what the best Knucks typically fetch, and will certainly thrill those who already have them in their garages...and bring despair to those who'd love to own a 'Knuck'.  Fear not, there are too many EL's out there for them all to become financially unreachable ...just don't count on adding a '36 to your collection cheaply.  And anyway, they're still a heck of a lot cheaper than a Crocker.

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King of the Knucks.  George Pardos' 1936 first-year, perfect EL Knucklehead fetched $165k

There were no 'Top 20' additions from Vegas, but a total of 15 motorcycles sold at or above the $100k mark, and their variety is instructive.  In descending order, the top prices: #1 was a fine and very rare example of Harley's first ever V-twin, a 1911 Model 7D Twin from the Pardos collection, which fetched $260k.  Next in line was an equally rare BMW R37, the factory's first OHV sports machine from 1925, which sold for $200k.  A zero-mile 1978 Ducati NCR racer from the Silverman Museum sold for $175k, and an immaculate first-year '36 Harley EL Knucklehead from the Pardos collection made $165k.  The factory mismatch 1940 original-paint EL made $159k,  while a restored '74 Ducati 750SS hit $137k. The magic names of Steve McQueen and Von Dutch shot an Indian Chief and sidecar to $126k, and a BMW RS54 Rennsport racer sold for $126k, while a Vincent Black Prince went for $125k.

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It's about the people you meet.  Shinya Kimura and Ayu with a Von Dutch-painted Triumph TR5

If you had $100,000 and needed to spend it all, you could have purchased a 1938 Brough Superior SS80, an ex-Works racing '72 BSA/Triumph triple in a Rob North frame, several antique Harleys from the Pardos collection (a JDH twin-cam, and a 1914 and '15 twin), a 1951 Vincent Series C Black Shadow, and a 1909 Harley single-cylinder.

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Asking $100k, getting $95k, but after the fees, it's all the same.  A 1938 Brough Superior SS80 with Matchless MX sidevalve engine, nicely restored.

The Silverman Museum collection of Ducatis made an amazing impression at Bonhams, but included only the twin-cylinder Ducs from the museum; the singles will be auctioned off later, undoubtedly with a few of the unsold twins.  While the lineup was impressive, few Ducatis have reached into $100k+ territory, and fewer still above that (a pair of ex-factory racers inhabit my 'Top 20'); even fairly rare production and road racers are still relatively affordable.

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On display, an ex-Evel Knievel Harley Sportster

2014 was the year of the Harley at Las Vegas; it seemed of all marques present that H-D generally had the strongest sales and the highest prices... a result skewed by the inclusion of the George Pardos collection of 'first-year' models, which came to Vegas in a bunch.  They represented one man's 20-year effort to create a collection with a very particular focus... an extremely rare situation!  Very few collectors bring such discipline and clarity of intention to their motorcycle habit.  The rest of us buy whatever seduces us...

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Mark Upham, Conrad Leach, and Jared Zaugg confer

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Six is better than four is better than three is better than...

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The Ducati 750SS which sold for $137,000 at Bonhams

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Breathing room of a 250cc Aermacchi two-stroke racer

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An ex-Team Obsolete AJS 7R, complete with spares kit

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A much-discussed BMW /2 chopper - $3500 takes it!

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One of a pair of BMW RS54 Rennsports at Bonhams

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Pushing the Brough amid the gaudy lights of Vegas

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The all carbon-fiber Brough Superior racer

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Filmmaker Bryan Carroll discusses his novel distribution strategy for his film 'Why We Ride'

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The local high school football teams helped out with pushing duties at MidAmerica/Mecum, here with a BSA A65 sidecar racer which sold for $7000.  Must be present to win!

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Chris Carter explains the kickstart mechanism of his lollipop-shiny 1911ish New Era

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A rare 500cc Cotton-JAP roadster from the mid-30s

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Jeff Decker's long-in-the-making sculpture of TE Lawrence aboard his SS100 Brough

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Fantastic T-shirt spotting at Vegas

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Wanna buy a Duc?

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Yoshi Kosaka with Evel

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Mike Fitzsimons, who recently sold Brough Superior SS100 Serial #1 for an undisclosed sum...

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Sid Chantland enjoys his purchase of a rare movie poster

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Gordon McCall gets the lowdown on a BSA Gold Star DBD34 from Barry Porter

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A rare Grindlay Peerless with Rudge Python engine

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George Hamilton as Evel Knievel, and Sue 'Lolita' Lyon...what a pair

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In Jeff Deckerland....

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Jeff Decker explains his process in casting up bronze and stainless steel for his TE Lawrence project

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Jeff Decker's wax model of a single-cylinder Cyclone board track racer

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Authentic Harley KR750 dirt track racer

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A Laverda (or American Eagle) with fiberglass unibody - unique!

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Malcolm Barber of Bonhams discusses the 1950 Isle of Man TT winning Vincent Rapide

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The ex-Steve McQueen, restored by Von Dutch Indian 'big twin' Chief with Princess sidecar, which sold for $126k

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Triumph Metisse with aging fiberglass...

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Rare Nor-Vel; featherbed with KSS Velocette engine

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Hungarian Pannonia two-stroke with Flash Gordon sidecar

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I'm not a big fan of Japanese four-cylinder superbikes, but this Bimota SB2 was simply too outrageously 1970s to ignore

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Testa Rossa!

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Rob Ianucci of Team Obsolete, with an R7 AJS for sale from his collection

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A packed sale room at Bonhams

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Need a Salisbury scooter?  Need another?

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More great T-shirts!

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Just another Brough SS100 with JAP KTOR engine...

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If you need Steve McQueen's jacket from 'Bullit', Bonhams has you covered.

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TE Lawrence, as seen by Jeff Decker

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Triumph Tiger Cub flat-tracker with a lot of very trick parts...

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Serial #2 BSA/Triumph triple racer in a Rob North frame, sold for $95k

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Nifty Harley WR750 flat tracker with serious patina

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Team England support!