Post Sale Update: After 21 bids on eBay, this Douglas sold for $4,301. 3-5-2018 Update: Looks like the sale in November did not go through as this Douglas is back up for sale by the new owner. The listing now calls it a 1949 model (instead of the ’48 as originally described) but it otherwise seems to be the same. …
1 of 10 – 1921 Megola Touring 640cc
Megolas are fascinating for many reasons, but the obvious one is the 640cc 5-cylinder radial engine built into the front wheel. Yet, that’s somehow not even the craziest thing about this powertrain. It has only one gear, and no clutch. So you either had to bump start it or get the front wheel spinning with the bike on the center …
Ner-A-Project – 1922 Ner-A-Car Barn Find
Post Sale Update: This Ner-A-Car sold for $20,100.01 after 18 bids on eBay. Designed by Carl Neracher in 1918, the Ner-A-Car was sold as a cheap automobile alternative. Approximately 10,000 were built and sold in the US, and another 6,500 were built and sold in England under license. The step-through design and bodywork kept riders clean, allowing them to wear …
Early Side Valve – 1932 Norton Big Four
Norton’s Big Four was the first motorcycle it produced with an engine that was developed and manufactured in-house. Production began in 1907 and would ultimately continue until 1954 when Norton would cease production on all of its side valve scoots. Various changes in displacement and hardware would occur over the years – continuous production would go on despite the Great …
1932 Raleigh MH32
Post Listing Update: This MH32 did not meet reserve with 1 bid up to $20,000 on eBay. According to the seller, this is the only Raleigh MH32 in the US. It was restored by Revival Cycles over 6 years at a claimed cost of over $36,000. Afterwards, the bike was shown at the Handbuilt Motorcycle Show and the Harvest Classic.
1939 DKW Diamant
Post Listing Update: This vintage DKW did not get any interest at the asking price of $2,950. In Sweden, the most popular early motorcycle was the DKW-powered Diamant. This example was originally built and sold in 1939 but due to World War II it wasn’t registered until 1946. Over 70 years later, it’s still running and rocking the original paint …
First Husky Two Stroke – 1939 Husqvarna Model 301
Post Sale Update: This Husky sold for the BIN of $5,695. Here’s a good way to confuse your riding buddies – tell them you’re about to buy a two-stroke Husky and then show up with this! Here’s a Model 301, also known as the Ornen (which translates to “Eagle”). It was Husky’s first two-stroke motorcycle.
Inclined Depression-Era Brit – 1931 Triumph WO
1931 was a pretty significant year for the British motorcycle history. Ariel debuted its legendary Square Four (designed by Edward Turner), Britain issued its first Highway Code laws, and it was an even bigger year for Triumph who introduced an array of new offerings that brought the number of total models offered in the 1931 motorcycle range up to ten. …
Early American – 1911 Yale Single
Post Listing Update: This Yale did not meet reserve despite 48 bids up to $25,368.13 (BIN was $36,500). 10-12-17 Update: This bike did not sell on Craigslist so now it’s up on eBay and we can see what the market thinks of it. Bidding is currently up to $24,100 with the reserve not yet met here on eBay. 10-12-17 Bonus …
Original Paint – 1913 Flying Merkel
Post Listing Update: Despite a hefty 128 bids up to $89,999, this Flying Merkel did not meet reserve. Built between 1911 and 1915, the Flying Merkel is one of the most iconic American motorcycles of all time. The brand actually started back in 1902 as a bicycle builder, but a year later the founder (Joseph Merkel) started slapping single-cylinder motors …
1937 Tornax K20
Over a 29-year history of motorcycle production between the 20s and the 50s, the German firm Tornax built about 50,000 bikes. One of them was the K20, which was introduced in 1936.
Keystone Framed Factory Hillclimber – 1923 Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam
Hillclimbers are some of the most interesting historically significant motorcycles out there. As high-dollar auctions like Bonham’s and Mecum have demonstrated, the right hillclimber in good condition can be worth a literal fortune. One of my favorites is the 1928 Excelsior Big Bertha Hillclimber that sold at a Vegas Mecum auction earlier this year for $117,500. This 1923 H-D Twin-Cam …
In Belgium – 1913 Indian Board Track Racer
Board Track racers are fascinating machines for a myriad of reasons. For starters they’re pretty much uniquely American – which is an increasingly rare feat in the two-wheeled racing world – they possess an undeniable historical significance and they flat out exude an old-school cool and simplicity to them. This beautiful four-valve (two for each of its two cylinders) Factory …
In Australia – 1898 De Dion Bouton 1 3/4hp Tricycle
Post Listing Update: This DDB did not meet reserve with 40 bids up to $36,322. Based on that price point, the seller has relisted the bike with an opening ask of…$99,500. So if you didn’t want it at less than $40k and instead wanted to spend over twice as much, you can now find it here on eBay. After a …
Big Twin Custom – 1931 Harley-Davidson VL
Post Sale Update: This custom VL sold for $22,000 after 25 bids on eBay. This beautiful VL is currently setup as a flat tracker but it’s titled/registered and it comes with everything needed to run it on the street as well. I really hope the next owner decides to go the street route, but I’ll love this bike either way.