Mecum 2016 Motorcycle Auction

WZ507 · Nov 28, 2015

It's that time of year again. Hit the link below and for the search fields select "Las Vegas Motorcycle 2016 - 1/2016" for the Auction, and for the Make enter "Norton", and you should see the 14 lots presently listed.

https://www.mecum.com/search.cfm

bwolfie · Nov 28, 2015

The Alaverda is listed, https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail/LV0116 ... da-Custom/

grandpaul · Nov 29, 2015

bwolfie said:
The Alaverda is listed, https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail/LV0116 ... da-Custom/

That thing ranks in my top 5 all-time (Britton has been #1 since the moment I saw it)

jerrykap · Nov 30, 2015

Hi all,

Once again, I'll be at the Mecum Auction in Vegas. I'm willing to check out any bike you may be interested in, all you have to do is ask.

The Alaverda failed to fetch 30K (reserve) at the August Mecum Auction in Monterey and that's probably not going to happen again in Vegas? But you never know.

C-ya, Jer

grandpaul · Dec 1, 2015

jerrykap said:
The Alaverda failed to fetch 30K (reserve) at the August Mecum Auction in Monterey and that's probably not going to happen again in Vegas? But you never know.

Vegas auction (when it was only Mid America) used to fetch significantly higher prices across the board, than any other motorcycle auction in the 'states. People used to buy at Deland in Florida, then hold them till the following year and sell in Vegas. The profits would easily pay for storage, transport & a little bit of wining & dining in a nice hotel.

speirmoor · Dec 1, 2015

is it possible to do this and Bonhams on the same day Jan 7 or do you have to pick one or the other?

grandpaul · Dec 1, 2015

speirmoor said:
is it possible to do this and Bonhams on the same day Jan 7 or do you have to pick one or the other?

The bike has to be present on the auction floor when it's turn comes up, as well as certain requirements for pre-viewing (the two auctions have different rules)

I would think you more or less have to pick one or the other.

ABSOLUTELY STUPID that they'd pick the same bloody weekend for thier auctions; you'd think it was AMA and AHRMA or something...

jerrykap · Dec 29, 2015

speirmoor,

Definitely possible to do both. I've done it that way for several years now.

Bonham's is gracious enough to have arranged their start time around 11am on Thurs. 1/7. They go pretty fast but it can drag a bit at the end and cause a slight overlap with the Mecum start time on Thurs. evening. But, this year, Mecum has revived the dinner auction on Thurs. evening and they usually begin with posters, memorabilia, etc. before moving on to bikes. So you won't miss much if you stay late at Bonham's at Bally's. Depends on what kind of transportation you have access to while there but I think it takes about a 1/2 hour to get down to the Southpoint for the Mecum auction.

Bonham's is only Thurs. afternoon and Mecums is Thurs. evening and all day Fri. & Sat. So by all means do them both. The contrast between the 2 formats is dramatic and says a lot about the character of the English version compared to the American. This time of the year it's the best motorbike fix available.

Happy New Year, see you in Vegas.

Jerry,

PS I often leave my calling card on the Norton's I find there.

speirmoor said:
is it possible to do this and Bonhams on the same day Jan 7 or do you have to pick one or the other?

speirmoor · Dec 31, 2015

Thanks Jerry great info. I must plan better and make this trip sometime.

JimNorton · Jan 18, 2016

Re: Mecum 2016 Motorcycle Auction Norton N15

S31 1969 Norton N15CS From Allen Smith's Australian Collection Las Vegas, NV$6,250
(actually sold for $6300 plus a 10% commission so almost $7K)

I took a look at this N 15CS which initially did not sell at auction but at the "Bid Goes On" coral.
Almost bit on it until a young man who owned a N 15CS knew what to look for. Wish I knew his name to thank him.
(I believe you are on the Access Norton site. Would love to have you comment.)
It was a very nice "looking" N15 CS but unfortunately had some glaring discrepancies.
1. It had no frame number or was very covered up.
2. More glaring was the engine number which was 88119. Completely missing the N15CS/ before the
serial number plus it was only five numbers instead of six. Maybe someone can tell me what I was looking at.

We told the young man who bought the bike of the discrepancies but bought it as a "rider" but I still think he thought he was getting
the real deal instead of what I would call a replica bike. Maybe someone can correct me.
In full disclosure I talked to Allen Smith and he was honestly not aware of the discrepancy, saying he bought the bike I believe in
2005 in St Louis. Bike built in 1968 titled in 1969. Maybe someone knows the history of this bike.

Bottom line if you see a N 15CS show up on E-bay ask to see numbers or you may be buying a replica bike.

J. Church

jerrykap · Jan 20, 2016

Re: Mecum 2016 Motorcycle Auction Norton N15

Jim Norton,

I too looked at this bike closely, probably at the same time you did Jim? It was after it didn't make reserve and was parked in the 'Bid Goes On" area. I brought a friend of mine over to view it as it was quite a good buy and represented great value.

While there, I was told by another bike nut that he had just made an offer on it (accepted too) and my friend didn't know enough about the model to really want to own it, other than I told him it was worth the money.

We knew about the discrepancies, but it was my opinion at that time and it still is, a bike finished to that level is worth the money as a vintage bike you could show, ride and enjoy. Both of your points 1 and 2 have no bearing on using and enjoying the bike as is. It only has meaning to it's long term value as a collectable Yes, one should know everything possible about the vintage bike that they buy, but if you lust after one of these right here and right now, presented in tip top shape...go ahead and pull the trigger. Life is too short to worry about all the small stuff.

I wish I had some photos of that particular N15. It can be seen in pretty good detail on the Mecum website under Vegas results. If you'd like to see some of my Vegas auction photos, both Bonhams and Mecums, look here: https://mymotolife.shutterfly.com/7812

C-ya, Jer
Davis, CA

JimNorton said:
S31 1969 Norton N15CS From Allen Smith's Australian Collection Las Vegas, NV$6,250
(actually sold for $6300 plus a 10% commission so almost $7K)

I took a look at this N 15CS which initially did not sell at auction but at the "Bid Goes On" coral.
Almost bit on it until a young man who owned a N 15CS knew what to look for. Wish I knew his name to thank him.
(I believe you are on the Access Norton site. Would love to have you comment.)
It was a very nice "looking" N15 CS but unfortunately had some glaring discrepancies.
1. It had no frame number or was very covered up.
2. More glaring was the engine number which was 88119. Completely missing the N15CS/ before the
serial number plus it was only five numbers instead of six. Maybe someone can tell me what I was looking at.

We told the young man who bought the bike of the discrepancies but bought it as a "rider" but I still think he thought he was getting
the real deal instead of what I would call a replica bike. Maybe someone can correct me.
In full disclosure I talked to Allen Smith and he was honestly not aware of the discrepancy, saying he bought the bike I believe in
2005 in St Louis. Bike built in 1968 titled in 1969. Maybe someone knows the history of this bike.

Bottom line if you see a N 15CS show up on E-bay ask to see numbers or you may be buying a replica bike.

J. Church

BillT · Jan 20, 2016

The N15CS was built between 1963 and 1968, so would have serial numbers between around 107000 and 125000. The early N15s (1963) were stamped G15CS/10xxxx 'N'. From early '64-on, they were stamped N15CS/1xxxxx. It is not uncommon for an N15 to be stamped G15CS and visa versa, especially for a late model (1966-on), as the only difference between a Matchless and Norton Scrambler was the badges on the tank, and it is common lore that dealers would put the badge on the tank that the buyer wanted.

Serial for an N15 or Gi5 frame would be on the head stock, and would only be the six sequential numbers - no letters - 1xxxxx in a vertical line like this:
1
1
7
1
0
5

The frame is essentially the same frame used on the Matchless G12/G15/G80 of the early '60s, and also the AJS 31/33/18 models, so a homebuilt hybrid is quite possible.

Engine 88119 should be about a 1960 Dominator motor - probably 600cc

AZMatt · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Mecum 2016 Motorcycle Auction Norton N15

[/quote]

JimNorton said:
S31 1969 Norton N15CS From Allen Smith's Australian Collection Las Vegas, NV$6,250
(actually sold for $6300 plus a 10% commission so almost $7K)

I took a look at this N 15CS which initially did not sell at auction but at the "Bid Goes On" coral.
Almost bit on it until a young man who owned a N 15CS knew what to look for. Wish I knew his name to thank him.
(I believe you are on the Access Norton site. Would love to have you comment.)

I'm the "young man" that you talked to about the bike. I'm 26 (I'm guessing thats young on here) and have a 69 N15cs. Mine is one of the latest ones made. I learned tons about them while restoring mine from this website. Great group of people on here with tons of knowledge. Glad I was able to help show you some of the minor issues with it. Overall it was a nice rider at a good price.

Matt

JimNorton · Jan 27, 2016

Thanks Matt:
"Young" yes, wish I was 26 again. You have a lot of knowledge for your age. We need more young people interested in these
old british bikes. As you saw at the auction most people who buy wanted these bikes when they were your age and now that
they can afford them they are trying to relive their youth. Thanks for helping me at the auction,I learned a lot from you.
I have a P-11 and a P-11 Ranger so I thought the N15 would be a nice addition. As you said the bike is
a "rider" and maybe that's the price they go for. Just don't want to see it flogged as the real deal when it's not.
Still not sure what this bike was put together with. In my book for what it's worth, it's just a replica bike that maybe
"small stuff" as C-ya Jer says but why not buy the real thing.

Jim Church

Mecum 2016 Motorcycle Auction

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