Las Vegas Motorcycle Auctions

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Las Vegas Nevada, motorcycle auctions; Mecum, January 22-26. Bonhams, January 26. Check out the listings online.

Charlie
 
I've heard idle chatter that classic bike prices are "down"; the results of these two auctions, s compared to recent years, will tell. (at least regarding the high end market)
 
Maybe they'll do for old bikes what they did for 60's-70's musclecars and triple the prices.
 
The boom, such as it has been, since 2008 is coming to an end shortly, Central banks have stopped QE and the Fed is pulling liquidity back out of the system by not renewing the bonds it bought on maturity. The smart money is in cash waiting for the next drop in asset prices to appear and then stabilise, the collections being sold now for good money are at peak prices, the emperor's clothes will be revealed at one of these auctions when most of the lots remain unsold.
 
...the collections being sold now for good money are at peak prices, the emperor's clothes will be revealed at one of these auctions when most of the lots remain unsold.
Good thing I no longer NEED to sell off my collection; I'm only doing so to simplify my life in retirement.

There will always be a buyer for a decent classic bike at a reasonable price.
 
If Bonhams Barber auction is an example of trends in prices they look to be down or leveling off. Of the 4 Nortons offered, the Dunstall didn't make reserve and the 3 Mark IIIs sold for $7000 or less and appeared to be pretty nice bikes. The big $ sellers were with McQueen provenance. Bonhams star offering, the Black Lightning didn't sell and is being offered in Vegas with a $100,000 less in their estimate. Maybe the Vegas buyers have bigger pockets or are more enthusiastic buyers than Barber's. Curious as to see the results.
 
A few years back my friend couldn't get any reasonable offer on his Gold Star. A local high end collector recommended the Mecum auction in Vegas. He got $8000 over his reserve so maybe the big spenders are in LV.
 
If Bonhams Barber auction is an example of trends in prices they look to be down or leveling off. Of the 4 Nortons offered, the Dunstall didn't make reserve and the 3 Mark IIIs sold for $7000 or less and appeared to be pretty nice bikes. The big $ sellers were with McQueen provenance. Bonhams star offering, the Black Lightning didn't sell and is being offered in Vegas with a $100,000 less in their estimate. Maybe the Vegas buyers have bigger pockets or are more enthusiastic buyers than Barber's. Curious as to see the results.
This year's auction at Barber was the first since I've been going. The Vegas auctions are singular events that have been well established, publicized on tv and attended by those with buying intentions. A lot of $ and bikes change hands at the Barber Swap meet and a Vegas auction doesn't have that to compete with. I saw several Vincents, Nortons and other desirable classics at the Swap Meet. Seems like the Barber auction was more of an attraction than an enterprise.
 
This year's auction at Barber was the first since I've been going. The Vegas auctions are singular events that have been well established, publicized on tv and attended by those with buying intentions. A lot of $ and bikes change hands at the Barber Swap meet and a Vegas auction doesn't have that to compete with. I saw several Vincents, Nortons and other desirable classics at the Swap Meet. Seems like the Barber auction was more of an attraction than an enterprise.
I've gone to Barber each of the last 8 years. Up untel 2017 there was always an auction but not a suit and tie, open bar, high end one like Banhams. J. Woods did them if I recall in a tent behind the swap meet. Nowhere near the the high end stuff that Bonhams had, even a basket case or two would be up for grabs. My guess is Bonhams won't be back at Barber 2019??? There were cases of auction books left over after the sale so I don't think they had the bidders they expected.
 
Yes that's right. I remember hearing of those now that you mention it. Never very much buzz or any big-ticket items.
 
Vegas was always the best for sellers, not sure how the 2nd auction moving in has affected that.

I was very disappointed at Barber in 2010 when I was forced to pay Mecum even though I sold my bike in my own pit, just because I had it pass unsold earlier that day. Never again.
 
My guess is that some of Mr. Barber's museum pieces have come from the Vegas auctions and they've done business deals to do auctions at Vintage Fest. It's also my guess you got caught up in some Vegas lawyers' ironclad contract. That's the kind of thing I was dancing around when I mentioned competition between the hoity-toit auction and the swap meet action. And you didn't even have to rent a spot in the swap meet to get snared.
 
Forbes Magazine says according to it's "Top 10 Motorcycles" (all Brough's and Vincent's), the classic bike market is up 4.75% over last year. Several of those making the list are nudging a million dollars in auction value.
 
Good thing I no longer NEED to sell off my collection; I'm only doing so to simplify my life in retirement.

There will always be a buyer for a decent classic bike at a reasonable price.

Whilst markets will always fluctuate I’m with GP in that there’ll always be an underlying demand.

The idea that when the ‘first generation’ owners die off, no one will want them doesn’t sound right to me.

I’m only 50, only two of my bikes are younger than me! And look at the interest in vintage / veteran stuff, it’s just getting stronger.
 
As for "first generation," that's where the timeless classics come in, the Broughs, Vincents, Crockers, Boardtrack Racers, championship winners, and then a few iconic Japanese, Italian and German models.
 
My guess is that some of Mr. Barber's museum pieces have come from the Vegas auctions and they've done business deals to do auctions at Vintage Fest. It's also my guess you got caught up in some Vegas lawyers' ironclad contract. That's the kind of thing I was dancing around when I mentioned competition between the hoity-toit auction and the swap meet action. And you didn't even have to rent a spot in the swap meet to get snared.
Brian Slark buys for Barbers at the Mecum Vegas auctions, he bought the Turbine bike they have there
 
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