How do we love thee?  Let us count the ways. The Vintagent’s ‘Top 100 Most Expensive Motorcycles’ is the definitive list. We’ve been keeping track of the top auction sales since 2006, and if you want editorializing on these prices, you’ll have to ask nicely – these are just the facts, ma’am. (Note: Price conversions represent the exchange rate on the day of sale)

Top 100 Most Expensive Motorcycles: 

Number 1:

 

1951 Vincent Black Lightning: $929,000
Jan 26, 2018, Las Vegas, Bonhams 

Number 2:

1915 Cyclone Board Track – $852,500
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum Auctions

Number 3:

1936 Crocker ‘Small Tank’ – $825,000
Aug. 2019, Monterey, Mecum

Tied for Number 4:

1907 Harley-Davidson ‘Strap Tank’ – $715,000
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Tied for Number 4:

1937 Crocker ‘Small Tank’ – $715,000
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 5:

1939 Crocker Big Tank – $704,000
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum Auctions

Number 6:

1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer – $551,200
July 2008, Monterey, MidAmerica

Number 7:

1940 Crocker Big Tank – $550,000
Indianapolis 2019, Mecum

Number 8:

1930 Brough Superior SS100 Ex-George Brough / ISDT – $542,500 / £416,250
Mar. 2019, National Motorcycle Museum, H&H

Number 9:

1929 Brough Superior ‘Alpine Grand Sports’ SS100 – £315,100 / $494,580
Nov. 2014, Bond St, Bonhams

Number 10:

1912 Henderson Four (original paint) – $490,000
Jan. 2017, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 11:

1931 Brough Superior-Austin ‘BS4’ 3-wheeler – £331,900 / $481,624
Apr. 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 12:

1939 BMW RS255 ‘Kompressor’ – $480,000 / £300,000
Jan. 2013, Las Vegas, Bonhams

Number 13:

1922 Brough Superior SS80 ‘Old Bill’ – £291,200 / $469,800
Oct. 2012, Duxford, H&H Auctions

Number 14:

1929 Brough Superior SS100 – £286,000 / $465,350
Oct. 2010, Sparkford, H&H Auctions

Number 15:

1926 Brough Superior SS100 ‘Alpine Grand Sports’ – £280,800 / $453,000
Oct. 2012, Battersea, RM Auctions

Number 16:

1951 Vincent ‘White’ Shadow – $434,000
Jan. 2016, Las Vegas, Bonhams

Number 17:

1939 Brough Superior SS100, ex-George Brough – £235,500 / $426,100
Apr. 2014, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 18:

1927 Harley-Davidson FHA 8-Valve racer – A$600,000 / $423,700
Sep. 2015, Melbourne, Shannons

Number 19:

1911 Flying Merkel board track racer – $423,500
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 20:

1937 Crocker Small Tank – $423,500
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 21:

1938 HRD-Vincent Series A Rapide – £275,900 / $417,000
Apr. 2015, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 22:

1946 AJS E90 ‘Porcupine’ – £293,250 / $406,200
June 2021, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 23:

1926 Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sports project – £259,100 / $400,000
Oct. 2015, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 24:

1934 Brough Superior SS100 ‘Two of Everything’ – £242,300 / $393,400
Apr. 2012, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 25:

1939 Vincent-HRD Series A Rapide – £275,900 / $374,160
Apr. 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 26:

1942 Crocker ‘Big Tank’ – $385,000
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 27:

1932 Brough Superior ‘BS4’ 3-Wheel Austin-engine – £246,400 / $377,950
Apr. 2013, Imperial War Museum, H&H

Number 28:

1948 Vincent-HRD ‘Black Lightning’ – £246,000 / $377,260
Apr. 2013, Imperial War Museum, H&H

Number 29:

1936 Brough Superior SS100 £276,000 / $367,660
Bicester Heritage, Dec. 2020, Bonhams

Number 30:

1938 HRD-Vincent Series A Rapide – £225,500 / $366,110
Apr. 2012, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 31:

1949 Vincent Black Lightning Supercharged – £221,500 / $383,400
Oct. 2008, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 32:

1938 Crocker Small Tank – $371,800
Aug 2016, Monterey, Mecum

Number 33:

1927 Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sports project – £236,700 / $365,400
Oct 2015, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 34:

1959 Harley Davidson FL ‘Panhead’, ex-Jerry Lee Lewis £238,700 / $358,000
Jan. 2015, Kissimmee, Mecum

Number 35:

1925 Brough Superior SS100 – $357,500
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 36:

1907 Harley Davidson ‘Strap Tank’ Single – £186,560 / $352,000
Oct. 2006, Gooding and Co.

Number 37:

1939 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide – £198,400 / $347,200
Sep. 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams

Number 38:

1925 Brough Superior SS100 – $344,026 / £264,500
Oct. 2018, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 39:

1939 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series A Rapide – £270,300 / $330,700
Apr. 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 40:

1929 Brough Superior SS100 ‘Moby Dick’ – £210,000 / $330,000
Oct. 2011, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 41:

2013 Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide (ex-Pope) – $327,000
Feb. 2014, Paris, Bonhams

Number 42:

1937 Brough Superior SS100, ex-Olympia Motorcycle Show £208,700 / $322,150
Oct. 2015, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 43:

1929 Brough Superior SS100, ex-Dick Knight, Eric Fernihough £253,000 / $322,000
Apr. 2022, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 44:

2010 Ducati GP10 CS1 – e251,500 / $320,000
May 2012, Monaco, RM Auctions

Number 45:

1938 Brough Superior SS100 £219,900 / $319,099
Apr. 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 46:

1938 Brough Superior SS100 – $313,000
Aug. 2019, Quail Lodge, Bonhams

Number 47:

1927 Zenith-JAP 8/45hp – £177,500 / $312,986
Sep. 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams

Number 48:

2011 Ducati GP11 VR2 – e245,700 / $312,500
May 2012, Monaco, RM Auctions

Number 49:

1922 Brough Superior Mk 1 ’90 Bore’ $308,000
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum Auctions

Number 50:

1939 Crocker Small Tank – $302,500
June 2008, Monterey, RM Auctions

Number 50 (tied):

1912 Henderson Model A $302,500
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum Auctions

Number 51:

1940 Crocker ‘Big Tank’ twin – £192,374 / $302,000
Aug. 2012, Quail Lodge, Bonhams

Number 51 (tied):

1937 Crocker ‘Small Tank’ twin – £192,374 / $302,000
Aug. 2012, Quail Lodge, Bonhams

Number 52:

1936 Brough Superior SS100 – £235,750 / $300,000
Apr. 2022, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 53:

1915 Iver Johnson twin – £193,841 / $299,600
Jan. 2012, Las Vegas, MidAmerica

Number 54:

1907 Harley-Davidson ‘Strap Tank – $297,000
May 2021, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 55:

1934 Brough Superior 996cc SS100 – £166,500 / $293,600
Apr. 2008, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 56:

1937 Crocker ‘Small Tank’ twin – £185,367 / $291,000
Aug. 2012, Quail Lodge, Bonhams

Number 57:

1954 AJS Porcupine – £163,600 / $288,475
Apr. 2000, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 58:

1956 Moto Guzzi V-8 (replica) – £196,250 / $284,600
Feb. 2016, London, Coys

Number 59:

1925 Coventry-Eagle Flying 8 – $284,200 / £218,500
Apr. 2019, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 60:

1939 Brough Superior SS100 – £181,420 / $280,400
Jan. 2011, Las Vegas, MidAmerica

Number 61:

1937 Crocker ‘Hemi-Head’ – £144,350 / $276,000
Nov. 2006, Los Angeles, Bonhams

Number 62:

1929 Scott Flying Squirrel 600cc (ex-Steve McQueen/Von Dutch) – £168,360 / $276,000
June 2009, New York, Antiquorum

Number 63:

1926 Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sports – $269,238
Apr. 2019, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 64:

1938 Brough Superior SS100 – £219,900 / $269,000
Apr. 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 65:

1938 Brough Superior SS100 – £151,100 / $264,400
Sep. 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams

Number 66:

1911 Harley-Davidson 7A Twin $260,000
Jan. 2014, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 67:

1970 Harley-Davidson FLH Shovelhead ex-Marlon Brando $256,000
June 28 2015, Julien’s Auctions, Los Angeles

Number 68:

1938 Brough Superior SS100 – £157,700 / $255,900
Apr. 2010, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 69:

1912 Indian Board Track Racer – $253,000
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 70:

1924 Croft-Cameron Anzani 8V ‘Super 8’ – £203,100 / $249,600
October 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 71:

1974 Ducati 750SS – $247,500
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 72:

1941 Crocker Big Tank – $243,800
January 2007, Las Vegas, MidAmerica

Number 73:

1930 Brough Superior SS100 $239,250
Jan 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum Auctions

Number 74:

1938 Brough Superior SS100 – $238,000
Jan. 2011, Las Vegas, MidAmerica

Number 75:

1929 Coventry Eagle Flying 8 KTOR – £163,900 / $237,837
Apr. 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 76 (tied):

 

1939 Crocker ‘Small Tank’ twin – $236,500
Oct. 2006, Gooding and Co.

Number 76 (tied):

1912 Harley-Davidson Model 8A Twin – $236,500
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 76 (tied):

1938 Brough Superior SS100, $236,500 
Jan. 2022, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 77:

1939 Crocker V-Twin Big Twin – $233,200
January 2008, Las Vegas, MidAmerica

Number 78:

1954 BMW RS54 Rennsport – £143,000 / $232,000
Oct. 2010, Haynes, HandH

Number 79:

1951 Vincent Series C Black Shadow, $231,000
Jan. 2022 Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 80:

1949 Triumph TR5 Trophy custom ‘Fonzie’ – $232,562
Dec. 2021, Los Angeles, Bonhams

Number 81 (tied):

 

1912 Henderson 4-cylinder – $225,500
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 81 (tied):

1911 Pierce 4 (original paint): $225,500
July 2020, Indianapolis, Mecum

Number 82:

1928 Indian Altoona Hillclimber $225,000
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 83:

1950 Vincent ‘White Shadow’ – $224,250 / £147,850
January 2015, Las Vegas, Bonhams

Number 84:

1927 Brough Superior SS100 Pendine – $223,500 / £166,750
Oct. 2018, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 85:

1937 Brough Superior 11-50 – £147,100 / $222,400
April 2015, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 86 (tied):

1943 Harley-Davidson EL – $220,000
May 2021, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 86 (tied):

1946 Harley-Davidson FL – $220,000
May 2021, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 86 (tied):

1954 Harley-Davidson / Indian Larry ‘Grease Monkey’ – $220,000
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 86 (tied):

1940 Harley-Davidson EL – $220,000
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 86 (Tied):

1925 BMW R37 – $220,000
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 87:

1914 Miliaire Four cylinder – $214,500
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 88:

1938 Brough Superior SS100 – £175,100 / $214.200
April 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 89:

1933 Brough Superior SS100 – $209,400 / £161,000
Oct. 2018, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 90:

1930 Brough Superior 680 Black Alpine – £138,140 / $209,000
April 2015, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 91 (tied):

 

1917 Henderson Model G four-cylinder, $203,500
Jan. 2022, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 91 (tied):

BN

1936 Harley-Davidson EL ‘Knucklehead’, $203,500
Jan. 2022, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 92:

1937 Brough Superior SS100 – $203,000
Aug. 2012, Quail Lodge, Bonhams

Number 93:

1929 Coventry-Eagle Flying 8 JAP KTOR – £163,900 / $200,500
April 2016, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 94:

1974 Ducati 750SS – $198,000
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 95:

1938 Vincent-HRD Series A Rapide £126,940 / $196,000
October 2015, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 96:

1914 Feilbach Limited 10hp (original paint) $195,000
January 2017, Las Vegas, Bonhams

Number 97:

1924 Montgomery-Anzani 8/38hp V-Twin £109,300 / $192,700
April 2006, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 98 (tied):

1947 Harley-Davidson FL – $220,000
May 2021, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 98 (tied):

1911 Pierce T Four – $192,500
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum

Number 99:

1949 Velocette World Champion KTT £135,900 / $192,400
April 2017, Stafford, Bonhams

Number 100:

1903 Indian single $190,000
Aug. 2017, Monterey, Mecum

And, in order of sale price, the Also-Rans:

1911 Harley Davidson 7D Twin $187,000
October 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
1992 Honda NR750 – $181,500
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum
1930 Harley-Davidson CAC Speedway – $181,500
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum
1964 Bianchi Bicylindrica Bialbero GP – £122,650 / $177,840
Feb 2016, London, Coys
1914 Flying Merkel V-twin – $176,000
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum
1923 Ace Sporting Solo – $175,500
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum
1914 Flying Merkel V-twin – $175,500
Aug. 2015, Monterey, Mecum
1915 Henderson Model D – $170,500
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum
1926 Coventry Eagle Flying 8 £106,780 / $166,450
April 2015, Stafford, Bonhams
2004 Indian Larry ‘Chain of Mystery’ – $165,000
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum
1913 Henderson – $165,500
Jan. 2016, Las Vegas, Mecum
1953 Vincent Black Shadow – $165,000
May 2021, Las Vegas, Mecum
1936 Harley-Davidson EL – $165,000
Jan. 2014, Las Vegas, Mecum
1928/25 Brough Superior SS100 – $164,534 / £126,500
Oct. 2018, Stafford, Bonhams
1951 Moto Guzzi Bicylindrica GP – £111,500 / $161,675
Feb 2016, London, Coys
1939 Brough Superior SS100 with Sidecar – $160,00
Jan. 2016, Las Vegas, Mecum
1915 Henderson board track racer – $159,500
Mar. 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum
1934 Crocker Speedway $159,500
Mar 2015, Las Vegas, Mecum
1934 Crocker Speedway $151,200
Jan 2011, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
1913 Henderson 4 Cylinder $150,000
January 2016, Las Vegas, Mecum
1930 Indian Model 402 4-cylinder w/sidecar £96,700 / $149,350
October 2015, Stafford, Bonhams
1930 Brough Superior 680 £112,400 / $144,100
April 2017, Stafford, Bonhams
1967 Lito X-Cam Prototype – $143,000
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum
1953 Vincent Black Shadow – $143,000
Jan. 2020, Las Vegas, Mecum
1916 Thor Model 16U – $143,000
Jan. 2019, Las Vegas, Mecum
Paul d’Orléans is the founder of TheVintagent.com. He is an author, photographer, filmmaker, museum curator, event organizer, and public speaker. Check out his Author Page, Instagram, and Facebook.
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