Four Pricey Vintage Bikes
A window into another time, vintage motorcycles are a look into the past. A look at a time when motorcycles weren’t mass produced. They’re about the style of the time; styles that we still find aesthetically pleasing today. Those that value vintage motorcycles have a genuine appreciation for the early bikes that extends past their innovative technologies and designs. Couple this appreciation with the rarity and what they represented during their time, and you've answered the question as to why the motorcycles below command such a high monetary value.
1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer OHC
Price Tag: $551,200
Designer: Andrew Strand, a Swedish engineer.
About the Bike: Sold at auction, not only is this bike the most expensive motorcycle ever sold at an auction, but it may be the rarest motorcycle in the world. Known for being a highly innovative design for its time, only twelve of the Cyclone Board Track Racers have been found; the design underwent production for two years, yielding only around 300 machines total, which explains the rarity of these 45-horsepower bikes.
1925 Brough Superior SS100
Price Tag: $450,188
Designer: George Brough Jr.
About the Bike: When first introduced, the Brough Superior SS100 was the fastest bike on the streets. Purchased for about 300,000 British pounds in 2010, the above American dollar amount is an estimate of the price after conversion. Designed and built by George Brough Jr. for the well heeled buyer, the already speedy SS100 could be made even faster in 'Pendine' tune...for a price. The bike itself is fully custom and no duplicate exists.
1894 Roper Steam Cycle
Price Tag: $425,000
Designer: Sylvester Roper
About the Bike: The 1894 Roper Steam Cycle went to auction in mid-January of 2012, and although many thought it would surpass the Cyclone Board Track Racer for the most ever paid for a motorcycle, it fell short and is third on our list. The Roper Steam Cycle is believed to be one of the oldest bikes to exist in the world and was produced by renowned inventor, Sylvestor Roper.
1939 BMW Type 255 Kompressor
Price Tag: $400,000
Designer: BMW
About the Bike: Built specifically for racing events in the late 1930s, BMW was the innovator of compressed (supercharger) engine technology. The 1939 Type 255 Kompressor made the news when George Meier, a racer recruited by BMW, rode the bike to victory in the 1938 Senior TT race at the Isle of Man. Motorcycles of this type are exceedingly rare to begin with since they weren’t sold to the public, but because this particular bike has a supercharged, 600cc engine, it is particularly rare. As a sidenote, Meier was the first non-English rider to win a TT. Gina Williams
A VMOL reader and motorcycle journalist, Gina Williams steps in this month as guest columnist. Gina also writes about those involved in motorcycle accidents at motorcycleaccident.org. See more of Gina's work at:
http://www.motorcycleaccident.org/motorcycle-fault-laws-they-differ-by-state-2/