It's hard to interpret the results of this year's Las Vegas auctions. A look back to our preview last week will show that most of the bikes with really high estimates failed to sell, yet an analysis of the top 50 bikes to sell during the three day event shows many world record prices for models and marques, high sell-through rates and gross numbers larger than ever.
Vincent motorcycles dominated January's Las Vegas Motorcycle auctions this year, with seven of the top ten most expensive bikes of the two auctions, and a new world record for any Vincent motorcycle of US$434,000 going to a Chinese Red Vincent White Shadow 1000cc V-twin
At the top end of the marketplace, there seems to have been an expectation from sellers that was not met by buyers, and as reserves were set above what the market was prepared to pay, the "zone of potential agreement" between buyers and sellers at the top end has evaporated almost entirely.
The mid-range in the market, though, grew in Las Vegas with seventies motorcycles in particular selling for record numbers.
We're preparing a market analysis at present, so here's a list of the links and a brief synopsis of the top 50 motorcycles to sell in the three days of auctions, plus a few interesting bikes which sold for a lot less.
Bonhams Lot 135 was the star of the three day auction, being one of 15 White Shadows ever built, and the only one made with a Chinese Red paint scheme. Sold by just it's third owner, the bike has a number of subtle but significant mods, including Carrillo connecting rods, more modern Amal Mk.II carbs, electronic ignition and a two-step, high-volume oil pump, plus the bits which were replaced and 200 pages of restoration receipts.
Vincent Black Shadows are the most prominent single model in the top 250, but the most valuable Vincent Shadow is the White Shadow as only 15 were ever built, and at the same Bonhams auction at Bally's Hotel & Casino held one year prior (January 2015), a 1950 Vincent Series C "White" Shadow sold for $224,250, setting a world record for the model. This bike is now the new record holder for the model, and the marque, surpassing the previous most expensive Vincent to have sold at auction, a 1939 Vincent Series A Rapide which sold for $418,940 (£275,900) in April, 2015.
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