Price conversions are based on the exchange rate on the day of sale. I've left a few 'has beens' tagged on at the end, out of sheer sentimentality...
TOP 20 MOTORCYCLE PRICES AT AUCTION
(January, 2012)
1. 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer - $551,200
July 2008, Monterey, MidAmerica
2. 1929 Brough Superior SS100 - £286,000 $465,350
Oct.22, 2010, Sparkford, HandH Auctions
3. 1949 Vincent Black Lightning Supercharged - £221,500 $383,400
October 2008, Stafford, Bonhams
4. 1907 Harley Davidson 'Strap Tank' Single - $352,000
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
5. 1939 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide - £198,400 $347,200
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams
6. 1929 Brough Superior SS100 'Moby Dick' - £210,000 $330,000
October 2011, Stafford, Bonhams
7. 1927 Zenith-JAP 8/45hp - £177,500 $312,986
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams
8. 1915 Iver Johnson twin - $299,600
January 2012, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
9. 1934 Brough Superior 996cc SS100 - £166,500 $293.589
April 2008, Stafford, Bonhams
10. 1954 AJS Porcupine - £163,600 $288,475
April 2000, Stafford, Bonhams
11. 1939 Brough Superior SS100 - $280,400
January 2011, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
12. 1937 Crocker 'Hemi-Head' - $276,000
November 2006, Los Angeles, Bonhams
13. 1929 Scott Flying Squirrel 600cc ex.Steve McQueen/Von Dutch - $276,000
June 2009, New York, Antiquorum
14. 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 - £151,100 $264,400
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams
15. 1938 Brough Superior SS100 - £157,700 $255,900
April 2010, Stafford, Bonhams
16. 1941 Crocker Big Tank - $243,800
January 2007, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
17. 1938 Brough Superior SS100 - $238,000
January 2011, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
18. 1939 Crocker 'Small Tank' twin - $236,500
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
19. 1939 Crocker V-Twin Big Twin - $233,200
January 2008, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
20. 1954 BMW RS54 - £143,000 $232,000
Oct. 22, 2010, Haynes, HandH
21. 1924 Montgomery-Anzani 8/38hp V-Twin £109,300 $192,702
April 2006, Stafford, Bonhams
22. 1911 Harley Davidson 7D Twin $187,000
October 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
The Statistics: 11 of the top sellers are British, 8 are from the USA, 1 from Germany. Five of these bikes were racing machines. 16 are large-capacity v-twins. 13 would have been called 'powerful luxury motorcycles' when new. All of them were extremely low-production models, barring the ex-Steve McQueen Scott!
By decade; 1 from the 1900s, 3 from the 'Teens, 4 from the 20's, 8 from the '30's, 2 from the 40's, 2 from the 50's.
Eight of the top 20 machines were sold by Bonhams, 6 by MidAmerica, 3 by Gooding and Co, 2 by HandH, 1 by Antiquorum.
Six of these machines were sold in 2008, 4 in 2006, 3 in 2010, 2 in 2011, 1 each in 2000, 2007, 2009, and 2012.
What the statistics tell me: 2008 was a banner year for spending on valuable old bikes, but the late 2000s were very good in general. Racing motorcycles from Italy and Japan - surely among the most valuable two-wheelers in the world - must never come up for auction, although they do change hands! Provenance is extremely valuable, rarity more so. If you have a relatively ordinary motorcycle, make sure Steve McQueen owned it!
(All photos are from the auction house websites. Click on them to enlarge)
7 Brough Superiors
4 Crockers
1 Harley Davidson
2 Vincent-HRDs
1 Zenith
1 Cyclone
1 Coventry Eagle
1 AJS
1 Iver Johnson
1 BMW