Old-School Motorbikes That Are Worth a Pretty Penny
There are many things that can make a motorcycle a classic, from style to performance. These 35 old motorcycles have a little bit of both - and are worth a small fortune. For anyone on the lookout for an old-school motorbike, these are worth keeping a look out for.
Vincent Black Shadow
There’s probably no stronger way to kick off our list than with the one and only Vincent Black Shadow. It first hit the highways in 1948 and quickly established itself as the fastest motorcycle in the world at the time. It doesn’t hurt that the thing still looks fantastic today, and starting values typically reach north of $100,000.
Brough Superior
“Superior” may, in fact, be a complete understatement. Dubbed the “Rolls-Royce of motorcycles”, the Brough Superior was backed by exquisite, hand-made engineering and was favored by none other than Lawrence of Arabia himself. These days, they typically go for at least $300,000.
Indian Chief
The Indian Chief had its heyday during the 40s and early 50s, before the Indian Motorcycle Company was shuttered. (It later had a revival in 1999). Even then, its status as an American icon was already well established. These days, original Indian Chiefs normally go for at least $30,000.
Harley-Davidson EL “Knucklehead”
The term “knucklehead” isn’t technically official - it was retroactively applied to the EL by Harley-Davidson fans due to the bike’s uniquely shaped rocker boxes (which have since become synonymous with the brand as a whole). They normally fetch anywhere between $50,000 and $150,000 at auction.
Honda CB750 Sandcast
The term “superbike” has since been embraced by the motorcycle industry as a whole, but back in the 60s people it was still a new concept. Though some other bikes also received the title of “world’s first superbike”, the Sandcast’s prowess cannot be understated. As such, it normally goes for around $50,000, at least.
Ducati 750 SS
Ducati is one of the biggest names in the motorcycling world, and is synonymous with making very, very fast bikes. Only 100 750 SSs were initially made, making them some of the rarest specimens on this list. The 750 SS was made famous as the bike that won the Imola 200. They normally fetch at least $100,000.
Norton Manx
Here’s an interesting fact about Norton: they contested every single Isle of Man TT race from 1907 all the way through to the 70s. Suffice it to say, racing - and the spirit of competition - have always been in their blood. The Manx became iconic for its featherbed frame and single-cylinder engine, and normally fetches at least $50,000.
BMW R32
BMW shouldn’t require any introduction. Suffice it to say, they’re one of the biggest names in the automotive industry. The R32 was their very first motorcycle, and was an innovation in and of itself due to its flat-twin boxer engine and shaft drive. Expect it to be worth at least $100,000 at auction.
Triumph Bonneville T120
Though the Bonneville was never going to perform as well as some of the early “superbikes” that were coming out at the time, it became an icon in its own right and was embraced by custom and cafe racers alike. Some go for as little as $20,000 at auction, while others bring home north of $50,000.
Harley-Davidson XR750
Don’t be surprised to see more than a few Harley-Davidsons on this list. The XR750 was yet another incredible success for the company, and dominated flat track racing in the 70s. It was also the stunt bike of choice for none other than Evel Knievel himself. They typically go for at least $60,000 or more.
Matchless G50
Don’t let its small size fool you - the Matchless G50 has plenty of kick and power. Indeed, among the club and GP race scene in the 50s and 60s, the G50 truly was matchless - erm, unmatched. They’re worth at least $50,000 today.
MV Agusta 750 S
The 750 S is another rare machine, this time manufactured by MV Agusta. Though it was intended to replace the 600, only some 500 units of the 750 S were made, which makes sense when you consider that they were put together by hand. They’re worth at least $80,000.
Ariel Square Four
Take a guess as to where the Square Four got its name. Indeed, designed by the legendary Edward Turner, the Ariel Square Four became iconic due to its unique square four-cylinder layout and the fact that it performed beautifully, even for a pre-war machine. They can fetch as much as $70,000 at auction nowadays, if not more.
BSA Gold Star
Another exquisitely crafted, hand-built machine, the BSA Gold Star does, indeed, receive a gold star for its meticulous engineering alone. Each bike came with a documented dynamometer results sheet, allowing owners to see how much horsepower could be produced. Suffice it to say, they were impressed, and the Gold Star is normally worth at least $50,000.
Velocette Thruxton
The Velocette Thruxton - sometimes just called the Thruxton, sometimes the Venom Thruxton - is an iconic British cafe racer, whose production was cut short by the closing of the company behind it. They’re typically worth at least $70,000.
Harley-Davidson JD
Though they’d been around since 1903, the story of Harley-Davidson as we know it pretty much began here with the JD, which introduced the now iconic teardrop-shaped engine. They’re pretty rare, and as such, typically fetch at least $100,000.
Zundapp KS 601
The Zundap KS 601 is probably one of the least recognized motorcycles on our list. Don’t be mistaken, though - they still fetch a handsome sum at auction (at least $50,000), with “Green Elephant” sidecar setups (think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) being particularly sought after.
Royal Enfield Interceptor 750
The Interceptor name recently made a comeback in 2018, but it first found success way back in the late 60s and early 70s before it was discontinued. The 750 Interceptor was one of the fastest racers in production, and is much rarer than many Norton and Triumph models. It fetches at least $30,000 today.
Excelsior Super X
The Excelsior Super X may not be the most well-known model on this list, but its arrival onto the scene was impactful as it was one of the first V-twins to challenge Harley and Indian’s domination. They typically fetch over $100,000.
Crocker Big Twin
Nicknamed “Big Twin”, this powerful twin-cylinder machine from Crocker was probably the fastest motorcycle of the pre-war era. It’s also an exceedingly rare bit of engineering and is worth over $300,000.
Sunbeam Model 9
Though it’s another “sleeper hit”, the Sunbeam Model 9 quickly established itself as both a reliable and powerful sports tourer in the 20s and 30s. Backed by British craftsmanship and elegant styling, they fetch anywhere between $30,000 and $50,000.
Indian Four
Originally built in 1928, the Indian Four was discontinued before the war and never returned to the roads. That’s a shame, because it’s probably one of the finest-looking motorcycles on this list with its art deco stylings. They typically go for at least $100,000.
Yamaha TZ750
Despite being one of the biggest names in motorcycling (and also guitar-ing, for some reason), we haven’t seen any Yamahas yet. That changes with the TZ750, one of the most legendary racing motorcycles in history. They’re typically worth at least $75,000.
Moto Guzzi V8 “Otto Cilindri”
Ranked as one of the greatest motorcycles of all time by none other than the Discovery Channel, the Moto Guzzi V8 (or “Otto”) was also one of the most ambitious Grand Prix bikes of all time. As a museum-worthy bit of engineering, they ain’t exactly cheap, and will set you back around $300,000.
Laverda SFC 750
Though they aren’t around anymore, Laverda was known for its innovation and immaculate Italian style. The SFC 750 is considered to be a work of art, and its orange bodywork is iconic. It easily fetches some $100,000 at auction.
Suzuki RG500 Gamma
Though its production only lasted two years, the RG500 Gamma quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with. A road-legal version of the powerful GP two-stroke, it goes for at least $50,000.
Kawasaki Z1 900
Introduced way back in 1972, the Z1 (and later Z1 900) was Japan’s very first liter-class superbike, and was designed to compete with the legendary Honda CB750. These days, it’s worth at least $40,000.
Harley-Davidson WLA
As a proud American brand, it makes complete sense that Harley-Davidson would ingratiate itself with the military. The WLA was the result of this partnership, and is nowadays something of a WWII relic, worth at least $40,000.
Triumph TR6 Trophy
Introduced as a replacement for the popular Tiger model, the TR6 Trophy was highly favored by the legendary Steve McQueen and won even more acclaim during its competition years. These days, it’s worth some $50,000 or so.
Rudge Ulster
One of the oldest models on this list, the Rudge Ulster is also one of the least known, as production ended at the outbreak of WWII. It had a racing pedigree and advanced engineering for its time, and is worth at least $50,000.
Ducati 900 SS
The 900 SS was a follow-up to the legendary 750 SS, exceeding that famous bike’s own legendary prowess and performance. It typically fetches around $40,000 at auction.
Montesa Cota
An offshoot of Honda, Montesa was responsible for this Spanish-made trials bike. It’s a rare model that you don’t see spoken about often, and fetches a modestly handsome sum of around $20,000.
Bimota DB1
The DB1 is responsible for saving Bimota from certain doom. It’s an exotic, Ducati-based motorcycle with style to match and racing pedigree. They were only made in a limited number and, as such, normally fetch around $50,000.
Honda NR750
Ending our list with the most recent motorcycle, the Honda NR750 is already legendary despite its relatively young age. Its exotic engineering and oval pistons have made this one worth at least $100,000.
