Are the most highly prized collectible motorcycles intentionally designed from the start to be collectible or do they happen by accident? Is it some cosmetic or stylish addition that makes the difference or a focus on quality and function that stands out? Asked that way, the answer may seem obvious, marketers and designers try to force the issue but buyers determine what they want.
A recent article wonders whether marketers can create trends, forcing something to happen by getting in front of the right person, as though there were only a few of these “right people.” The article goes on to show further study indicates there may be a right person that starts a trend but it could be almost anyone not just one of a select group, and there’s no way to predict it in advance.
“Trend” is simply another way of saying “demand.” If you think about it, there is a related idea, marketers trying to create demand for special editions of their products, artificially trying to create a demand for something by making it appear scarce as though that is all that matters and hoping a few of the right people buy it. It’s the idea of the “intentional collectible,” speeding up a process that normally takes a bit of time.
Look at the motorcycles that command the highest prices at the bigger auctions or on eBay, are they motorcycles with a special paint package or slightly different bodywork or are they the motorcycles with a history of popularity among buyers when they were new? Maybe they had some actual racing history, maybe they were a popular conversion, maybe they were a particularly well built example few could afford. Sometimes, the bike in question, wasn’t even very popular until after it went out of production.
Almost all manufacturers fall into the “intentional collectible” pursuit with special editions that are little more than chrome, paint and a numbered plaque. It looks like easy money but are motorcycle buyers that easily manipulated? Unfortunately, it sometimes appears so.
Think about what is bringing good money today, old Indians and Harleys, various British bikes, well preserved examples of German and Italian machines and even something once as common as the Honda CB750, certainly not designed to be collectible, brings decent money if the original parts are mostly there.
I’ve touched on much of this before and even distinguished between collectibles and affordable classics, an idea worth keeping in mind. Wouldn’t it be nice if manufacturers concentrated on making great motorcycles and let the collectibles take care of themselves?
And a question: hoyt left a comment below about a motorcycle he thinks will be collectible which brings me to an obvious question for the rest of you:
What current or recent motorcycle do you expect will become very collectible or desirable in the future?
Related: Affordable Classic Motorcycles
Related: Collecting Vintage Motorcycles
Related: Custom Motorcycles – Long Term Collectibles?
hoyt says
Kneeslider: “Wouldn’t it be nice if manufacturers concentrated on making great motorcycles and let the collectibles take care of themselves?”
Yes. I think the Buell Firebolt will fall into that category. There are probably loads of readers scrunching their faces to that comment. However, there is something truly unique about a big capacity motor (based on older tech) that is put into a tiny package, sounds like a hot rod, and performs well for its intended purpose.
Indeed…something collectible about that bike. (not so much the Lightning, but the Firebolt). I’ll never forget how much cooler the Firebolt looked and sounded cruising down a cobblestone street in Florence, Italy.
“unique” doesn’t automatically consitute collectible. The execution has to be there obviously. The Firebolt execution isn’t in line with everyone, but it is for enough…and that will also add to “collectibility” without Erik Buell specifically trying to build a “collectible” motorcycle.
aaron says
the most obvious recent bike is the ducati 916. big money will go to sp, r and senna variations. the aprilia rs250 will be desirable, as will their tiny v-twins. the honda valkyrie too. I bet that harley auction prices have been inflated by the motor company, though. it’s common enough in other fields to spend big bucks at auction to drive up demand.
Tinker says
Honda CB400A Hawk Hondamatic.
This motorcycle was made as an easy bike to ride for beginners, commuters and “just folk” that had no sporting pretensions. I still ride mine on a regular basis, and the other day, parked it outside our apartment complex. A man spotted it and ran in side to inquire about it. Mainly he was just excited and wanted to tell *me* all about it. Of course it helps that Honda hasn’t released a more exciting bike in years and years.
Matt in NC says
My votes for future collector’s bikes, a number of Hondas, and a few other machines:
-Honda Hawk GT
-Honda GB500
-Honda CB1
-US Yamaha FZR400
-Ducati 916
-M(u)Z Skorpion
and finally one I still want, but I don’t know if it’ll ever really skyrocket in value a few decades from now:
-Honda Ascot
Just my opinion, YMMV
todd says
I’ve been trying to convince my friend that his Limited Edition Ford Explorer will not become a collectible vehicle.
I love my GB500. I bought it when people could care very little for them, now I couldn’t afford to buy one again. I also agree with the Hawk GT and MZ (Sport Cup only). Dont forget the RC30. An SR500 is also a good catch. My R75/5 however, is one of the last collectible BMW’s (other than R90S, R100RS, and R65LS variants).
Recent bikes include the Kawasaki W650 but not new Bonnevilles (too many), V Max, Yamaha GTS, early Katanas and GSXR’s besides the obvious Ducatis (MHR, PSR) and various race replicas.
I think the Buells are cool but I don’t see their value increasing. They were never iconic and the Motor Company continues to refine them.
Not many cruisers; comeon, Virago? Eliminator? you’d have to be crazy to spend much on a used one of those. Though as a testament to Harley, they will have the only collectible cruisers. Just look at early K models or any XR. Maybe those bikes are desireable since they are the only unique Harleys. It’s hard for me to imagine any newer Harley bringing in more money than it cost new.
No dirt bikes from the last 20 years unless 20 years from now people start racing immaculate CRF450’s in vintage classes.
-todd
Nick says
7 years ago I saw a GB500 at a local dealer for a cheap price, and I didn’t buy it … ! 🙁
Except for this mistake, I never cared about the “collectibility” of the bikes, I always picked the one (I could afford) that would make me happy, for good or bad reasons. Do you really care if your actual ride is common or rare ?
kim scholer says
Occasionally you will see a zero-mile, boxed/stored motorcycle for sale – either one that a dealer just stacked away as unsellable, or a bike that somebody bought as an investment only. The original H-D Cafe Racer has opped up more than once this way. Judging from the prices asked, I’d think investing in something more sensible, like real estate, would have been infinitely wiser.
akbar says
Hmm. Ok, I have been a rare book, collectibles, art and antiques dealer for over 25 years now (ouch) and the thing is, intentional collectible(s) really never are collectible after some time. They are still desirable, but never become rare as the people who buy them in the first place take care of them. Thus, an ultra expensive, limited edition bike produced now, will be stocked away in someone’s garage, or at least enough of them will be that 25 years from now, you will be able to buy one at anytime, given money.
As far as limited editions go, well, if the edition is more than, say, 250, it is really common as dirt.
The stuff that I have always seen gain the most money over the years is quality items (sometimes just interesting items) that nobody at the time knew they would be so desirable later. E.g. the first generation Buell, the Battle Twin, is now worth a fair amount of money; small production numbers, important bike, and not a lot around, the people who bought them, rode them, they did not go instantly to a museum or collection.
Lost in oz says
My votes for collectability rating from most to least are as follows in 20 years
damn near any harley in pure STOCK condition
Hondamatic 750 (great bike with an interesting twist)
rebel 450 (many first rides on this bike, and small enough for the short rider, look what an 85 rebel 250 still demands in good shape)
early model hyabusa (far too many have returned to the melting pots already)
and oddly the Vance edition FZR (many people recall fondly the FZR, and Ive had offers of up to 5k for mine after hearing all their stories, I really believe it to be the cb750 of the next gen)
the reason I say collectable, instead of desirable is becuase they already are desireable to many people, and as time progresses, those that have will destroy, and the remaining few will only gain. they all have one thing in common though, they were common bikes that many had, and many were wrecked or sold.
Den says
Good comments Akbar and Lost in oz.
I think the future classics to look out for are from the 90’s.
The aforementioned Yamaha GTS 1000 – Different
Ducati 851 – I know it started in the 80’s but is iconic and from a time when the company made far fewer bikes.
Zane Laverdas – brilliantly equipped but idiosyncratically italian.
Early MV f4 750’s – it’s in design museums!
Moto Guzzi Daytona – will be the new MK1 La Mans
Honda RC30 – again started in the eighties but very iconic and inovative.
B*A*M*F says
I have a hard time imagining that most of what we presently adore will be classic in the future. More than likely, it will be something there were tons of, but haven’t survived. I’d be surprised if there are many clean and unmolested examples of today’s average 500-600cc sport bike in another 30 years.
Golly Gee says
Yamaha SR-400/SR-500
A classic thumper still in production for the Japanese domestic market (that’s a 30-year production run) and a cult bike in much of the world.
Only sold in the U.S. from ’78-81 and in an ugly configuration, so that like the GB500 (which was anything but ugly) U. S. dealers nearly had to give them away.
Yamaha continued to make SRs for Europe through 2000, and you can still buy a special “custom” version new in Australia.
With clip-ons or Ace handlebars, spokes and fork gaiters they are the sweetest looking bikes to come out of Japan.
Probably the only Japanese bike James Dean or Marlon Brando wouldn’t have looked silly riding.
Walt says
The proliferation of new models makes it hard for me to pick a future collectible. Many of the most attractive bikes of the past had performance cred: XLCH, T120, Atlas, Spitfire, Commando, CB750, Thruxton, Crocker, Black Shadow. There’s less interest in cooking models.
Today high performance sport bikes in two or three sizes are available from any of the Japanese makers. Common as dirt, but not nearly as long lasting. It will take an iconic performance machine like the Hayabusa to stand out from this crowd in the future.
I do sometimes wonder about the twin-headlight Triumph Speed Triple. Carries some hooligan cred as a streetfighter. It’s not really rare, but unlike the new Bonneville it’s not a nostalgia bike. And what about the Ducati Monsters? Great looking bikes. Too popular?
Nicolas says
What about the “groundbreaking” models, such as …
– yamaha XT500, which invented the trailbike
– yamaha Vmax, first and unique of it’s own
– Suzuki GSXR, first accessible supersport (or the yam R1 to be the first to break the 1hp/kg barrier)
– Ducati Monster for the look
– honda CB500, unbreakable stuff that gave millions of riders their motorcycle license (in Europe)
– Kawasaki Z900 / Honda CB750 for killing the english motorcycle industry and bringing performance and reliability on the same bike
– Kawa 750 mach1 for it’s reputation being a widow maker
– Honda Goldwing
– BMW flat twins for being a performing bike with a lawnmower noise, and for all the cops using it 😉
– Harley Davidson Sporster or other, for moving so many rednecks or midlife-crisis men around the world
(sorry for the older Vincent BlackSomething and other BSA Goldstar, not my generation …)
Even if it has been sold millions of these bikes, an original bonestock one (“dans son jus”) would have the legitimacy of a bike that has brought something to the market.
My personal discutable choice …
hoyt says
Hey Paul – my comment missed much of the point of the post: highly prized, Big Dollar auction prices on the collector’s market.
My thought was focused on the question at the end of the post….thinking about it from a more personal collection as opposed to the public collector’s market.
i.e. What do people value in their own collection, regardless of the auctions?….if enough people have the same likes, then the public collector’s market kicks in & naturally drives the prices up.
If there isn’t a huge common interest, and the bike is still cool, then the collector’s seem to fall into an enthusiast category with a somewhat of a cult bike status….no negative conotations to that in my book.
The Guzzi V11 Sport comes to mind. I wish I could have bought 2 of them when I bought mine…store the other one away, and pull it out brand new 35 years later. That bike was only built for 4 years or so.
Glenn says
Regarding a future collectable, what do all think of the new Harley XR1200? It caught my eye as I always thought Harley should connect with their racing past and tie into the naked, blacked-out modern stuff. It’s different from their other chrome-laden tanks and may not sell to the usual Harley type eh? Reminds me of a Harley 1200 Cafe Racer that didn’t sell much in the 70’s that is now desirable. Also, I own a 1975 CB750F Super Sport, the first year of the “F” that I hope will become collectable and I ride as a sometimes commuter and parts-run bike.
Dennis says
What about Excelsior Hendersons. They were only produced for 2 years and less than 2000 total made. For the time they were one of the most technically advanced V-Twin cruisers. 4 valves per cylinder, chain driven dual overhead cam, fuel injection.