Classic motorcycles are more than machines. They are works of art, pieces of history and, in some cases, serious investments. These nine sales, listed in the order they happened, show how far prices can go. All prices are the reported sale prices, in the currency of the sale.

1939 BMW RS255 Kompressor - $480,000 (2013)

Before the Second World War, BMW built supercharged racing motorcycles, and the Rennsport 255 Kompressor was one of them. In January 2013 one sold at Bonhams' Las Vegas sale to a private American collector for $480,000, at the time the second-highest price ever paid at auction for a motorcycle.

1938 Brough Superior SS100, ex-George Brough - £253,500 (2014)

Brough Superior was often called the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles. This SS100 was once owned by George Brough himself, who campaigned it in the 1939 London-Edinburgh Trial. It sold at Bonhams' Stafford sale in 2014 for £253,500 ($426,184), a record at that sale.

"Captain America" Harley-Davidson Panhead - $1.35 million (2014)

The Panhead ridden by Peter Fonda's character in Easy Rider sold in Los Angeles in October 2014 for $1.35 million, as part of a sale of Hollywood memorabilia. Shortly afterwards a Texan claimed he owned the real Captain America bike, a reminder of how much provenance and paperwork matter at this level.

1907 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank - $715,000 (2015)

Early Harley-Davidsons are among the most sought-after American motorcycles. A 1907 Strap Tank sold at auction in 2015 for $715,000 including fees. The 1903 Serial Number One, the oldest surviving Harley-Davidson, will never come up: it lives in the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.

1951 Vincent Black Lightning - $929,000 (2018)

Vincent built the Black Lightning as the racing version of its big V-twin, and very few were made. The Jack Ehret machine set a national speed record in Australia in 1953. In early 2018 it sold at Bonhams' Las Vegas sale for $929,000, then a world record for a motorcycle at auction.

1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer - $1.32 million (2025)

Before the First World War, Cyclone built some of the fastest board-track racers in America. Steve McQueen's 1915 Cyclone sold for $852,500 at a Las Vegas auction in 2015. In 2025 another 1915 Cyclone V-twin made $1.32 million at Mecum Las Vegas, billed as the most expensive motorcycle ever sold at public auction.

Crocker - $880,000 (2025)

At the same 2025 Mecum Las Vegas sale, a Crocker came close to the million-dollar mark, fetching $880,000. Crocker built its motorcycles only in small numbers before the Second World War, which is a big part of why a good one commands this kind of money.

1968 Honda CB750 prototype - $313,500 (2026)

The 1968 CB750 prototype that sold at Mecum Las Vegas in 2026 was hand-built and shares no components with later pre-production bikes. It was the first CB750 sent to the United States, where it was used for testing and marketing ahead of the launch.

1965 MV Agusta 500 Grand Prix racer - £967,000 (2026)

MV Agusta's four-cylinder 500cc racers dominated Grand Prix racing in the 1950s and 1960s. A 1965 MV Agusta 500 race bike sold for £967,000 at Bonhams' Spring Stafford sale in 2026.

Could the Next Record Breaker Be on Epic Motor Trading?

These motorcycles share one thing in common: they were sold through auction platforms with transparent processes, and buyers who knew what they were bidding on. At Epic Motor Trading, we bring the same level of trust and professionalism to classic motorcycle auctions. New to bidding? Our guide to winning the bike you want without overpaying is a good place to start.

Browse our current auctions - the next record breaker could be waiting for you.