Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction 2017

UPDATE.

Well none of the best bikes sold; what does that tell us? Were the estimates well below the reserve prices? Did no one turn up? Is it the market, or fashion? Maybe the current buyers are only looking at prices with regard to ‘investment value’. But the only way to get real value out of motorcycles is to ride them, regardless of what they cost.

A Vincent sold for $150k but neither the Merkel, the Crocker, the 36 Knuckle, nor the Harley 8XE or 6A sold.

BONHAMS LAS VEGAS AUCTION.

This years Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction is this week and as usual there are some great bikes up for grabs. Dale Walkslers 1936 Crocker will be of particular interest with the estimate of more than $500k and there are some rather nice Vincents as well.

On the F-Head side there is a lovely restored 1912 twin, a 1912 single and a 1910 single, all with rather low estimates. Maybe that is an indication of the market or maybe they just post low estimates to get the bidders interested. Either way there are some very nice bikes and it will be interesting to see the prices they reach.

The photos are courtesy of the Bonhams auction site. Have a look on their site and see the photos in better detail. You might even want to bid on one!

1910 6A.

There are only two pictures of this bike on the site; they are not very good and they don’t expand. The estimate is $45-55k which seems bizarrely low. Any 1910, of course depending on the quality of the work, should be worth well more than that and with buyers’ premium included I would expect to pay double that for such a cool bike.

1912 8XA.

This is a nice little bike with a clutch and magneto. I’m not sure about the colour but it is apparently an older restoration.

1912 8XE.

There are loads of great pictures of this bike on the site; great for referencing if you are doing a restoration. I think this is the bike that Bator International had up for sale last year at $169k. It won’t fetch that at auction.

Persons Tool Kit Holder

Kevin went to the Rufforth Auto-jumble yesterday and came back with this Persons leather tool kit box. It’s a nice part that will clean up well. He certainly has some luck up there; last month he found a Bosch magneto for a 10-11 Harley and other early singles. If you can use then let me know.

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And below is the one that Jethro Smith makes; very nice for a restoration bike.

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Change of plans.

I’m now back to the original idea of using the newer parts for the E and the older parts for the D. That will give me more time to search out parts for the older bike and enable the build of the newer bike to get started. The parts for the E will still in the main be correct original parts but with the addition of replacement parts where needed.

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The rear hub is part original and part new. The clutch is original including all the actuation parts; it came from a 12 single and had already been plated. The cover bears the pitting of age but this could be polished out if need be, and then re-plated. The front hub is original NOS from Mark Masa. I have seen replacement copies of this hub but the logo on them is really poor (and they are €400). The spokes will be replaced on the final build.

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Wheels and the old dilemma returns!

Kevin came over today and we fitted the wheels he has built up. The front has the correct Eclipse hub and the rear has a copy hub but with a mainly original clutch. The cover and most parts are HD but the missing parts came from Competition. The rims are from Al McPherson and we have used ‘mock up’ spokes and nipples to get the lengths and offsets correct. They will be rebuilt again in due course.

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The dilemma is the old one though. Just for fun after lunch we put on the old gas tank,  the handlebars and we balanced the old seat on the frame…… So now I’m wondering (again) whether this should be the ‘old parts’ bike or if I should use the restored parts on this build and keep searching for more old parts and put them on the belt drive.  I just don’t want to repaint this old frame as part of the restoration.

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Rear fender and tool box

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First off today was to fit an original rear stand in place of the repop version that came with the frame; easy fit, no problems.

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The original rear fender went straight on without any effort and I will address the paint at a later date. It’s an old repaint but doesn’t match the rest of the bike. I’m using new stays from Jethro Smith and he also sent me the correct 1/4″ 24 tpi die to thread the ends.

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The oil tank/tool box also went on without problems. It is secured by way of a repop top mount and a bolt through the back of the box and through the fender. There is also a bottom mount that fits under the frame but the one I have doesn’t work: I’ll make one. All in all an easy day, it will make up for the stressful ones which WILL follow.

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12 twin build starts

I now have enough parts to start the build of the chain drive twin. I also have a 1912 8D project and several more parts which could be used on both the 8E (chain) and 8D (belt). I will probably build one bike as a dirty scruffy original and the other as a restored, painted and plated bike but still to be ridden. It will depend on what parts I can find. There is also a 1914 two speed sitting on the shelf and other assorted projects on the go.

The first issue was with the frame; I couldn’t get the seat post out, it was fixed solid. I had to the cut the back of the seat tube and then weld a rod and slide hammer the post out. Then re-weld the tube and re-fit another (original) seat post. You can’t see the repair when the toolbox is installed.

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Next was the silencer. I built up the re-pop version on the bike as a guide to check the fit. Then I had to make the original one fit (usually it’s the other way around). First I had to machine the baffle so it would fit into the rear outlet and then on assembly discovered it was too long. So 12 mm off the baffle and then re-round the outer cover to fit both end pieces.

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The next job is to tweek the flange on the front header pipe and then fit some olives inside both unions. Then fit the cut out and the exhaust should be done.

1914 Two Speed Twin

This is the next project. It might have to sit on the shelf (literally) for a while but you have to buy these things when they turn up, not wait until you need one (need?).

This was always my ‘holy grail’ model. I came close to a couple but could never close a deal. With two gears and a neutral, foot-boards and a proper rear brake it might make a good regular rider. They are a bulkier bike than the pre ’13s and lack some of the charm of the earlier models but they are a lot easier to ride.

  

64 Duo for sale

This nice 64 Duo-Glide is for sale. I got her just week, put a new battery in, changed the fluids, cleaned the float bowl and she started first kick, VERY first kick after priming. She was in storage for the last six or so years and has a surface covering of dust rust but that will come off easily enough. After that I adjusted the brakes, fluid in the rear, and she rides really well but of course she will need a thorough going over before she hits the road.

She is a very correct bike with a few period accessories and a nice paint job. Like most standard Harleys; she is the same but a bit different.

SOLD

 

Chicano Chop

So after buying the green chopper I started looking for a motor. I found one, started to negotiate but ended up buying the complete bike. But she is cool and doesn’t deserve to be broken.

She had been in storage for some years now and was missing leads, plugs, and the twist grip. We put those parts on, a new battery, oils and gas, then she fired up after about a dozen kicks. Even the lights still work! There is no clutch control, the front brake cable has been unattached and some other small stuff.

She’s a tough bike, really strong FLH motor, belt primary and I love the S&S carb with the Goodson cover. Now I have to decide; do I rob the motor for the green bike, start changing the parts to update her and get really Mexican and keep her or get her rolling and make another quick sale. Decisions. SOLD

 

Another 8A for sale

This lovely little 8A (on the left) will be for sale at Veterama later this week. It is priced at €52k which is just under $60k US. The one on eBay last week (on the right) reached $45k but not the seller’s reserve!

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