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Bikes, how will we love thee? Effectively, 1000’s of us are keen to take a seat in an indoor rodeo area in Las Vegas for days, listening to the drone of knowledgeable cattle auctioneer’s callout as a whole lot of bikes move underneath the hammer daily. 2024 is one other banner yr for Mecum’s Las Vegas mega-auction, with over 1400 bikes able to roll throughout the public sale podium on the South Level Resort and On line casino, with the motion commencing at 9am Wed Jan 24, and working until about 4pm on Saturday Jan 27. The wonderful number of bikes on supply come from particular person sellers, skilled restorers, and this yr from a document 18 particular collections, starting from John Goldman’s very good Museo Moto Italia assortment to the Traditional Bikes Austria assortment to the Bud Ekins Household Belief.
The Vintagent workforce has chosen their Mecum High Ten for 2024 from the rabbit gap that’s the entirety of Mecum’s four-day listing. We invite you to take a look for your self, and if there’s something we missed that you just assume needs to be included, be at liberty so as to add it to the feedback under, together with why it floats your boat. The next bikes float our boat, filling a wide range of totally different neurotransmitter receptors, from funky and unique, to awesomely historic, to groovy one-offs. Get pleasure from!
1957 F.B. Mondial 250 Bialbero
For those who have been on the lookout for the last word collector bike, look no additional, as this extraordinary 1957 Mondial 250cc Bialbero Grand Prix has all of it: wonderful beauty, apex technical sophistication and innovation, and World Championship podium standing. It’s terribly uncommon and possibly distinctive, as a part of the Mondial manufacturing unit assortment that was dispersed following their closure in 1977. F.B. Mondial received a trifecta of World Championships from 1949-51 within the 125cc class, then formally took a break from Grand Prix competitors to focus on growing their highway bike enterprise. The manufacturing unit nonetheless offered Monoalbero racers to chose purchasers, and quietly developed them whereas biding their time to return to GP racing with a brand new mannequin. In late 1956 they revealed a wholly new DOHC single-cylinder racer with a 6-speed gearbox, utilizing a shaft-and-bevel drive for the cams quite than their regular prepare of gears. With engine quantity 250-1, this machine is almost definitely the very first of those manufacturing unit racers, in-built 1956 and raced solely by manufacturing unit rider Tarquinio Provini in the course of the 1957 season. That is almost definitely the very machine Provini raced to 2nd place within the 1957 World Grand Prix Championship, and on which he received the 1957 Italian Nationwide Championship. Throughout 1957, the manufacturing unit revised the engine for his or her 250 DOHC racers, returning to a tower of gears driving the camshafts, which Provini didn’t race. Of the each forms of 250 Grand Prix racers from 1956/7, it’s believed solely seven machines whole have been constructed, and that is the one shaft-and-bevel 250 Mondial racer on this planet.
This beautiful machine deservedly received Better of Present on the 2017 Quail Motorbike Gathering, and was included within the 2023 Taschen reference ebook ‘Final Collector Bikes’, by Charlotte and Peter Fiell. And this manufacturing unit 1957 Mondial 250cc Bialbero Grand Prix actually qualifies, being distinctive, storied, and devastatingly stunning.
1938 Brough Superior SS100 with Sidecar
Barn discover SS100s are extremely uncommon lately, so this 1938 MX-engined SS100 is thrilling: it’s a recognized machine within the Brough membership, was final registered in England in 1967, and appears to be in unique paint situation, with sufficient patina to counsel it’s unmolested and unique. Plus, it comes with a a uncommon Launch sidecar from the Brough Superior catalog, with the well-known ‘petrol tube’ chassis George Brough invented.
George Brough earned everlasting fame together with his Brough Superiors, particularly the SS100 mannequin, which was his masterpiece. When launched in 1924, the ‘Hundred’ was probably the most stunning, most costly, quickest, and most coveted bike on this planet, and so it stays to at the present time. Whereas George was a grasp of PR, he was additionally a grasp stylist, and each bike to emerge from his small Nottingham workshop was assured to be as beautiful because it was eminently purposeful. His machines labored; they have been constructed for quick touring (and racing, when you ordered it so) with ‘particular for Brough’ extra-durable supplies inside their engines and gearboxes, which he famously strong-armed out of his suppliers, who it should be acknowledged benefitted equally from the affiliation. Within the mid-Nineteen Thirties, George Brough sourced his SS80 and SS100 engines from AMC, with their ‘MX’ sidevalve and overhead valve engines. The MX-engine secured the Brough Superior SS100’s standing because the world’s premier luxurious bike on its introduction in 1934, having change into an ultra-sophisticated grand tourer of peerless styling and a first-class end, a money-no-object bike for the very wealthy. Which completely defines the SS100’s place in motorcycling at present, and whereas the price of possession has grown exponentially, the outline when new stays the identical. Broughs by no means languished as cheap or disposable, and their coveted standing amongst collectors means a excessive share of the 3048 Brough Superiors constructed have survived.
You want uncommon? How about distinctive! This fascinating particular has a recognized historical past as one man’s imaginative and prescient of the right bike, and in reality it’s fairly cool. Within the ‘Teenagers and Twenties, dialogue raged within the motorcycling press concerning ‘the perfect bike’. Ernest Tavener, a 19-year outdated apprentice within the Rolls Royce plane division, put the steel the place his mouth was in 1921, making his personal ultimate bike, which he naturally dubbed the Tavener. The specification was intriguing, and included an M.A.G. (Motosacoche) 1000cc V-twin engine paired with a single-speed belt drive and clutch. The Motosacoche engine was thought of the finest-built bike engine one may purchase off the shelf, with typical Swiss traits: excellent castings and construct high quality, stable specification with a sporting edge: not the quickest motor out there however a lot much less nervous than a comparable sporting J.A.P. V-twin. Up to now so good: the place the Tavener will get fascinating is the chassis, which is clearly what Ernest had concepts about. The body is constructed totally of straight tubing for max power, and bolted collectively with out welds or heavy solid lugs. The steering head is a chunk of stout large-diameter tubing, to which all ahead body tubes are bolted. The engine and gearbox are mounted in flat plats and flat straps, additionally bolted collectively. The rear body part runs extensive of the rear wheel, which is definitely carried in an unbiased, leaf-sprung subframe constructed of sheet metal. The entrance forks are probably the most elaborate a part of the chassis, with a triple girder fork mounting the entrance wheel on a leading-link axle, which strikes by way of a lever to a flat leaf spring mounted alongside the deeply valanced entrance fender. The rear fender is equally deeply valanced, 20 years earlier than Briggs Weaver redesigned the Indian motocycle lineup alongside comparable traces.
In 1926 the Tavener was modified to incorporate a 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox and clutch. Within the Nineteen Eighties the Taverner was restored for the highway, which is the state through which it sits at present as an older restoration of an enchanting and distinctive bike with glorious traces and revolutionary chassis design. With a stout body, leaf springing entrance and rear, and engaging bodywork, the Tavener stays a remarkably interesting bike.
For those who’re a army bike buff, you’ve seen all of the WLAs, M20s, and R75Ms you want in your life, however you’ve in all probability by no means seen a Gilera LTE in full army spec earlier than. And it’s a magnificence, with full suspension entrance and rear in typical Nineteen Thirties Italian type, and beautiful castings and construct high quality. Gilera was the sharp fringe of future racing know-how within the 30s with their supercharged DOHC four-cyliner Rondine racer, however additionally they supplied extra humble however superbly made bikes for the general public, just like the Saturno hotrod single, and the LTE, with its 500cc sidevalve engine.
The LTE was characterised by an uncommon rear suspension system offered by a triangulated tubular swingarm linked to horizontal spring containers mounted excessive within the body, with a hand-adjustable friction damper. The forks have been normal girders, and the gearbox a 4-speed with hand shifter. With its 500cc sidevalve motor, the LTE was a stunning machine, and was lighter and extra refined than its rivals. This 1941 Gilera LTE is a really uncommon machine, and in very good, absolutely operational situation.
1953 Harley-Davidson Mannequin KK
This ultra-rare, low-mileage 1953 Harley-Davidson Mannequin KK is a one-year-only mannequin and a manufacturing unit Sizzling Rod. The odometer reads a plausible 6,500 miles, and as a first-generation Ok mannequin has a forty five CI (750cc) sidevalve V-twin motor that was revolutionary within the Harley-Davidson lineup. It was the primary Harley-Davidson with each hydraulic telescopic forks and hydraulic shock rear suspension and was their first unit-construction V-twin.
The Ok mannequin was Harley-Davidson’s reply to the British bike invasion postwar, being considerably lighter and smaller than their Massive Twin Panhead mannequin, and meant to take over in Class C racing from the WR sidevalve mannequin. The Ok mannequin used the identical bore/stroke because the outdated W collection (2-3/4” x 3 13/16”), with a 6.5:1 compression ratio, with closely finned aluminum cylinder heads to assist cooling. With a unit-construction crankcase, the Ok mannequin saved house and weight and had a contemporary look, years earlier than the British twins adopted the identical thought. The usual Ok mannequin Sports activities Twin produced 30 HP and weighed 400lbs, however the KK was a hotted-up mannequin with a factory-installed ‘velocity package’ that included curler bearings and curler valve tappets, bigger valves, ported and polished cylinders, and matching heads for higher fuel circulation, together with sizzling camshafts. By no coincidence, Harley-Davidson additionally launched the KR mannequin in 1953 because the manufacturing unit Class C racer, and the experience gained in tuning the brand new Ok mannequin for racing was tailored in a barely much less fierce kind to this roadster mannequin KK: racing improves the breed, as they are saying.The KK Sport Twin produced 34 HP and was good for over 90 MPH, with superb dealing with and a modest weight making for a really sporting twin certainly.
Yamaha’s Ascot Scrambler is an enchanting machine, a mixture of the YDS-2 road bike and the TD1 manufacturing racer, with its personal distinctive bits that make components sourcing for this bike mainly not possible. Yamahas have been the 250cc engine of selection for Newbie class racers, as they have been restricted to that engine capability for his or her first yr of AMA racing, and Yamaha was the quickest engine out there. Tuners and racers generally put TD1 engines into particular frames by Trackmaster, Redline, et al, which put Yamaha on the rostrum at tracks like Ascot Park, with out the manufacturing unit even making an attempt.
Yamaha had sense sufficient to make their very own dust racer, and the Ascot Scrambler was consequence: a 250cc twin-cylinder two stroke with 35hp. The Ascot, launched in 1962, used the aluminum cylinder barrels of the TD1 with barely smaller intakes (24mm Mikuni carbs have been used), mixed with enlargement chambers and wheels from the TD1, and its personal body. Manufacturing lasted from 1962 to 1967, and whereas it was a well-liked vendor for racers, only a few survive intact, and never many are in such good unique situation like this bike.
Tiny cafe racers, like kittens and puppies, provoke the identical response in all motorcyclists: they SO CUTE! And this Bianchi Falco is additional tremendous cute, and critically badass on the similar time. With its elongated fuel tank trying like Alien’s motorchild, the clip-ons and humped seat, the blue metalflake paint job, and its rarity, make this Bianchi the micro etceterini cafe racer to have. It’s acquired a single-cylinder 50cc two-stroke motor, and isn’t a moped because it doesn’t have pedals: it’s a small bike, and exquisitely designed.
I’ve seen this bike put in within the dwelling of its proprietor, John Goldman, and instantly coveted it…and all the opposite loopy cool Italian Grand Prix racers and cafe racers in his assortment. A lot of that hoard is on sale in Vegas this January because the ‘Museo Moto Italia Assortment’, which incorporates the most important non-public sale of F.B. Mondial bikes ever.
1947 Supercharged Zundapp KS600 Oskar Pillenstein racer
After WW2, Germany was banned from the Grand Prix circuit, however they nonetheless held bike races, and their very own German Nationwide Championship. Additionally, not being a part of the FIM meant they may use superchargers, which have been banned in every single place else. This exceptional blown Zundapp KS600 racer was initially constructed by Oskar Pillenstein with assist from Zundapp’s head of design, Richard Kuchen. Pillenstein promptly received the 1948 German Motorbike Championship with it, setting a category document of 103kmh.
The KS600 was the continuation of Zundapp’s prewar engine, and the idea for the legendary Inexperienced Elephant KS601 to come back. Its 600cc OHV motor usually put out 28hp at 4,800rpm, however the addition of a supercharger undoubtedly gave an influence bump. There are tons of manufacturing unit racing bits in and out, as this can be a distinctive bike, and mainly a manufacturing unit racing Zundapp. It was restored in 1987, and was on show at a museum for nearly 30 years, however is now out there to you.
The primary of the legendary Indian fours have been mainly rebadged Aces, as Indian acquired that model in 1927, and offered them because the Indian Ace Collection 401, with a 77ci (1265cc) inline 4-cylinder engine. Initially the Indian-ACE was a parts-bin particular, utilizing up remaining ACE shares, however the 4 was modified over time to change into a totally Indian machine. Within the first half of 1928, the engine acquired lighter alloy pistons, pressurized oiling, and a brand new cam, giving it extra energy and reliability, and by August of 1928, Indian had redesigned the 4-cylinder to harmonize with the remainder of its mannequin lineup. Solely the first-year Indian-Ace Fours used the leading-link entrance fork and body seen right here, that are pure Ace gadgets. These early Indian-Ace Fours are coveted for his or her rarity and distinctive type, and clear connection to the daddy of the American 4-cylinder, William Henderson.
Henderson started producing his self-named 4 in 1912, however was compelled to promote his design to Schwinn in 1915. The ensuing Excelsior-Henderson was an excellent machine, however Henderson had different concepts, and designed a completely new bike that infringed none of his earlier patents, which he referred to as the Ace. It was the quickest manufacturing bike on this planet when the prototype was in-built 1919, however American four-cylinder bikes have been all the time loss leaders, and when Henderson was killed whereas testing an Ace in 1921, issues went downhill. The Ace identify was offered twice earlier than being bought by Indian in 1927, and the primary Indian-Ace fashions have been in-built early 1928.
I’ve recognized Ken Seavy for many years: he organized the acquisition of my Velocette Thruxton in 1989, after his boss at Good Olde Days acquired busted with 6 tons of amphetamines, and needed to liquidate his wonderful bike assortment. I’ve lengthy recognized Ken was racing legend Artwork Bauman’s nephew, and that he owned Artwork’s outdated Kawasaki H2R 750, amongst different very uncommon bikes, however he by no means invited me to see his assortment. Within the Nineteen Eighties and early 90s, the Kawasaki was on the nadir of its worth, however Ken knew what he had. Lastly, that imply inexperienced racing machine has come to mild, and it’s a magnificence, with a presale estimate of $180-220k.
The H2R 750 was a fabulously unhealthy thought, as Kawasaki was compelled to make use of their air-cooled H2 MkIV 750cc triple highway engine, and stuffed it within the H1R body meant for a 250cc engine. The consequence was a depraved two-stroke with 110hp that ran too sizzling and didn’t deal with properly, however was nonetheless very spectacular. The H2R 750 was solely constructed for 3 years, earlier than rule adjustments meant Kawasaki may change to watercooling its racing engine, and the KR750 supplanted it in 1975.
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