The results from the early auctions give us some idea of how the market for classic motorcycles is going. And the two big auctions held in Las Vegas recently pointed to a buoyant market.

Auctions America by RM posted over $4.1 million worth of total sales, whereas their counterparts at Bonhams 1973 Ltd. Generated $1.8 million in sales.

As always at major auctions, there was plenty of interesting and plenty of desirable lots on offer. For the Bonhams auction, buyers were offered the chance to bid on one of America's famous family's collections when 50 motorcycles and 100 lots of the du Pont collection came under the hammer.

L. Paul du Pont had guided the Indian company during the depression as president of the company and his personal collection of bike and parts were highly sought after.

At the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino the Auctions America by RM offered 490 motorcycles, including eight different collections. For a first-time event by this auction house, it was highly successful.

As with all major auctions, there were some high value machines at both events, but it was nice to see many enthusiasts getting the chance to buy at reasonable prices some very special classics.

My personal favorites? Any one of the rare and beautifully engineered Italian small capacity road racers.

Driving with a sidecar passenger can be a challenge in the best circumstances. I was doing some research on Excelsior and Indian motorcycles recently when I came across some amazing images that made my days of sidecar racing seem like a gentle country ride.

But first, I have a question: What would make the Wall of Death more dangerous?

Answer: take a lion with you!

Yes, back in the early days of motorcycling, all sorts of ideas were tried to draw crowds into fairs and circuses. But taking a lion around the wall of death has to be the craziest idea of all. What struck me about this story is: how did the decision come about?

If anyone knows the answer, please let me know.

Further Reading:

Lions and Ladies

New York Times article

The history of one English motorcycle manufacturer says a lot about what was best (at the beginning) and worst (at the end) of the British manufacturers.

When Villiers began to make 2-stroke engines available for other manufacturers, the company's order book included names such as: Aberdale, ABJ, AJS, AJW, Ambassador, BAC, Bond, Bown, Butler, Commander, Corgi, Cotton, Cyc-Auto, DMW, Dot, Excelsior, Francis-Burnett, Greeves, HJH, James, Mercury, New Hudson, Norman, OEC, Panther, Radco, Rainbow, Scorpion, Sprite, Sun, Tandon, and not forgetting Seagull for outboard engines!

Producing over two million units, it is hard to imagine a company with such a skilled base not still in business today, but sadly, that is the case. After numerous government injections of cash in the 70s, and enforced amalgamations with other struggling British motorcycle manufacturers (Norton, BSA, and Triumph), the company ceased production and went into receivership in 1975.

The good news is that classic bike enthusiasts can still get many examples of the machines either made by Villiers or powered by one of their engines; with parts (including NOS) being readily available for most of their range.

People collect all sorts of things. It starts out with a single item, then spreads to include more of the same, or similar. And so it is with classic motorcycles.

Many motorcycle collectors started their hobby with just one bike (ok, some bought a complete collection), but as their interest grew so too did the number of bikes. Large collections often get placed into a museum, or in the case of George Barber's collection, a museum was built to accommodate them.

Today, it is not uncommon to see collections being offered at auction. For instance, a number of collections were offered at recent auctions (by Bonhams and Auctions America) in Las Vegas. The good news is that as the owners decide to sell their collections, many individual buyers will have the chance to own a classic motorcycle.