Post Sale Update: This Husky sold for the BIN of $5,695. Here’s a good way to confuse your riding buddies – tell them you’re about to buy a two-stroke Husky and then show up with this! Here’s a Model 301, also known as the Ornen (which translates to “Eagle”). It was Husky’s first two-stroke motorcycle.
Inclined Depression-Era Brit – 1931 Triumph WO
1931 was a pretty significant year for the British motorcycle history. Ariel debuted its legendary Square Four (designed by Edward Turner), Britain issued its first Highway Code laws, and it was an even bigger year for Triumph who introduced an array of new offerings that brought the number of total models offered in the 1931 motorcycle range up to ten. …
Early American – 1911 Yale Single
Post Listing Update: This Yale did not meet reserve despite 48 bids up to $25,368.13 (BIN was $36,500). 10-12-17 Update: This bike did not sell on Craigslist so now it’s up on eBay and we can see what the market thinks of it. Bidding is currently up to $24,100 with the reserve not yet met here on eBay. 10-12-17 Bonus …
Original Paint – 1913 Flying Merkel
Post Listing Update: Despite a hefty 128 bids up to $89,999, this Flying Merkel did not meet reserve. Built between 1911 and 1915, the Flying Merkel is one of the most iconic American motorcycles of all time. The brand actually started back in 1902 as a bicycle builder, but a year later the founder (Joseph Merkel) started slapping single-cylinder motors …
1937 Tornax K20
Over a 29-year history of motorcycle production between the 20s and the 50s, the German firm Tornax built about 50,000 bikes. One of them was the K20, which was introduced in 1936.
Keystone Framed Factory Hillclimber – 1923 Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam
Hillclimbers are some of the most interesting historically significant motorcycles out there. As high-dollar auctions like Bonham’s and Mecum have demonstrated, the right hillclimber in good condition can be worth a literal fortune. One of my favorites is the 1928 Excelsior Big Bertha Hillclimber that sold at a Vegas Mecum auction earlier this year for $117,500. This 1923 H-D Twin-Cam …
In Belgium – 1913 Indian Board Track Racer
Board Track racers are fascinating machines for a myriad of reasons. For starters they’re pretty much uniquely American – which is an increasingly rare feat in the two-wheeled racing world – they possess an undeniable historical significance and they flat out exude an old-school cool and simplicity to them. This beautiful four-valve (two for each of its two cylinders) Factory …
In Australia – 1898 De Dion Bouton 1 3/4hp Tricycle
Post Listing Update: This DDB did not meet reserve with 40 bids up to $36,322. Based on that price point, the seller has relisted the bike with an opening ask of…$99,500. So if you didn’t want it at less than $40k and instead wanted to spend over twice as much, you can now find it here on eBay. After a …
Big Twin Custom – 1931 Harley-Davidson VL
Post Sale Update: This custom VL sold for $22,000 after 25 bids on eBay. This beautiful VL is currently setup as a flat tracker but it’s titled/registered and it comes with everything needed to run it on the street as well. I really hope the next owner decides to go the street route, but I’ll love this bike either way.
1924 Indian Scout
Indian introduced the Scout in 1920 and the run continued until WWII. It would be one of Indian’s best selling models of all time and some consider the second generation Scout (1928-31) the best motorcycle made by Indian. The first generation Scout was somewhat underpowered but by the second generation the motor and handling had improved which led to legendary …
1916 Indian Powerplus with Side Car
The Indian Power Plus was a successful roadster and canvas for racing bikes, especially with Erwin “Cannonball” Baker (after whom the Cannonball Run was named after). Hemmings called this “the engine that changed American motorcycling.” Today we’ve got an example that forgoes the racing pedigree for the utility of a sidecar.
1920 Excelsior Series 20
Excelsior introduced its first motorcycle in 1905 after starting in the bicycle business. In 1910 Excelsior introduced their first V-Twin and by 1911 the company had been bought by Ignaz Schwinn of the bicycle firm that bore his name. 1915 saw the introduction of the ‘Big X’ V-Twin, a 61 CID power plant that would carry on to 1925. The …
1 of 1 – 1913 Harley-Davidson Forecar
How much would the last of something be worth? In a world that is dominated by scarcity, real or imagined, what is the value of ‘the only one known to exist’? This Harley Davidson Forecar is the only one, and it’s for sale. The Forecar was introduced in 1913 in response to a perceived need for delivery vehicles in the …
Ending Soon – 1917 Colson Bicycle with Smith Motor Wheel
The Colson Corporation sold bicycles between 1917 and 1953, typically through retailers like Goodyear and Firestone. So why are you seeing one on a page about motorcycles? Because this first year Colson bicycle is equipped with a Smith Motor Wheel! Around 1910, Arthur William Wall developed a direct drive motor wheel to power a bicycle – it was the first …
1946 Ariel Red Hunter 350
We recently featured one of these in December, so it is a little unusual to see another pop up on Craigslist. Maybe the owner got motivated after the recent auctions, as some of the older, collectible bikes were fetching serious money, especially the pre-war American twins. Alas, this is neither pre-war, a twin, or American, but that makes it more …