Tag Archives: Auction

News

Silent auction for dumped motorbikes

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“Someone’s trash could be your treasure,” Wagga Wagga says on its Facebook page about a silent auction for a bunch of rusted motorcycle parts.

And they very well could be, even though they look like rusted waste. To some collectors they could be just what they need to finish a resto.

According to council, the large range of vintage motorbike frames and parts were dumped at the Gregadoo Waste Management Centre.

They include some manufactured by AJS, BSA and Ariel.

“If this has got you revved up, then head to the Tip Shop from Friday 8 February to Sunday 10 February between 8am to 4pm,” the post says.Silent auction for dumped motorbikes

Silent auction

They will be offered for sale in what’s called a silent auction.

Silent auctions are held without an auctioneer. People usually place their bids on sheets of paper or online instead.

In this case, offers will be received in sealed envelopes at the Tip Shop, 132 Ashfords Rd, Gregadoo, from Monday.Silent auction for dumped motorbikes

Anyone not in Wagga can phone (02) 6926 9166 to discuss other bid arrangements.

However, there will be no picking through the scraps as it’s an all-or-nothing auction.

Buy the entire collection or forget it; the lot goes to the highest offer.

The silent auction opens on Monday.

If you are after some classic motorcycles in running order, check out this Shannons auction with several bikes offered at no reserve.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Massive MV Agusta collection for sale

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One of the largest known collections of MV Agusta motorcycles will go up for auction on Saturday (February 9, 2019), including nearly every production model since 1945.

Almost 100 motorcycles and even scooters from an unnamed Italian family will go under the hammer at the Retromobile Show in Paris.

Retromobile says the bikes, which include production models, factory prototypes and racers, could sell for as little as €3000 (about $A4800) to much as €250,000 ($400,000).MV Agusta

Many of the bikes were built by MV legendary Agusta racing manager Arturo Magni.

The family collection was started by the current owner’s uncle.

He worked in the family’s MV Agusta garage and raced the bikes in the Giro d’Italia and the Milan-Tarento races.

He bought the bikes when they were worth very little and had to rent a disused factory near Monaco to store the collection.

Most of the bikes were restored by ex-MV Agusta mechanics with no thought to the cost.

All are in running condition and have certificates of conformity issued by the MV Agusta museum.

If you’re interested in something a little closer to home, check out this Shannons auction in March including several classic bikes with no reserve.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Steve McQueen Speed Twin sets record

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Steve McQueen continues to set motorcycle records 38 years after his death with his Triumph Speed Twin fetching the highest price ever paid for that model at auction.

The 1938 Triumph 5T Speed Twin 500 was estimated to fetch up to $US65,000 (about $A91,000), but sold at the Bonham’s annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction for $175,500 ($A245,000), almost three times as much.

When the hammer fell and the King of Cool’s ride set a new world auction record, the audience erupted in cheers and applause.

Steve McQueen 1938 Triumph Speed Twin

Triumph and McQueen

The Hollywood star had a long association with Triumph having ridden a TR6 in The Great Escape and the 1964 International Six Day Trial, representing the USA.

His Speed Twin was restored by friend and fellow ISDT team member Bud Ekins in the mid to late 1970s.

It’s not the most expensive motorcycle sold at auction. That honour also once belonged to a Steve McQueen bike.

His 1915 Cyclone sold at a 2015 Las Vegas Mecum auction for almost $A1 million.

Steve McQueen's Cyclone -
Steve McQueen’s Cyclone

However, that record was beaten on Australia Day 2018 when a 1951 Vincent Black Lightning on which Jack Ehret set an Australian speed record was bought at the Bonham’s annual Las Vegas motorcycle auction for a record $US929,000 ($A1,155,000, €748,500) by an unknown collector who is returning the bike to Australia.

Jack Ehret's Vincent Black Lightning collection valuable - speed twin
Jack Ehret’s Vincent Black Lightning

Bonham’s highlights

Another highlight of this year’s Bonham’s Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction was a 1993 Ducati Supermono, one of just 67 made.

It was tipped to fetch up to $125,000 (about $A177,000), but was bought fora bargain $115,000 ($A160,000).

Ducati Supermono speed twin

Another highlight that turned out to sell for a bargain price was a 1916 Harley-Davidson Model F that sat untouched for many decades and still includes a period front tyre.

It was parked indoors many years ago in indoor storage and was recently discovered by American TV car restorer Wayne Carini, host of the Chasing Classic Cars TV series which featured the Harley in one episode.

The Harley was expected to fetch bids up to $100,000 (about $A140,000), but went for just $34,500 ($A48,000).

Harley-Davidson Model F speed twin

Meanwhile, a 1974 Munch Mammoth TTS, known as the world’s first superbike, made $112,000 ($A156,000).

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Record-setting BMW K 1600 GT for auction

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This record-setting BMW K 1600 GT is up for auction in Las Vegas on Australia Day (January 26, 2019) with 20% of the proceeds going to a veterans charity.

The bike belongs to Carl Reese who set records for fastest USA crossing in 38 hours, 49 minutes, in August 2015, and the longest ride in 24 hours, completing 2116.5 miles (3406km) at an average speed of 94mph in February 2017.

The Californian could have ridden even further on his mile-munching K 1600 GT (Read our review here) in the latter record. However, he had to stop after 22 hours and 52 minutes because his team ran out of available tyres. He says he could have ridden the K 1600 GT an extra 150km.

K 1600 GT aids charity

Now the BMW is up for auction with no reserve at the Mecum Auction in Las Vegas on January 26.

Carl is generously donating 20% of the proceeds from the sale of his K 1600 GT to the “Motorcycle Relief Project”.

The nonprofit organisation provides relief to veterans and first responders with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other injuries. It takes PTSD sufferers on structured and professionally led, multi-day motorcycle adventure tours.

Despite the record distances, the bike only has 39,000km on the clock.

“There have been no mechanical issues to speak of,” Carl told us.

“All maintenance has been done by West Valley Cycle Sales, the oldest motorrad dealer in the USA.

“This bike is set up for anyone that wants to take a shot at any of my records. It’s in perfect working order.

“I have plans to set more records in the near future, and I need to thin out the stable to finance those attempts.”Record-setting BMW K 1600 GT for auction

The K 1600 GT has been upgraded with 30,000 lumens Clearwater Lights, BST Carbonfibere wheels, EarthX Lithium Battery, GPS Insight Global Tracking System, Lidar Cloaking, Russell Daylong Seat, ZTechnik windshield, AltRider Engine guards, auxiliary fuel tank and Worldwide Ceramic bearings.

The winning bidder will also receive a Guinness World Record letter of authenticity, certificate of origin and signed photograph and official BMW Motorrad t-shirt featuring the bike.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com