20 of the Best Bikes from Mecum’s Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction

Mecum’s annual Las Vegas motorcycle auction is the biggest event of the year for many a biker. This year over 2000 motorcycles spanning almost 120 years of two-wheels rolled across the block at the South Point Hotel and Casino. It was a sure bet you'd find something you liked. Here are our picks.

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1952 Vincent Black Shadow

Sold for $84,700

You could argue that this 998-cc twin was the first liter bike. As such, it made 55 hp from its air-cooled V-twin. The Black Shadow is a legend among motorcycle enthusiasts.

The Black Shadow model was the super-sports version of Philip Vincent’s 1946 Rapide V-twin that soon became legendary for its name, its all-black finish, and the fact that it was the fastest production motorcycle in the world from 1948 to 1973! Quite a run. This one was recently imported from England.

Mecum notes that Vincents handled very well for their time, winning the Unlimited class at the Manx GP 3 times and recording 19 top-10 finishes at the toughest road race in the world. “This 1952 Vincent Series C Black Shadow looks ready to hit the road for a new owner to experience what the World’s Fastest Motorcycle of the 1950s feels like today.”

1952 Vincent Rapide Series C

Sold for $47,300

Another Vincent makes the list. This one has fewer than 5000 miles on the odometer and boasts a “recent” restoration by the specialist shop Vincent Works in Dolores, Colorado.

Mecum says this bike is fully certified by the Vincent Owner’s Club as having matching numbers, as per the factory’s own record cards. A few upgrades were added for full road usability: It uses a BTH electronic ignition, an Alton alternator with solid state voltage regulator, a Ducati-style clutch for smoother takeoffs, a dry cell battery, forged Omega pistons and an Alpha big end.

Mecum added that it’s been museum-stored and includes full records of the restoration.

1914 Henderson Four

Sold for $148,500

A beautiful Henderson Four! This one looks to be in concours condition. Take this to The Quail and you could win something. Or just ride it around. The 1,068-cc four has got to be powerful, though no engine output is listed. Mecum fills us in:

Truly exceptional machines, 4-cylinder Henderson motorcycles have enchanted all lucky enough to have encountered one. This immaculate 1914 Henderson, with its blue and silver paint, oceans of nickel plate and elegant posture, makes it clear why so many have referred to Henderson as the “Duesenberg of Motorcycles.” Its creator, William G. Henderson, was born into a family ideally suited to produce such a monumental vehicle. Henderson’s grandfather, Alexander Winton, founded the Winton Motor Carriage Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and became the first commercially successful automobile manufacturer in America.

His grandson William Henderson came to work as a designer and draftsman at the factory in 1899, helping develop the Winton car during its meteoric rise. However, Henderson was captivated by the developments happening in the two-wheeled niche, and when Percy Pierce unveiled his inline 4-cylinder motorcycle, heavily inspired by the Belgian-made FN in 1909, his interest was piqued. In his grandfather’s factory, Henderson set about developing his own inline “four,” in 1911, and his prototype was ready. The first Henderson was a long and luxurious belt-driven F-head 4-cylinder, an unusual format compared to popular V-twins of the time but offering a superior smoothness and ample amount of power.

Mecum says this 1914 Henderson Four has undergone a concours restoration at the talented hands of marque expert Chris Matthews. A beautiful bike.

1912 Pierce Four

Sold for $137,500

Inline-fours from over 100 years ago are always top sellers at any motorcycle auction. They just look cool.

Mecum explains about this one: “From 1909 to 1913, the Pierce Cycle Company produced two of America's most unique motorcycle models from its factory in Buffalo, New York. The brand's roots stretch back to America's Reconstruction Era and the founding of the George Norman Pierce Manufacturing Company in 1878, makers of various household goods, bicycles and early steam-powered vehicles. By 1901, the first gasoline-powered Pierce automobile rolled onto the streets of Buffalo, followed three years later by the Pierce Great Arrow in 1904.”

This Pierce Four offered 41 cubic-inches of displacement mated to a two-speed transmission. Would love to ride this thing.

1970 Honda CB750

Sold for $14,300

Remember when these came out? They revolutionized the motorcycle world. A transverse-mounted four-cylinder that ran smoothly, quietly, and was reliable! This one has only 17,002 miles on it.

1979 Honda CBX1000

Sold for $28,050

A transverse-mounted straight-six! Outrageous!

The CBX was really just Honda engineers showing off. It wasn’t the first-ever transverse inline-six, but it was still something amazing. Coming as it did just a decade after the also-revolutionary CB750 transverse inline-four.

The 24-valve DOHC engine was 1047cc making a then-impressive 105 hp. This one has only 3,300 miles on the odometer, and it’s a three-owner bike with the last ownership going back to 1998.

1930 Harley-Davidson DL Twin

Sold for $12,100

This bike has a 45-cubic-inch air-cooled V-twin with a three-speed hand-shifted manual transmission. It’s listed as a patrol bike.

1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900

Sold for $13,750

This started out life as a 900-cc inline-four but was modified with a KZ1000 engine that had been rebuilt to 1200cc. It has only 333 miles since, the seller said.

Among its features are: new forged pistons with file-fit rings, Mikuni flat slide carburetors, Vance & Hines exhaust, Lester mag wheels, iconic 1973 Rootbeer and Orange basecoat, clearcoat paint scheme, NOS seat pan with seat custom upholstered in ultra leather with color-coordinated stitching, and it’s in “running condition!”

1931 Norton Model 20

Sold for $22,000

This one has a “comprehensive restoration completed in the U.K.”

The seller explained that the twin-port version of the prior Model 18, the Model 20, joined the Norton line-up for 1930. Shortly after, in 1931, the Model 20 was redesigned to include dry-sump lubrication and a rear-mounted magneto.

1953 Triumph 6T Backbird

Sold for $17,600

A 650-cc bike was a big deal in 1953. This bike’s predecessor, the Triumph 6T Thunderbird, was introduced three years earlier to a strong m0torcycle market. The larger capacity cousin of the Speed Twin became a favorite.