CLASSICS
Auction prices are going crazy. Can you guess what they sold for?
1977 Benelli 750 Sei Estimate £8000 12,000
A tidy restoration of a 1970s Italian glam rocker. Why wouldn’t you want a 750cc six-cylinder bike with six exhaust pipes? Prices have climbed, but the auctioneer’s estimate seems reasonable. Personally I prefer them in green.
1998 Ducati 916SPS Estimate £15,000 19,000
Less than 4000 miles from new, fitted with Marchesini wheels and Termignoni cans this looks like a good example of an iconic bike. Dealers are already asking daft money, so the estimate looks fair, but will it actually get used by the next buyer. Shame if it won’t.
2000 MV Agusta F4S Biposto Estimate £7000 9000
From the first year of production, with 24,000km on the clock, this is a Belgian registered bike. It’s either an expensive 20-year-old sportsbike, or a cheap 750cc MV Agusta. You decide which, but there’s plenty of these out there.
1970 Münch Mammoth Estimate £75,000 100,000
You wanted this in your hand when playing Top Trumps. Powered by a 1200cc NSU car engine these German behemoths are over the top in every way. But the quality of the castings, like the rear wheel and the chain guard are astonishing.
1983 Suzuki GSX1100 Katana Estimate £5000 8000
Katanas are already going up in value and to me this estimate looks conservative. Designed by Target Design and introduced at the 1980 Cologne show, they are still influencing Suzuki’s styling department. They’re quick too.
1986 Yamaha XJ650 Turbo Estimate £4000 4500
The Yamaha is the least desirable of the eighties Japanese manufacturer fashion for turbos, but it’s also the most affordable. I can’t imagine that this will be a great ride, but it says ‘Turbo’ on the side, and that is the main thing.
1989 Honda RC30 Estimate £25,000 35,000
Ex-honda Britain race bike apparently used by Brian Morrison (at the TT) and Steve Hislop (Macau GP). That’s strong history, but like all race bikes, it’s a woodman’s axe. Road going versions of Honda’s seminal 750cc V4 are selling for strong money these days.
1940 Indian Four Estimate £28,000 35,000
Indian’s first year with art deco skirted mudguards. You also get hand shift (on the tank) leaf sprung front suspension and plunger rear. Engine is a 1265cc with exhaust-over-inlet valve operation. Life’s not complete without one, surely.
1977 Harley-davidson XLCR Estimate £8000 12,000
This was Harley’s mid-70s attempt to make a bike that would appeal to non-harley people. Good effort. They look fantastic, but that’s still an iron head Sportster engine and chassis. Definitely collectable though. This is a duty paid but unregistered US import.
1974 Ducati 750SS (in bits) Estimate £30,000 40,000
It’s one of only 401 ‘round case’ 750SS Ducatis that were modelled on Paul Smart’s 1972 Imola 200 winner. These are massively desirable amongst collectors, but this one has been in bits since 1979. On the plus side it’s still got original paint on the frame.
1977 Triumph TR7 Estimate £5500 8000
Ex-white Helmets display team bike, so unregistered and with no instruments or lights. I’m not sure what you’d do with it, though riding through flaming hoops is tempting. White Helmets connection maybe doubles the value of a 750cc Triumph twin.
1978 BMW R100RS ‘Krauser’ Estimate £5000 8000
Tidy example of the fully faired R100RS, in stylish ‘Motorsport’ colour scheme. But this one is fitted with period extras including four-valve Krauser cylinder heads. Though the performance gain is probably marginal it’d be a nice usable classic.
1973 MV Agusta 750S Estimate £70,000 90,000
Collectors love MV Agustas. All that racing history and ‘cogniscenti’ nonsense makes them go gooey. Personally I’m a bit non-plussed by the four-cylinder road bikes. There are lots of other things that are nicer to ride, and more interesting .
1946 49 Vincent Rapide (in bits) Estimate £18,000 22,000
Beware. It’s not all there, and the frame member is a modern reproduction. But all Vincent bits are available, making this a lovely buy for Meccano enthusiasts. Vincents are great things, and this might be an affordable way into the legend. Might be.