6 Classic Motorcycles for Collectors
Like the assembly of any art collection, acquiring a collection of classic motorcycles can be motivated by a number of reasons. For some it’s the love of the machinery, for others, their visual artistry, while some folks just want the different riding experiences afforded by different bikes. Still, for some collectors, it’s an investment, chasing a hoped-for higher future value on an extremely rare or special machine.
While there are countless classic (and current) motorcycles that most of us would love to have in our own personal collections, the following is a list of the ultra-exotic stuff that’s commanded (or would command) huge money now. While there are a few familiar names, most of these machines are from companies that ceased operations generations ago, making them all the more exclusive.
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Brough Superior SS100. Estimated value $450,000–$500,000+
With exceptional build quality and bespoke elements like handlebars individually shaped for each buyer, the English-built Brough Superior SS100 became known in its day as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles. The 100 in its name referred to the guarantee that each bike could achieve a top speed of at least 100 mph—a remarkable feat in its day—and the Brough Superior SS100 collected several speed and lap records including a top speed run by the company founder in 1928 reaching 130.6 mph. A few SS100s have been sold at auctions over the past dozen years, each earning more than $400,000, with George Brough’s personal bike (in pieces, no less), drawing a selling bid in 2019 of $542,500.
BMW RS 255 Kompressor. Estimated value $450,000–$500,000
As a pioneering company with forced induction engines, it’s not surprising BMW experimented early on with supercharging their motorcycles, making machines with small engines compete for top-speed records with larger British v-twin bikes.
The RS 255 Kompressor was a Rennsport machine that not only had a powerful engine, but a masterfully lightened and tuned suspension to make the bike handle well and dominate both German and European championships in the late 1930s. In 2013, a reconstructed RS 255 Kompressor built from an early 1939 chassis and a newer race-spec engine sold at auction for $480,000.
1912 Henderson Four. Estimated value $500,000
The oldest bike on our list, the Henderson Four shares a focus on high performance that seems like a requirement with every other hyper-collectable motorcycle. Resembling a bicycle with some extra parts more than a modern motorcycle, the Henderson Four was powered by an inline four-cylinder engine that delivered all of 7 horsepower. Still, the bike was coveted by police forces for being faster than anything else on the road and was the first motorcycle to ride around the world.
When new, the Henderson Four cost $325, a small fraction of the $490,000 one sold for at auction in 2017.
Crocker Motorcycles. Estimated value $750,000–$800,000
Los Angeles-based Indian Motorcycle dealer Albert Crocker started producing performance kits then entire motorcycles during the 1930s. By the middle of that decade, Crocker was building v-twin-powered bikes that improved upon the best that both Harley-Davidson and Indian were producing at the time by having lower weight and more power. Ultimately, the small volume and custom part requirements became too costly to be competitive with the larger bike makers, forcing Crocker to stop production.
A Crocker Big Tank model earned a top bid of $704,000 in 2019, while a Crocker Small Tank saw the gavel drop at $880,000 at auction in February 2025.
Vincent Black Lightning. Estimated value $500,000–$1 Million
British motorcycle company Vincent has become famous for their performance bikes from the 1950s. The Black Shadow was a coveted machine for its serious performance, known especially for its 125-mph top speed, but the Black Lightning was a factory-built, race-spec version of the Black Shadow that took everything the company knew about high-performance and amped it up. Of note, light-weight magnesium parts, special racing tires, and higher-strength engine internals all helped the Black Lightning achieve record top speeds of the era. The bike was so fast, Rollie Free achieved a motorcycle land-speed record in 1948 at the Bonneville Salt Flats as he laid out flat on the bike, wearing only a bathing suit to minimize drag while achieving a top speed in excess of 150 mph, only to be bettered two years later by Rollie on a Black Lightning that went 156.58 mph.
While other Black Lightnings have traded hands in recent years in the $300–400,000 range, a very original example with a strong Australian racing pedigree reached $929,000 at auction in 2018.
Cyclone Board Track Racer. Estimated value $800,000–$2 Million
Here’s another motorcycle that looks more like a glorified antique bicycle, but clearly that doesn’t make it any less valuable. The Cyclone company was short-lived from 1912 through 1917, during which their small bikes were powered by a 45 hp v-twin engine to reach over 100 mph. This performance helped the Cyclone rack up a strong reputation within the dirt track and board track racing circuits in the 1910s and 1920s.
The values of some recent Cyclone sales have been bumped by celebrity ownership. A 1915 model that had been previously owned by acting legend Steve McQueen and sold in 2015 at auction for $852,000. In early 2025, a similar 1915 model previously enjoyed by Hollywood stuntman Bud Ekins broke all motorcycle records and drew a selling bid of $1.32 million.
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While bikes like these are unobtainable to most of us, Cycle Trader is full of hidden gems that could be the next big thing on the collectible market. Ultimately, we encourage collectors to have fun and acquire the bikes they love.
Jeff Wilson