How to buy a future motorcycle classic

How do you spot a future motorcycle classic? If you’ve ever lamented selling what eventually went on to become a collectible bike worth a heap of money, you’ve probably also pondered how you might go about spotting a potential winner of the future. But before you go sifting through our thousands of bikesales classifieds listings, here some salient points to keep in mind…

Talk to two different people or even clubs in either the bike or car worlds and you’ll most likely get two different answers.

Here’s a formal list of dates sourced from an Australian historic car network:

• Veteran – manufactured prior to 1918
• Vintage – manufactured between 1919 and 1930
• Post Vintage – manufactured between 1931 and 1949
• Classic Acceptance – manufactured between 1950 and 1969
• Modern Classic – manufactured between 1970 and 1989

However, for our purposes, many people regard those definitions as too rigid and prefer to see the term ‘classic’ used for any collectible motorcycle that is eligible nationwide for historic plates, which means 30 years and older. Some clubs will go as low as 25 years.

A few factors to ponder here include having a good maker’s name, desirability, rarity, a competition connection, and fashion.

Let’s have a quick look at them individually.

There are scores of motorcycle names and marques that have quietly sunk without trace over the century or more we’ve been making motorcycles. And most have been forgotten – sometimes with good reason.

However, there are a few ‘dead’ brands that live on in legend, with Vincent-HRD being among the most prominent, along with Brough Superior and Crocker in the USA market. Generally they survive because they were regarded as being among the best of their time and have a little romance attached to their histories.

And then there are the live makers – the Hondas, Triumphs etcetera of this world – who have developed solid images and a long line of successful products. They continue to draw in new customers, some of whom learn to like the history of their favourite marque end up turning their attention to the models of yesterday.

Desirability is a little harder to judge, but high performance, sexy looks and a premium model are the things you are looking for. If it’s something a whole generation lusted after and had on a poster on their bedroom wall, you’re off to a flying start.

This is one to treat with caution. The fact a motorcycle is rare doesn’t necessarily make it valuable. It could be rare because no-one liked it when it was new, and they still don’t!

Of course, a rare or limited-edition model that’s in hot demand is a whole other proposition.

If you look at the epic amounts of money manufacturers throw at racing, you could be forgiven for wondering about their sanity. However, it’s a well-tried marketing tool that inevitably adds glamour to the models involved and the marque as a whole. Everyone loves a champion, apparently.

While there are some evergreen models out there, the classic market is nevertheless subject to the ebb and flow of fashion trends. For example, Ducati is a red-hot brand name in the collector world at the moment, in part thanks to a very successful marketing campaign that has shifted its image from just another bike maker to what many regard as a two-wheel answer to Ferrari.

That enables them to create and sell high-end limited-edition models as instant collectibles, largely through mailing lists rather than a showroom. The Ducati V4R Superleggera, priced in 2020 at an awe-inspiring $165,000, was a good example.

There are other factors in play, such as how the economy is going. For example, when Australians couldn’t spend money on travel during the pandemic lockdowns a couple of years ago, prices for mid-range classics went through the roof as the spare cash chased collectible cars and motorcycles. A good Honda CB750-Four K1 could easily fetch $35,000 during that period, while now that number would be around $5k or more lower.

Some mid-range classics have bucked that trend in recent years. For example, Norton Commandos are generating plenty of interest, perhaps in response to the revival of the factory in the UK. At the moment, a good quality Commando MkIII from 1975 will fetch around $35,000.

Further up the classic food chain, there are ‘gold-plated’ models that defy fashion, the economy, and everything else. In part that’s because only the very wealthy can afford them – and they tend to be recession-proof.

By far the best example is the Ducati 750 SS green frame of 1974. Built as a tribute to the factory’s 1972 Imola-winning twins, just 401 were made. World-renowned classic expert Ian Falloon tells us that they have seen steady growth over the last couple of decades and now a good one will fetch between $300,000 and $400,000.

If you keep our guidelines in mind, there is a handful of gems out of the 1990s, which means they either have or are close to hitting the magic 30- and 25-year marks. Let’s go for a bit of a tour through their ranks…

The first of Honda’s FireBlade line and a hugely influential motorcycle. Designed by the irrepressible Tadao Baba, this was a major step in the evolution of modern sportsbikes, the effects of which we’re still seeing today.

Good examples of the first model are thin on the ground, and you really want one with the factory exhaust. We’re seeing prices creep into the mid-teens, but they’re still good buying at that rate.

See the author's article on the Honda FireBlade.

This may be the wildcard from our selection. Moto Guzzi launched in 1921 and some 70 years down that historical track word leaked out of a Dr John replica. In other words, a tribute to the four-valve twin privately developed by American dentist, motorcycle racer, and engineer, Dr John Wittner.

Why? Because it went out and won the AMA Battle of the Twins championship in 1987. That was a hell of a feat. Inspired by that success, Moto Guzzi built its own four-valve sportsbike. It was expensive and only produced for two years. Expect to pay low 20s.

See the author's article on the Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000.

This is a bike that nails all the key collectible markers: beautiful to look at, great performance, a truly stunning history in the World Superbike Championship, and in demand for its entire history.

Penned by Massimo Tamburini, whose next big hit was the MV Agusta F4 series, the 916’s sensuous lines have aged well.

Upmarket SP and SPS versions are now pulling serious numbers in the classic market, while the humble Strada is also getting there. An early version – particularly out of the Varese plant – will fetch as much as $30k, and we suspect that will keep going for a while yet. Think of it as a modern-day Vincent.

See the author's article on the Ducati 916.

Developed by lead designer Kunihiko Miwa, the R1 was another key marker in the development of the modern sportsbike. He aimed for 110kW-plus (150hp) in a 600-class size package and pretty well got there.

They were wickedly quick and the first edition required an experienced set of hands to get the best out of them. Finding a good original one will be a challenge, as we know collectors have been quietly putting them away for several years. Expect to pay at least high teens, and we would regard low 20s as possible for the right example.

See the author's article on the Yamaha YZF-R1.

The only bike in our set that can’t point to a competition history, Suzuki’s Hayabusa is far from rare. But it can claim cult bike status, in part thanks to its then cutting-edge 300km/h-plus top speed.

At the time of launch, the shape was confronting and we suspect caused design leader Koji Yoshiura a few sleepless nights while he waited to see the public response to his controversial curves. Well-priced at $17,500, they flew off dealership floors.

The first edition, with its 340km/h speedo and preferably in the multi-tone copper paint, is the one to have. Finding a good example is a challenge, but we suspect it’s worth being patient. Expect to pay mid-20s for something with low miles and in factory trim. We suspect that will look like a bargain in another decade…

See the author's article on the Suzuki Hayabusa.

This article was originally published in December 2023.