The Market - Auctions January 2026: Where is the Vintage Motorcycle Market?

This year’s Mecum Las Vegas motorcycle auction wrapped with total sales of about $20M, with the top result hitting $330,000. To put that in perspective, this is arguably the biggest stage for collectible motorcycles in the world—a five-day marathon where roughly 2,000 bikes cross the block.

While $20M sounds like a solid number, it’s actually the lowest total for this event since 2021, when the market was still finding its footing after the pandemic. Between 2022 and 2025, totals stayed between $21.5M and $27.2M (the latter being the year a 1915 Cyclone set a record at $1.32M).

A drop of a few million might not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but for this market, it’s significant. The average sale price usually sits between $15k and $20k; for 2026, it dropped to a staggering $12k—the lowest average we’ve seen since 2018.

The trend is down, and there’s no denying it. Like any market, the causes and consequences are feeding into each other in a bit of a Catch-22. To me, there are three main reasons for this shift.

Brough Superior

1. A Lack of Competition and Presence

Before the pandemic, Mecum wasn’t the only player in town. Bonhams was very active in the US, holding live auctions in Vegas and at the Barber Museum. Since then, Bonhams has largely moved to online or hybrid sales for motorcycles.

While they still have a presence in the UK, that market is tiny compared to the scale of the US scene. With only one major live event left, the format is starting to feel its age—five days of the same "circus" can be exhausting for collectors. Without more representation at major high-profile events, motorcycles are simply staying in the shadows.

2. Shifting Demographics

It’s no longer just a theory: the average motorcycle enthusiast is getting older. The pool of active collectors is shrinking as the older generation steps back, while younger enthusiasts are mostly gravitating toward modern sport bikes and customs—two areas that haven't yet shown they can support a high-end collector market.

We’ve seen "Youngtimer" cars breathe new life into the auto world lately, but that same spark hasn't quite caught on with bikes yet, even though the right models are out there and the reasons to buy them are plenty.

3. Sellers are Staying Quiet

Where are the heavy hitters? Where are the Brough Superiors SS100, the Crockers, or the Ducati Supermonos?

Those bikes are still out there, but their owners are holding onto them for now, waiting for the market to gain some momentum. Motorcycles usually follow the car market with a bit of a delay, and since these bikes have historically brought $250k or more, sellers are hesitant to list them in a cooling climate. When you compare the handful of top-tier bikes offered each year to the constant flow of "Blue Chip" supercars, you realize the motorcycle market is a long-term game where the cycles just take longer to turn.

When you consider that $50k can buy you a machine in the top 5% of the market, there’s a real argument for why serious collectors shouldn't ignore this space. It’s all about education; the enthusiasm will follow.

And really, who doesn’t like buying the dip?

I’ll end with a great Steve McQueen quote: “Every time I start thinking the world is all bad, then I start seeing people out there having a good time on motorcycles. It makes me take another look.”

God Save the Wheels