2021 MECUM MOTORCYLE AUCTION: THINGS THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF

By Mark Donaldson

Each January for the last 30 years, motorcycle collectors, restorers and enthusiast met in Las Vegas for the annual Mid America Motorcycle Auction, which became the Mecum/Mid America Motorcycle Auction in 2013. Last year’s 2020 event was a six-day auction with over 1700 motorcycles consigned to cross the block. The South Point Casino and Arena had hosted the event since 2013 and a few years ago moved the auction into South Point’s Arena. With the number of motorcycles being auctioned, this allowed the viewing section to be separate from the auction area. Holding the auction in January and being located in Las Vegas allowed attendees to escape winter in the colder climates and allowed for other activities in the evenings.

Attendees arrive from all over the world, including many motorcycle legends and over the years of attending the event the famous personalities became your acquaintances and friends, sharing the common passion of motorcycles. If there is a marque you know little about sold at the auction, you can be assured there with be multiple experts on that marque. All you have to do is ask and someone will be able direct you to them. The 2020 event, completed about a month before the Covid-19 lockdown arrived, set new sales records.

This was one of several staging areas for the Mecum Motorcycle Auction last year.

Which leads us to the 2021 Mecum auction event, which like so many other events this past year was postponed, until last week, April 28 through May 1. Because of a scheduling conflict at South Point Casino the event had to be moved to the Las Vegas Convention Center. The temporary venue allowed for plenty of room for the auction to take place with tables set up with seating for four and properly spaced for this new world we live in. The number of days the auction ran, along with the number of motorcycles crossing the stage was down, but so was the attendance (but not the participation). Having the auction live streamed allowed you to follow the events online, with many of the motorcycles being bought via the web or by telephone. Dirt bikes of all brands saw an increase in numbers being auctioned, with prices climbing over the past few years, and this year was no different. Mini bike sale prices continued to be strong. We followed the auction this past week and charted the sales for motocrossers, dirt trackers and a few other interesting sales.

Hopefully next January we will once again get to meet our friends in Las Vegas for the scheduled 2022 event. I look forward to continue the tradition. What follows is MXA’s sampling of 30 bikes spanning the range from expensive to affordable.

1980 Harley-Davidson XR750 Flattracker—$37,400.

1976 Puch 250 Twin Carb MC250 — owner wouldn’t accept the $37,000 bid.

1981 Maico 490 Mega 2—$19,800.

1971 Maico 501—$18,700.

1975 CZ 125— $16,500.

1978 Harley-Davidson MX250—$16,500.

1966 Bultaco Pursang Mettisse—$14,300.

1975 CZ 250 Falta—$14,300.

1973 Honda  XR75—$13,200.

1973 CZ 400 (Sold in crate)—$13,200.

1996 Honda Z50J Gold Limited—$13,200.

1967 Dave Mungenast’s Husqvarna 250 Viking—$12,650.

1967 CZ 250 Twin Pipe —$12,100.

1982 Husqvarna 250 Mp Military—$11,550.

1971 Kawasaki Green Streak F81—$10,450.

1971 DKW 125 Motocross—$10,450.

1955 Ariel 500 Red Hunter Scrambler—$9900.

1971 Ossa Dick Mann Replica (DMR) short tracker—$9350 (a 1970 DMR sold for$9900).

1973 Suzuki TM400—$9350.

1971 Penton Berkshire 100—$9020.

1968 Indian MM5A Mini Bambino—$7920.

2003 Cannondale X440—$6600.

1975 Suzuki TM75—$6050.

1972 AJS 250 Stormer—$5720.

1974 Penda CR125—$5720.

1974 Hodaka Super Combat 125—$5500.

1982 Beta MX500—$5500.

1975 Honda CR125 Red Stripe Elsinore—$3950.

1983 Honda QR50 Mini Motocrosser—$3850.

1983 KTM 250 MX—$2200.

1973 Yamaha AT-3 MX 125—$1870.

AUCTION PRICE SHEET FOR MOTOCROSS MODELS

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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