Most expensive motorcycle in the world brings $ 1.3 million

For the first time ever, a motorcycle achieved a sales price of over one million US dollars. But it is also an extremely rare piece of two -wheeler history. In Las Vegas, a restored Cyclone V-Twin from 1915 was now sold on a Mecum auction for $ 1.32 million.

In relation to the auction proceeds, a Harley-Davidson Strap Tank from 1908 ($ 935,000) and a Vincent Black Lightning from 1951 (929,000) were referred to places. In 2015, a Cyclone Board Track Racer, which once belonged to Steve McQueen, was sold for $ 852,000.

The cyclone roadster is quite unknown. The machine was built for only three years, between 1913 and 1915. In total, the company did not produce 200 motorcycles. Today only 14 should exist and of them only five in the Spartan racing version – like the two -wheeler sold. The body is very simple outside the frame and only consists of fenders and a narrow petrol tank.

The motorcycle is sprung on a leaf spring fork at the front, it has a rigid frame in the back. The greatest innovation was the V-Twin engine with its 45 degree angle at the time. The 61 CI engine only had 996 cubic centimeters – but it got 45 hp. This is an impressive performance until the time of the Second World War. It is enough to bring the machine to over 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). The rudimentary lubrication of the camshaft above was not suitable for long -distance trips. You had to stop on longer distances occasionally and smear yourself.

“With its OHC-V branch engine, the cyclone was an ideal hot Rod roadster that could leave every other vehicle behind the street,” says the description of the auction. The cyclone belonged to the late Urban S. Hirsch III, a newspaper magazine with a preference for fast journeys. Before the auction, the motorcycles were exhibited in his villa.