Motorcycles: A Resilient Market
Collectability on Two Wheels. Despite global economic challenges, the market for collectable vehicles has proven exceptionally resilient. Webb’s Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia is pleased to announce their return to Motorcycle-only auctions, representing the premier auction house’s return to a purely two-wheeled offering for the first time in over a decade.
2003 Ducati 998S $24,000 — $26,000. Upcoming in Motorcycles Online.
In the last three years alone, over 50 motorcycles sold for a total of just under $1,000,000 at Webb’s Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia auctions. This was achieved thanks to an astounding sell-through rate of 88%—a truly first class mark. Buyer interest remains vigorous, and collectors are increasingly active in acquiring vintage, pre-war, and modern classics.
Many of our longtime clients will be familiar with our classic, smaller and rectangular motorcycle catalogues from the turn of the 2010s, and while we’ve never lost our flair for the art, we know that these dedicated offerings have been missed not only by our clients but by the wider market as well.
2025 FTN Streetdog 80 by John Reynolds
Amid concerns over inflation, motorcycles are increasingly viewed as dual-value assets—collectible vehicles and pieces of art.
The enduring appeal of the bike as a decorative collectible underscores this trend, as does the appearance in the inaugural Motorcycles Online auction of an 2025 FTN Streetdog 80 painted by none other than prominent New Zealand artist John Reynolds.
Even motorcycles much more ferocious are increasingly found in a home setting, bringing (often Italian) flair to spaces and coupling perfectly with other pieces of interior design.
Buyers may consider the immensely collectible 2001 Ducati MH900E — also in the offering — as an example of this.
Icons of British motorcycle engineering in the Chris North Collection Part I were warmly received by collectors in April 2023’s Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia auction, achieving white glove success.
LEFT: 1932 Velocette MAC 350cc. Price Realised incl. BP: $9,775.
RIGHT: 1946 Triumph Tiger 100 500cc. Price Realised incl. BP: $13,225.
When we first offered twelve motorcycles from the esteemed engineer’s stable, they represented only a glimpse into a lifetime devoted to mid-century British performance.
Now, we return to that well-curated reserve with the Chris North Collection Part II presenting a further twelve machines that continue the momentum of a landmark offering.
Globally, specific trends are favouring classic motorcycles and collectors alike, with certain eras and brands experiencing notable surges. British motorcycles, once considered less fashionable, are now gaining renewed popularity and value. Models from Triumph, AJS, Matchless, and Norton have seen increased success at auction and greater recognition within the community. Those of this ilk in Part II are sure to benefit from a resurgence in these marques fortunes.
1935 Brough Superior ‘MX80’. Est. $40,000 - $50,000
The Chris North Collection Part II.
Auction results show that the market eagerly embraces collectable motorcycles of all conditions, particularly favouring Japanese and British origins, with a strong preference for those with early and mid 20th-century heritage.
As design becomes a greater driver of collectability — and a younger audience begins to buy — Italian motorcycles have also come to the forefront, particularly those from Ducati, MV Agusta and Moto Morini.
Despite global economic challenges, enthusiasts’ fervour for motorcycles remains undiminished, and the auction trade stands as a testament to the defiant and remarkably robust nature of the collectors’ vehicle market.
View all articles & videos here