Every true enthusiast remembers that first moment, the roar, the silhouette, the surge of adrenaline. For some, it was a fleeting romance. For others, it became a lifelong pursuit.
In 1953, Marlon Brando rode one through the corridors of rebellion, while Steve McQueen performed his own stunts and jumps, delivering a rush of unshakable enthusiasm that stirs the spirit every time it’s watched. And long before them both, T.E. Lawrence gave the motorcycle mythic status, and a tragically poetic end.
But the question remained: what makes a motorbike worth a million? Is it provenance? Rarity? Engineering genius? Or simply the thrill of knowing you’re straddling the two-wheeled equivalent of a Monet?
The list below offers a glimpse into the most expensive machines that attempt to answer that very question.
Bucherer "Blue Edition" Harley-Davidson – $2 Million
Proof that luxury can sometimes outrun logic, this one-off collaboration between Swiss watchmaker Carl F. Bucherer and custom house Bündnerbike turned a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim into a literal jewel. The Blue Edition features a diamond ring under bulletproof glass, a Carl F. Bucherer watch embedded in the tank, and more gold plating than a royal sceptre. Valued at CHF 1.888 million (approximately $2 million), it remains the most expensive motorcycle ever offered for sale. Whether it’s a true rider’s bike or simply a very shiny investment piece matters little in the face of its legacy.
"Captain America" Chopper from Easy Rider – $1.35 Million (Hammer Price)
Few motorcycles are as instantly recognisable as the Captain America chopper, ridden by Peter Fonda in the 1969 cult film Easy Rider. With its stars-and-stripes fuel tank and stretched fork, it became one of the most iconic motorcycles in cinematic history. In 2014, this bike sold at a Profiles in History auction for $1.35 million, though fees pushed the final figure closer to $1.6 million. Authenticity had long been debated, and multiple replicas exist, but this particular example came with letters of authentication from Fonda, Dan Haggerty, and the National Motorcycle Museum. Cultural significance, it turns out, can be just as valuable as performance.
1915 Cyclone Board-Track Racer – $1.32 Million
A true golden-era masterpiece, the Cyclone V-Twin is an engineering anomaly from a time when most motorcycles were little more than bicycles with motors. This mustard-yellow board-track racer, boasting dual overhead cams and an astonishing 45 horsepower from its 996cc V-twin, smashed records at a 2025 Mecum Las Vegas auction, commanding $1.32 million. With fewer than a dozen known to exist, and most of those in museums, this Cyclone is as much a kinetic sculpture as a competition machine. It was owned by famed collector E.J. Cole and later restored by specialist Steve Wright. Of all the bikes on this list, the Cyclone is arguably the purest expression of rarity, speed, and mechanical daring.
1942 Crocker Big Tank – Approx. $1 Million (Private Sale)
Hand-built in Los Angeles in the 1930s and early '40s, Crocker motorcycles were the bespoke supercars of their time. The Big Tank V-Twin was the pinnacle: only six were ever made, and even fewer survive today in original condition. In 2020, one such machine, complete with its original 61ci engine and rare cantilever frame, surfaced from long-term ownership and was restored under the stewardship of Steve Klein. Offered privately, it is rumoured to have fetched or approached the $1 million mark. Not bad for a motorcycle that once challenged Harley and Indian on their own turf, and beat them at their own game.
1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank – $935,000
As one of the earliest known Harley-Davidsons, this 1908 Strap Tank model is motorcycling royalty. It retains original factory parts, including the frame, tank, and engine, making it one of the most historically correct Harley-Davidsons in existence. In 2023, it crossed the block at Mecum Las Vegas for $935,000, just shy of the million-dollar mark. Often overshadowed by flashier race bikes, this unassuming but beautifully restored motorcycle reminds us that in collecting, authenticity is the ultimate superpower.
1951 Vincent Black Lightning (Jack Ehret Bike) – $929,000
Legendary among British bikes, the Vincent Black Lightning was the fastest production motorcycle of its time, capable of exceeding 150 mph. Only around 30 were ever built. The example sold by Bonhams in 2018 had impeccable provenance: Jack Ehret’s record-breaking 1953 Australian land speed machine. Its unrestored condition and single-family ownership added to the mystique. It fetched $929,000, becoming the most expensive motorcycle sold at auction up to that point. For collectors, it was the Holy Grail in black enamel and polished aluminium.
1936 Crocker Small Tank V-Twin – $825,000
Before the Big Tank, there was the Small Tank, and despite its size, it was as aggressive and high-performing as its larger counterpart. Producing over 60 hp and routinely outrunning Indian and Harley competition, the Crocker Small Tank was a muscle bike decades ahead of its time. In the mid-2010s, one such model reached $825,000 at auction, cementing Crocker's place in the pantheon of America's most prized builders. These bikes were never mass-produced; each was built to order, often modified to suit the customer’s riding style. Think of it as the Savile Row of V-Twins.
1938 Brough Superior BS4 – $480,000
Built in Nottingham and often referred to as the “Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles,” Brough Superior made only 10 examples of the four-cylinder BS4. This 1938 version sold at Bonhams in 2016 for £331,900 (roughly $480,000). Featuring a twin rear wheel setup and a 750cc engine borrowed from an Austin car, the BS4 is a charming oddity in motorcycle history. T.E. Lawrence, famously a Brough enthusiast, might have called it "noble madness." With its eccentric engineering and ultra-rare production numbers, the BS4 remains one of the most coveted machines in vintage collecting circles.
Final Thoughts:
Each of these motorcycles represents more than a collector's dream; they are tangible touchstones. Some broke speed records, others cinematic boundaries, yet all have elevated motorbikes to the status of treasures. These machines speak volumes about the enduring appeal of two wheels. Their engines may be quiet now, but their legacy still roars on.
