The bar for the world’s most valuable motorcycle has just been set very, very high. A cool $1.32 million, to be precise, which pales in comparison to the most expensive car in the world, though. The honor goes to a 1915 Cyclone V-Twin restored by Steven Wright. It’s believed to be one of 14 Cyclone V-Twins that still survive, with another five examples having been made for racing. That makes this 999cc motorcycle exceedingly rare and an automatic prized possession for the new lucky owner.
Sold via Mecum Auctions from the impressive Urban S. Hirsch III collection, the Cyclone V-Twin beats out the Captain America Chopper from the Hollywood classic, Easyriders, the sale of which fell through at $1.35 million. The second most valuable motorcycle in the world, a 1908 Harley-Davidson ‘Strap Tank’, trails the Cyclone by nearly $400,000 with a sale price of $935,000.
In 2015 a Cyclone Board Track Racer once owned by speed demon Steve McQueen sold for $852,000, making it the most expensive motorcycle sold at auction for the time. All that money buys the owner one of the most iconic American-made motorcycles. In fact, the Cyclone V-Twin is America’s first-ever overhead camshaft motorcycle, doubly impressive considering it’s 115 years old. The Cyclone V-Twin boasts a 999cc air-cooled V-twin engine and a single-speed gearbox, producing a heady 45 horsepower.
The Cyclone was made by Joerns Motor Manufacturing Company between 1912 and 1917. While a million dollars can seem like a lot of money for two wheels and an engine, the Cyclone V-Twin really is a piece of American history.
