Bike Auctions Go Wild

War of the worlds

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courtesy of John L. Stein
Exhibited at the 1962 Earls Court Motor Cycle Show in London, this one-off Norton Manx auctioned for $56,000.

Earlier this year, a Honda CL450 outperformed a Manx Norton at auction. But why?

When that nasty asteroid slammed into the Gulf of Mexico 66 million years ago, the ensuing clouds and darkness crippled photosynthesis and extinguished 80% of animal species, except for Keith Richards, of course. Fast forward to 2022, and an equally tectonic classic motorcycle event occurred at a pair of January auctions. And it went like this: A one-of-one 1962 Norton Manx 500 race bike, specially prepared by the factory for that year’s Earls Court Motor Cycle Show in London, sold on Bring a Trailer for $56,000. And then, three days later, at Mecum’s annual Las Vegas bike auction, a 1972 Honda CL450 with the rare “Flying Dragon” paint scheme sold for … wait for it … $58,300! Everyone knows that Manx Nortons are special. But while the Flying Dragon paint scheme is unusual, it’s simply that — paint atop an ordinary CL450.

So, what in the Royal Order of Dual Overhead Camshafts happened? Let’s look.

close up of motorcycle tach

The Magic Manx

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