Iconic Auctioneers’ season-opening sale held on 22 February was the first stand-alone motorcycle auction to be held at Race Retro, the historic motorsport show first held in 2003, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
Grossing £800,000 and with 85% sell-through on 160 lots, the auction was notable for the number of sidecars offered, several of which went to mainland Europe. British bikes also attracted overseas buyers.
Among many immaculate bikes, this 1985 power valve 350 Yamaha sold for £8280Mark Bryan, head of Iconic’s motorcycle division, commented: “It was a good sale. Though prices are down, the market and the demand are there. Some lots were well over the top estimate.” Post-auction negotiations could take sell-through to near 90%.
The Race Retro auction replaces Iconic’s sale at the now disbanded MCN-Devitt London Excel Motorcycle Show, held for 15 years, the last in 2025.
Classic trade interest at Retro included key players Evan Cosmos (Cosmo Classic Motorcycles), Louis Taylor (LMT Motorcycles), and David Silver (David Silver Spares).
Vincent V-twins filled four of the top five slots, headed by a 1952 Black Shadow at £43,700 (prices include 15% commission).
Superb 1959 Triumph Bonneville 650 made £11,960. Restoration by ex-Triumph Meriden employee, the late Hughie HancoxThe best of 10 sidecar lots was a 1950 Vincent D Black Prince with Watsonian Monaco at £28,450. Next best was a 1954 600 Zundapp with Swallow Jet 80 chair at £13,800.
In the lower ranks, a 1977 Honda XR600 surprised interested bidders by going over the £4000 top estimate to £5865. Honda fielded the most bikes (22), followed by Yamaha (20) and Ducati (12).
The star attraction was a 2020 MotoGP Aprilia 1000 owned by works rider Aleix Espargaró. But with an estimate of £300,000-£400,000, it was too rich for the Retro bidders. Best of the sports bikes was an unused 2023 Ducati Panigale Bautista replica (£40,100), one of 260 produced to celebrate Bautista’s 2022 WSB title.
While classic bike values are generally below pre-Covid levels, this auction suggested the decline may have bottomed out.
Iconic Top 20 results
- 1952 Vincent C Black Shadow 1000 £43,700
- 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 Bautista replica 1103 £40,100
- 1953 Vincent C Rapide 1000 £34,500
- 1950 Vincent D Black Prince/Watsonian sidecar £28,450
- 1953 Vincent C Rapide 1000 £27,750
- 2005 Confederate Hellcat 1851 £24,725
- 2016 Yamaha YZF R1M 990 £21,850
- 2005 Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 ex-John Reynolds BSB £17,480
- 1973 Triumph T150 P&M race 930 £16,650
- 1973 Triumph T150 Rob North race 750 £16,650
- 1987 Yamaha RD500 £14,950
- 2004 Ducati 999R £14,720
- 1954 Zundapp KS601/Swallow Jet 80 sidecar £13,800
- 1950 Vincent C Comet 500 £13,570
- 2010 BMW HP2 Sport 1170 £13,570
- 1986 Yamaha RD500 £12,305
- 1959 BSA Gold Star DBD34 500 £12,075
- 1959 Triumph T120 Bonneville £11,960
- 1935 Norton Model 30 International 490 £11,500
- 1982 Honda CB1100-RB £11,100