Some rare classic motorcycles are so elusive that encountering them in person is nearly impossible. These bikes often had limited production runs, making them incredibly scarce. They might have been prototypes, special editions, or produced by manufacturers that no longer exist. Their rarity, combined with their historical significance and unique designs, makes them highly sought after by collectors. However, their scarcity means that only a few lucky enthusiasts will ever see them outside of museums or private collections. Here are some rare classic motorcycles you’ll likely never encounter.
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1950 Vincent Black Lightning
The 1950 Vincent Black Lightning is a legendary British motorcycle known for its record-breaking speed and extreme rarity. Only 31 units were ever built, making it one of the most sought-after classic motorcycles in the world. The Black Lightning was a racing version of the Vincent Black Shadow, featuring a 998cc V-twin engine that produced around 70 horsepower. It was the fastest production motorcycle of its time, capable of reaching speeds over 150 mph. The rarity and historical significance of the Vincent Black Lightning make it a prized possession for collectors.
1929 Brough Superior SS100
The 1929 Brough Superior SS100 is often referred to as the “Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles” due to its luxurious design and outstanding performance. Each SS100 was custom-built to the owner’s specifications, and only around 300 units were produced between 1924 and 1940. The SS100 featured a 1,000cc V-twin engine and was capable of reaching speeds of 100 mph, an impressive feat for its time. The combination of rarity, craftsmanship, and historical importance makes the Brough Superior SS100 one of the most coveted classic motorcycles, rarely seen outside of private collections and museums.
1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer
The 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer is one of the rarest and most valuable motorcycles ever produced, with only a handful of surviving examples. Cyclone motorcycles were known for their advanced engineering, featuring a 61-cubic-inch, 45-degree V-twin engine capable of producing 45 horsepower, a staggering figure for the era. These bikes were built specifically for board track racing, a dangerous and thrilling motorsport in the early 20th century. The rarity and racing pedigree of the Cyclone Board Track Racer make it an almost mythical machine, with surviving examples fetching millions at auction.
1938 Harley-Davidson EL “Knucklehead”
The 1938 Harley-Davidson EL, commonly known as the “Knucklehead” due to the distinctive shape of its engine’s rocker boxes, is a rare and iconic motorcycle. The Knucklehead was Harley-Davidson’s first production overhead-valve V-twin engine, with a displacement of 61 cubic inches and a power output of around 40 horsepower. The 1938 model is particularly rare due to its low production numbers and the fact that many early Knuckleheads were ridden hard and not preserved. Finding an original, unrestored 1938 Knucklehead is extremely difficult, making it a highly sought-after collector’s item.
1955 Ducati 125 Gran Sport “Marianna”
The 1955 Ducati 125 Gran Sport, nicknamed “Marianna,” is a rare racing motorcycle that played a significant role in Ducati’s early racing success. Designed by Fabio Taglioni, the 125 Gran Sport featured a 125cc single-cylinder engine and was known for its lightweight design and excellent handling. Only a limited number of these motorcycles were produced, primarily for racing purposes. The “Marianna” was a dominant force in Italian road racing during the 1950s, and its rarity, combined with its racing heritage, makes it a highly collectible and valuable classic motorcycle.
1924 Harley-Davidson JD
The 1924 Harley-Davidson JD is a rare and historically significant motorcycle, representing Harley-Davidson’s early efforts to improve performance and reliability. The JD featured a 74-cubic-inch V-twin engine with a three-speed transmission, making it one of the most advanced motorcycles of its time. Despite its popularity in the 1920s, very few original JD models have survived due to their extensive use and the passage of time. Restored examples are rare and highly valued by collectors, with the JD being a symbol of Harley-Davidson’s rich history.
1974 Ducati 750SS Green Frame
The 1974 Ducati 750SS, commonly known as the “Green Frame” due to its distinctive frame color, is one of the rarest and most desirable Ducati motorcycles ever made. Only 401 units were produced, each hand-built to celebrate Ducati’s victory at the 1972 Imola 200 race. The 750SS featured a 748cc V-twin engine with Desmodromic valve timing, producing around 73 horsepower. Its combination of racing pedigree, limited production, and iconic design make the 750SS Green Frame one of the most sought-after classic motorcycles, often commanding high prices at auctions.
1950 AJS Porcupine E95
The 1950 AJS Porcupine E95 is one of the rarest and most legendary racing motorcycles in history. The Porcupine was a 500cc parallel-twin, four-stroke engine motorcycle designed for Grand Prix racing. Only four units were ever produced, and the bike earned its name from the distinctive spiked cooling fins on the cylinder head. The AJS Porcupine achieved success in the 1949 World Championship, but its rarity and unique design have made it one of the most elusive classic motorcycles. Finding an original AJS Porcupine is nearly impossible, and it remains a holy grail for collectors.
1948 Vincent Black Shadow
The 1948 Vincent Black Shadow is a legendary British motorcycle known for its incredible performance and striking design. The Black Shadow featured a 998cc V-twin engine that produced 55 horsepower, making it one of the fastest production motorcycles of its time, capable of reaching speeds over 120 mph. Only around 1,700 Black Shadows were produced between 1948 and 1955, and many have been lost to time or modified beyond recognition. The rarity and historical significance of the Vincent Black Shadow make it one of the most coveted classic motorcycles, often fetching high prices at auction.
1913 Flying Merkel Twin
The 1913 Flying Merkel Twin is a rare and highly collectible American motorcycle, known for its advanced engineering and distinctive orange paint. The Flying Merkel featured a 61-cubic-inch V-twin engine with a belt drive, and it was one of the first motorcycles to offer a front suspension system, making it a leader in innovation at the time. Despite its popularity in the early 20th century, very few Flying Merkel motorcycles have survived, and the brand ceased production in 1917. The rarity and technological significance of the Flying Merkel Twin make it a prized possession for collectors.
1971 Münch Mammoth 1200 TTS
The 1971 Münch Mammoth 1200 TTS is a rare and powerful motorcycle, known for its massive engine and unique design. The Mammoth was powered by a 1,177cc four-cylinder engine borrowed from the NSU automobile, producing around 88 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful motorcycles of its time. Only a few hundred Münch Mammoths were ever produced, as they were hand-built and extremely expensive. The rarity and sheer size of the Münch Mammoth 1200 TTS make it a legendary and highly collectible motorcycle, often regarded as one of the first true superbikes.
1967 Velocette Thruxton
The 1967 Velocette Thruxton is a rare British motorcycle that was designed specifically for racing, with only around 1,100 units ever produced. The Thruxton featured a 499cc single-cylinder engine with a high-performance camshaft and larger valves, making it a formidable competitor in endurance races. The bike’s lightweight frame and excellent handling earned it a reputation as one of the best British racing motorcycles of its era. The rarity and racing pedigree of the Velocette Thruxton make it a highly sought-after classic motorcycle among collectors.
1925 Brough Superior Alpine Grand Sports
The 1925 Brough Superior Alpine Grand Sports is a rare and luxurious motorcycle, known for its exceptional craftsmanship and performance. Brough Superior motorcycles were custom-built to the highest standards, and the Alpine Grand Sports was designed for long-distance touring, featuring a 1,000cc V-twin engine. Only a limited number of Alpine Grand Sports models were produced, and each was tailored to the owner’s specifications. The rarity, combined with the Brough Superior’s reputation as the “Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles,” makes the Alpine Grand Sports a highly collectible and valuable piece of motorcycle history.
1973 MV Agusta 750S
The 1973 MV Agusta 750S is a rare and iconic Italian motorcycle, known for its racing heritage and stunning design. The 750S featured a 743cc inline-four engine that produced 69 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful and sophisticated motorcycles of its time. Only around 500 units were produced, as the 750S was a limited-edition model designed to celebrate MV Agusta’s success in Grand Prix racing. The combination of rarity, performance, and Italian craftsmanship makes the MV Agusta 750S a highly desirable and collectible classic motorcycle.
1957 Ariel Square Four
The 1957 Ariel Square Four is a rare British motorcycle known for its unique engine design and smooth performance. The Square Four featured a 997cc four-cylinder engine arranged in a square configuration, which provided smooth power delivery and excellent balance. Despite its innovative design, the Square Four was expensive to produce, and only a limited number were made before Ariel ceased production in 1959. The rarity and distinctive engineering of the Ariel Square Four make it a prized collectible, with a unique place in motorcycle history.
1928 Indian 401
The 1928 Indian 401 is a rare and historically significant American motorcycle, representing Indian’s first foray into four-cylinder engine design. The Indian 401 featured a 1,265cc inline-four engine that was derived from the earlier Ace motorcycle, which Indian had acquired. The 401 was known for its smooth performance and luxurious design, but its high cost and complexity limited its production. Very few original Indian 401 motorcycles have survived, making it a highly sought-after collector’s item with significant historical value.
1937 BMW R5
The 1937 BMW R5 is a rare and groundbreaking German motorcycle, known for its innovative design and influence on future BMW models. The R5 featured a 494cc boxer-twin engine with a four-speed gearbox and was one of the first motorcycles to use a telescopic front fork, which greatly improved handling. The R5’s sleek design and advanced engineering made it a standout motorcycle in the 1930s, but production was limited due to the onset of World War II. The rarity and historical significance of the BMW R5 make it a highly prized collector’s item.
1951 Moto Guzzi Falcone Sport
The 1951 Moto Guzzi Falcone Sport is a rare and iconic Italian motorcycle, known for its distinctive design and reliable performance. The Falcone Sport featured a 498cc single-cylinder engine with an external flywheel, producing 23 horsepower. Its unique design and robust construction made it a favorite among Italian police and military forces, as well as civilian riders. Despite its popularity, only a limited number of Falcone Sport models were produced, and finding an original example in good condition is extremely rare. The Falcone Sport’s combination of rarity, design, and historical importance makes it a highly collectible motorcycle.
1937 AJS V4
The 1937 AJS V4 is an exceptionally rare and innovative motorcycle that was ahead of its time, yet remains largely forgotten. Designed as a racing bike, the AJS V4 featured a 495cc, water-cooled, supercharged V4 engine, which was incredibly advanced for the 1930s. The bike was intended to compete in the 1939 Isle of Man TT, but the outbreak of World War II interrupted its racing career. Only a handful of these motorcycles were ever built, and few have survived, making the AJS V4 one of the rarest and most elusive classic motorcycles. Its groundbreaking engineering and unique design make it a highly sought-after piece for collectors, though encountering one in the wild is virtually impossible.
1955 Mondial 250 Bialbero
The 1955 Mondial 250 Bialbero is a rare and historically significant Italian motorcycle that played a pivotal role in the world of Grand Prix racing. Mondial was a small, boutique manufacturer that produced some of the most advanced racing motorcycles of the 1950s. The 250 Bialbero featured a sophisticated double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine, which was highly advanced for its time, and it dominated the 250cc class in Grand Prix racing. Despite its success on the track, Mondial produced very few of these machines, making surviving examples incredibly rare. The combination of its racing pedigree, advanced engineering, and limited production make the Mondial 250 Bialbero a highly coveted classic motorcycle that is rarely encountered even by seasoned collectors.
This article originally appeared on MyCarMakesNoise.
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