TRENDS, CONTINUED...

As predicted in my January post from Las Vegas, big changes are afoot in the further integration of vintage motorcycles into the 'car world'...

Bonhams leads the pack in international motorcycle auctions, and combined motorcycle/auto auctions, as at their Grand Palais sale last February

Two days ago, automotive auction house RM Auctions announced the purchase of Bator Vintage Motorcycle Auctions, owned by Glenn Bator.  Bator shifted his vintage motorcycle brokerage company into 'auction mode' two years ago, after purchasing the J.Wood and Co, and conducting auctions at Daytona's Bike Week and at the Barber Vintage Festival.  RM will sell bikes under their subsidiary Auctions America, created two years ago to cater to American muscle cars and customs.

Shelby Myers of RM Auctions, at Las Vegas 2011

The expected move of RM into the motorcycle world (made quite clear by owner Rob Myers at Las Vegas) is a further reflection on both the increasing dollar volume of vintage motorcycle sales, and the increasing interest of automotive collectors in old bikes.  Tthe entry of RM into the 'old bike' auction fray will certainly mean new faces at dedicated motorcycle auctions, increased pressure on the price of the 'best' machines, and further integration of motorcycles into 'Car' events - both auctions and Concours d'Elegance.

In that vein, it has recently been announced that vintage motorcycles will appear at the ultra-prestigious Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza for the first time ever, this May 20-22.  Surely the world's most elegant location for an automotive event, the Villa is situated on the shores of Lake Como in Italy.  Event sponsor BMW made the decision just two months ago to include motorcycles, and esteemed motorcycle author Stefan Knittel had the task of arranging the bikes for display.  Exactly how the motorcycles are physically integrated into the Concours will be very interesting...consigned to a side patch in the 'rough' as at Pebble Beach, or displayed, finally, with the automobiles?

Posted in: Auctions, Bonhams, Events 2011, Trends, Villa d'Este