Stunning restored 1929 Harley JDH motorcycle
There was a time a machine as well restored as this might sell for close to $100,000, but based on the recent ebay auction that might be in the past. At least for now.
Well restored classic Harley Two Cam motorcycle
One has to question why this rare and potent machine was not snatched up at this price. Was it something about this particular bike, the listing, the seller or the economy? Whatever it was we have to wonder how it might effect the sales prices of other legendary Harley Two Cam JDHs going forward.
Close-up and detail of the right side of a rare Harley JDH motor
You can tell this is a “Two Cam” Harley motor by a number of visual clues. Perhaps the most obvious is the peanut shaped cam chest cover, andother are the larger and meatier looking lifter assembly, and a third is the cut out areas of the valve towers.
In my opinion antique motorcycle prices have always been unrealistically excessive. It’s time for reality to set in. Crocker motorcycles are a perfect example. Ernie Skelton paid $75.00 for his unrestored Crocker Big Twin, a Small Tank model if I remember correctly. 30 years later and after a thorough restoration by Ernie it recently sold for six figures. In most cases the exorbitant price paid for a particular collector item does not reflect the items actual value, it only demonstrates the obsession and willingness of a particular collector to own a given possession. It many cases a collector pays a particularly high price for a motorcycle or an automobile, only to lose interest after several years and end up selling that piece for far less than the original price he or she paid. The JD mentioned here is in my opinion worth no more than $35,000.00 (American) and that would be top dollar. Collectors with lots of discretionary spending are always driving prices up, then pulling them back down when they lose interest.
Buck
would love to own that.
This is Sandro from Italy my opinion is the same of Mr. Lovell the antique motorcycle price often is excessive, here in Europe for one of this is possible pay also over than 60000 Euros WOW.
However JDH 1200 is a fabulous motorcycle.