Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction 2026: Top 5 Favorites

The Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycles Auction returns this week, bringing one of the largest and most anticipated motorcycle auctions of the year to the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Scheduled for January 27–31, 2026, this year’s auction will feature around 2,000 motorcycles (!) spanning vintage classics, rare collectibles, custom builds, and modern performance machines. 

Mecum’s Las Vegas auction isn’t just a marketplace — it’s a destination for riders, collectors, and enthusiasts who want to see rare bikes in person, participate in live bidding, and uncover machines with deep historical significance. The roster of lots grows weekly, including everything from early 20th-century antiques to post-war American V-twins, iconic European classics, unusual prototypes, and high-end custom motorcycles.

The 2025 event was the highest-grossing motorcycle auction ever held, with approximately $27.2 million in total sales — setting new benchmarks for collector-bike enthusiasm and investment interest. The event also featured multiple record-setting individual sales, including a 1915 Cyclone V-Twin that sold for over $1.32 million, making it the first motorcycle ever to exceed the seven-figure mark at public auction. This landmark performance underscored both the strength of the vintage motorcycle market and Mecum’s prominence in the collector-bike world. 

With the first bikes crossing the auction block tomorrow, we decided to take a look at a few of the bikes that caught our interest.  What’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

1982 Kawasaki KR500 Race Bike 

This motorcycle is a replica of the machine raced by Kork Ballington, who finished 9th in the 1982 500cc Grand Prix World Championship. Power comes from a 498cc liquid-cooled square-four two-stroke engine, fed by Mikuni carburetors and paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox driving the rear wheel via chain final drive. The bike is finished in period-correct factory Kawasaki Lime Green, Red, and Yellow livery, complete with full-fairing bodywork, a road-race solo seat, and a lightweight aluminum fuel tank.

Chassis details reflect Grand Prix specification, including an aluminum monocoque frame, alloy box-section swingarm, telescopic front forks, and a rear monoshock with rising-rate linkage. Braking is handled by dual front disc brakes and a single rear disc, while aluminum alloy wheels fitted with road-race slick tires complete the package. The bike features dual 2-into-1 exhaust systems and carries frame number 82-02, underscoring its close attention to period accuracy and race-replica detail.

More here: www.mecum.com/lots/1155217/1982-kawasaki-kr500-race-bike/

1981 Honda RS600 Flat Tracker 

This custom race machine was built by AMA Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Jones and later modified by noted fabricator John Kite for Honda dealer George Garvis, placing it squarely within the lineage of American flat track history. Power comes from a 600cc OHC single-cylinder engine, breathing through a single Mikuni carburetor and distinguished by a dual exhaust-port, big-fin cylinder head designed for improved cooling and sustained high-output running. A 5-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheel via chain final drive, while a black 2-into-1 exhaust with racing megaphone reinforces the bike’s competition-focused intent.

The chassis is equally purposeful, built around a silver cradle frame fabricated by John Kite and paired with a box-section swingarm for strength and stability on the oval. Suspension duties are handled by a telescopic front fork and twin rear shocks, while braking is minimal and period-correct, featuring a spool front hub and a rear disc brake. Visually, the bike wears a striking race-ready presentation with a red fuel tank, red fiberglass seat base, white No. 16 number plates, and a contrasting blue racing saddle. Spoked alloy wheels fitted with Dunlop flat track tires complete the build, underscoring its authentic flat track racing heritage and meticulous attention to period detail.

Although the RS600 was never a mass-produced road model, machines like this played a role in the fabric of American flat track racing during an era when single-cylinder bikes were competitive in short-track and TT events. Honda’s involvement in flat track during the late 1970s and 1980s, alongside other Japanese manufacturers, helped diversify a racing scene long dominated by larger twins and American V-twins, laying groundwork for later competition and collector interest.

More Here: www.mecum.com/lots/1158018/1981-honda-rs600-flat-tracker/

1978 Kawasaki Z1R Turbo 

This authenticated Kawasaki Z1R Turbo is a rare and well-documented example of Kawasaki’s brief but ambitious foray into turbocharged street motorcycles in the late 1970s. It is accompanied by its original bill of sale from a Kawasaki dealer, adding important provenance. Finished in black with colored striping and TC Turbocharger branding, this bike is one of only 200 produced in this specific color scheme, placing it among the most uncommon Z1R Turbo variants.

Power comes from a 1,015cc DOHC inline four-cylinder engine, equipped with a Ray Jay turbocharger and a 40mm Bendix carburetor, driving through a 5-speed manual transmission with left-side shift. The turbo system was developed by Turbo Cycle Corporation (TCC) and sold through Kawasaki dealers, making it a factory-supported conversion rather than an aftermarket experiment. The chassis retains steel fuel tank and fenders, a dual seat, and a handlebar-mounted fairing housing a speedometer, tachometer, and boost pressure gauge, reflecting the era’s emerging fascination with forced induction.

Suspension consists of telescopic front forks and twin rear shocks, while braking is handled by triple disc brakes mounted to 18-inch cast alloy wheels. Additional features include electric start, engine case guards, and chain final drive. With a claimed dry weight of approximately 450 pounds, the Z1R Turbo balances substantial mass with period-correct performance intent. According to documentation, the motorcycle has been comprehensively restored, with every nut and bolt either replaced or refurbished, preserving its original configuration and mechanical condition. Together, these elements make the Z1R Turbo an important snapshot of late-1970s Japanese engineering and the early experimentation with turbocharging in production motorcycles.

More here: www.mecum.com/lots/1160770/1978-kawasaki-kz1000-z1r-turbo/

1974 BSA B50 Dick Mann 

This BSA was built by the legendary Dick Mann for film director Bruce Brown, the man behind Endless Summer and On Any Sunday! The sale of this bike is intended to benefit Back on Track Racers Recovery, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to injured motorcycle racers and their families following an accident. Rather than a stock machine, this bike was assembled on a purpose-built Dick Mann Specialties DMS BSA B50 frame, designed primarily for motocross and enduro competition, although similar frames were used with minimal modification for occasional road racing.

The frame itself was constructed of 4130 chromoly steel by Doug Schwerma, founder of Champion Racing Frames, under contract from Dick Mann, giving it strength and handling characteristics suited to off-road competition. Power is supplied by a 499cc air-cooled 1971 B50T four-stroke single-cylinder engine paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox, delivering a straightforward, tractable powerband typical of early 1970s British singles but installed in a much more purpose-built chassis. This project drew on the expertise and support of several respected industry resources, including Kay Mann, Ken Corpe, Speed and Sport, Buchanan Spoke and Rim, British Cycle Supply, Baxter Cycle, and Motion Pro, ensuring authenticity and attention to detail throughout the build.

More here: www.mecum.com/lots/1162143/1974-bsa-b50-dick-mann/

1977 Yamaha TT500 Restomod

This 1977 Yamaha TT500 has been updated with a range of period- and performance-focused components while retaining the core character of its original enduro heritage. At its heart is a recently rebuilt 540cc big bore single-cylinder engine fitted with a Rex Speed Shop electronic ignition for improved starting and throttle response. The bike’s visual and functional updates include a 1976 YZ125 fuel tank and a 2008 YZ450F front end, bringing more modern steering geometry and suspension performance to the classic TT platform.

The rear suspension features Noleen shocks and a 1978.5 RM250 Suzuki swingarm and rear wheel, further enhancing the bike’s handling and stability compared to stock TT500 components. The mix of donor parts reflects a thoughtful approach to combining vintage character with upgraded capability. The result is a distinctive, rider-focused TT500 that bridges eras and showcases the versatility of this iconic Yamaha enduro platform.

More here: www.mecum.com/lots/1154446/1977-yamaha-tt500/

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Link: All the 2026 Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction Bikes