The paragon of engineering excellence, motorcycle aficionados around the world covet a Harley Davidson. With more than a century of quality work under its belt, the brand has established its unbeatable calibre in the industry. Their innovative engine geometry – which has set a new benchmark for bikes – indeed merits their hefty price tag. If you’re a Harley Davidson enthusiast, read on to find out about their most expensive motorcycles.
1. EL Knucklehead 1936: $100,000
The EL Knucklehead, formerly known as the “61”, is the model that revolutionised Harley-Davidson’s bikes – its model has influenced the production process to this day. During America’s Great Depression, motorcycle businesses were severely affected, with many big names in the industry shutting down. In this uncertain atmosphere, William Harley – co-founder of Harley-Davidson – conceptualised a new bike. The makers took a massive gamble by producing this model during the riskiest period for the business. Fortunately, the gamble paid off with the brand reaping the benefits to this day.
This new model was equipped with a new engine and transmission, paired with overhead valves which bestowed the bike with unmatched power and speed. In order to prove its mettle, the “61” was ridden by Joe Petrali, a renowned motorcycle racer, at Daytona Beach. Its prowess was effectively demonstrated – it achieved 136 miles per hour. An old edition of Harley-Davidson Enthusiast Magazine reported: “Even above the steady roar of the surf, you could hear the deep-pitched drone of the 61”. The model came to be known as the Knucklehead owing to its resemblance to a clenched fist. The brand still actively adopts its innovative geometry. The very first Knucklehead is worth $100,000.
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2. DAH Hillclimber (1932): $200,000
Harley-Davidson entered the racing scene in 1914 and failed to make its mark for a decade. Their quest to win the national Hillclimb Racing event inspired the DAH Hillclimber. With their attempts at building a viable racing motorcycle having failed, the DAH motor was a major departure from their previous production processes. Based on a 750cc block, it featured new 45-cubic-inch overhead valves. Each head had an exhaust valve that connected to two exhaust ports – this resulted in a motor with four exhaust pipes.
Another new feature was its recirculating oil system, which entails a continuous flow of the oil to the lubrication points, to control its quantity and temperature. In this system, the circulated oil is returned to the supply tank, hence its name. This feature was exclusive to the DAH Hillclimber until it made a comeback in the 1936 Knucklehead. After several experiments and amendments, the DAH model finally won the national Hillclimber title in 1932, giving the racing motorcycle its name. With this victory, came the rise in consumer sales. The 1932 DAH Hillclimber is now worth $200,000. Only 25 units of this model were manufactured.
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3. 1911 Harley-Davidson 7D Twin: $284,000
The 1911 7D Twin is one of Harley Davidson’s oldest models. It was also the brand’s first successful V2 engine model, a two-cylinder piston engine model in a V configuration. After several failed attempts at creating a V2 engine (also known as a V-twin engine), it was achieved with the 7D Twin models. It featured an F-head IOE engine, which is a four-stroke internal combustion engine.
A stand-out feature in this model was its muffler– it was so smooth and silent that the 7D Twin was nicknamed “The Silent Gray Fellow”. Only four such models were completed and none were publicly sold. One model was auctioned to an unidentified buyer for $284,000 in 2014.
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4. Pope Francis 2013 Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide: $331,000
A typical Dyna Super Glide retails for $13,000. However, Pope Francis’ ownership of this particular model, in addition to the inscription of his name ‘Francesco’ on it, bumped its price to $331,000. To celebrate its 110th anniversary, Harley-Davidson gifted one of its premium models to Pope Francis in 2013 for charity. The Pope signed his name in Italian on the brown tank and auctioned it. A private buyer bought the bike as well as the signed jacket that came with it.
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5. Model 5D Twin: $400,000
The Model 5D Twin was the brand’s first ever V2 engine bike. It was the flaws in this model, that inspired the aforementioned 7D Twin. While it was a revolutionary model at the time, its shortcomings, specifically the engine overheating, led to the halt of its mass production. It was equipped with a 50-cubic inch F-head and magneto induction. Only 27 units of this model were made. One of these pieces is on display at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and is the only surviving unit, valued at $400,000.
6. 1908 Strap Tank Harley-Davidson: $935,000
This model is apparently among the first ones released by Harley- Davidson. It was built in its original one-floor factory. It is known for its sturdiness and derived its name from the oil tank that is hooked to the crossbar of the bike. 450 units were made in 1908. This particular unit raked in a net worth of almost one million since all of its parts are bona-fide. It was retrieved from a barn in Wisconsin and was sold for $935,000 at the Las Vegas Motorcycles Auction in 2023.
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7. 8-Valve Racer: $1 million
Equipped with eight valves for lightning speed, only 20 of these units were made by Harley- Davidson. According to Kevin Cameron of Cycle World, the eight-valve model encountered several problems, and big money was invested in making it viable. Combustion engine expert Henry Ricardo experimented with several prototypes before perfecting the model – over $25,000 was spent on this venture, which is equivalent to $610,000 today. The only surviving unit is on display at Milwaukee’s Harley-Davidson Museum and is worth $1 million.
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8. Easy Rider Captain America: $1.35 million
This bike earned fame after being featured in the 1969 adventure film ‘Easy Rider’ and its iconic Captain America shield. Structured as a chopper, it is armed with a 1952 HD Hydra-Glide and 1962 Panheads. All except one unit was stolen, and the remaining one was severely damaged during the filming of the movie’s last scene, which entailed the bike bursting into flames. It is worth noting that the units in question are all replicas, but are of significant value as they are Hollywood memorabilia.
Peter Fonda, protagonist of Easy Rider, kept the burnt bike and gifted it to his co-star Dan Haggerty, who restored it. However, the authenticity of the bike has been heavily contested, as Haggerty was caught lying several times, before finally admitting to selling “bits and pieces”. Furthermore, another source has claimed that they are in possession of the real bike. This bike was sold to a well-known Hollywood memorabilia collector Micheal Eisenberg, who auctioned it off for $1.35 million in 2014.
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9. The Cosmic Starship: $1.5 million
The Cosmic Starship – which is in actual fact a repainted Harley-Davidson V-Rod – earned its massive net worth for its artistic merit. Artist Jack Armstrong unleashed his quintessential Existentialism style using orange and yellow paint, to revamp the bike. He created 37 of these masterpieces. One unit was sold to an unidentified buyer for three million dollars in 2012. Another unit went on sale with an asking price of $15 million in 2017. However, it was sold to an undisclosed buyer for a heavily discounted price of $1.5 million.
The original, unpainted V-Rod model is worth $13,000 – a measly sum compared to its dolled-up twin. The Cosmic Starship was introduced at Bartels in Marina Del Rey. It was lowered on stage with fanfare and lit up by $100,000 worth of lights. When asked about his inspiration for his million-dollar creation, Armstrong said: “For several years between 2003-2004 when I lived in Switzerland I rode V-Rods with seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher…so the V-Rod was my only choice.”
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10. The Harley-Davidson Blue Edition: $1.9 million
The Harley- Davidson Blue Edition is the creative labour of Swiss watchmaker Bucherer and German custom bike specialist, Bündnerbike. It is the embodiment of sheer opulence, with gilded parts and diamonds. Makers clocked in 2500 hours to customise the motorcycle. The original bike, a Softail S, was slathered in several coats of iridescent blue paint. The body of the bike was replaced with a transparent camshaft, so the inside of the bike is visible. The inner chambers of the bike are fitted with heat-resistant LED lights, which illuminate the entire set.
A Bucherer watch, enclosed in a glass cage, is held up by silicon rings. Moreover, all metal parts of the bike, such as the rims and levers, have 24-carat pure gold facades. The seat is hand-stitched alligator leather. The metal fuel tank and fenders are ornamented with 360 diamonds. It was unveiled by the makers in Zurich, on the occasion of Bucherer’s 130th anniversary ceremony in 2018. A bespoke piece, it was created as a testimony to Bucherer’s regal craftsmanship as well as a showstopper for their new “Bucherer Blue” range.
Harley-Davidson’s revolutionary product design has stood the test of time. Its legacy speaks for itself and is undeniably the most recognisable name in the motorcycle industry. Owning any of these rare beauties would be incredibly gratifying and would certainly be a worthwhile investment.
