By Colin Jenner,Contributor,Iain Macauley

Copyright forbes

Modern legends: Joey Dunlop’s all-conquering Honda RC45 (left) and RC30 road race machines
Bonhams Cars Motorcycles

More than a thousand classic motorcycle collectors from 35 countries have registered their interest in a Bonhams Cars Motorcycles auction on October 12, 2025, in a sometime agricultural building just outside an English county town.

“This could be the benchmark sale setting out the state of the classic motorcycle market post-pandemic,” says Ben Walker Bonhams’ International Development Director.

Why? “The market is difficult, but at least it’s steady,” he adds.

When Joey Dunlop was on board, it more often than not won: his 1988 TT-winning Honda VFR750R RC30
Bonhams Cars Motorcycles

Race Bikes And Must-Have Collectables Are In Favour

The highlight for many will be “The Dunlop Family Collection”, featuring road-racer Joey Dunlop’s 1988 Isle of Man TT-winning Honda RC30 and his 1999 Ulster Grand Prix-winning Honda RC45.

“These are amongst the most important race bikes we’ve ever had in a sale,” said Ben Walker, Bonhams’ International Development Director, something reflected in the £80,000-£100,000 ($107,600-$134,500) sale price estimate for each machine.

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“However, supply of post-Second World War bikes is now outstripping demand, a big influence being because many of the enthusiasts and therefore buyers of older motorcycles have now left us.

“But what all that means is there’s plenty of opportunities to buy classic motorcycles at very good prices.”

There are exceptions to the pre- and immediately post-war fall-off in interest and subsequently their values. Niche collection must-have trophy bikes such as the Brough Superior and Vincent Rapide, have seen six-figure price fluctuations before, during and after the pandemic — which most collectors will agree saw some crazy hammer prices.

But race bikes with stories to tell and legends behind them – and in their saddles – are also on the radar of international buyers.

A 1937 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide, estimated at £180,000-£240,000 at Bonhams Autumn Sale on October 12, 2025.
Bonhams Cars Motorcycles

Era-Defying Must-Have Classics

Taking the older bikes listed at Bonhams Cars Motorcycles “The Autumn Stafford Sale”, which will feature more than 200 motorcycles, 60 bravely without reserve, amongst them are those era-defying must-haves.

A classically-rare 1937 Vincent Rapide has a £180,000-£240,000 estimate attached to it.

“It’s an all matching numbers engine, gearbox and oil pump, restored by Colin Jenner – an acknowledged leader in his time in Vincent repair and restoration. This bike was valued, four years ago, at £270,000-£300,000, and had previously changed hands at £327,000,” said Ben Walker.

“The Stafford auction pricing is therefore very realistic. It is without doubt now a buyers’ market. We know there’s an element of caution out there, but when opportunities in the current market come along people are buying.

“I believe bikes such as the Vincent and Brough won’t resurface for many years.”

Formerly the property of Kenneth Neve OBE and Alain de Cadenet, 1929 Brough Superior 995cc SS100 ‘JTOR’. Estimated hammer price at Bonhams of £160,000-£200,000
Bonhams Cars Motorcycles

That Vincent-HRD 998cc, and a 1929 Brough Superior SS100, also with matching numbers, but some mystery about it, are likely to intrigue collectors. The Brough had been in racing driver and TV presenter Alain de Cadenet’s motorcycle collection, completely off-radar since the 1970s.

Valued at £240,000-£250,000 in 2020, it went through a £25,000 engine rebuild while owned by de Cadenet and Richard Neve OBE.

“That bike’s genuinely a hell of an opportunity, fantastic value for money at £160,000-£200,000,” said Ben Walker.

“We’re expecting a lot of competition for some of the bikes up for auction, collectors and buyers from 35 countries have registered to bid on some of the bikes.”

Many of those collectors are buyers from the Middle and Far East. That, he says, is a measure of where classic motorcycle interest is rising, although he cautions against buying with an expectation of making a short-term profit.

The Nostalgia Curve Relentlessly Marches On

But it is the movement of the “nostalgia curve” — broadly referring to the progressive emergence of enthusiasts who thirty or so years back in their lives aspired to bikes they could not at the time afford, but can now — that’s influencing ’80s, ’90s and ’00s bikes.

And competition motorcycles, and their attached legends, are in demand.

“The Dunlop Family Collection”, features “King of the Roads” Joey Dunlop’s 1988 Isle of Man TT-winning Honda RC30 and his 1999 Ulster Grand Prix-winning Honda RC45, which he also rode in one of his final races, in Estonia in 2000.

Over three decades, Dunlop amassed a record 26 Isle of Man TT victories, five consecutive Formula 1 World Championships, countless wins at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix and was awarded both the MBE and OBE, bestowed by Queen Elizabth ll for services to motorcycling.

Preserved by the Dunlop family and long displayed at Joey’s Bar in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, his Hondas were loaned out only for the most important commemorations, most recently for the 25th anniversary of his passing.

“We’re expecting bidding from people who may not have been to an auction before, but who will be directly connected to Joey’s successes, or are from the road racing fraternity, particularly from Northern Ireland,” said Ben Walker, but, he adds, collectors from the other side of the world, curious about and researching Dunlop, are also showing recognition of the bikes’ value.

The Joey Dunlop OBE MBE, 1999 Ulster Grand Prix-Winning, 1999 Honda RVF750 RC45. Bonhams estimated £80,000-£100,000 at its October 12 Autumn Sale, Stafford, England.
Bonhams Cars Motorcycles

Always Buy The Best Available Of Its Type

But he warns: “I’d always say to never buy for investment, you could well be disappointed, but look after your classic bike, don’t just stash it away and forget it — it’ll deteriorate. Keep it maintained, run it if you can, and pay great attention to the environment in which it’s kept.

“And always buy the best you can afford, ensure it is matching numbers, and otherwise uncompromised in any way.”

So could October 12 not just suggest a change to stability in values, but also a geographical movement of interest in such machines with otherwise relatively local reputation and stories to tell?

After all, Japanese ’80s and ’90s bikes are becoming must-haves, often considered plundered from Japan by European and North American collectors.

So why shouldn’t racing Hondas start to head “home” alongside those British icons?

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