TOP 10 MOST COSTLY BIKES

 10.   NIMAN MARCUS

 Cost: $ 110,000

   

    

                 Niman Marcus is known more for its retail stores and is hardly a name synonymous with motorcycles. It comes as a surprise then that they are responsible for the most expensive luxury motorcycle in the world thanks to  its Limited Edition Fighter. When the Fighter was released it had a starting  price of an already high $110,000.

.   The Fighter would end up on auction for $11 million with a very  unique body that some say resembles the inside of a watch. The    Fighter was able to reach speeds of 190 miles per hour, and only   45 of them were made in this limited edition. It was marketed as an “…evolution of the machine” that was reengineered for    optimal performance, its creator said “It’s our street-legal sci-fi dream come to life.” For as much as the Fighter costs you may as well consider it a dream, and while this piece of science fiction is completely street legal, you might not want to take it out for a spin with that price tag

9. COVENTRY EAGLE

Cost: $ 120,000

 Coventry-Eagle was a British bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer. Established as a Victorian bicycle maker, the company began under the name of Hotchkiss, Mayo & Meek. The company name was changed to Coventry Eagle in 1897 when John Meek left the company . By 1898 they had begun to experiment with motorised vehicles and by 1899, had produced their first motorcycle. The motorcycles were hand built from components and finished carefully, Coventry-Eagle motorcycles proved reliable and by the First World War the range included Villiers Engineering and JAP engines.

During the early 1920s, the models changed depending on what engines were available and the company swapped between five engine manufacturers - Villiers, JAP, Sturmey-Archer, Blackburne and Matchless.The model Flying 8 was probably the most iconic bike of its time and bore a resemblance to the contemporary Brough Superior. During the depression of the 1930s, the company concentrated on producing two-strokes. Production continued until the start of the Second World War in 1939.

In the 1930s they had launched a range of sporting bikes under the "Falcon" brand. After the war, and not of a scale to continue competitive motorcycle manufacture, the company concentrated on their racing bicycles. It was under this marque that the company.

8. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROCKER

Cost: $ 130,000   

   

                                   
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are made to be ridden, and others are made to be seen. Without a doubt, the 2011 Harley-Davidson Rocker C is a motorcycle that is a looker.

Riding around with the Scarlet Red Deluxe color scheme, it is impossible to avoid getting thumbs up signals from pedestrians, the guy in a moving truck saying “nice bike” at a stoplight, an old guy in a beat-up pickup giving a knowing wink as we wait for it to turn green–it goes on and on, all day long, in neighborhood after neighborhood.

In a jaded metropolis like Los Angeles where people typically avoid eye contact when driving, that’s extraordinary.

There is plenty to be said for the Harley-Davidson Rocker C’s appearance, from 37-degree raked front end to the tire-hugging rear fender. There are definitely a couple of sleights of hands with the Rocker C. What looks like a solo seat almost floating in midair also has a passenger seat stored underneath that can be installed without tools in less than a minute.

The Softail mirage is especially effective, thanks to a rear fender that moves with the rear wheel, just as we’re used to seeing up front. Add to that the eye-catching paint (I wonder if I would have received the same number of unsolicited compliments had I not been on the Scarlet Red version), and you have a motorcycle that demands and receives attention.

Usually, the motor catches the eye of on-lookers, but in the case of the Rocker C, the Twin Cam 96B is relegated to simply being a fantastic performer. Gobs of torque ooze from every pore of the 1584cc air-cooled, pushrod wonder.

There’s no traditional tach, and you don’t need one. Torque peaks at just over 92 ft/lbs at 3000 rpm, so if you’re hitting the rev limiter, you’re doing something wrong. Shift the six-speed transmission early and twist the thick throttle for lightning quick strikes between stoplights.

The 240mm rear Dunlop is firmly ensconced on the ground, so none of the big V-Twin’s balanced power pulses are wasted.

Bikes such as the Harley-Davidson Rocker C encourage me to make end-to-end runs on some of the iconic streets in Los Angeles. In one case, that meant Santa Monica Boulevard from the sunny beaches at the west end to the gritty Sunset Junction to the east.

With the exceptions of a few almost-imperceptible bends along the way, the former US Route 66 (and current California Highway 2) is a straight shot for about 15 miles. Lots of traffic means weaving through sightseers, texters, cellphonies and various other people who are paying no attention to the road.

      

7. HIDEBRAND WOLFMULLER

Cost: $ 150,000        

                             

We had to put the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmuller on this list somewhere – after all, it’s widely accepted as the world’s first production motorcycle (and, according to some, the first to use the word ‘motorcycle’ too.) But it doesn’t deserve to rank higher because there were many similar projects underway at the same time, and Hildebrand & Wolfmuller’s design was a long way from anything that became ‘conventional’ in the future. Derived from a design for a steam-powered bike, its rear axle doubled as the crankshaft, with the connecting rods and pistons driving it directly, with rubber bands used to return  pistons for the next compression stroke after each one fired. Funnily enough, it was appreciated ride.

6. HUB LESS HARLEY DAVIDSON

Cost: $ 155,000

One look at the hubless Harley Davidson will be reason enough to assume it as yours. It looks like something that popped out of a high-budget, James Dean kind of movie.

Its customized design commands the price of $155,000.

We’re all aware of the fact that spokeless bikes aren’t quite possible to realize yet, but do insistently knock at our door and we’ll eventually have to open up. As engineers work to develop new solutions for the outrageous design to become practical, designers come up with striking motorcycle concepts ready to benefit of the latest future technologies.

Designer Alexander Kotlyarevsky’s “Swordfish” concept chopper provides the latest and the most representative image of what the industry will provide and we love it! A sleek and yet aggressive body culminating in a pair of hubless wheels is the future’s quintessence with regard to design and construction and it looks so realistic that I can even imagine myself riding one of these…and watching out for the speed bumps!

5. ECOSSE-FE-TI-XX      

Cost: $ 300,000

Only 13 units of this limited edition series will hit the roads.The world’s most expensive motorbike comes with some amazing features too. A 2,409cc billet engine with Ecosse’s highest ever horsepower figure: 225 hp at the rear wheel!Leather trim were created by Italian manufacturer of luxury Berluti.Ecosee tells Basem Wasef at About.com that the first batch is going to China. A client has ordered one unit without fluids so that he can display it as a sculpture in his home. He’s opted for the bike in his daughter’s favorite color and has christened it in her honor.This gem costs $ 300,000.

This beautiful bike will cost you a lot, but the beauty is worth. It has 225 horsepower from its aluminum engine. Eccose engine plants have made a great addition to the Titanium series. The shiny look of the bike are more impressive than you could ever wish for. Previously motorcycles from Titanium series are selected as the Best Bike of the Year. This bike is one of the fastest bikes in the world and can accommodate up to 250 MPH.

4. LEGENDARY BRITISH CLASSIC BLACK

Cost: $ 400,000

Legendary Black Vintage is a unique bike and finds no match in the world. The bike has two cylinders to provide the 250 cc performance. Bike was produced in the United Kingdom. This bike may not provide you with the fastest speed, but it will certainly accelerate people to see your house on this exclusive antique bike.This is the 4th most expensive bike.

Today's modern high-performance motorcycles owe a great deal to Classic British Motorcycles. The first true Sport Bikes were 1950s British Motorcycles like the Triumph Tiger T110 and the BSA Gold Star. They also dominated off-road competition for two decades. The first true Super Bikes were the Norton Commando and the Triumph Trident, the Trident Triple being the first modern multi-cylinder motorcycle, beating the Honda 750 Four to market by several months. Cafe Racers were invented in England on the frame rails of Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons, Enfields and the rest, and Cafe Racers formed the basic pattern for every sport bike to follow, right up into modern times: big power, low weight, good brakes, excellent handling, and that wonderful 'laid-down' look. In the 1960's, the 'British Invasion' wasn't just about Rock & Roll, it was about great British Motorcycles.

     

3. GOLD PLATED CUSTOM CHOPPER

Cost: $ 500,000

This bike is so beautiful that you would never take it out on the road. Gold plated custom chopper has the metallic body, which is all shiny and gold plated. This bike is more of a show piece on a brilliant ramp rather than on the street.This golden light beauty was presented at Motorcycle Show in Seattle.

If it can fit on two wheels, Sam Nehme has probably built it.

For the past 15 years, the owner of BMS Choppers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been creating some of the wildest and most expensive motorcycles in the world.

He's currently working on the "Drum Bike," a three-wheeler with a fully working drum set that will cost the buyer around $100,000. He's also modified a Y2K superbike with carbon fiber, which boosted the price some five figures to around $200,000 — and raised its speed to more than 200 mph.

His clients have included Diddy, Flo Rida and Ice T.

"Most of our clientele, they want what they want," Nehme told CNBC's "Secret Lives of the Super Rich." "They can afford what they want. And they pay the price to have it."

2. ULTRA RARE PORCUPINE

Cost: $ 750,000

As the name suggests, Ultra Rare porcupine is very rare, making it extremely expensive. This bike was developed in World War II, that’s why it is unique. Previously it was part of the museum. But apparently now the museum is also a place for shopping. This bike is for sale from the National Motorcycle Museum. The bike is for those who are in bulk and want to recall its history to venture.

THE 500cc machines were conceived in the last days of World War II and designed to run supercharged engines. The engine featured horizontal cylinders for optimal cooling and a low center of gravity while leaving room for the blower above the four-speed gearbox.

AJS was neck-deep in development when the grand prix rulesmakers banned forced induction in 1946. Too much time and money had been invested in the aluminum dual overhead cam twin, so AJS revised the cylinder heads to increase the compression ratio, bolted on a pair of carbs and went racing.

Although AJS dubbed the bike the E90, everyone else took one look at the spiky cooling fins on the cylinder heads and called it the Porcupine. It did well at its first race despite a variety of problems, taking ninth and 14th place at the 1947 Isle of Man TT.

Development continued over the years and the Porcupine saw its greatest success in 1949 when Les Graham took first in the inaugural Grand Prix World Championship. It would prove to be the only title AJS and Graham ever won.

The bike was plagued by finicky carburetion and the magneto shafts were forever failing, sending AJS back to the drawing board. The new E95 featured cylinders canted 45 degrees to improve cooling and ease carb installation. It also got a host of internal mods and a revised frame. A pannier-style fuel tank lowered the center of gravity.

The E95 reportedly made 55 horsepower but never enjoyed the championship-winning success of its predecessor. AJS withdrew from grand prix racing at the end of 1954.

1.  1  MILLION HARLEY DAVIDSON

Cost: $ 1 million

IF U ARE A BILLIONAIRE CHOOSE THIS BIKE

Found just the tonic for hard economic times. Get some quirky painter to slap on some garish paint on a Harley-Davidson V-Rod and slap a million dollar price tag on it. Yeh, yeh, yeh, so the painter’s name is Jack Armstrong and he does a style of painting called “Cosmic Extentialism,” but honestly, I don’t get it. Who cares if it’s abstract and textured. So are my six-year-old son’s finger paintings. What about exclusivity and the fact that he will only paint one motorcycle? Thank goodness. Give me an Ed Roth original any day.

 
The unveiling of the “Cosmic Starship Harley-Davidson” took place over the weekend at Bartels Harley-Davidson. Bartels H-D, in Marina Del Ray, California, has a reputation for catering to the motorcycle needs of Hollywood stars, but the so-called “Million Dollar Harley-Davidson” looks solely like a strategic marketing ploy. I’m not faulting Bartels H-D. On the contrary, it’s a shrewd way to drum up business. But I’m not impressed.

Apparently, words magically appear in Armstrong’s paintings when viewed from different angles. I wonder if it says “There’s a sucker born every minute” somewhere in the V-Rod’s paint. Reports claim Armstrong placed a small sign on the side of the bike stating “If you are not Lady GaGa, Scarlett Johansson or Sylvester Stallone, Do Not Touch This Harley!” Gives you a clue as to how highly Armstrong thinks of himself.

Here’s some shots of the “Million Dollar Harley-Davidson” for your viewing pleasure. What do you think? The only way I could see paying that much for a bike is if it was made of solid gold. So I did the math. A V-Rod has a dry weight of 643 pounds. The price of gold per ounce today is $1335.96. In a troy pound, used to measure gold, there are only 12 ounces. So, 643 pounds X 12 ounces per pound = 7716. 7716 ounces multiplied by $1335.96 (price per ounce) = $10,308,267.36 Take that to the bank, Jack Armstrong.