Technical advisor for two years on motorcycle auctions in Chartres, Julien Galoin estimated the price of these machines. This son of a second-hand dealer tells the story.
How did you prepare for this sale?
It was complex because of the Covid. I came to Chartres on several occasions from my home in Biarritz when lots arrived. I wanted consistency between machines for all budgets, not elitist, and competitive motorcycles in terms of performance. The objective is to perpetuate this sale in this beautiful setting of the Gothic chapel.
Where do the models on display come from?
All the owners are French. Among them, two collectors own about twenty machines. I know the European market well because I travel a lot, especially in England, where there is still stock. I worked for an auction company in the Netherlands and have been a trader in vintage motorcycles, objects and furniture for fifteen years.
Why do individuals part with their motorcycles?
Age. Some owners are over 70 years old. It takes a good hock to kick start an old motorcycle. The criterion of comfort is also taken into account. Others drive less and they no longer need to have a large collection. A few owners have matured and changed their taste. Speed, sometimes practiced on tracks, is no longer their source of pleasure.
What are the flagship models for sale?
The Kawasaki 750 H2 Mach IV from 1972, an iconic machine of the seventies and all the superlatives. A fiery, brutal horse! There is also the Honda CB 1030 Martin from 1975, restored in 2016. A machine with a beam frame and parts manufactured by Georges Martin. A French craftsman who opened the doors to a whole generation of bikers in search of speed, style and identity. And the Honda CB 750 Racing type Replica 1970. The magnificent replica of a motorcycle that many riders dreamed of. It distinguished itself on the circuits, in particular at Daytona, in 1970. There must remain only one specimen in the world, in Paris.
What use will buyers make of it?
More and more enthusiasts are installing their old motorcycles in their living room or in a hall, on a podium. They become an element of decoration.
Do you have a crush on this sale?
The MV Agusta 125 Pullman, red, released in 1958. A rare Italian, very cute, endearing, which followed the scooter trend of the early fifties. She looks like a merry-go-round subject. And the nice Ducati 250 Scrambler, from 1973.
Beyond motorcycles, what will we find?
Old mopeds for those who do not have the license and who want to have fun, cylinders, engines, tanks, thermometers and enamel advertising plates which meet with real success.
It’s vintage fashion!
Yes, I myself have forty decorative tanks in my office. Vintage motorcycle collectors look for decorative items that match the era of their machine to install them in their garage. Traders also decorate their shops.
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