It’s no secret that celebrities’ wealth can have some pretty incredible impacts on the collecting market. We’ve seen how movie stars’ estates can affect the prices of classic cars, and now it seems that music and movie stars’ impacts can be felt in the world of motorcycles.
In early July, the rare and extremely expensive Triumph Bonneville T100 became the sale number one at the Bonhams Motorcycle Sale in London. The British motorcycle auction house revealed that the rare white and green Triumph Bonneville T100, which was delivered new to actor Robert Pattinson in 2015, sold for a massive £43,000 ($57,000). That breaks down to £1,000 ($1,400) per week for an entire year – or roughly £50,000 ($67,000) per month!
The previous record for an auctioned motorcycle was held by the 1959 Pan America XR75 from George Barris, which sold at auction for £19,850 in 2013. Barris also produced the first Batman motorcycle, which sold for £23,000 in 2010. The 1959 Pan America XR75 was one of only 12 made, and it was custom painted with an image of the Bat symbol on the fuel tank.
The next record was also set in 2013 when the 1948 Indian Scout from Monty Wooley broke the previous record for a motorcycle auction. That vehicle sold for £25,000, which is roughly what the average UK household earns in a year!
Why Do Movies and Music Stars Need Motorcycles?
In the case of the British actor, he’s now one of the wealthiest men in Hollywood, with an estimated net worth of £60 million ($81 million). He became famous for playing the part of Ed in the Twilight Saga. Besides his acting career, he became the face of Burberry as their new campaign “Man of the Year” in 2015. He’s currently dating singer Katy Perry.
His love for motorcycling is no secret. While filming the latest installment of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse, in Croatia, he bought himself a custom-painted gold and green Triumph Bonneville T100. The cost of that bike? A cool £12,000!
For those of you who have followed his career, you’ll know that his taste in motorcycling extends to all styles and models. He’s owned and ridden many classic bikes throughout his acting career, including a 1955 Indian Scout, a 1966 Chopper and, most recently, a 2018 Triumph Street Twin. These are just a few of the bikes he’s ridden over the years.
The British actor’s love for two-wheeled vehicles is no secret, and now that he’s an established celebrity, the prices at auction for rare and custom-built bikes will only continue to increase.
Pattinson’s Chopper Is One Of The Most Expensive Bikes Ever
It seems that Pattinson isn’t the only celebrity that loves two-wheeled vehicles. In early 2017, Hollywood’s most affluent collector, Lorenzo Lamas, bought a 2018 Triumph Street Twin for an undisclosed price. Lamas, who is the younger brother of Hollywood star Mark Lamas, first exhibited an interest in motorcycling when he was only 10 years old. He then went on to buy a customized Harley-Davidson that he named “Tigress.”
Nowadays, he owns a garage full of classic cars and motorcycles, including a Ferrari 575M Maranello, an M600 Miles Miler, a Pikes Peak International Hill Climb trophy, and a fully restored 1933 Ford Phaeton. He also has a collection of model trains that he likes to keep on display in his lavish mansion in California’s San Fernando Valley. In February 2020, he put his entire collection up for sale, which includes multiple cars, bikes, and other luxury goods. The estimated value of the collection is £30 million ($40 million).
What Will The Future Of Motorcycling Look Like?
With the wealth and fame that comes with being a celebrity, it’s not surprising that the market for luxury goods would increase in popularity. The demand for luxury automobiles rose by 63% in the UK between 2016 and 2017, and the market value of supercars nearly doubled from 2016 to 2017 (from £29,500 to £59,500).
With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels, the future of motorcycling certainly looks promising. Some people believe that the increasing wealth and fame of stars will only fuel a greater interest in motorcycling amongst the public. With more people seeing cars as investments rather than just transportation, the future of car collecting certainly looks interesting.