Honda Motorcycle One Man's Vision This Week at LiveAuctionTalk.com
Rosemary McKittrick is a story-crafter. Her weekly art and antiques column focuses on the past and brings what went before to life.
SANTA FE, NM, April 30, 2011
Once people realized they could get around on dirt roads without peddling, the invention of the motorcycle was a given. Unfortunately early motorcycles left riders pushing and peddling more often than they cared to do.Motorcycles were an idea whose time had almost come.
The size and rough terrain of the United States in the early-20th century called for a machine to replace the horse that was both tough and dependable. Harley-Davidson and Indian filled the niche in America as the top manufacturers. But there was still room for small companies like Honda to move in and capture a piece of the market.
Honda motorcycle was the result of one man's vision, Soichiro Honda. The technical wizard loved vehicles and in 1946 founded the "Honda Technical Research Center" in a wooden shed in Japan.
One of Honda's biggest successes came in 1969 with the introduction of the CB750. It was the first mass-produced four-cylinder motorcycle. It was also the first bike with disc brakes and one of the few big capacity bikes with an electric start. In 2007, Honda was also the first manufacturer to offer a motorcycle with air bag crash protection.
On Jan. 6, Bonhams & Butterfields featured its Las Vegas Motorcycle and Memorabilia sale held at The Auto Collections at The Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino. Featured in the auction was a collection of vintage Hondas.
A CB750/4; 1970; second-year edition sold for $4,914.
Read the full story at http://www.LiveAuctionTalk.com
RSS: http://www.liveauctiontalk.com/rss/lat.rss
LiveAuctionTalk.com is devoted to the rare, weird and wonderful objects people love to collect.
• One of the largest "Live" auction information databases on the Internet.
• Over 850 articles including photographs are currently FREE to website visitors.
• FREE weekly subscription.
Rosemary has provided auction coverage and analysis on thousands-and-thousands of antiques and collectibles sold since the column started 16-years ago. She includes auction sale results to give readers a feel for what their treasures are worth because the power of auctions is simple.
When the bidding stops and the hammer falls, the value of an item is set. The buyer, not the seller, sets the price, and this simple distinction cuts through all the chitchat about what art, antiques and collectibles are really worth. The emphasis is on today's values, not yesterday's wishful thinking.
Each week another new article is posted featuring a particular area of collecting.
• Every article showcases an auction item and how it fits into the big picture.
• A compelling, historical context is provided for the treasures people collect.
• Collecting tips are offered.
• Current "prices realized" are listed.
Rosemary is the co-author of The Official Price Guide to Fine Art published by Random House and received her training in the trenches working as a professional appraiser and weekly columnist.
Contact:
Rosemary McKittrick
info@LiveAuctionTalk.com