A 1914 Cyclone V-twin reportedly sold for $1.32 million at Mecum Auctions’ Las Vegas motorcycle sale, according to Interesting Engineering, which published its account on February 4, 2025. The article called it the first motorcycle sale to exceed $1 million. The available account does not establish whether $1.32 million was the hammer price or the buyer’s total, so both the figure and the record claim should be attributed to that report.
What sold, and where?
The motorcycle was identified as a 1914 Cyclone V-twin. Interesting Engineering reported that it sold at Mecum Auctions’ Las Vegas motorcycle sale. Its February 4, 2025 article put the price at $1.32 million and described the sale as the first time a motorcycle had sold for more than $1 million.
The report does not provide a lot number or identify the buyer, and it does not say whether the quoted amount is the hammer price or includes the buyer’s premium. Without a primary auction record, the exact price basis and the broader “first” claim remain claims made by the article, rather than independently confirmed details.
Why did the Cyclone attract attention?
The Cyclone was an early American motorcycle associated with racing. The report says the manufacturer operated for about three years and was among the early U.S. makers to build motorcycles with overhead-camshaft engines. Its rarity and early engineering help explain the attention around this particular sale, but the reported price alone does not establish why the buyer valued it so highly.
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Interesting Engineering states that 14 examples of this type are known to survive. It does not cite a registry or explain how that count was compiled, so treat 14 as the article’s figure, not a definitive census.
What were its reported specifications?
The article describes the motorcycle as having a 61-cubic-inch, air-cooled OHV V-twin with a Schebler carburetor, rated at 45 horsepower, and a claimed top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h). These are specifications reported by Interesting Engineering, not independently verified measurements.
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Its described hardware and styling included a leaf-spring front fork, rigid rear frame, steel-spoke wheels, fenders, and a slim fuel tank. The report names Stephen Wright as the restorer, but does not include a direct statement from him.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How certain is the record?
The sale is notable as a reported $1.32 million result, but the available account does not include Mecum’s lot listing or another primary auction document. That means readers can accurately say that Interesting Engineering reported the sale and characterized it as the first motorcycle to cross the $1 million mark; they should not treat the precise price basis or record status as settled without primary documentation.
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