The word “auction” doesn’t usually conjure up the most exciting experience. But attending the 2024 Mecum Motorcycle Auction in Las Vegas was an unexpected surprise.
Held at the South Point Hotel & Casino, a couple of things smack you in the face the moment you walk into the vast event space. First, there were far more bikes on display than expected; more than 2000! Within a few minutes, though, the quantity takes a back seat to the quality and diversity on display. From antiques to modern classics, and from works-in-progress to museum pieces, you instinctively whip out your camera and it nevers stops until you’ve stayed much longer than you planned. For a gearhead, the shear scope was, alone, unforgettable. So much history, thousands of fascinating details…and so little time.
The South Point Hotel & Casino Expo Hall
Sitting for the auctions, a necessarily efficient process, took some of the Candyland feel out of the event, but it put the real purpose back into focus. In the staging area, bikes lined up ready for their fifteen minutes of fame. Mostly grouped by year and make, it was an unusual opportunity to compare bikes in the same categories in close quarters. But once they’re wheeled onto the stage, the bright lights, singular focus, and scripted introduction provide all the reasons why you need to place a bid.
But there was another important aspect to this show: community. The auction circuit is regularly attended by many of the same people in the region. Most of the conversations were clearly continuations from previous shows, and familiar names and places dominated the exchanges. There were countless stories of busted knuckles, emptied bank accounts, and opportunities missed and taken, and they all really should have been captured. Decades of front-line, hands-on histories flowed throughout the venue. It was an honor to be there, and to be a part of the journey.
The best way to fully understand what attending the auction felt like is to showcase the goods. Settle in and take a few minutes to scan the photo galleries. You won’t be disappointed. And you’ll not want to miss that next auction.
