*COLLECTING VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES*
WWW.SOLISVINTAGEBIKE.COM
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Menalco Solis Vintage Bike Collection
Email: menalco_solis@yahoo.com
Wanted: Harley-Davidson
1975 MX-250 & 1976 MX-360
*HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE*

COLLECTING; There are many reasons why one motorcycle is more valuable than others with time. Not
all vintages bikes are collectible in the since of value increase. I am going to try to explain what my
rationalization is for making a winner for collectibles and what would not. This is not a science formula or a
foolproof formula, but at least you are going to be able to understand the train of thought behind what is
important or when you are presented with one and you are able to recognize it immediately.

1) Popularity of the motorcycle manufacture brand. This is the first thing you need to know before you start
any collection. The more popular the brand is the more money will bring you in the future, for example: The
Bultaco, Spanish made, even though they no longer are in business their vintage bikes are very collectible
and many enthusiasts pay large amounts of money for them. Moreover, Harley-Davidson has been a very
popular brand with collectibles and enthusiasts, which make it a valuable for their vintage bikes. Having a
popular brand, good reputation plus a large follow will always help you to guarantee future investment. One
reason for this is that collectors are always fans first.

2) Competition model: They are always desirable with collectors for many reasons. These bikes were made
for racing which in general will always have a smaller amount of production compared to the street bikes.
Some of the questions you need to ask yourself are; the production model identical to the factory racing
bikes? Any production model that is identical to their factory brand racing team will make it very desirable
for collectibles. Most of all of the factory racing bikes are different from their over the counter competition
bikes. But the vintages bikes of the 60s and 70s are the opposite of this, they usually were identical or very
similar to their brand factory racing with some exceptions.

3) First production models: are always desirable with collectibles, especially the first generation of long
travel motocross bikes that came out during the 1975 to 1979. These were the blue prints of what you see
competing in today's motocross racing. And the last generation of the two-stroke air-cooling engines. At the
end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s, motocross engine made a very radical change to water-cooling
system, which makes them less likely to overheat. Today’s competition bikes are moving away from the two-
stroke engines back to the four stroke scramble bike of the 60s. With the new technology these new four
stroke engines have similar power but with less headaches than the two-stroke bikes. The main reason for
this was a change on the environmental law that outlawed future production bikes of two-strokes so
manufactures had no choice but to find improvement on the old four stroke. Now, because of this all of old
two-stroke engines will see their value soar, since they will never be manufactured again and this will make
them more desirable, especially the last year of the generation of two strokes.

4) Last Year production models: They are also something that would make one bike more valuable than the
others. One bike that will be very collectible will be the last Two-Strokes bikes ever manufactured by each
manufacture. Of course those from a more popular brand will have a high value at the end. The potential
for increase in value in the future is good.

5) Production Quantity: most motorcycles today are manufactured in large quantity since today we have
less competition of brand. Because of competition many of great names from the past are just that. But
many of them have a great following of fans and good reputation which will make them very desirable with
collectors. Most of all production of prototype motorcycles are always in demand, since their respected
brand only manufactured a small amount of them. In general, most of the vintage racing bikes before 1980
have increased in value. Not only because some of them are very difficult to find, specially those popular
part and after market parts. But vintage racing had added to the equation of demand increasing the price
of a short supply.

In Summary: As we can see there are many reasons why one motorcycle is better than the other. But there
are other factors that we also need to take into consideration when we try to understand a value for a
particular motorcycle, is the human factor. The sentimental value and/or the desire to have it of an
individual to a particular bike is always very difficult to evaluate or predict.

THE increase and desire of vintage motorcycle collections and vintage racing for the past few years, has
created a demand for vintage collectible motorcycles. And the price for many of these bikes and all types of
New Old Stock “NOS” parts and used parts has gone through the roof in the past few years.

One of the problems we found when studying Harley-Davidson vintage Aermacchi motorcycles is that we
have too much misinformation. Most of everyone that owns one or wants to buy one, is constantly guessing
and providing a vague history and data adding to the continued fabrication of the false history of the Harley-
Davidson MX-250. There is very little or no official documentation of the MX-250 history by Harley-
Davidson. One of the main reasons for this, was that the motocross program was a joint work between the
Harley-Davidson US headquarters and the Aermacchi Italian factory counterparts. Moreover, many Harley-
Davidson officials and dealers did not have an interest in the lightweight program. In addition, the 1960’s
and 1970’s was a very difficult time for the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company. The financial situation of
AMF soon brought the program to an end. It is important to mention that the fallen sales and high price tag
in comparison to the competition did not help in their survival either.

Most of my research for this site has come from numerous motorcycle magazines of the 1970’s, Harley-
Davidson books ranging from the 1970’s to 2000’s, motorcycle enthusiast, vintage collectors, Aermacchi &
Harley-Davidson vintage parts dealers, and what I have discovered by researching and studying for the
past several years. I do realize that this site may create some controversy. But all the information that I have
provided is what I have been able to prove with documentation. Otherwise stated, I have also provided
some of my interpretation of some of the facts that I have learned from the research and interviews. But I
make mistakes too, so as I find them I will be correcting them on the site.

I do not consider myself an expert on this subject, just a student that is trying to learn a material and subject
of vintage motorcycles. I hope that I am able to provide you with good information, data and photos to help
you understand the history and outcome of some of the most beautiful motorcycles ever produced. In
addition, one of my intentions is to set the history straight and start the documentation and dialogue of the
forgotten Harley-Davidson MX-250, so it can be preserved for the future.

I will appreciate your comments and feedback regarding the information on this site. I will continue to add
photos and information as they become available. Moreover, if you would like to add information and/or
knowledge it will be welcomed also.

Email: “menalco_solis@yahoo.com”

I hope you enjoy!

Menalco Solis
AUTHOR

MEMBER: AMA, AHRMA, HOG.