2026 Mecum Public sale Preview: Japanese Gems

We’ve been poring over the tons and collections of bikes that will likely be out there at Mecum’s annual motorbike public sale, which returns to the South Level Resort & On line casino in Las Vegas on Jan. 28-31, 2026. We’ve posted some highlights already, together with standout American bikes and racing bikes.

Extra bikes are being added day by day, and there are some actual gems – and a few curiosities – on Mecum’s web site. Mecum’s motorbike public sale is a must-attend occasion for any gearhead, however should you can’t be there in individual you may bid on-line or by cellphone – simply fill out the registration kind at Mecum.com.

This preview submit focuses on Japanese bikes, and there are some actual beauties and rarities. Let’s kick it off with Hondas.

Hondas on the 2026 Mecum Public sale

Since we’re beginning with Honda, why not begin off at first of the storied model’s historical past with a 1951 Honda Dream E-Kind (lot R471), which was the corporate’s first manufacturing 4-stroke motorbike. It has a 148cc Single, a 2-speed transmission, and a pressed-steel body. This maroon-colored peach spent its total life in Japan till its buy from a non-public museum in Tochigi earlier this yr.

Additionally up for public sale is a one-of-a-kind 1968 Honda CB750 Prototype (lot R750see lead picture), the very first CB750 despatched to American Honda for testing and advertising and marketing efforts. You’d assume that bike can be preserved on the American Honda Assortment Corridor in Torrance, California, however for the correct value you may personal this singular piece of motorbike historical past. Additionally out there two uncommon 1969 Honda CB750 Sandcasts (tons N473 and R509) and two much less uncommon however nonetheless extremely collectible 1971 Honda CB750s (tons N276 and N281).

Like basic Honda GP bikes? How a couple of 0-mile 2004 Honda CB50R (lot N20)? It’s one among solely 440 limited-production, race-only replicas of the 1962 RC110, Honda’s first 50cc Grand Prix racer. Or a 2004 Honda RC174 George Beale Duplicate (lot R710), a 1967 manufacturing facility reproduction that’s the third of ten in-built coordination with Honda utilizing the unique blueprints for the chassis and engine. This magnificence has a 297cc inline 6-cylinder 4-stroke engine, Keihin carburetors, a 7-speed guide gearbox, a 6-into-6 exhaust system, a full fairing, and an alloy fuel tank.

There are a number of particular Hondas that will likely be auctioned off as a part of the David Silver Assortment65 bikes which are a “wildly eclectic roundup (that) contains motorbikes, purpose-built racebikes, sportbikes, and extra from producers all around the world and spans from the very starting of bicycle manufacturing to the fashionable motoring age.” Considered one of them is 1984 Honda NS400R (lot N270), a limited-production 2-stroke roadracing reproduction primarily based on the championship-winning NS500 manufacturing facility racer, which has a liquid-cooled 387cc 2-stroke V-3 engine. There are additionally two V-4-powered VFRs, a 1987 Honda VFR400R NC24 (lot N140) and a 1992 Honda VFR400 NC30 (lot N26), and a first-generation Fireblade, a 1993 Honda CBR900RRP (lot N267).

There are numerous extra Hondas value bidding on, together with a 1966 Honda CB450 Black Bomber (lot N300), a 1969 Honda CL350 Scrambler (lot N95), and a 1971 Honda Z50 K1 minibike (lot W46), amongst others.

Kawasakis on the 2026 Mecum Public sale

Transferring on to Group Inexperienced, nostalgia runs deep for Japan’s first muscle bike, the 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900 (lot R302) with Sweet Orange and Root Beer paint. Powered by a 903cc inline-4, this magnificence has been properly restored with a rebuilt engine, period-correct pipes and mufflers, and plenty of refurbished or NOS components. There’s one other 1973 Kawasaki Z1 (lot N474) plus a pair 1974 Kawasaki Z1s (tons R489 and R303) additionally crossing the block in late January.

Extra on the wild facet is a customized 1974 Kawasaki H2 (lot N374) with a Paul Gast Stage-3 748cc Triple, 40mm Lectron carbs, and a Rickman fairing. Are you a CHiPs fan? You’ll be able to bid on a 2001 Kawasaki KZ1000 Police Particular (lot N317), which was principally unchanged from 1978 till it was discontinued in 2005.

Suzukis on the 2026 Mecum Public sale

If Suzukis are extra your velocity, you’ll discover some cool examples on the January public sale. Some are uncommon, like a 1975 Suzuki RE5 (lot N298) powered by a liquid-cooled 497cc Wankel rotary engine. This instance has unique paint, chrome, gauges, pipes, and mufflers. The RE5 has a novel silver cylindrical instrument cluster with a blue translucent plastic cowl and yellow facet reflectors.

Additionally uncommon is a 1985 Suzuki Gamma 500 (lot N301) with a 498cc 2-stroke square-4. This JDM (Japanese home mannequin) has a U.S. title, and it has Walter Wolf livery paying tribute to the Suzuki manufacturing facility race workforce. Suzuki will rejoice 40 years of the legendary GSX-R sportbike line subsequent yr, and up for public sale is a 1-of-500 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750 LE (lot N211) with uncommon Yoshimura livery.

One other distinctive Suzukis is a 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa Land Velocity Racer (lot R733) that holds a number of land velocity data and was constructed and raced by the late Invoice Warner. Its turbocharged 1,350cc liquid-cooled inline-4 makes 650 hp and 314 lb-ft of torque.

There’s additionally a 2007 Suzuki RM-Z450 Ricky Carmichael Particular Version (lot N260), a one-year-only, limited-edition mannequin that honors who many contemplate the G.O.A.T., Carmichael having gained 15 AMA Motocross and Supercross championships. This instance was prepped by a supplier, began, after which then put into a set – it has by no means been ridden. It’s a part of the Lucas Household Motocross Assortmenta “curated assemblage of principally classic and barely seen motocross bikes (that) showcases the heritage of off-road motorcycling with Husqvarnas, Yamahas, a Kawasaki, and one fashionable special-edition Suzuki.”

Yamahas on the 2026 Mecum Public sale

Yamaha is well-represented at Mecum too, together with a customized flat track-style 1968 Yamaha YDS3 (lot W65), a cherry 1973 Yamaha TX650 (lot N100), and a 1978 Yamaha TZ250E Roadracer (lot N414). The TZ250 is a runner that’s able to race or present. It was previously owned by Michael “TZMike” Studzinski and features a ton of customized race-spec components and upgrades.

In the event you’re nostalgic for a extra groovy time, there’s a 1979 Yamaha XS1100 (lot N217) that’s all unique (besides the exhaust). It has a manufacturing facility Yamaha full entrance fairing, a two-up stepped touring seat with sissy bar, Indigo Blue paint with gold pintstripes, and unique airbrush art work on the fuel tank by muralist Robert Wyland.

All the time fascinating are 2-stroke RZ fashions, and there are two up for public sale. One is a 1984 Yamaha RZ350 (lot N6), a low-mileage instance that has a liquid-cooled 347cc parallel-Twin with reed induction. It’s a part of the Engle Assortmenta “celebration of motorcycling heritage (that) captures the charisma of iconic two-wheeled designs and spans many years, marques, and kinds, from the uncooked character of a 1967 BSA A65 Lightning to the Italian finesse of a 1999 Ducati 748.” There’s additionally a 1985 Yamaha RZ350 (lot N39) Kenny Roberts mannequin with unique paint.

This preview simply scratches the floor. There are numerous extra Japanese bikes up for public sale in January. Go to Mecum.com to take a look at all of the public sale listings and register to bid. In the event you can, plan to attend the public sale in individual. It’s an expertise you don’t wish to miss.