Brisk Sales At Razee Auction

NORTH KINGSTON, RI – Motorcycle enthusiasts and collectors came by the hundreds today for a warehouse auction of a portion of Gordon Razee’s collection. Among the rusting carcasses and non-running models were a few pristine examples of motorcycling’s past.

John Harris of Brooklyn, CT described the collection of roughly 250 motorcycles as a “mind-boggling array of diseased rats with a few jewels. Some of them look like they were stored on the clam flats at low tide.”

Razee, owner of Razee Motorcycle Center here, didn’t dispute Harris’ assessment, saying “the majority are project bikes.” But the poor condition of some of the bikes didn’t deter action, and nicer models such as a 1948 Vincent Rapide (see separate story here); a 1978 BMW R 100 RS Motorsport, one of only 200 sold in the U.S.; and a 1971 Kawasaki H2 drew a lot of attention.

A 1974 BMW R 90 S and 1978 BMW R100 RS Motorsport

1971 Kawasaki H2

Dennis Melucci of Naragansett, RI was spotted eyeing the H2. “Those were fast in the day. I don’t need a rocket ship right now,” he said.

Stanley Kapinos of Fairhaven, MA and Jon Goodrow of Attleboro, MA both showed up wanting the H2. “This is my first auction. It’s pretty cool,” said Kapinos. “I’m just stressed out ’cause this bastard is bidding on the same bike,” kidded Goodrow.

Stanley Kapinos, left, and Jon Goodrow

Unfortunately, neither one won the H2, which sold for $6,500. “If you don’t have one, it’s a good price,” said Kapinos.

Razee’s goal in having the auction was to free up 10,000 square feet of warehouse space. Even if he sold off 250 motorcycles, though, his collection would still contain 250 bikes.

Gordon Razee 

“I don’t want to get too low. I won’t feel right,” he said, opining that while he may have had too many project bikes to fix or restore himself, individuals at the auction could find the one bike that they could do themselves. “If you get one bike as a project, maybe you’ll get it going,” Razee said.

Auctioneers Steve Dance, left, and Jerry Wood with Gordon Razee

 With more than 250 lots, the auction took hours.

“They’re getting good deals,” said auctioneer Jerry Wood of J. Wood and Company. “The real good stuff is bringing good money. The goal was to clean out the warehouse.”

Signing up to bid