Glendale auction to feature rare bikes

Nov 19, 2023

EJ's Auction and Appraisal in Glendale is slated to host its quarterly auction which typically features fine art, antiques and other collectibles, but this auction will feature nine motorcycles from former motorcycle champion Charles Roller.

The bikes were kept as art after Roller collected them, and the "rare mint condition" bikes will now be bid on at the Saturday, June 10 auction. For EJ's Appraiser and Acquisition Specialist Brad Halverson, this is something getting bidders and appraisers excited at just the sight of the historic bikes.

"It's pretty frequent that we have motorcycles, but it is not very common at all that somebody has bikes that are displayed as art," Halverson said. "Most of the time, we can find some pretty cool bikes in garages and random places, but they’re typically not serviced and prepped to be displayed in such a way."

Roller's motorcycle career went just as he drew it up when he was a child, claiming that he would one day be a champion in motorcycle racing. He went on to win the Nevada State Off-Road Championship, to which he used the prize money to collect rare bikes from across the country.

Through his connections in the motorcycle world, he was able to get access to a number of rare bikes that he displayed in the living room of his Paradise Valley home.

Halverson said EJ's bidders will be eager to try their hand at getting one of Roller's bikes.

"Because we’re international and definitely throughout the states really heavy, our reach is strong," Halverson said. "So, you’re going to get it exposed to so many eyes. And that's the power of an organic auction. It's only worth what you can get for it in the next auction, so we’re incentivized to try to call it what it is, take some pictures of it, stage it in a nice way so that it looks appealing and something that attracts attention. And we partner up with the people to get the best result we can form."

The auction is online, and Roller's bikes such as the 1966 Honda CB77 305 Super Hawk, 1991 Honda CT 70 Mini Trail Bike, 1968 Honda CA77 Dream, 1968 Honda CB 450 K1 Twin and Honda CL 72 250 Scrambler, among others, will be auctioned.

"We really care about the consigner's items, and we do what we can to make sure that the right people see them," Halverson said. "So, we’re definitely a conduit to getting your most prized possessions into somebody else's hands to become their next brides. So, whenever we have collections, no matter what they are, when there's unique and find items that come through, it always brings more of those items in. That's definitely what we love to see and always excited to see what's coming around the corner.

"We’re proud to represent all sorts of different collections in town and out of the state," Halverson said. "So sometimes we will acquire different collections coming from everywhere, but we definitely take pride in trying to represent and present the items. And for the people, to try to get them the best results on their items once they finally decide to let them go."

EJ's Auction & Appraisal

5880 W. Bell Road, Suite B, Glendale

ejsauction.com

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