2006 MCBA News: Jesse Rooke's "X-1" Custom Chopper Sold

He wasn't anywhere near Montereylast weekend. In fact, he was busy running hisHarley-Davidson of New Orleans store. But thatdidn't stop one motorcycle aficionado from doingsomething no one's ever done before: outbidding therest of the world for a Jesse Rooke custom-builtmotorcycle, at the second annual Monterey ClassicBike Auction.

Participating in real time using state-of-the-art onlinesimulcast bidding technology powered by NationalPowersport Auctions, the winner was able to keeppace with the frenzied bidding inside the packedMCBA auction pavilion in Monterey Saturday night.And when the dust finally settled, he had outgunnedeveryone, committing $80,000 for Rooke's jaw-dropping "X-1" and triggering a spontaneous ovationfrom the pavilion crowd.

"I've never actually sold one of my bikes 'retail' before," said Rooke. "Everything I've done has beena commissioned project. But the Monterey auction is a high-class event and it felt like the rightplace to finally put a 'For Sale' sign on one ofmy 'babies'. It was pretty cool to see the bidsgoing up, and truly an honor to have a Harley-Davidson dealer become the new owner of oneof my favorite and most unique builds ever. Ican't wait to get started on another mindbendingdesign to go into next year's MCBA!"

Temperatures soared during the day and the bidprices soared by night as the second annualMonterey Classic Bike Auction took place duringa blistering MotoGP weekend at Laguna Seca.

Other highlights included the first-ever sale of abike from the fabled Otis Chandler Collection (a1903 Fabrique Nationale) and what turned outto be a his-and-hers package from the JordanMotorsports camp: Jason Pridmore's 2005 Michael Jordan-signed AMA Superstock race bike andits street-legal identical twin, which were purchased as a pair by a thrilled Bay Area couple.

Details are being firmed up for MCBA 2007, and those interested in staying informed need onlysend an email to auction@resmarket.com to receive news and updates.