5 Of The Rarest Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Surviving Today

Throughout its long, storied history, some things about Harley-Davidson have remained consistent. Its model range might have changed dramatically, and its financial fortunes have fluctuated over the decades, but it remains an all-American company. It also still makes some of its motorcycles in the U.S., although others are assembled in Brazil and Thailand. Its history and lineup of powerful, distinctive motorcycles have helped keep it a firm favorite among American riders. But like any historic brand, there are a few quirks of Harley-Davidson that few fans will know about.
For instance, there are many models that Harley-Davidson enthusiasts won’t realize existed, from military bikes to motocross racers. Likewise, few enthusiasts will remember the brand’s rarest motorcycles, although they are sought after by collectors in the know. These five models are among the brand’s rarest creations to date, with so few survivors that most enthusiasts will likely never see one in the metal.
Many of the rarest Harley-Davidsons are also among the most collectible, but no other Harley has ever created quite as much of a storm among collectors as the 1908 Strap Tank that appeared at a Mecum auction in 2023. The winning buyer bid $850,000 at the event, with auction fees bringing their final total to $935,000. That made it the most expensive motorcycle ever sold at a public auction.
The record-setting Strap Tank was one of 450 motorcycles produced by Harley-Davidson that year, and is among the company’s earliest surviving models. What made it particularly exceptional was that the bike was largely original, having been discovered in a barn in 1941 and then carefully stored by its owner in Wisconsin for over six decades. It was then restored by a specialist and eventually made its way to auction, complete with its original four-horsepower engine.
The auction, which was held in Las Vegas, may have been the farthest from the original Harley-Davidson factory that the bike had ever travelled in its history. Until that point, it had remained with Wisconsin-based owners for more than 100 years. The site of that original factory in Milwaukee remains under Harley-Davidson’s ownership today, and now serves as its corporate headquarters.
While speedway racing still takes place today, it’s one of motorsport’s most niche disciplines, and has followings in only a small number of countries. The sport originated in Australia and New Zealand, but became increasingly popular in America during the late 1920s. Five years later, the sport had already begun to decline in popularity, but that didn’t stop Harley-Davidson from attempting to create a dedicated speedway racing bike. The 1934 500cc CAC Speedway Racer was the result of those efforts, although only 12 examples of the motorcycle were ever made, owing to lackluster performance.
In the early days of the sport, Harley-Davidson’s