Quick Answer: A 1964 Honda CL72 Scrambler once owned by Elvis Presley is currently up for auction, with documented provenance tying it directly to the singer’s personal vehicle collection. Unlike Presley’s famous Cadillacs and Rolls-Royces, this motorcycle is expected to sell for a fraction of what his cars typically command, making it one of the more attainable pieces of authenticated Elvis memorabilia to hit the market in years.
Elvis Presley’s name is usually linked to pink Cadillacs, a Stutz Blackhawk and a garage full of Rolls-Royces. But cars were only part of the story. Presley was a lifelong motorcycle rider, and one of his machines, a 1964 Honda CL72 Scrambler, is now being sold with paperwork that confirms it once belonged to him.
The auction is drawing attention not because of a massive price tag, but because of the opposite. Motorcycles with celebrity ownership rarely reach the market at prices regular collectors can actually consider, and this sale is a rare exception.
What the Honda CL72 Scrambler Was Built to Do
Honda launched the CL72 in the early 1960s as part of a push into the American motorcycle market, going head-to-head with British brands like Triumph and BSA that had dominated the middleweight class for years. The Honda arrived with a 247cc parallel-twin engine that offered smoother performance and far less maintenance hassle than its British rivals.
The “CL” in the name stood for street scrambler. Key design features included:
- High-mounted dual exhaust pipes
- A raised front fender for light off-road use
- A 247cc SOHC parallel-twin engine producing up to 24 horsepower
- A four-speed gearbox
- 19-inch wheels paired with a lightweight frame
It wasn’t built as a dedicated dirt bike, but it could handle a fire road just as easily as pavement. That versatility made it popular during the early 1960s boom in American motorcycling, a period fueled in part by Honda’s well-known advertising campaign that helped bring a new, younger audience into the sport.
Elvis Presley’s Long History With Motorcycles
Presley’s motorcycle collecting habit started early. According to accounts from people who worked closely with him, his first bike arrived not long after he signed his first record deal, and he later moved up to bigger, heavier Harley-Davidson touring models as his career grew. Over time, he owned at least a dozen Harleys, with a strong preference for the FLH model, which he liked low to the ground and fully loaded with factory accessories.
But Presley’s taste wasn’t limited to Harleys. He also rode Triumphs and several Honda models over the years, including a pair of Honda CA77 Dream motorcycles he bought so he and his wife Priscilla could ride together. He rode a Honda Superhawk on screen in the 1964 film Roustabout, and by some accounts, image concerns during that period pushed the more rebellious Harley image toward the background in favor of brands seen as friendlier for his film and TV work.
Presley wasn’t possessive about his bikes, either. Friends and members of his inner circle, often called the “Memphis Mafia,” were regularly given motorcycles to ride alongside him, and he’s said to have bought multiple Triumphs at once purely so the group could ride together.
Most of his surviving motorcycles are now on permanent display at Graceland in Memphis, including several Harley-Davidsons and at least one Honda. A handful of others, like the CL72 now up for sale, have found their way into private hands over the decades.
Why This Elvis Presley Motorcycle Auction Is Different
Vehicles once owned by Elvis Presley almost always carry a steep premium once his ownership is confirmed. His cars are the clearest example. An authenticated Elvis Cadillac or a similarly famous celebrity-owned car can sell for six or seven figures without much resistance from serious bidders.
Motorcycles operate in a completely different price range. Even without any celebrity connection, a clean Honda CL72 typically sells for a modest sum, generally between $5,000 and $10,000, with the best-documented examples occasionally pushing higher. One particularly well-preserved CL72 reportedly set a record sale price above $15,000 in recent years.
Add authenticated Presley ownership on top of that baseline, and the bike becomes something unusual in the collector world: a genuine, documented piece of Elvis history that doesn’t require six-figure money to own. For collectors priced out of his car collection, this kind of listing is a rare opening.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Vehicle: 1964 Honda CL72 Scrambler
- Former owner: Elvis Presley
- Engine: 247cc SOHC parallel-twin, up to 24 horsepower
- Gearbox: Four-speed
- Wheels: 19-inch
- Typical CL72 value (no celebrity link): roughly $5,000–$10,000, with top examples exceeding $15,000
- Where most of Presley’s surviving bikes are displayed: Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee
- Other motorcycle brands Presley owned: Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Honda
FAQ: Elvis Presley’s Honda CL72 Scrambler
Did Elvis Presley actually own a Honda motorcycle? Yes. Alongside his well-known Harley-Davidsons, Presley owned several Honda models over the years, including CA77 Dream motorcycles and the CL72 Scrambler now up for auction.
What is a Honda CL72 Scrambler? It’s a 1960s middleweight motorcycle built by Honda for the American market, featuring a 247cc parallel-twin engine and a dual-purpose design suited to both street and light off-road riding.
How much is a Honda CL72 worth without celebrity ownership? Standard examples generally sell in the $5,000 to $10,000 range, with exceptionally well-preserved bikes occasionally reaching higher figures.
Why is Elvis Presley’s motorcycle collection less famous than his car collection? His cars, particularly his Cadillacs and Rolls-Royces, drew far more public and media attention over the decades, even though motorcycles made up a significant part of his personal vehicle collection throughout his life.
Where can people see Elvis Presley’s motorcycles today? Most of his surviving motorcycles are on display at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, though a small number of authenticated bikes, including this CL72, remain in private ownership or come up for auction periodically.