Edition 01
Collector Watch is our monthly look at the motorcycles we believe are quietly becoming tomorrow's classics. Rather than chasing auction headlines, we focus on the Swiss used market and identify models that combine historical significance, strong ownership appeal and realistic long-term potential.
Not every motorcycle becomes a collector's item.
Some become more valuable because they were produced in small numbers.
Others because they changed motorcycling forever.
And some simply become desirable because riders realise, perhaps too late, that nobody builds motorcycles like them anymore.
This month's edition highlights the motorcycles we believe deserve the closest attention if you're buying with both your heart and your head.
How We Select Our Collector Picks
- Historical significance
- Current Swiss market availability
- Originality
- Parts availability
- Long-term enthusiast demand
- Current asking prices on MotoScout24
The Collector Score is our editorial opinion. It reflects collectability rather than investment advice.
Collector Watch – July 2026
| Motorcycle | Collector Score | Current Market | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha SR500 | 10 / 10 | Strongly Rising | Excellent |
| BMW R80 Airhead | 10 / 10 | Rising | Excellent |
| Kawasaki W650 | 9.5 / 10 | Rising | Very Strong |
| Yamaha XT500 | 9.5 / 10 | Strongly Rising | Excellent |
| Honda Africa Twin XRV750 | 9 / 10 | Rising | Very Strong |
| Moto Guzzi V7 Classic | 8.5 / 10 | Stable | Strong |
| Triumph Bonneville 865 | 8.5 / 10 | Stable | Strong |
| Honda NX650 Dominator | 8 / 10 | Stable | Promising |
| Yamaha XT600 | 8 / 10 | Stable | Promising |
| BMW R1150 GS | 7.5 / 10 | Stable | Undervalued |
Motorcycle to Watch: Yamaha SR500
If one motorcycle perfectly illustrates the current collector market, it is the Yamaha SR500.
Original, low-mileage motorcycles have become increasingly difficult to find, and asking prices continue to reflect that scarcity. During our July research we found exceptional original examples advertised at around CHF 9,500, while project motorcycles can still occasionally be found for less than CHF 3,000. The gap between average and exceptional examples continues to widen, showing how strongly originality now influences value.
View Yamaha SR500 Listings on MotoScout24
Most Undervalued Motorcycle: Honda NX650 Dominator
The NX650 remains one of the most overlooked motorcycles on the Swiss market.
It combines Honda reliability, genuine adventure capability and excellent parts support, yet asking prices remain surprisingly sensible compared with many collector favourites.
We believe the Dominator still offers a window of opportunity before wider collector interest arrives.
View Honda NX650 Listings on MotoScout24
Fastest Rising Model: Kawasaki W650
The Kawasaki W650 has quietly become one of Europe's most desirable modern classics.
Production numbers were never particularly high, and many owners tend to keep them for years. That combination means relatively few motorcycles appear on the Swiss market, helping support asking prices.
Unlike many retro motorcycles, the W650 also offers excellent reliability, making it attractive to riders rather than purely collectors.
View Kawasaki W650 Listings on MotoScout24
Future Classic: Yamaha XT600
The XT600 has not yet reached collector status in the same way as the XT500, but the signs are becoming increasingly visible.
Lightweight, air-cooled adventure motorcycles are becoming harder to find, and many original XT600s have already been modified, heavily travelled or broken for parts.
Clean, largely original motorcycles are likely to become much more desirable over the coming years.
View Yamaha XT600 Listings on MotoScout24
Collector Trends We Are Watching
- Original motorcycles continue to outperform customised examples.
- Complete service history has become increasingly important.
- Air-cooled engines remain highly desirable.
- Limited availability is supporting prices across the retro segment.
- Adventure motorcycles from the 1980s and 1990s continue to attract new buyers.
The Rottweiler Prediction
If we had to choose one motorcycle that still offers genuine upside, it would be the Honda NX650 Dominator.
Unlike the SR500 or BMW Airhead, it has not yet become an established collector's motorcycle. That keeps prices relatively accessible while offering all the ingredients that often lead to future appreciation: mechanical simplicity, strong reliability, an enthusiastic owner community and growing interest in lightweight adventure motorcycles.
History suggests that today's overlooked motorcycles often become tomorrow's collector favourites.
Methodology & Disclaimer
Collector Watch – July 2026 is based on publicly advertised motorcycles observed on the Swiss MotoScout24 marketplace together with historical market trends and editorial analysis. The Collector Score reflects our opinion and should not be interpreted as financial or investment advice. Asking prices are not the same as completed sales, and markets can change rapidly depending on supply, demand and the condition of individual motorcycles.