What's The Most Expensive Motorcycle Brand? (And Why Do They Charge So Much For Their Bikes?)

For anyone wondering which motorcycle brand commands the highest prices — and why — you would be correct to assume that title belongs to ultra-exclusive and bespoke builders like ARCH, Combat Motors, or Brough Superior. While these custom manufacturers do produce some of the world's priciest machines, they don't operate at scale. Instead, among mainstream motorcycle makers, MV Agusta takes the crown. Known for its Italian design flair, racing pedigree, and ultra-premium components, MV Agusta produces some of the most expensive motorcycles out there.

With an average sale price of $23,389, MV Agusta motorcycles are the most expensive non-bespoke brand based on market data. By comparison, another elite Italian producer, Ducati, averages about $18,500. Because of its more niche production, even Bimota, with its radical chassis designs and Kawasaki alliance, sees slightly less pricing consistency. On the other hand, MV Agusta provides bikes that are not only excellent but also collectible.

Excluding the ultra-luxury custom scene, MV Agusta's mix of exclusivity and performance puts it in a class of its own when it comes to price tags; with its bikes often justifying the steep numbers in more ways than one.

MV Agusta's reputation for pricey motorcycles goes beyond its flagship models; it's an average spanning almost their whole range. For instance, the Brutale 800 RR starts well north at $18,000, while the Rush 1000 sells for over $55,000. On the even more extreme end of the scale, the MV Agusta F4 Claudio and F4 CC sell for upwards of $85,000 and $120,000, respectively. While MV Agusta often finds itself among the underrated motorcycle brands, few other mainstream bike manufacturers can match MV Agusta with its average pricing.

Ducati's lineup is more balanced as it has less-expensive offerings like its Scramblers and Monsters, even though it may have bikes like the Panigale V4 SP2 that sit around the $40,000 mark. Likewise, Bimota's Tesi H2, with its supercharged engine derived from Kawasaki and hub-center steering, comes at an astounding cost of around $70,000 but is manufactured in very small quantities and lacks the general availability or consistent volume that some of the MV Agusta bikes have.

MV Agusta's approach is clear: target discerning riders and collectors who are more interested in the convergence of art, racing technology, and ownership exclusivity. In that sense, it rules a special luxury-performance niche occupied by few other brands.

MV Agusta's sky-high pricing results from engineering, design, legacy, and scarcity. Think Öhlins suspension, Brembo Stylema brakes, in-house engines, titanium components, and ride-by-wire systems, all packed into designs that wouldn't look out of place in a museum. These finely tuned machines just ooze with advanced tech and flair. 

Its bikes are put together using a degree of workmanship usually associated with expensive Italian sports cars.
Restricted production is another key element. MV Agusta keeps volumes deliberately low to preserve exclusivity and quality control, not to overwhelm the market. Many of its special-edition bikes are signed and numbered, which increases their worth to collectors. Brand reputation also matters; MV Agusta boasts a decorated racing legacy going back to the 1950s, with world championships claimed under its name by legends like Giacomo Agostini in the 1960s and '70s. That kind of legacy adds unquestionable but intangible worth.


MV Agusta sells luxury, performance, and history rather than merely motorcycles. And for consumers who appreciate those qualities, the hefty price tag is actually a selling point rather than a deterrent.