Through the decades, there have been countless depictions of Santa in pop culture. Some show him in his sleigh, in the sky, happily guiding his team of reindeer through the night as he brings toys to all the good children around the world. Maybe his cheeks and nose are a little wind-whipped from the cold, but his face is always merry; the very essence of warm holiday cheer, even as the snow falls all around him.
Sometimes, there's even icy glitter, which is entirely appropriate to set the scene.
And on occasion, he's even been shown on a motorcycle or other vehicle that isn't, technically speaking, an actual sleigh. Depending on the viewer, this image may or may not entirely work in your mind. But, if you're in the right mood to indulge in a bit of artistic license, chances are excellent that you smile, nod, and accept the image in the spirit in which it was intended. Hey, 'tis the season, right?
Friends, I'd like to show you this gorgeous Bohmerland 600cc OHV motorcycle. No, it's not the modern revival of Bohmerland that one entrepreneur promised we'd see in 2023. Instead, it's a real one, from all the way back in 1931.
And if it isn't the most sleigh-looking motorcycle I've ever seen, I'll eat a cork gasket for lunch. Especially in this gorgeous red and cream colorway.
The design stamps of Czech engineer Albin Leibisch are all over this thing, from stem to stern. There's the 600cc single-cylinder engine at its heart, of course. There's the extreme length of the thing, as well. The example you see before here is a Langtouren (long tourer) model, with a wheelbase that's a whopping 10.5 feet long.
That means road stability in a straight line would be good, but handling in the twisties might of course be negatively impacted. However, it's at this point I must posit a very simple rejoinder, which is: How much would that matter if you're flying, anyway?
Gallery: 1931 Bohmerland OHV 600cc Langtouren
You've got that cheerful cream luggage rack just behind the saddle, not to mention the rear box (not top box) out back. Additional bracing (also in that lovely vintage cream tone) surrounds the back of that rear box, and might make a good point to help buttress a potential trailer. Maybe even one full of toys.
If we're accepting a universe where Santa can fly a sleigh, there's no reason that this couldn't be it. There's also, likewise, no reason that he couldn't magically tow more goodies behind him as he gracefully alights on rooftops all around the world to bring joy to the kiddies. Right?
Anyway, if you're interested in owning a rare 1931 Bohmerland OHV 600cc Langtouren, you'll find this beautiful example for sale in Italy right now. The auction closes close to the New Year, and the price is currently up to €57,000 (about US $59,250), with the reserve price not yet met. It's expected to go for around €85,000 to €95,000 (about US $88,345 to $98,738) when all is said and done.
The listing says it's been on display in Italy for many years, and it comes with a whole bunch of documentation if that's your thing. Me, I love vintage documentation, so I think that's certainly a bonus.
In any case, if you're in the mood for extremely niche vintage motorcycle holiday magic, it probably doesn't get better than this.
