Welcome to our auction review of the Bonhams spring sale. Now we're going to do a different format for
this video because we did a preview video which you can see on the channel. The first bikes we
feature will be the prices achieved on those in the preview video, which we'll go through quickly,
and then because there was over 250 machines in this auction we're going to rattle through
what we think are a selection to give you the best view of the prices achieved. So a bit faster pace,
but many more bikes shown in this video. If you want to see more information on what happened
at the auction and at the Stafford Show where this took place last weekend, The International
Classic Motorcycle Show, check out our Facebook and Instagram channels to see what we got up to,
and see the people we met, and the bikes that we reviewed along the way. Firstly a big thank you
to Ben, Andy, Kaz and John from Bonhams for helping us to put that preview video and this one together,
really appreciate that, and using the images that we've got in the video here now. So, first bike
then from that preview video was lot 547, the ex Reg Barton Dick Knight 1929 Brough Superior SS100
'Alpine Grand Sport' Sprint Special no less. Estimate on that machine was £70,000 to £100,000.
Well it absolutely smashed its estimate. There was some really intense bidding,
online but in the room in the end actually. Actual price achieved for that machine was £253,000
including the premium. All the prices I mention on this video will be including premium.
Next bike, the other SS100 Brough Superior that we looked at, this time Matchless engine machine from
1936. Ben from Bonhams described this bike as cosmetically a little challenged, but mechanically
had been well looked after in its past. So it looked a really sound bike. The only thing that
was challenged as well on the day was the estimate which was £100,000 to £180,000 on this machine.
Well sale price in the end, £235,750. Fantastic price for a really, really fantastic
machine. Lot 552 was a 1937 Vincent HRD Meteor.
500cc single cylinder machine. Beautifully presented.
Estimate on this bike, £40,000 to £50,000 and well it was bang on. It achieved £46,000
all in. Another pre-war single cylinder machine was lot 532,
the 1933 Sunbeam Model 95. Again another really, really nice thoroughbred single cylinder 500.
Estimate on this bike £15,000 to £20,000. When the hammer fell in the end, including premiums, £21,850.
A more modern machine next, lot 592 was the 1977 MV Augusta Boxer. So one of only just
two machines with the Boxer name or branding on it as well. Estimate on this machine, again
£40,000 to £50,000. It achieved £57,500. Then in the preview
we looked at a couple of really interesting barn finds. There was lot 410 which was a circa 1930
Rudge Project. No documents, no history, no top end to the engine, and no front wheel with it either.
Estimate on that was just £400 to £600. It actually sold for £2,645.
Next barn find was lot 411, circa 1939 Royal Enfield. A really handsome
looking little machine, very rusty, but looked fairly complete. 350cc Model C. Again no documents, no
history, no visible frame number. Estimate £800 to £1,200. This one achieved £3,680. Moving
along to a more modern machine now, the beautiful Kawasaki KR250 Grand Prix racing motorcycle.
Stunning in that Kawasaki green. Not really my kind of machine these, but when I saw it in
the flesh it looked absolutely fantastic. Genuine pocket rocket. Estimate on that £25,000 to £35,000.
All in, £28,750 pounds including premium. The final machine from our preview video was lot 461,
a 1914 Triumph three-and-a-half horsepower. The trusty Triumph, a genuine pioneer run machine.
Estimate on that bike was £8,000 to £14,000 and it achieved, or sold for,
£13,225. So that bike concludes the rundown on
prices achieved for the bikes that we showed in our preview video, but with over 250 machines sold
we're going to run through now a quick selection of other bikes to give you a full flavour of what
went through the sale. Now we're going to do this in a slightly different format to how we've done
previous review videos because there's so many bikes. So I'm quickly going to go through what
they were and what they sold, and if you want more details check out the bonhams.com website
for further details on the machines featured. So let's start with a selection of Honda motorcycles.
This time there were a number of CBX1000s in the sale, so we're going to pick three of those.
First up lot 462, 1979 Honda CBX1000. Last used in 2013. Just 17,808 miles on the clock.
Will require recommissioning, but looked a fairly sound machine, and pretty good condition overall.
Estimate on that bike was £8,000 to £12,000.
Sold for £12,075
including premium. The next CBX1000 was a very special machine actually, it was the
1977 pre-production prototype, lot 618. So there are only 41 of these machines made, used for
press and sort of launch purposes by Honda. Sent throughout the world.
And it's thought that only six survive because officially Honda asks for all these bikes to be
destroyed. It's a very original bike. It's had some restoration work done on it, but retains
many original features including its original paint. Estimate £25,000 to £35,000 on this machine.
Sold for, well actually it didn't sell on this occasion, didn't reach its reserve. So it
remains unsold and is still out there. But the third CBX1000 I want to feature definitely did sell. It
was lot 620, a 1978 example. Fully restored to a very, very high standard. 8,000 miles since its
restoration, so it's been well used. It runs well. Truly, truly stunning condition this bike. Looks
fantastic in that metallic red. Estimate £14,000 £18,000. It sold for £18,860. Finally while
we're talking Honda motorcycles, there's another one I want to mention. Lot 463, a 1988 VFR750R RC30.
Top of the range superbike in its day, 750cc, V4 machine. Super desirable and very, very collectible.
This bike in particular, one owner from new. Genuine UK specs, so the higher output model.
Less than 6,000 miles on the clock. Not been used for a number of years so will require
some recommissioning, at the bare minimum, to get it going again. Estimate on this
machine was a sensible £20,000 to £30,000 which seemed about right to me.
However it blew it out the water. It achieved £47,150 which is an incredible price. But
it was a very, very nice machine. So let's move on from Honda to Yamaha now, and a fabulous quartet
of early 70s lightweight two-stroke Yamahas that were entered by one single vendor. All in fabulous
condition, but all do require some recommissioning because they hadn't been ridden for a number of years.
So let's start the biggest capacity and work our way down. So lot 472, a 1971 350cc
YR5. 36 brake horsepower, two-stroke this machine. Estimate on this bike £3,000 to
£4,000 and it sold for £4,600 all in. Lot 473 was the 1972 250cc version, so a YDS7.
Estimate on this bike £3,000 to £4,000, and this one sold for £3,650.
Third bike was lot 474 which was a 1973 200cc model, the YCS5E.
I was loving the purple paint scheme on this one, it was a really, really stunning bike.
22 horsepower, two-stroke, twin cylinder. Estimate £2,000 to £3,500 and
it sold for £2,530 which seemed very reasonable to me. And the final bike of the bunch was lot 475,
a 1973 125cc this time, the YAS3. 15 horsepower, twin cylinder, five speed bike,
really usable machine. Estimate £1,500 to £2,500 and it sold for
incredible £3,910. So from lightweight two-strokes to more middle or heavyweight
bikes this time, Kawasakis in fact. So lot 605, really, really nice. 1974 750cc H2B Mach IV.
Really stunning machine, glorious green metallic paints. Fully restored around 10 years ago,
but regularly ridden. Ready to use, really well looked after.
Estimate on this bike, sensible £14,000 to £18,000. It sold for £16,100 all in. Next up
lot 606, a 1977 500cc version of the Kawasaki triple two-strokes this time, a H1 Mach III.
Cosmetically at least, absolutely stunning. I think it had some mechanical work done to it as well.
Spot on condition, ready to ride. Estimate, quite a hefty £9,000 to £12,000 in my
opinion, and it didn't sell on this occasion. So it didn't reach its estimate, so that one remains
unsold. Lot 607, a 1971 500cc Mach III H1A. So again the next year on from the previous lot. 60
horsepower these are, triple cylinder two-strokes. Again very, very smart machine.
Estimate on this similar to the previous one, £8,000 to £12,000 but again didn't attract
the bidding. So it didn't achieve its estimate, didn't achieve its reserve, and didn't sell
on this occasion. But one, the final Kawasaki that we want to talk about that did sell, 619 750cc H2A.
Absolutely stunning bike again. Concourse condition. Restored just a few years ago at
a cost of well over £10,000. And that glorious metallic orange
really, really did stand out from the crowd this bike. Been stood a number of years, will require
some light recommissioning, but was absolutely fantastic. Estimate £10,000 to £14,000 on this
bike, and it sold for £12,075 all in. Okay moving on, but before we get to the one bike that
I would pick if i was going to have anything from this auction which I'll do at the end,
let's talk about this stunning pair of Ducatis. So 450cc single cylinder Ducatis,
lot 590, Ducati Scrambler. I mean cool as they come these bikes. Really, really cool bikes.
Estimate on this, £6,000 to £8,000 which seemed reasonable. Sold for just £6,210
which i think was a great price for one of these. Then lot 591, a 1973
450cc Mk III Desmo. Road going version this time. Just incredible condition, absolutely
immaculate. And I'm just loving the twin filler caps on the tanks on this one, they look really
smart. Estimate, £8,000 to £10,000 and it sold for £11,500
all in. Now pair of BMWs, lot 583. 1941 R12, very rare machine, 745cc boxer twin.
Beautiful with its pressed steel box section frame and forks, with the glorious twin pin
stripes that go over it. It gives it a real art deco- esque, if you like, effect which reflects
what they were producing from their earlier bikes in the late 20s. Well over £20,000
spent on the restoration of this bike. You could just see the quality of finish when you saw it. Was
absolutely lovely. Shaft drive, four speed, very usable machine. Estimate on this, £20,000 to £26,000
and it sold for £26,450 all in. So our second BMW. Going
from the sublime to the visually very bold here. So lot 588, a 1981 R100RS Krauser
Sports. I apologise if I pronounced that wrong, but it's the Krauser. A really interesting machine.
One of only 300 made, never seen one before, but beautifully presented. The frame on this looked
really trick, so I'm sure it's a great handling bike. In fact I need to read up and learn more
about these bikes as they're really fascinating bits of kit. Estimate, £6,000 to £9,000
but no reserve on this bike, so it was come and get me. And it achieved £5,980 pounds all in. Pretty good
value I think. So finally let's finish up then with the bike that if I could have chosen anything I
would have liked to have gone home with at the end of the sale. Now I had a good look through
and I couldn't actually pick one, so I've gone for two, I'm going to cheat this time. First bike,
lot 556, glorious 1959 Nor-Vin Comet 500. Now, I do like a sort of cafe racer special as
you've seen on some of the previous videos. This one was the combination of a Vincent
Comet 500cc single cylinder engine, in a Norton Featherbed from a Model 99. So hence Nor-Vin.
I have to say it's by far and away, the best example of one of these machines I've ever seen.
It just exuded quality in terms of its finish, and the way it was presented. Estimate on this bike,
sensibly estimated, £9,000 to £12,000. It achieved £13,800
all in. And it was absolutely beautiful, I'd love that in my garage. But the second bike that
I've picked from the wish list here was lot 508. A really early machine here, a 1921 Wooler 350cc
Model B. Really unusual, ultra rare machine. Also known as, or nickname in its time, 'The Flying Banana'
because of its beautiful elongated tank that comes in front of the headstock there, with
its yellow accents that were on there. A very, very interesting machine, designed and built by a chap
called John Wooler. He was genius / eccentric in his approach to producing motorcycles.
A very rare bit of kit. Do look him up on the internet, a fascinating story about John Wooler.
Ultra rare, very rarely see these come to market. Estimate on this £17,000 to £20,000.
It absolutely blew it out the water and sold for an incredible £40,250 which is a new auction
world record for a Wooler. So well done on that, it was a beautiful, beautiful bike. And again, I'd love
that one in my garage. So there we have it, that was our Bonhams auction review. Let us know what
you think of the bikes featured and this video in the comments below. And we'll see you again soon.