▲ Fancy a replica of the replica? Talk to Davida on:

0151 6472419 or visit: http://www.davida.co.uk

▲ 1922 Mk1 Brough Superior; this JAP powered sidevalve is one of the earliest examples of George Brough's vision of a brave new biking world. £35,050.
79 bikes were built.

▼ 1947 Vincent Rapide fetched £26,450

▲ The Lean Machines from Royal Enfield.
Talk to Specialist Royal Enfield tour operators
Arden Motorcycles (Cotswolds) and Bike Astur
(Spain) for details of Enfield riding tours.

▲ A stunning line up of allied war bikes displayed opposite the German Battery at Longues-sur-mer

▲ A 125cc Royal Enfield Flying Flea and a brace
of 98cc Welbikes.

▲ 1928 980cc McEvoy. Bonham's are estimating that this will sell for £120,000-£150,000 (Editor's footnote: this bike sold for £108,200).

▼ McEvoy-JAP powered OHV V-twin was, in its day, good for 100-plus mph.

Easy Rider
rides in

Forty years after the seminal movie Easy Rider hit the screens,  US actor Peter Fonda briefly reprised his role of Captain America at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Riding an Evo-based replica of (arguably) the most famous Harley-Davidson on the planet, Fonda drew cheers and applause as he rode the asphalt once again, albeit this time in search of a totally different kind of high.

Looking amazingly youthful, Fonda was crowned by a Davida-made replica Stars'n'Stripe Jet helmet. The king of hippy-biker counter culture? There's no argument here. Shame that Dennis Hopper couldn't make it. Maybe next year. Groovy stuff.

Bargain Brough?

Okay, okay already. So it’s hardly a record price for a Brough Superior, but thirty five grand plus change is nevertheless a very large wedge of financial cheese—and that was the price paid for the above 1922 Mk1 Brough Superior at Bonham's new Oxford Regional Saleroom.

Hoo hah.

Held in conjunction with the 2009 Banbury Run (20th June for anyone who missed it), Bonham's latest auction turned over £399,410—representing a 98% lot-flogging success rate.

Apparently, one thousand people turned out for the event, 400 of whom were active bidders hoping to score the kind of bargain you just can't get on eBay anymore.

A 1947 Vincent Rapide fetched £26,450, while an Egli Vincent returned a heady £23,000.

Other notable motorcycle cash cows included a 1903 Excelsior combo (£21,850); a 1905 Invicta Forecar (£20,125); and a 1954 Norton Model 40 Manx (£19,550). Which all goes to show that while the global economy is teetering on the edge of meltdown, you can still rely on a motorcycle to put a smile on your face.

But what's so special about this particular heap of Brough steel and aluminium and rubber? Aside from the fact that all Broughs are pretty unique, there's not a lot of kudos attached to this one, except that it's one of the earliest examples (George Brough started production in 1919). And that numberplate has to be worth a few bob too.

The Rapide, meanwhile, achieved a good, but hardly dizzying, price. Vincent twins are unquestionably still climbing in value, but has the curve flattened a little lately?

We'll keep you posted.

Enfield curries
favour

Royal Enfield importers Watsonian Squire are claiming a 2000 visitor turnout at the recent open day weekend (21/22nd June 2009). The big draw, say the importers, was Enfield's new lean burn bikes which covered around 1600 test-riding miles around Watsonian-Squire's Cotswold factory.

With three curries to choose from (cooked up by the local Sea Scouts apparently), plus ice cream plus Jim Reynolds (master of ceremonies) plus guest visitor Stan Dibben, who won two world sidecar world championships in the 1950’s on Watsonian sidecar outfits, the maths added up to a pretty good time.

If all this has got you hankering after an Enfield (or a curry), visit Watsonian-Squire's website at: www.royal-enfield.com. They'll put you in touch with one of their 50 or so dealers and will give you the address of the Sea Scouts.

65 for 65

Over 150 ex-WW2 allied despatch bike owners answered the called to arms and attended the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings held—not surprisingly—on 6th June 2009. Organised by BSA M20 specialist Ian Wright, of Ark Motorcycles in Devon, the event was overseen by the Guinness Book of Records who officially recognised 144 machines on the beach at Arromanche, Normandy, France.

What is unquestionably the largest peacetime gathering of allied motorcycles since WW2, the event culminated on the 7th June in a wreath laying ceremony at Bayeaux Cemetry, the inscription reading: "In honour of those who went to war on two wheels".

The original hope was that at least 65 allied war bikes would turn out for this event. But within just a few months of the appeal, over 100 riders had expressed their intention to attend.

Said organiser Ian Wright, "The occasion went off better than I could have possibly hoped. I'm chuffed."

A collection for the Royal British Legion is being organised for anyone wishing to contribute a few coppers to the care and welfare on British servicemen from all theatres of war.

Email: events@devonmvt.co.uk for details.

The Real McEvoy

If the above Brough sounds a little too much like an ASDA price rollback, check out the 1928 McEvoy that Bonham's reckons will fetch £120,000- £150,000 at their July 2009 auction sale at Henley on Thames. Part of the well known Ward Brothers Collection (Toby and Daniel), this bike has associations with motorcycling luminaries such as Alf Briggs (grass track supremo) and Eric Houseley (1952 Clubman Junior TT-winner).

Powered by a 980cc, OHV, JAP V-twin, the McEvoy, with its Webb forks and 3-speed Sturmey Archer gearbox, makes even a Brough look common.

The short-lived company was founded by supercharger expert Michael McEvoy and hailed from Derby, just a quick jaunt up the road from George Brough's factory at Nottingham.

Between 1926 and 1929, McEvoy built a range of bikes powered by Villiers, Blackburne, Anzani and JAP engines, and toyed with a number of innovative engine designs that never saw production.

Among the dozens of lots on offer is an 1898 De Dion Bouton
1-¾ hp Tricycle (pictured above and estimated at £30,000-40,000), and an 1899 Panhard-Levassor Wagonette (estimated: £120,000-150,000).

The sale is, apparently, part of a rationalisation programme by the Ward Brothers, both of whom are active classic motoring campaigners and have more antique iron and ally than they know what to do with.

Much of their stock is duplicated or surplus to current requirements, so it's being released onto the market to be converted into hard cash. The hammer goes down at 2pm on Saturday 18^th July 2009. It'll cost you thirty quid for a catalogue, and you won't get in without one.