Motorcycle history was made by H&H Classics at the National Motorcycle Museum in England on March 4, 2018, when the company sold two iconic bikes for new world record prices.
H&H’s lineup of 170 bikes included a number of gems that had the place heaving despite a week of atrocious weather that had kept people at home. The biking fraternity turned up in strength to bid for John Lennon’s 1969 HondaZ50A “Monkeybike” which made $79,640.
There was huge excitement for the John Lennon Monkey-Trail bike XUC 91H when its turn came to go under the hammer.
John Lennon used the bike as a fun way of getting around his Tittenhurst Park estate in Surrey, where he lived from 1969 to 1971. Prior to the sale H&H Classics estimated that the bike would sell for $40,000 plus. It has now become the highest priced Monkeybike sold at auction.
Mark Bryan, Head of Sales for H&H Classics Motorcycle Department, said: “Naturally we were thrilled to be entrusted with the marketing and sale of this bike, given its extraordinary provenance. So to achieve this price is hugely satisfying.”
The Honda Monkey/Trail Bike XUC 91H was acquired by John Harington from Henry Graham, of Hook Hampshire, who at the time was owner of a business in Farnborough Hampshire — Motor Cycle City in around 1971.
Henry Graham said that he had bought the motorbike from John Lennon, who was living at the time at Tittenhurst Park in Sunningdale, near Ascot Berkshire.
John Harington, the current seller, had kept the bike for the past 47 years, since buying it from Mr Graham and had displayed it at various events and shows throughout that time.
