British Motorcycles from the John Keeley Collection
John Keeley Vintage British Motorcycles
British Motorcycles from the John Keeley CollectionHidden from the public for the past 25 years, a collection of vintage British motorcycles owned by the late John Keeley will go on the block October 18 at Bonhams Stafford Sale 2015 (Staffordshire County Showground).The John Keeley collection includes many rare British motorbikes from the early 1900s, and the interwar and post-war periods. The collection features many of the finest motorcycle marquees from Britain, including BSA, Velocette, Norton, Sunbeam, Ariel, Triumph, Douglas, Brough Superior, New Imperial and Zenith.
Speaking of the Keeley collection, James Stensel, Bonhams Head of Collectors’ Motorcycles, says: “To find so many unrestored motorcycles under one roof is incredibly rare. John had an appreciation for originality and an eye for quality; his 1928 Triumph 494cc Model P (estimate $6,000 – $8,000) has the most incredible patina, whilst his 1934 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50HP (estimate $46,000 – $76,000) retains its original and matching frame, engine, gearbox and associated accessories.”Percy Austen, a close friend of Keley, says “John Keeley was born in Knowl Hill near Maidenhead, Berkshire. From a young age he developed a love of old machinery and started his working life in the village garage. John also took up motorcycle scrambling at the Bagshot and Hungry Hill courses, riding against many of the great names of that era.”Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale takes place October 17-18 at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Staffordshire County Showground.For further information, visit Bonhams motorcycle department.
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
My name is Arthur Coldwells.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week’s episode features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the beautiful new Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST that is loosely based around the original FXRT Sport Glide from the 1980s. Hailing from The Golden State, these cult-status performance machines became known as West Coast style, with sportier suspension, increased horsepower, and niceties including creature comforts such as a tidy fairing and sporty luggage.
In past episodes you might have heard us mention my best friend, Daniel Schoenewald, and in the second segment I chat with him about some of the really special machines in his 170 or so—and growing—motorcycle collection. He’s always said to me that he doesn’t consider himself the owner, merely the curator of the motorcycles for the next generation.
Yet Daniel is not just a collector, but I can attest a really skilled rider. His bikes are not trailer queens, they’re ridden, and they’re ridden pretty hard. Actually, we have had many, many memorable rides on pretty much all of the machines in the collection at one time or another.
From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!
