Bonhams Motorcycle Auctions at Stafford
Bonhams have an international reputation for selling rare and desirable collectors’ motorcycles around the world, frequently setting world records and offering interesting machines to the market. There is an immense appreciation for collectors’ motorcycles and their sales offer buyers an opportunity to acquire the machines of their dreams.
The Bonhams Motorcycle Department has been operating and working together for over 20 years, and from our regular visits to the Stafford Motorcycle shows John and I have got to know the motorcycle specialists that keep everything running like clockwork. Ben Walker keeps everything on track with the help of more the recent additions of James Stensel, Bill To and Andrew Barrett to the motorcycle specialist team.
Worldwide Bonhams hold 6 sales a year: Las Vegas – Jan; Le Grand Palais- Feb; The Spring Stafford Sale – Apr; Beaulieu – Sept; The Autumn Stafford Sale – Oct; The December Sale – Dec. Their sales are firmly established and often take place in conjunction with international motorcycling events.
There is usually something for everyone at a Bonhams auction, so whether you want to pick up a Bantam for hundreds of pounds or splash out on a Brough project
at a couple of hundred thousands of pounds(like the parts of the 1927 Brough Superior 981cc SS100 Alpine Grand Sport project shown here, that sold for £259,100 inc. premium)then Bonhams is the place to be. In recent years we have seen the collections of Gary Ross, Keeley and Lonati’s beautiful and rare motorcycles go under the hammer at Stafford, as well as run of the mill motorcycles and those belonging to TV personalities, like James May and Richard Hammond.
John has purchased a couple of bikes at Bonhams Stafford auctions so, if you have had any reservations or are unsure as to the process we can assure you that it is not as daunting a task as you might imagine. Quite simply, all you have to do is purchase a catalogue to gain entry and then you can wander around and view the bikes in the flesh. To bid in the auction you will need to go to see the helpful Bonhams staff on the registration desk, where registration is a fairly simple process and you will be given a numbered bidding card to enable you to bid for the bike of your dreams. Do visit the Bonhams website for more detailed information but it really is, as simple as that!
The first bike that John purchased at Bonhams auction was back in April 2007, it was a 1974 Norton Commando Roadster that (after resting in boxes in a Scottish barn) had been rescued and became the subject of restoration a couple of years beforehand for its previous owner. The Norton is an excellent motorcycle that John still owns and loves to this very day. This was John’s first experience of motorcycle auctions, which was made very easy for him as help was on hand (as it always is) from Bonhams friendly staff. Since then John has made other purchases and helped others in the process.
However, as well as buying motorcycles from Bonhams, don’t forget that they can also sell motorcycles on your behalf and they 
offer a very experienced, professional and friendly service. Malcolm Barber, Co-Chairman of Bonhams Group and CEO Bonhams Asia is a familiar face to everyone at Stafford (and from TV coverage of auctions worldwide) in orchestrating the auctions from his rostrum in an interesting and entertaining manner. Stafford is a real favourite of Malcolm’s and in all the years that Bonhams have held auctions there, we believe that he has only missed one, and that was due to circumstances beyond his control.
We highly recommend Bonhams and welcome them as “Friends of JMN”
Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycle Department contact details:
Ben Walker:
Tel. +44 20 8963 2819, Email: ben.walker@bonhams.com
James Stensel:
Tel. +44 20 8963 2818, Email: james.stensel@bonhams.com
Bill To:
Tel. +44 20 8963 2822, Email: bill.to@bonhams.com
Andrew Barrett: (Auction Administration)
Tel. +44 20 8963 2817
General Enquiries:
Tel. +44 20 8963 2817, Email: motorcycles@bonhams.com
Customer Services (UK):
Tel. +44 20 7447 7447, Email: info@bonhams.com
Michael W George (& John Abram)