Bike Wars at Shannons

MELBOURNE – May 31, 2012: It’s Bikies Wars at Shannons this Monday in Melbourne, with the Douglas clan out to Triumph over the Ariel Squares, the BAS Sloper set and the Goldwing gang.

Shannons June 4 Winter Classic Auction has plenty of two-wheel action brewing with eight special motor cycles – seven British and one Japanese – crossing the block from 7pm in their Cheltenham showroom.

The main rivalry on the night will be for bragging rights between two feisty Pre-War Brits – a ready-to race and well-maintained 1939 Velocette 350cc Mac and a rare 595cc 1932 BSA Sloper from a deceased estate in the UK.

The Mac has been looked after by Les Diener, a well known South Australian bike racer and Velocette specialist from the ‘50s and ‘60s and has been the subject of much recent mechanical work.

The Sloper houses the largest of the engines offered throughout the model’s life and like the Velocette, is fitted with a four-speed gearbox. Both are expected to sell in the $14,000-$18,000 range.

Pushing this pair very closely for desirability is a 1975 Triumph T160 Trident 750cc. Featuring electric start and a five-speed gearbox, this last-of-the-breed bike with its three-cylinder air-cooled engine is presented in excellent rideable condition and at its guiding range of $12,000-$15,000 will appeal to enthusiasts who wants to ride a classic motorcycle regularly.

Also very desirable for British motorcycle enthusiasts is a pair of Douglas solos – a 1926 EW 350cc and a 1951 Mk 5 350cc solo.

The earlier Douglas ‘Twin’ comes from a deceased estate and has been displayed and never ridden since its comprehensive restoration, while the Post-War Mk 5 with its innovative horizontally-opposed 348cc twin laid across the frame has covered just 3,396 miles since its restoration some years ago.

The Pre-War Douglas is expected to sell for $10,000-$14,000 and the Mk 5 for $9,000-$11,000.

Another Post-War British classic is the 1947 Royal Enfield Model J 500cc that comes from a Californian collection and has covered just 3,905 miles since its complete restoration.

Presented in excellent condition, the bike would make a wonderful display or club motorcycle and is expected to bring $10,000-$14,000.

For collectors and restorers, there is a 1957 Ariel Square Four 4G Mk II 1100cc that has come out of long-term storage.

The bike was partially restored from a bare frame some time in the past but has lain dormant since and is incomplete. It is expected to attract many Square Four enthusiasts at its projected $7,000-$10,000 selling range.

Finally for cruisers there is a large and luxurious Australian-delivered 1982 Honda GL100 DC Goldwing motorcycle that is believed to have covered just 42,000km since new.

The bike has been in the hands of its present owner for the past seven years. It has been ridden and serviced regularly and is being reluctantly offered for sale with no reserve following its owner’s move interstate. Shannons are expecting bids in the $3,000-$5,000 range.