Beatles’ bike sells for £36,000

Jun 19 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A HONDA 160Z 1970 monkey bike, owned by John Lennon and Ringo Starr, was sold yesterday for £36,000 at a sale of entertainment memorabilia – more than five times its estimate.

The bike was bought by John Lennon as a fun way of getting around the many acres of his home of Tittenhurst Park, and was among items inherited by the new owner, Ringo Starr.

After John and Yoko moved to New York, Ringo gave the bike to the vendor, a landscape gardener, in thanks for his help with various projects on the estate over a number of years.

The vendor put the machine back into working order and replaced the smashed front headlamp. The registration plate was also replaced.

Also included in the sale was George Formby’s gold plated Dallas E banjolele which was used by the entertainer during his live performances, and was then owned by George Harrison. This item fetched £21,600.

At a concert in Welwyn Garden City, Harrison met Jeffrey Formby, George Formby's nephew. Harrison offered to return the instrument to the family as a gift, although Jeffrey preferred to purchase it. A copy of a letter from George Harrison to Jeffrey, dated 1991, was included with the lot.

The sale took place at Bonhams, in London.