Gold in the Straw: Collection of Eight Bikes Found in Northern Ireland Barn Owned by Race Legend Joe Ryan for Sale With H&H Classics November 14
UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 20, 2020 / The late Joe Ryan’s name was synonymous with the halcyon days of Irish motorcycle racing, when Ryan Nortons carried such famous names as Tommy Robb, Raymond Spence, Ralph Bryans, Cecil Crawford and Sam McClements, to a multitude of victories and championship titles.
Now Mark Bryan of H&H Classics, brings to sale eight of Joe’s personal bikes discovered on a remote farm in Northern Ireland. The straw covered barn held a treasure trove collected by Joe Ryan and secreted out of the weather for him to tinker with and enjoy in his later years.
The H&H Classics sale takes place on November 14th at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.
Mark Bryan says: “Despite having no formal engineering training Joe Ryan established himself as an innovator in the preparation of Norton motorcycles for racing. He was the ultimate tuner. A quiet unassuming man he created a legend whose fame lives on. His collection of eight bikes are of huge significance to so many people involved in Irish and UK racing.”
The barn-find bikes found are:
c1922 Norton Model 9 Brooklands Special 500cc - £8,000 - £10,000.
c1923 Zendher 110cc £3,000 to £5,000
c1911 Triumph 3 1/2 hp TT Roadster £7,000 -£9,000
c1925 AJS E6 Big Port 350cc £7,000 to £9,000
1923 Douglas Model TS 2 3/4 hp – £5,000 - £7,000
c1913 Triumph 3 1/2 hp TT Roadster £4,000 - £6,000
c1923 Kenilworth 75cc – £3,000 to £5,000
c1935 Rudge 250cc Sports 4 Valve - £6,000 - £8,000
The first of the discovered bikes is a c1922 Norton Model 9 Brooklands Special 500cc, ex Joe Ryan, estimated to sell for £8,000 to £10,000. See below.
c1922 Norton Model 9 Brooklands Special 500cc Ex Joe Ryan - £8,000 - £10,000.
This bike has been in long-term ownership by famous Northern Ireland Norton race tuner Joe Ryan.
The Engine turns with good compression and the bike is in fair overall condition, but will require some recommissioning before road use. There is no paperwork.
c1923 Zendher 110cc –Estimate £3,000 to £5,000
This bike was in the long-term ownership of famous Norton race tuner Joe Ryan. This rare machine is in garage find condition. Engine free and will require some recommissioning before road use. No paperwork.
c1911 Triumph 3 1/2 hp TT Roadster Estiomate £7,000 - £9,000
Long-term ownership of Joe Ryan. The engine turns over with good compression and is in fair overall condition, but will require some recommissioning before road use. No paperwork.
c1925 AJS E6 Big Port 350cc – Estimate £7,000 to £9,000
This AJS was in the long term ownership of Joe Ryan. Owned in period by Herbie Chambers who was pictured riding it at Donegall Pass sprint. The engine turns with compression and the bike is in fair overall condition but will require recommissioning before road use. No paperwork
JOE RYAN
About Us
H&H was founded by Simon Hope in 1993 as a specialist auction house dedicated solely to the sale of collectors’ motorcars and motorcycles. Some 26 years later, the company can boast a continuous trading history, which exceeds that of any UK rival. The company is staffed by hands-on enthusiasts with over 600 years’ combined experience, and its specialist valuers are among the most knowledgeable in the industry.
H&H has had the pleasure of handling everything from 1890s London to Brighton runners through to 1990s Formula 1 cars, not to mention a variety of iconic motorcycles and holds a considerable number of World Record auction prices.
With the head office near Warrington, Cheshire and its Private Sales Garage near Hindhead in Surrey and specialists based throughout Europe, H&H holds regular physical sales at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, National Motorcycle Museum in the West Midlands and Pavilion Gardens, Buxton. There are also Automobilia Online Sales and Live Auctions Online throughout the year.
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