SECRET TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE THAT ESCAPED CRUSHER – FOR SALE WITH H&H CLASSICS

A very unusual motorcycle survivor comes to sale with H&H Classics on July 30 at the National Motorcycle Museum – a legendary 1997 Triumph Speed Triple test bike, estimated to sell for £10,000 to £12,000.

This is a bike that Triumph wanted to crush, not wanting it to survive. It was one of the designs they tried out when developing the T509 Speed Triple, using a heavy tubular steel frame, later dropped in favour of an alternative design. It left the Triumph factory by mistake in a batch of bikes due for trials and comparison testing against other marques at a nearby dealer.

But despite the company’s best efforts it was bought “through the back door” and after 12 months of work including fitting a Dyno-jetted Speed Triple 900cc engine it turned out to be a very hot beast indeed.

The bike has a most unusual frame design, a trellis where the engine hangs in the frame rather than sits on it. The bike H&H are selling is one of three frames made by Harris Engineering for Triumph to develop the T509 Speed Triple. Two were destroyed but this one slipped the net to the great annoyance of Triumph who were not happy about it and tried to stop the project of rebuilding the bike privately.

But despite the noises from Triumph and their opposition it was built into a Triumph engined superbike. This most unusual piece of British Motorcycle history is known as the T509 Speed Triple. It is UK registered as a Triumph.

Mark Bryan of H&H Classics, says: “Auctions bring all sorts of machines to the fore, mostly recognisable models, this on the other hand is the opposite, so rare and special that it probably needs to go into the Museum as an exhibit!!”

H&H CLASSICS NEXT MOTORBIKE SALE IS ITS BIGGEST YET WITH 312 BIKES FOR AN ESTIMATE OF £1.8M AT THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM BIRMINGHAM ON JULY 30TH 2019.

See catalogue online https://online.handh.co.uk/m/view-auctions/catalog/id/112/

If you are currently looking to buy a classic motorcycle there is only one place to be on July 30 – the H&H Classics sale at the National Motorcycle Museum which features a huge selection of 312 bikes worth an estimated £1.8 million.

Some 20% of the bikes will be sold with No Reserve. There are also barn find collections and restored classics dating from WW1 to 2016. Approximately a third of the bikes for sale are Japanese so there is something for everyone. The auction starts at 12.00 on Tues 30^th July.

Mark Bryan of H&H Classics Motorcycle Department says: “Here at H&H we are going from strength to strength, the Museum sale is proving to be a popular choice for people selling their bikes but also for the buyers. I think it’s because the Museum offers, good location, fabulous sales rooms, free car parking and a great restaurant, and don’t forget the biggest museum in the world of British bikes! Obviously this all combines to generate good sales results that can be seen with our recent sales percentages and spate of world records.”