John Lennon’s Monkey Bike is auctioned for £56,000

John Lennon’s Honda Monkey Bike motorcycle has sold for £56,250.

The 1969 Honda Z50A Monkey Bike was auctioned at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, England, by H&H Classics.

It was the highest price paid at auction for this type of motorbike, and far exceeded the estimated £20,000-40,000. With the buyers’ premium of 12.5%, the total cost was lifted to £63,281.

Lennon used the motorbike on his Tittenhurst Park estate, at which he lived between 1969 and 1971. He was photographed on the bike with his eldest son Julian.

Registration No:XUC 91H
Frame No:Z50A-147116
Engine No:Z50AE-146584
CC:49

• Used and enjoyed by John Lennon around his Tittenhurst Park estate
• Current family ownership since June 1971 (Lennon migrated to New York in August that year)
• Extensive history file including green log book, old MOTs, Honda dating letter etc
• In running order with ‘matching’ frame and engine numbers
• Largely unrestored and original
• Huge investment potential

The seller, John Harington, had owned the Honda for 47 years since June 1971, the month before Lennon left England for America.

Harington acquired the bike from Henry Graham of Hook, Hampshire, who had bought it from Lennon while the former Beatle was living at Tittenhurst.