Passion for a classic collection
Pensioner rescued 70 rare antique bikes
IPOH: The theft of his classic Phillips bicycle in 2009 set Bahri Anshari on the road to become a classic bicycle collector.
The 61-year-old Telekom Malaysia retiree is now the proud owner of at least 70 of these bicycles, which include brands such as Robin Hood, BSA, Hercules, Humber, Rudge and Chopper.
“In 2009, I had five classic bicycles at my house here but one of them was stolen when I was away attending a course in Taiping.
“My children and I searched for the bicycle at shops selling recycled goods and bicycle spare parts but failed to find it. However, the search led us to buying similar bicycles and soon a hobby developed,” he said.
Bahri, who is chairman of the Speda Classic Kinta Perak Club, said the stolen bicycle was obtained from a senior citizen who no longer used it, and it was repaired using Phillips spare parts.
He said his collection also included bicycles produced as way back as 1892, with a 70-yearold BSA two-wheeler bought in Yogyakarta.
Bahri said he particularly liked the five postman bicycles he has in his collection, which he bought in 2010 for RM15 each.
He said he had received offers of thousands of ringgit for his bicycles.
“But I will not part with them, which I often use as escort vehicles at marriages. It is also equipped with a siren to announce the arrival of the couple!” he quipped.
Bahri’s hobby has the support of his wife Zuraidah Hamzah, 59, and their four children.
He said the price of old bicycles varied depending on the brand and condition, adding that he spent about RM300 maintaining his bicycles every two months.
He also said that the Speda Classic Kinta Perak Club had about 50 members and they were often invited to hold exhibitions.
Bahri also said he was not interested in participating in any “beautiful bicycle” competitions “because beautifying an old bicycle will cause it to lose its classic and antique elements.”
“I believe that a classic and antique bicycle must retain its rusty condition, scratches and the accessories which come with it,” he added. — Bernama