‘There’s an emphasis on race bikes in Northern Ireland’

We became involved in classic bikes after my father was asked to advise a family on the probate sale of a collection of bikes and cars. We carefully researched both the (mainly) racing bikes and cars and set up a website and marketed it through magazines, dealers, museums and social media before staging an auction. The result was that the family got far more than the original estimates for the collection and we got a start in the classic bike business.

Dad had been into bikes since he was 14 and had always had classics, including a Velocette Viper he bought when he was 16. He also raced Honda twins in the ’60s and worked for Artie Bell’s dealership. And he raced and rallied classic and modern cars. I was brought up with all this and eventually took over the family workshop. The bikes are a big part of that.

The classic market in Northern Ireland reflects the UK market as a whole. But there’s a great emphasis on racing bikes here, due to our road racing heritage. British bikes dominated the market for many years, but the current generation of classic fans tend to focus on Japanese machines. Some of the race bike collections over here are legendary.

Like everywhere, the lockdown has had a marked effect here. We covered up the bikes in mid-march and it’s only in the last few weeks that we’ve started selling again. In the meantime, we’ve been cracking on with restorations and other work in our isolated workshop. But in the wider community, many families have suffered loss – and many have been left unprepared for dealing with their loved ones’ bike collections. In the end, we are just custodians of our cherished bikes and it brings into focus how important it is to sort out wills, trusts and other instructions.

On the brighter side though, bikes are still a great investment – and, more importantly, a source of enjoyment, pleasure and fulfilment. From the earliest veterans, though the ’50s and ’60s British and Italians, the ’60s and ’70s Japanese gems, twostroke screamers and turbos to today’s supercharged beasties, we’ve got it all. And my seven-year-old son – charging round on his Oset electric trials bike – would agree.

Be safe – and enjoy your riding.

Will is based in Northern Ireland and deals in classic bikes of all ages. His company Corry Classics also builds, restores and deals in classic and historic race and rally cars. 07974 224191 Facebook.com/ corrymotorsport/