Get a new hobby

Collecting is the world’s oldest hobby, but it’s time to stop with the stamps and invest in metal. Here’s a bevy of museum stars and collectors’ gems you can actually buy

£4250-£5900 est Gilera Saturno 500

» There was much to entice in July 1991’s Performance Bikes, including the grey import Yamaha SDR200 and a group test of hot 750s. But it was the bike in the corner of the cover with the ‘whump every lamp post’ line that got me. Using a 492cc, 45bhp version of Gilera’s ‘bialbero’ (twin-cam) single, the 1991 Nuovo Saturno was a modern-day café racer with a top-drawer chassis, 136kg dry weight, old-school knee-up handling – and it looked ace. Still does, as this all-original bike proves. It’s got Italian registration and has only been owned by pedantic collectors.

£20k-£24k est Bimota YB4

» Yamaha’s FZR750R OW-01 was invented to nail Honda’s RC30 and Ducati’s 851. But Yam also wanted to beat a tiny cash-strapped Italian firm who regularly whupped them – and with their engines. Using the 20-valve FZ750 motor, Bimota’s delicious YB4 won the F1 TT title in ’87 (ending Honda’s five-year streak) and, with new fuel injection, won the firstever WSB race at Donington. Only 300 or so YB4S were made and only 12 in the tricolour scheme of this 1400-mile example. That’s the dictionary definition of a beam frame, is that.

£93k-£110k est Ducati 1198R

» Not a sticker-smothered trackday toy or a homage built by an obsessed fan. This is Carlos Checa’s 1198R from the 2010 World Superbike season. Althea Racing’s founder Genesio Bevilacqua clung onto the bike at the end of the season but it’s being released from his Moto dei Miti museum collection. Checa’s second bike (but identical to his number one machine), it’s full-on factory spec apart from customer Öhlins, rather than bespoke, and makes a handy 200bhp. ‘Offered without key,’ says the auction. Probably no MOT either.

£29k-£34k est Ducati Gran Sport

» Netflix and Amazon Prime and all that other modern telly guff is all well and good, but there’s much more to ogle on this sweet dinky Ducati. Look at the beautiful 125cc bevel-drive single, extensive weight-saving drilling, external fork springs, droopy top yoke… One of the first bikes by legendary designer Fabio Taglioni, the 125 Gran Sport was hand-built in small numbers for Italian racers and was extremely successful in the late 1950s. This minter has been restored using original and period-correct parts, and has been lifted out of the Moto dei Miti museum.

£12k-£15k est BMW R80G/S

» BMW entered the International Six Day Trial in ’79 to promote their new ‘hobby bike’ big trailies, with the R80G/S launched in September 1980. To further highlight the ruggedness of the 798cc boxer they threw rally-prepped versions into the Paris-dakar – and won in 1981 and 1983. Much celebrating ensued and included launching an R80G/S Paris-dakar model with humongous seven-gallon tank and sexy orangey-red seat. This ex-museum bike has uprated Brembo brakes too, though it doesn’t have a key. I’m sure they’ll throw in a screwdriver for the price.

£51k-£68k est Ducati 600 TT2

» If it looks right, it is right, and there’s no better proof than Ducati’s delicious 600. Not only is it doubtless making you drool over the page, but it was also a blindingly effective racer. Devised for the TT Formula 2 class (350cc stinkwheels, 600cc four-strokes) and based on the Pantah’s 597cc V-twin, the 600 won four back-to-back titles in the hands of Tony Rutter from 1981-1984. The factory also made 50 bikes for customers – 20 in 1982, and 30 in 1983. This bike is number nine, is in alloriginal condition and is making me giddy.

£42k-£51k est Ducati 916 Senna

» Being naturally sceptical, I always assumed the 916 Senna of ’95 was a slightly bad-taste way to shift more bikes. Turns out that late F1 ace Ayrton Senna was pals with the Ducatiowning Castiglioni brothers, used to ride an 851, endorsed the model before his death in ’94, and that all proceeds went to the Instituto Ayrton Senna charity. Shame on me. Based on the blingy 916SPS and fitted with Pankl conrods, this Senna has its original cover, manual, road gubbins, and has only done seven ‘push’ miles – it even has the original sealed battery.

£13k-£17k est Harley Sprint CRS

» Harley bought 50% of Italian outfit Aermacchi in ’60 and sold their small four-stroke singles as ‘Aermacchi Harley-davidsons’ (and used their two-strokes to win several 250 and 350 GP titles). Bikes were badged just Harley in the USA, and the Sprint CRS was sold there to feed the 1960s lust for scramblers. A pukka dirt bike with no road trimmings, they’re rare in Europe. This one was restored in 2011 and cries out for a coat of muck. » Bonhams will auction these collectable delights at The Moto Dei Miti Museum in Italy, 1-2 October. More at bonhams.com