650cc BSA Gold Star on offer The draw is to be held in April 2023 What you're looking at (immediately above) is a 2023 BSA 650cc Gold Star Legacy Edition. Of course, it's not a "real" Gold Star, or so some might say—and vociferously are saying. But rightly or wrongly, this motorcycle has inherited the much lauded Gold Star crown, and that's that. Take it or leave it. We haven't road tested one of these. We might get around to it, but we're not in any rush. However, don't let that put you off if you like the cut of its jib. To that end, the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) is raffling one of these Indian take-aways for the entry price of £10. That will actually buy you five tickets. The odds of winning are unknown (the NMM hasn't supplied details of how many tickets are generally sold). Suffice to say that the chances of having one of your five numbers come up is considerably greater than winning the National Lottery. 
It's billed as the Winter Raffle 2023 (which started in October 2022), and the winning ticket will be drawn on Sunday 23rd April 2023 at the Stafford Bike Show. And if you miss out on the jackpot, you might yet come up lucky with the second prize which is a 1968 BSA 175cc Bantam Bushman (a real BSA some might say). Third prize is a bunch of Sealey workshop tools. All the profits will be used for running the museum. Or so we're told. And why would we not believe that? Of course,  whether the museum is worth running, or is being run as well as it might be, is yet another argument that we've heard strident opinions on from both camps. But we ain't going there, except as neutral (or neutralish) observers. One more thing; the raffle is open to UK residents only, and that excludes Northern Ireland. www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk www.bsacompany.co.uk
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Two limited edition models up for grabs Note that neither bike was actually used in the movies Silverstone Auctions is fielding two motorcycles associated with the long-running James Bond franchise and will be offering them for sale at the firm's next auction which, if things go to plan, will be staged at the MCN London Motorcycle Show Sale on the 18th February 2023. Immediately above is the first, a 2022 888cc Bond Edition Triumph Tiger 900 (based upon the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro). You might be forgiven for thinking this machine was actually used in the movie. But it wasn't. It's simply one of 250 motorcycles built by Hinckley (in conjunction with the Bond movie producers) to cash in on the film's over-hyped publicity. This example is number 146, and it's estimated by Silverstone to fetch £23,000 - £25,000. That sounds steep to us (especially in the current climate), but Silverstone's Rowan Huntley has been quoted as saying, "If this is not a future classic, we don't know what is." Well we don't know what is a future classic then. Because, to be blunt, this motorcycle strikes as more as a cheesy and over-priced product-placed lash-up. Don't get us wrong, mind. It's a very nice bike, but it will take more than a wave of a James Bond publicity wand to elevate this to anything really special. Any old Rally Pro straight off the peg would serve us just as well. There are six delivery miles on the clock, incidentally. And the bike has all the expected gold accents and Bond-badges and motifs and whatever. Do we sound jaded? Put it down to a cold January. We'll feel better by June. 
The other offering is a 2020 Triumph 'Bond Edition' 1200 XS Scrambler (image immediately above). This is a one-owner machine and is estimated to sell for £20,000 to £25,000. Of the two bikes, we'd pick this one, but not at that price. If you saw "No Time to Die", you would have witnessed one of these doing the kind of stunts you wouldn't get even in a  cartoon. But hokum is hokum, and it couldn't have done Triumph exports any harm. And in case you were wondering, this XS is number 130 of 250. And of course there will be appropriate certification for both models.
Meanwhile, if neither motorcycle lights your fire, Silverstone will be auctioning another 120 bikes at the same sale. www.silverstoneauctions.com Also see: Bond bike auction raises £138,600
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Long time classic bike parts dealer has retired Andy Johnson has taken over Sheffield Motorcycles Many classic bikers will know "Bantam" John Phelan (pictured immediately above) who for many years has been a familiar sight (and sound) at British bike jumbles and whatnot. Well, we've been advised officially that his business, operating as Sheffield Motorcycles, is now in the care of Andy Johnson. It confirms the long standing rumour/scuttlebutt regarding John's health which has been suffering. We haven't spoken or otherwise communicated with John, but we're satisfied the information is correct. Consequently, if you need to contact Sheffield Motorcycles, the number we've been given is: 01246 281344. There's also an associated email which is listed below.  Bantam John has attracted a fair bit of criticism over his occasionally irascible manner, but we've always found him cheery and helpful. Either way, we hope that his health worries are manageable and that's he's otherwise comfortable.
andy@sheffieldbritishmotorcycles.com
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The world class R&B guitarist Jeff Beck has died aged 78 Ex-Yardbirds, ex-Jeff Beck Group, exceptional talent The world's greatest rock guitarist? There are any number of axemen lined up to collect that six-string trophy. But if Jeff Beck, in the eyes and ears of most serious guitaristas, doesn't take gold, he's certainly due silver or bronze. Jeff, whose inimitable style and sound has kept our ears vibrating for decades died on 10th of January this year, and when we heard the news we had to sit down, figuratively if not necessarily physically. He was born in Wallington, Surrey (now a London borough) to an ordinary working-class family. At the age of six he first became aware of the sound and sight of an electric guitar. A borrowed instrument followed, and early attempts at making his own was soon rewarded by the real thing. Following school, he attended Wimbledon College of Art and took on various workaday jobs including groundsman, paint sprayer, and painter and decorator. It was at around that time that he became friends with Jimmy Page who would go on to huge fame and success with Led Zeppelin. Jeff's musical influences, he's been quoted as saying, included Les Paul, Lonnie Mack, Steve Cropper, Chet Atkins and B. B King (is there a rock/blues guitarist anywhere on Earth who wasn't influenced by B. B? And Chet Atkins, come to that?). 
Famously, having been part of a few early local R&B bands and whilst working as a session musician, he was invited to take Eric Clapton's place in The Yardbirds. Jeff in fact was recommended by Jimmy Page, and the recommendation was justified—at least as far as talent was concerned (he was later sacked for failing to show up at a US tour, and for having a tinder dry temper). Jimmy Page eventually became part of The Yardbirds and formed a twin guitar sound that helped propel both players up the ladder of success. In the mid-1960s, under the guidance of the late Mickey Most (record producer), Jeff recorded his most famous song, Hi Ho Silver Lining (which is a bit like having Elvis singing Happy Birthday To You. In other words, that tuneful little ditty gives little indication of Jeff Beck's underlying skills and musicianship. The Jeff Beck Group followed, a band that included Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. Following the disbandment (no pun intended) during the early seventies, Jeff Beck became musically involved with the likes of David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, George Martin, Alvin Lee, Jan Hammer and many more artists. 
▲ Jeff Beck was more closely associated with his huge collection of classic cars and hot rods, but he spent a few miles in the saddle of various motorcycles during his five or six decades in the spotlight. We can't possibly list all of Jeff Beck's achievements. There simply isn't the space—and some of it isn't exactly printable. Suffice to say that over the next few decades he continued to hone his skills and develop his style, often by employing a huge repertoire of string-bending, tone-twisting, and soundshifting habits and devices. In short, he was more of a guitarist's guitarist rather than a player for the hoi polloi. But he could rock'n'roll with the best of them. He lived a very full life that featured numerous trials and tribulations, most of which no doubt manifested themselves in  one way or the other within his unique and endlessly experimental sound; a very English sound that kept many of us on a roll throughout the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and beyond. Jess Beck was 78 years old, and if raw talent was rewarded by human longevity, he'd be around for another 78 years. www.jeffbeck.com Note: We're also marking the death of Byrds-man and Crosby, Stills & Nash-man David Crosby (1941 - 2023). He was a singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, and died on 18th January 2023 at the age of 81.
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December 2022 
8th - 9th April 2023 is the date £5 off advance tickets—book now! A fiver ain't a lot of money anymore—unless you're having to turn your heating off to minimise rising energy bills, and unless you don't know where your next meal is coming from (which, as many of us are aware, appears to be a rapidly increasing proportion of the passengers on the good ship Great Britain). Nevertheless, look after the pounds and the millions will look after themselves. Or something like that. And you can start with the April Kickback Show which is offering a £5 discount for early booking birds. 
We've posted a brief news story on this event elsewhere on Sump. But it bears repeating. The show is at the GMEX in Manchester (postcode M2  3GX). It's much more than a custom bike shindig, and it's helping keep the custom and classic motorcycle flame alight; a flame that's sputtering at the moment rather than roaring, take note. So book now if you can and scurry along there. Lorne Cheetham has worked hard on Kickback, and it just gets bigger with each season. www.manchestercentral.co.uk www.kickbackshow.com
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West Coast Triumph Glasgow opens (replaces Triumph Glasgow)
2022 Motorcycle Live (19th - 27th Nov) claims 90k visitors, 36% up on 2021
Mahindra Group owned BSA reveals scrambler concept at Motorcycle Live
Richard Holden MP announces new DVSA Motorcycle Strategy Group
Smile Scotland auction "12 rare bikes" 29th December 2022
Brian John Duffy (Jet Black) of The Stranglers has died aged 84
Terence Edward Hall (Terry Hall) of The Specials/Fun Boy Three dies at 63
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£4,000 - £6,000 is the estimate The provenance looks pretty good There's not actually a lot to say about this story. The above wristwatch, we hear, was given to Mr Albert Bailey in 1973 courtesy of George Brough's wife (Constance?). Bailey, an ex-RAF Lyneham engine specialist, worked for Brough Superior back in the heyday.  Bailey, goes the story, used to drive the boss around in various sports cars during which time he rose from foreman to manager. Such was the esteem in which he was held, the watch was subsequently gifted to him complete with a letter of thanks for services rendered.
Actually, we think there's a little more to it than that. It seems that before Albert Bailey acquired the watch, there was someone else in the frame; a Mr Crosbie, perhaps. We're not that familiar with the Brough Superior back story. Suffice to say that it looks like there's some provenance there worth examining. And George Brough himself, we're told, wore this timepiece for an unspecified number of weeks, months or years. The watch is a circa 1940s/1950s Omega Bumper RA model. The estimate is £4,000 - £6,000. H&H Classic Auctions is the firm flogging this off. The date is 7th December 2022, The venue is the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull. See more on this sale further down this page. Meanwhile, anyone interested in the watch? Footnote: 7th December, fact fiends and history buffs, is the date that the Japanese launched its blistering attack on the United States Navy at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. Just thought we'd mention that for anyone who's interested. Worth reflecting on. UPDATE: The wristwatch sold for £6,325
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Duck walking Dr Feelgood guitarist has died He was best known as Wilko Johnson He wasn't the best looking bloke we've ever seen, and his on-stage theatrics suggested some very dodgy internal wiring. But Wilko Johnson, arguably the most fascinating and most memorable member of the Essex R&B band Dr Feelgood who has died aged 75, left an indelible mark in the minds of hundreds of thousands of fans and is to many something of a guitar god. He was born on Canvey Island, Essex, and attended a fairly local school before relocating to Newcastle University where he studied for a BA in English literature. After travelling overland to India, he worked for a while as an English teacher whilst developing his interest in music in general, and the guitar in particular. He soon became a member of The Pigboy Charlie Band which in 1971 evolved into Dr Feelgood, the members of which included the charismatic Lee Brilleaux (vocals and harmonica), John B Sparks (Sparko) on bass, and John Martin (The Big Figure) on drums. Dr Feelgood pitched itself onto a musical stage that encompassed punk, blues, R&B, pop and rock'n'roll and enjoyed hits with She Does it Right; Roxette; Milk & Alcohol; and Back in the Night. 
▲ Wilko Johnson (airborne) and Lee Brilleaux (his feet firmly planted on an R&B platform). Brilleaux died in 1994 aged just forty-one. The band Dr Feelgood is still playing and touring, but none of the original members are in the line-up. The band, with its hard-drinkin', percussive, raunchy chops coupled with down and dirty lyrics immediately drew a large audience and enjoyed some quality time on various hit parades with Roxette arguably being their most popular song. Live playing was the forte of Dr Feelgood, notably on the local pub circuit, but also at one or two biker shows. Wilko Johnson left the Feelgoods in 1977. We're not getting into the reasons why. It's all tittle-tattle now, suffice to say that Johnson soon after formed the band Solid Senders. By 1980 he was playing with Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Following this, Wilko's career bumped around like a ball on a pinball machine, and we don't mean that in any perjorative way. He was a talented songwriter who wrote most of the Feelgood material, and he wrote most of the ditties that he recorded on his other personal projects. It was therefore only natural that his creative compass should pull him in numerous directions. 
▲ Wilko Johnson (left) and Lee Brilleaux (born: Lee John Collinson). When it comes to stage presence, this duo kept their customers satisfied (and often mesmerised) for what was an all too short association. Not exactly Jagger-Richards, perhaps, but still a tough act to follow. Guitarists, check out Johnson's unique finger-style technique (if you haven't already done so). 
A serious health issue arose for him in 2013. But despite a grim prognosis he pulled through and continued in his inimitable style which included manically duck walking across the stage and firing his machine gun Fender Telecaster at whoever was in range whilst wielding his trademark psychotic stare. He appeared in the must-watch 2009 documentary about Dr Feelgood entitled Oil City Confidential (produced/directed by Julien Temple) and he later enjoyed a small role in Game of Thrones (whatever that was all about). Other musicians/bands associated with, or influenced by) Wilko Johnson include Status Quo, The Stranglers, Nick Lowe, John Lydon, Joe Strummer, and Paul Weller. You can add dozens more names to that. Johnson was married and fathered two boys (his wife pre-deceased him in 2004). His personal interests included English literature and astronomy.
Such is his ongoing popularity, especially in Essex, is it just a matter of time before London Southend Airport is renamed Wilko Johnson Airport? Might happen. We wouldn't mind if it did. https://wilkojohnson.com
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23rd August 2023 is the date to watch All of Greater London is now targeted The plot thickens. Sadiq Khan, the current mayor of London—whose personal agenda includes murdering the internal combustion engine, which has served us so well for so long—has just published details of his latest asthmatic wheeze. We're referring to the proposed expansion of the London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) which will balloon on 23rd August 2023. Take a peek at the map immediately above. The red area represents the London Congestion Zone which was established in February 2003. The ULEZ was established in April 2019 and "sits" directly over that zone. In October 2021, the ULEZ was expanded to cover an area generally encompassed by the North Circular and South Circular Road; in other words, the blue area on the map. And now, come August 2023, we learn that the ULEZ will encompass all London and Greater London boroughs. If you're riding a motorcycle or driving a car (petrol or diesel) that's non-compliant with the relevant Euro emissions regulations, you'll have to pay a daily charge of £12.50 per day. But if you live in the zone and don't fire your motor on any given day, you pay nothing. It's a tax against movement, not ownership. And note that if you plan to drive through the ULEZ and into the London Congestion Zone, you'll have to pay an extra £15 per day—and if that ain't essentially a tax against the poor, we don't know what is. Additionally, if you motor around the periphery of Greater London on the M25 and plan to cross the Queen Elizabeth bridge over the Thames, you pay nowt if you ride a motorcycle, but will face a Dart Charge of £2.50 each way (but no charge between 10pm and 6am). But the M25 itself, even when it encroaches on Greater London is (currently) ULEZ charge free. So which vehicles are compliant/non-compliant with the ULEZ? Well, there are all kinds of rules and exemptions and caveats and standards that serve only to confuse, including exemptions for historic vehicles. So we think it's best to hit this link which will check your registration number and see where you fit in. But if you think you're getting a raw deal, contact Transport for London (TfL) and have a whinge. What with the advent of high-tech electric vehicles, this latest ULEZ expansion compounds the notion that petrol engines are on the wrong side of history. The noxious gases produced are a serious menace, etc. We know that. But still, it sometimes feel that the steamroller of the future is coming on a little too fast. Meanwhile, The Khan is doing all he can to persuade us to ride the buses and tube trains where we can get a heavy dose of Covid-19 instead (along with whatever other nasty diseases are in circulation at any given time). Makes you fink.
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Plenty of scooters on offer Plenty of low estimates here too Once again we're reminded of the cyclical nature of life; the fact that what's new today was so often new yesterday, and the day before that, and so on—albeit often in different shapes and forms. Take, for instance, the ongoing fascination with e-scooters. To the current generation of kids, teenagers and twenty-somethings, step-on scooters are pretty much the newest things in urban mobility. But to anyone with a longer personal lens, e-scoots are nothing more than the latest manifestation of an idea that was fairly commonplace back in the 1920s, and even earlier. Take the immediately above velocipede. It's a 142cc OHV 1921 Stafford Mobile Pup. It was the brainchild of Thomas George John (1880-1946) who, in 1919, founded Alvis Car & Engineering Ltd which was based in Coventry, UK. T G John, looking for new products and markets, and having sufficient spare manufacturing capacity, duly founded Stafford Auto-Scooters of Coventry and designed the humble Pup. Features include the simple, but durable engine located on the left side of the front wheel; the right-side hanging flywheel; the fuel tank that (initially) sat above the front mudguard; and the wire wheels. The first models were, as you can see, sans-saddle, but in due course a seating position was provisioned for those looking for a more comfortable jaunt. The top speed, at around 20mph, is considerably slower than the fastest modern e-scooters. The price was around forty-seven quid. And we've no idea how many were built. Rivals included Autoped, Kenilworth, Marseel, Macklum and Silva. 
This example was purchased 40 years ago by the current owner, but in all that time it hasn't spun a wheel; not in anger, anyway. But with luck, its display days are over because it's going under the hammer with no reserve and no special pricing expectation. There are some spares with the Pup, and a V5 is present. Maybe someone out there will give it a regular airing. 
▲ Wind the clock back 108 years, set your time machine to re-materialise in Central London, and you just might stumble across suffragette Lady Norman (1883 - 1964) who, it seems, was a familiar figure on her motorised scooter. The fascination with stand-on/step-on scooters waned a little as the 20s wore on, but returned in the 1950s with a huge range of urban velocipedes to suit pretty much all-comers. The Pup will be going under the hammer at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull on 7th December 2022. There are plenty of more mainstream scooters in this sale, incidentally; not just Italian but British too. Overall, we think the estimates have been suppressed, and we can see a few shrewd buyers riding away with some bargains—not that we're sure anymore exactly what a bargain is. Other bikes that, for various reasons, have caught our eye include: 
▲ 1964 150cc James Cadet. Here's a very pretty little flyweight with Italianate styling that might suit a classic biker looking to downsize and stay mobile. Matching frame, engine and registration certified by Coventry Archives. Engine overhauled with new bearings and oil seals. Frame powder coated. New wiring loom with 6-volt LED lighting (shame!). Girling shocks. Rebuilt wheels. Dunlop tyres. Some spares and documents. Estimate? £1,500 - £2,500.
▲ 1979 650cc BMW R65. These airhead Boxers are frequently overlooked in favour of their 800cc and 1,000cc stablemates. But we've owned a few and have ridden plenty, and for our money the R65 is the best of the bunch. Why so? Well that's hard to say objectively. They top out at around 80 - 90mph. They don't have the mid-range grunt and muscle of the 1,000 or the flexibility of the 800. And they're certainly no better looking. But, like the 500cc Triumph twins, they just feel "the right size" for the architecture. In other words, they buzz along without frills or drama. They always seem to be in the right gear. They've got better fuel economy. They're slightly lighter. And they're usually cheaper. This one has no reserve, and it's been "used and enjoyed" by its owner—but that doesn't mean there isn't life yet in this old dog. Go check it out. 
▲ 1935 BSA G14. Are those handlebars really that high and that wide? Or is it just lens distortion? We looked at all the other images on offer, and we couldn't tell. Either way, BSA certainly built these fantastic 1,000cc sidevalve V-twins with big 'bars. This example has been dubbed "Old Colonial" due to the fact that, in company with another bike, it toured 25 countries of the British Empire. That was sometime in the thirties. More recently, the bike was restored a few years ago. Since then, it's enjoyed a few vintage runs. But there's no evidence that, since then, it's seen much action on the tarmac. The estimate is £18,000 - £22,000.
www.handh.co.uk
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This growing custom bike show is back again... Find it at G-MEX Manchester There's not a lot to be added to this story. The image immediately above is pretty much all you need—except, of course, to remind you all that this is a great show with lots of heart and is always anxious to please. So if you're in the area come April next year, or if you fancy a minor pilgrimage, this will be a pretty good destination. As ever, Lorne Cheetham is the organiser, and as ever you can expect an eclectic mix of choppers, bobbers, cafe racers, brats, baggers and whatnot, with the usual attendant trade stands, eateries and so on. The show will begin on the 8th April 2023 (which is a Saturday), and will finish on the 9th. Ticket prices are not yet available, but they'll be going on sale from 1st December 2022—and they're always too cheap. So check the website for yourself and be grateful. Here are some more details from the ticket people: "The whole show is inside the Grand Hall and all visitors can enjoy an Access All Areas pass which means you can enjoy all the bikes on display and all the fun and entertainment including:
BUMPER CAR RIDES ON THE DODGEMS
BIG WHEEL FERRIS RIDES
SIDE SHOWS AND JAW-DROPPING CIRCUS ACTS
THE FIRE PERFORMERS
COOL TRADE STALLS AND MERCH
THE FINEST TATTOO ARTISTS
GREAT COFFEE AND STREET FOOD
LICENSED BARS
THE STUNNING KICKBACK SHOWCASE
FRIENDLY VIBE AND BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
SUPERB WEEKEND OF FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY" If you need to program a satnav, the G-MEX postcode is M2 3GX. And yes, we know that the venue is actually officially now called Manchester Central (since 2007, fact fiends), but old habits linger, etc. Whatever you prefer to call it, Kickback will be waiting for you. So just show up and support this show. www.manchestercentral.co.uk
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk Any colour you like, so long as it’s not black [Oxford Products expansion]
Honda outsells hero
Ken Blacklock [obituary for this popular Durham dealer]
www.motorcyclenews.com 
UK-designed Mutt DRK-01 range features liquid cooling for the first time
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial 
Indian FTR Sport (2023) - Technical Review
www.visordown.com 
Royal Enfield announces new 2023 Super Meteor 650 cruiser
Honda announces new CMX1100T Rebel touring cruiser
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October 2022 
300,000 visitors attended over 20 years Economic issues are said to be at the heart of the closure The organisers of this well established annual event cite Covid-19, the recession, Brexit and inflation as the reasons why this show has ground to a halt. And of course there might well be other less obvious factors. Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that the Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show is defunct, and won't be regenerating any time soon, if ever. 
In recent years Carole Nash Insurance has been the leading promoter, and it's possible that their interest has waned, contributing to the closure. But we're speculating, note. Ruth Lemass was the organiser of the event which entertained bikers with a mix of show bikes, race bikes, trade stands, stunt riders, fire breathers—and any number of fringe attractions. We're advised that over the years 300,000 visitors attended the show.
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Triumph and Christies club together A total of £6.1 million was raised for various causes There's something seductive about the James Bond franchise that, at the mere mention of 007, makes otherwise fairly ordinary folk trot out all the familiar lines and catchphrases, either in a faux Scottish or German accent, and often with accompanying theatrics. We're not going to repeat those lines here or articulate one or more bad puns, suffice to say that the Triumph Scrambler 1200XE piloted by actor Daniel Craig (and stand-in stunt man) in the movie No Time To Die has recently been sold raising the not inconsiderable sum of £138,600. The beneficiary is Severn Hospice in Shropshire. The bike was part of a collection of 25 lots at a charity auction held in London by Christies. Triumph Motorcycles donated the £110,000 sale price of the Scrambler, leaving Christies to donate the money that it "would have received from the sale" thereby bringing the total up to £136,600. We're not sure that we fully understand that corporate assertion/arrangement, but we're not going grey over it. The total raised at the auction was £6.1 million, with the money being divided among a range of causes.
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1918 V-twin flat tanker outfit One family ownership throughout  Lately we're hearing quite a lot about 100+ year old motorcycles. And, given the medical and social advances of recent decades, it's likely that we'll soon be hearing much more about 100+ year old bikers; such is the burgeoning future. Of course, whether many of us want to still be around when we've hit that momentous arthritic King's telegram century is another matter (and here at Sump we'll perhaps have some more insight into that issue as and when we can). Meanwhile, we're focussing what's left of our ageing minds on the immediately above 104 year old 980cc Jap V-twin Royal Ruby "Russian Model".
Russian? Well, this machine hails from a time when Royal Ruby, like many other motorcycle manufacturers, was supplying bikes to the Russian Imperial Army. And things were, apparently, going reasonably well (commercially speaking) until the 1917 Russian Revolution kicked off which disrupted distribution and left this motorcycle on an English dockside with no place to go, except back to the factory. Ruby Cycle Co Ltd was founded in 1909 (also noted as 1911) in the great British city of Manchester. And 1911, it seems, was certainly the first year of motorcycle manufacture. Based at Cannel Street in the Ancoats district*, the firm produced a range of bikes configured as two-strokes and four-stroke singles and twins, with engines supplied by the likes of Villiers and JAP. The cycle parts were manufactured both in house and drawn from suppliers such as Bosch, Druid, Brown & Barlow, Dunlop, Sturmey Archer, ROC and Chater Lea (to name but a few). A range of cycle cars was also built. 
The company was noted for the quality of its product which was correspondingly expensive and faced stiff competition from other manufacturers of the era; such is the conundrum faced by all quality manufacturers. Ruby Cycle went bust in 1922 and sold its commercial interest to Albert Horrocks who attempted a revival, of sorts, but by 1931 the game was up. A few machines might have been assembled in the commercial wind down/clean up. That assertion isn't clear. When WW2 began, this particular Royal Ruby was squirreled away in a cellar where it languished for around 50 years. Following its rediscovery, it was restored and is now being offered for sale. The auctioneer is Silverstone. The auction date is 13th November 2022. The estimate is £20,000 - £30,000. And if it matters to anyone, we're advised that it was owned by one family from new. * Royal Ruby later relocated to Moss Street, Altrincham and later to Bradshawgate, Bolton, Lancashire
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