1910 Favourite 500cc

Registration no. SV 6442 Frame no. 241 Engine no. A047

• Rare Australian motorcycle
• Restored in the UK
• Regular Pioneer Run competitor

'Favourite' was the marque name of motorcycles manufactured or modified by Bill Smith in Petersburg (later Peterborough), South Australia. It is understood that before the Great War (1914-1918) his motorcycles were known as 'The Burg', their name being changed after 1915 to the more universally appealing 'Favourite' in response to anti-German sentiment. The frame and engine are identical to those of the Abingdon King Dick (Kerry Abingdon) motorcycles built in Tyseley, Birmingham, although this machine has Druid front forks rather than the sliding-spring type favoured by Abingdon King Dick. Smith is known to have used Druid forks on his own machines, and they are most likely to have been fitted to this Favourite following accident damage to the originals. Only a tiny handful of Favourites is known to be in the UK.

This particular Favourite was found in Brisbane, Australia by Ken Blake, brought to the UK and restored to its present excellent condition (note the kangaroo mascot on the front numberplate). The machine's date of first UK registration is 19th February 1997. 'SV 6442' was acquired by the current owner in 2008 having previously belonged to Malcolm C Elder & Son of Oxfordshire. Since then he has competed in the London to Brighton Pioneer Run with this Favourite motorcycle on three occasions, on the last of which he completed the 62-mile journey in 1½ hours at an average speed of over 40mph: not bad for a 110-year-old motorcycle. The vendor advises us that although the Favourite has belt drive and single-speed transmission, the addition of the clutch makes riding the motorcycle in modern traffic more straightforward and not so much of a challenge.

This rare Australian motorcycle is offered with a history file containing correspondence; an old-style V5C registration document; SORN paperwork; and quantity of MoTs (most recent expired March 2013). There is no Pioneer Certificate offered with the machine however, the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club advise a replacement certificate (number '1471') can be sought by the successful purchaser following the sale.