Skip to main content

LOT 137 *N

The Connoisseurs Collection, Part III c.1956 Asahi 125cc KA Registration no. not registered Frame no. 56KA-5079 Engine no. KA.4577

Sold for £805 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 137*,N

The Connoisseurs Collection, Part III, c.1956 Asahi 125cc KA

The Connoisseurs Collection, Part III
c.1956 Asahi 125cc KA
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 56KA-5079
Engine no. KA.4577

This Lot has arrived in the UK from overseas under Temporary Admission. Shippio Ltd must complete all post-sale customs clearance administration, for import or export, on behalf of the purchaser. A compulsory fee of £195 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this service. This Lot may not be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any third-party transporter until Shippio Ltd has confirmed that this Lot has cleared customs.

If this Lot is to remain in the UK, or is not exported within 90 days of the sale, Import VAT at 5% of the hammer price will be payable.


Asahi motorcycles were manufactured by Miyata, originally a general engineering company that could trace its roots back to the early 19th Century. Miyata produced weapons for the Japanese Army and built its first prototype bicycle in 1890. Forced out of the armaments business by cheap imports, Miyata concentrated on bicycle manufacture exclusively from 1900 under the Asahi brand name. The company began experimenting with powered transport around 1907 before launching the Asahi car in 1910. In 1913 Miyata produced the first all-Japanese motorcycle. That first Asahi was based on a British Triumph design, but it was not a success and production was discontinued in 1916.

Miyata returned to motorcycle production in 1933 with the Asahi AA, Japan's first mass-produced motorcycle. Asahi motorcycle production was discontinued during WW2. Through the 1950s the company released the HA (OHV) and Golden Beam FA (sidevalve) models, both with 250cc single-cylinder engines, as well as a 344cc single and various twin-cylinder two-strokes. Increasingly fierce domestic competition saw many Japanese motorcycle enterprises fail in the 1960s, Miyata's being one of them. The last Asahi motorcycles were manufactured in 1964. Production of bicycles, though, continues to this day, albeit under the Miyata brand name rather than Asahi.

This well presented example of a Japanese motorcycle rarely seen in the UK currently displays a total of 6 kilometres on the odometer, which may well be the distance covered since it was restored (the engine turns over). The accompanying key is for the headlamp.

Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
Offered with key

Footnotes

BUYER'S PREMIUM
The Buyer's Premium for this Lot is 15%+VAT on the first £500k of the Hammer Price, and 12%+VAT on the balance thereafter.

All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

CONDITIONS OF SALE, AUCTION INFORMATION & GUIDE FOR BUYERS
Please see the 'CONDITIONS OF SALE, AUCTION INFORMATION & GUIDE FOR BUYERS' at the top of the main sale page (Motorcycles Online - The Summer Sale) for all pertinent information regarding bidder's obligations, viewing, bidding, payment, post-sale collection & transportation.

REQUEST A TRANSPORT QUOTE
To request a UK or European Motorcycle shipping quote visit Moving Motorcycles.
To request an International Motorcycle shipping quote visit Shippio.
To request a Memorabilia and Spares shipping quote visit Mail Boxes Etc - Milton Keynes.

Additional information

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Motorcycles specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Auction Viewings

  • 10 June 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
  • 11 June 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST

Lot symbols

*Import low rate
VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
NNOVA declaration
This machine is subject to post-sale customs administration and, for UK Buyers, a NOVA declaration. Whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice, as follows: for Live Public Sales: £350 + VAT; for Timed, Online-only Sales: £195 + VAT.

Bid now on these items

A Brough Superior range brochure
United Kingdom
Coming soon

A Brough Superior range brochure

£500 - £800
c.1960 Ducati TS98
United Kingdom
Coming soon

c.1960 Ducati TS98

£800 - £1,200
A c.1935 BSA 4.99 H.P. W35-7 OHV Engine
United Kingdom
Coming soon

A c.1935 BSA 4.99 H.P. W35-7 OHV Engine

£500 - £700
Two Amal 15TT9 carburettors
United Kingdom
Coming soon

Two Amal 15TT9 carburettors

£500 - £600
Four Gardner flat slide carburettors
United Kingdom
Coming soon

Four Gardner flat slide carburettors

£500 - £600
A Smiths ATRC 2652 racing tachometer,
United Kingdom
Coming soon

A Smiths ATRC 2652 racing tachometer,

£500 - £600
A Dellorto SSC.2 carburettor
United Kingdom
Coming soon

A Dellorto SSC.2 carburettor

£500 - £600
1978 BMW 800cc R80/7
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1978 BMW 800cc R80/7

£800 - £1,400
c.1960 Ducati 125A
United Kingdom
Coming soon

c.1960 Ducati 125A

£800 - £1,200
A pair of Rushmore 'Searchlight' headlamps and a pair of Lucas No.742 sidelamps,
United Kingdom

A pair of Rushmore 'Searchlight' headlamps and a pair of Lucas No.742 sidelamps,

£500 - £700
A pair of Ducellier oil-illuminating side-lamps, French,
United Kingdom

A pair of Ducellier oil-illuminating side-lamps, French,

£600 - £800
A Salsbury-Flario 'Ovalite' self-contained acetylene headlamp, Registered Design 1902,
United Kingdom

A Salsbury-Flario 'Ovalite' self-contained acetylene headlamp, Registered Design 1902,

£600 - £800
An S. Smith and Son speedometer and clock dual instrument, circa 1908,
United Kingdom

An S. Smith and Son speedometer and clock dual instrument, circa 1908,

£500 - £700
An S.Smith & Son combination car clock and speedometer, Registered Design 1906,
United Kingdom

An S.Smith & Son combination car clock and speedometer, Registered Design 1906,

£800 - £1,000
A Hurtu Cycles - Automobiles advertising poster after Lovatelli, French, circa 1901,
United Kingdom

A Hurtu Cycles - Automobiles advertising poster after Lovatelli, French, circa 1901,

£600 - £800
A Griffon - au Ventoux advertising poster after Thor, French, circa 1905,
United Kingdom

A Griffon - au Ventoux advertising poster after Thor, French, circa 1905,

£500 - £700
An Automobiles De Dion Bouton poster after H & B, French circa 1905,
United Kingdom

An Automobiles De Dion Bouton poster after H & B, French circa 1905,

£800 - £1,200
Frederick Gordon Crosby (1885-1943) '90Hp Renault 1906'
United Kingdom

Frederick Gordon Crosby (1885-1943) '90Hp Renault 1906'

£500 - £600
A hand-painted 'Mr Bibendum' standing forecourt display figure,
United Kingdom

A hand-painted 'Mr Bibendum' standing forecourt display figure,

£800 - £1,000
'Targa Florio - Circuito Siciliano', an original artwork on canvas,
United Kingdom

'Targa Florio - Circuito Siciliano', an original artwork on canvas,

£800 - £1,000
Three leather bound motoring books,
United Kingdom

Three leather bound motoring books,

£600 - £800
Three rare 'Prinz Heinrich-Fahrt' (Prince Henry Tour) promotional event brochures for 1909, 1910, and 1911, German,
United Kingdom

Three rare 'Prinz Heinrich-Fahrt' (Prince Henry Tour) promotional event brochures for 1909, 1910, and 1911, German,

£800 - £1,200
An incomplete run of twenty-two loose issues of The Autocar, No.36 Vol I 1896 - No.97 Vol II 1897,
United Kingdom

An incomplete run of twenty-two loose issues of The Autocar, No.36 Vol I 1896 - No.97 Vol II 1897,

£500 - £700
Three bound volumes for The Autocar 1914 & 1915, and The Motor, 1909,
United Kingdom

Three bound volumes for The Autocar 1914 & 1915, and The Motor, 1909,

£600 - £800