The bike that attracted a man from Japan

The bike that attracted a man from Japan >> South Devon Herald Express
Tuesday, September 09, 2008, 08:07

JAPANESE businessman Tetsuya Shiomi spent £2,000 travelling to Torbay to collect a rare but rusty British bike initially offered on eBay for £1.

The bill was for a 6,000 mile round trip for himself and his wife Atsuk including flights and hotels.

Original owner Bruce Symes, 75, of Galmpton couldn't believe the world-wide interest in the rusty Moulton Speedsix, especially from the Far East.

It was given to him by a friend and only put on the internet auction site at the last minute after being saved from a chuck-it trip to Yalberton tip.

Eventually the Japanese collector topped the bidding at £537 and decided to make it a personal collection trip to Europe — to add to his other six Moultons.

Mr Symes thought it was practically worthless, hence the low starting price on eBay.

The charity supporter says all the money is now going to the Dart Sailability scheme for the disabled, based at Kingswear.

Mr Shiomi revealed: "I have six Moulton bikes already and I saw this one and wanted to add it to my collection.

"It is not a businesses venture but a hobby of mine.

"I love the frames and the shape and they are very popular in my country. I also like Mini Coopers and have one of them too.

"I wanted to collect the bicycle myself and meet Mr Symes and thank him. It was a nice holiday for me and my wife."

Mr Symes said he was delighted to raise any money from it at all. "It was lovely to see it go to a good home.

''The bike was covered in rust and I nearly took it to the scrap heap but now it is travelling to the other side of the world.

''When I saw the winning bid was from Japan obviously I thought I'd be shipping it over there.

''I never thought for a second the new owner would come so far to pick it up." A bidding war developed when beady-eyed collectors had noticed the yellow bike was a rarity the first six-speed bike made in Britain in the 1960s.

Only 600 were ever manufactured.

Furniture dealer Mr Shiomi travelled from his home in Saku-Shi near Nagano to Bruce's house in Galmpton, turning it into a European holiday with his wife.

Experts say there is currently a boom in Japan and China in the trade of English antiques, curios and vehicles such as cars and bikes.

Built in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, the Speedsix was designed for both touring and competition and was billed as a 'lean, mean, speed machine'.