Retirement in his late 50s did not suit bike enthusiast and entrepreneur Eddy Wright, who has returned to the business world dealing in classic motorbikes.

Eddy, with his wife Helen, recently launched Eddy’s Moto in Briggate, Shipley, which through word of mouth has already attracted interest from across the UK from bikers and collectors interested in the range of veteran, vintage and classic machines, some dating back to the 1920s.

Eddy is selling an average of four bikes a week which, considering their value – anything up to £30,000 – is good business.

He decided to pursue his lifelong passion for classic bikes 18 months after selling his former business, the well-known Harley Davidson dealership in Leeds, which at one time had three branches.

He said:” I was offered a good price for the business and decided to sell after around 40 years in business. I was fed up of the target-driven culture of the bike manufacturers putting more pressure on me, so I decided to sell up.

“But I found retirement boring and decided to have another go doing my own thing.”

Eddy owned the former Barnardo’s shop in Shipley where he has based his new venture which deals in most of the classic names in motorcycling. The most expensive machine Eddy has handled was a 1960s classic Manx Norton worth around £30,000.

Veteran bikes date from around the First World War; vintage from between the two world wars and classics from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Eddy said: “Word has got round very quickly since we opened and the level of interest through word of mouth has meant that so far we’ve had no need to advertise.”

His interest in motorbikes started as a 16-year-old when he followed his father into the Post Office and became a telegram delivery boy, scooting around on a BSA Bantam..

He said: “When you reached 18 you were not allowed to continue as a telegram boy, and the alternatives were to become a postman or study for exams and work your way up. I decided to leave and start my own business and opened my first bike shop in Leeds at the age of 19.”

As well as a working lifetime as a bike dealer, Eddy is also an active and well-known bike racer, having competed in the Isle of Man TT events and coming second several times as well as other leading races.

He and his daughter, Victoria, 17, now race in the sidecar section of the UK Classic Motorcycle Club at top venues such as Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donington Park and the Isle of Man TT course. They are currently leading the national championship with three events to go.

Of his decision to come out of retirement, Eddy said: “I’m doing something that I enjoy and have a passion for. We intend to keep the business small so that I can do things my way.”