Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United Harley-Davidson sells for £30,500 days after football legend's death
Kevin Keegan's one-off Newcastle United-themed Harley-Davidson has sold for £30,500 at auction, just days after the football legend's death, with part of the proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.
Kevin Keegan's one-off Newcastle United-themed Harley-Davidson has sold for £30,500 at H&H Classics' National Motorcycle Museum auction, just days after the football legend's death. The sale brought the curtain down on one of Britain's best-known celebrity-owned motorcycles, with a percentage of the proceeds set to be donated to Cancer Research UK.
The 1990 Harley-Davidson Sportster was entered into the sale after Keegan revealed earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. Offered without reserve, the bike comfortably exceeded its pre-sale estimate of £20,000 to £30,000, eventually changing hands for £30,500.
Finished in Newcastle United's famous black and white colours, the Sportster is unlike any other Harley-Davidson. The bike features the club's crest on the fuel tank, a black-and-white paint scheme throughout, and a host of bespoke details celebrating Keegan's close association with the Magpies, where he remains one of the club's most iconic figures.
The timing of the sale added extra poignancy, with Keegan passing away only days before the motorcycle crossed the block. While the auction had already been arranged before his death, it ultimately became an opportunity for collectors to own a unique piece of both football and motorcycling history while also supporting a charitable cause.
H&H Classics had confirmed ahead of the sale that a percentage of the proceeds would be donated to Cancer Research UK, reflecting Keegan's wish for the motorcycle to help raise money for the charity following his diagnosis.
Originally built as a one-off commission, the Harley had become one of the UK's best-known celebrity motorcycles, appearing at events and attracting attention from both football supporters and Harley enthusiasts thanks to its unmistakable Newcastle United styling.
The £30,500 result placed the bike at the very top end of its estimate and underlined the enduring appeal of celebrity-owned motorcycles when they're backed up by genuine provenance and a unique story. In this case, that story stretched far beyond the machine itself, combining football history, Harley-Davidson heritage and a charitable legacy in a single auction lot.
You can check out the full listing for yourself on the official website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
