Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United Harley-Davidson heads to auction after cancer diagnosis

A one-off Harley-Davidson commissioned by football legend Kevin Keegan is heading to auction this summer, with part of the proceeds set to be donated to Cancer Research UK following the former Newcastle United manager’s recent stage four cancer diagnosis.

The 1990 Harley-Davidson Sportster will go under the hammer with H&H Classics at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull on July 22, and is being offered at no reserve.

Built as a tribute to Keegan’s time at Newcastle United, the bike wears a bespoke black-and-white livery inspired by the club he helped drag back into the top flight as both player and manager. Bought new from a Harley-Davidson dealer in Newcastle, the machine has spent much of its life as a display piece rather than a road bike.

For a number of years, the Harley was displayed at the Newcastle Breweries Museum, before later being mounted on a custom-built plinth in Keegan’s home office.

While the bike itself is unusual enough, it’s the timing of the sale that gives the auction added emotional weight. Keegan recently revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer, with auction house H&H Classics confirming a percentage of the sale will now go to Cancer Research UK.

Ian Cunningham, senior motorcycle specialist at H&H Classics, said: 

“This Kevin Keegan-owned Harley-Davidson Sportster is a fantastic collector’s item and we’re honoured to be auctioning it.

“Kevin Keegan is one of the country’s most influential football figures and, of course, has very strong ties to Newcastle United, delivering them success as a player and a manager. We expect there will be a lot of interest in this very special Harley-Davidson.”

'King Kev' remains one of Newcastle United’s most recognisable figures, having first joined the club in 1982 before helping secure promotion back to the old First Division. He later returned as manager in 1992, overseeing one of the club’s most memorable eras during the mid-1990s.

Away from Newcastle, Keegan also enjoyed trophy-winning spells with Liverpool and Hamburger SV, while picking up back-to-back Ballon d’Or titles in 1978 and 1979. He also represented and later managed England.

H&H Classics says all lots will be available to view at the National Motorcycle Museum from the afternoon of July 21, ahead of the auction the following morning.

You can check out the full listing for yourself on the official website.

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