A customised Harley-Davidson owned by one of Britain’s most iconic footballers will be auctioned off later this month, with the auction house donating a percentage of the proceeds to Cancer Research UK, in a very special auction that will also see a number of famed bike builder Allen Millyard’s creations going under the hammer – including his most famous custom bike, the 500bhp Millyard Viper V10

Kevin Keegan’s 1990 Harley-Davidson Sportster is one of the many interesting motorcycles going under the hammer at H&H Classics’ auction at the National Motorcycle Museum on Wednesday 22 July.

The modified machine was purchased new from Newcastle Harley-Davidson dealership Just Harleys and features a custom paint job in the colours of Newcastle United, to celebrate his time as a player at the club. He would later go on to manage the club with considerable success, before having a short spell as the England national team boss.

The bike’s one-off livery features Newcastle’s distinctive black and white stripes, and the logo of then sponsor Newcastle Brown Ale. The bike spent most of its early years in the Newcastle Breweries Museum, before taking pride of place on a plinth in Keegan’s personal office. One of the most recognisable footballers from the 1970s, Keegan has recently announced that he’s been diagnosed with stage four cancer. His bike will be sold with no reserve, with H&H Classics donating a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the bike 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.

 “It’s not every day that a motorbike comes to market boasting such a rare convergence of motorcycling heritage, football history and celebrity ownership.”

King Kev’s Harley will undoubtedly attract bids from memorabilia collectors from outside traditional classic motorcycle enthusiast circles, making it a hard one to place a value on, however it’s just one of around 200 lots set to be sold at the museum. Other stars of the show include a number of 50cc Grand Prix race bikes, Mick Grant’s 1984 works Suzuki XR41 racer and a prototype Norton from the Stuart Garner era.

But some of the most intriguing lots will be customs created by Millyard, the much-loved engineer and TV personality who has carved out a big following on YouTube and as Henry Cole’s sidekick on his numerous television shows. The auction was always set to include a number of his two-stroke specials, including a five-cylinder, 415cc, powered 1972 Kawasaki S2 and a four-cylinder 550 based around a 1978 Kawasaki S1. Both bikes are powered by typically Millyard multi-cylinder engines, built using parts from 1970s Kawasaki two-strokes, while a third Millyard special is one of two Honda SS50 ‘mopeds’ mated to a ferocious 250cc Kawasaki KX250 motocross engine from 20 years ago.

But a late inclusion to the auction is arguably Millyard’s most famous machine, a one-off special built around an eight-litre, 500bhp, V10 lifted from a Dodge Viper supercar. The machine is in the Guinness Book of Records for having achieved 207mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground but, more remarkably, the V10 is fully road legal – initially bearing the registration plate RX09LVH – and has been one of Allen’s daily riders, covering 9000 miles on various trips. It’s a remarkable and hugely significant motorcycle from a celebrity bike builder. H&H are estimating a sale price of £100-150,000, but how do you even start putting a value on such a unique one-off? We wouldn’t be surprised if it tops its estimate by quite a margin.

Among the other machines in the catalogue are a number of vintage motorcycles from the estate of renowned collector Chris Harris, including a 1937 Brough Superior SS80, one of two such machines in the auction, and a 1951 Vincent.

All lots will be available to view in person at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, from 1pm on Tuesday 21 July, with the sale set to commence at 10am the following day. If you fancy bidding, you can do so in person, by telephone or online at www.handh.co.uk.

Photos: H&H Classics