Chris Farley's Friend, Former SNL Star Tim Meadows Buys His Bike

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — The late actor Chris Farley's 1997 Harley-Davidson has been sold but it is the reveal of the new owner that is especially poignant this Thanksgiving.

The Marquette University graduate's 1997 XLH1200 Sportster 1200 motorcycle was put up for auction online.

Chris' brother Tom Farley wrote a Facebook post about the bike and the missing key.

After Chris died in 1997, the Farley family donated the bike to Planet Hollywood. Months later, when Tom was helping to clean out Chris' apartment, he spotted the bike key. Tom took the key assuming the bike would remain on display.

According to Tom's previous Facebook post:

"Somebody once convinced my brother to buy a Harley because "they are cool and made in Wisconsin". He only rode it a few times around Chicago because it terrified him! When he died we donated it to Planet Hollywood. Now, I see that it's up for auction. The description notes that, "the ignition key is missing". Know why? Because I kept it! Wanna buy Chris's Harley and actually RIDE it you'll have to talk to me!"

Tom said Chris' longtime friend, actor David Spade, became interested in the bike after hearing about the Facebook post. Spade and Chris starred in the cult classics "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep" and were both on the show Saturday Night Live together.

Spade ended up winning the bike in the auction and Tom offered to ship him the motorcycle key.

"I was going back and forth with Spade about the key then Timmy Meadows emailed me," Tom said.

Actor Tim Meadows, a former SNL star, was also a close friend of Chris. Meadows told Tom he tried to go on the auction site but had trouble bidding.

"He asked if I knew the owner and wanted to buy the bike off of the person. I said we both know the owner, Spade got it," Tom Farley told Patch.

The two friends worked it out with Meadows buying Chris' bike from Spade.

Tom said his family was thrilled the bike was going to someone who loved Chris.

Honoring Chris Farley

Tom said the roles Chris played were "just him" and that even in 2020, people feel that they know Chris.

Tom co-authored the book "The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts" with Tanner Colby. Tom interviewed people who knew Chris throughout his life, and they all said he was "a kind and nice guy and that came out in his movies."

Meadows met Chris when they both were at Second City in Chicago. The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise. Chris went on to Saturday Night Live and Meadows became a cast member a year later.

Some of Chris' close friends include former SNL stars Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Rock, and Tim Meadows.

"They (Meadows and Chris) go back a long time. They both came up together," Tom said.

His friends continue to honor him.

Tom said Meadows named one of his children after Chris.

After Tom came across the online auction, he had hoped the person who buys the bike would be a fan of both Harley and Chris.

"These were his (Chris) friends, they worked together. This means so much more," he said.

As for the key, Tom said it is going to the right place which makes him happy.

He told Patch he has other mementos to remember his brother, such as the brown tweed jacket from "Tommy Boy." He also has old scripts, a passport, and other random items.

"Sometimes it is all you have left and they grow in importance," Tom told Patch.

Born Not To Ride

How Chris Farley first bought the motorcycle is a rather funny story.

Tom said Chris was told because he was a celebrity, he had to have one. Chris even enrolled in the Chicago Harley HOG group.

"He bought these really stupid big black Harley boots," Tom laughed.

Chris rode the bike home to his apartment at the John Hancock Center in Chicago. However, the experience left him rattled, according to Tom.

"A couple of days later, I asked him how his Harley was. He said, 'Oh, man, it scared the crap out of me,'" Tom said.

In typical fashion, Chris — who always regretful — would say "That was so stupid."

Chris ended up purchasing a Dodge Viper instead, but his brother said the Madison native didn't like it either.

"We don't really fit into the bucket seats very well," Tom told Patch.

The funniest thing for him was a black helmet that looked "hysterical" on Chris.

"I wish I had a picture of that," he said.

Pandemic and addiction

Tom Farley, who is a motivational speaker, uses his book as way to reach people and talk about substance abuse. Chris died on Dec. 18, 1997 from a drug overdose at the age of 33. The pandemic has been very busy for Tom, who has given virtual talks.

Tom will be a guest speaker from 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Dec. 18, for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. The webinar is called "Especially for the Holidays: Help for Families Faced with Addiction." There is no cost.

"The pandemic has affected a lot of people, not just with addiction but also mental health," Tom said.

He added eventually there will be a way out of the pandemic but that there will be more issues coming out of it than the nation started with.

"I'm trying my best to talk to people and tell people to be on the lookout for people who need help," Tom said.

Visit the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for more information.