Chris Farley's Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Is Featured In Auction

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — Heads up: If you bid on the late Chris Farley's 1997 Harley-Davidson, it is missing the key. The Marquette University graduate's 1997 XLH1200 Sportster 1200 motorcycle is up for auction at liveauctioneers.com. The bike is expected to go for between $4,000 to $6,000.

His brother, Tom Farley, has hung on to the small memento for the past 20 years.

According to Tom's 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!"

Not born to ride

Patch spoke with Tom Farley over the phone Thursday. Farley 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 Tom was a black helmet that looked "hysterical" on Chris.

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

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.

Tom came across the online auction and felt the person who buys the bike would be a fan of Harley and Chris. He told Patch he is willing to part with the key.

'Just him'

Tom told Patch he has other mementos to remember his brother, such as the brown tweed jacket from "Tommy Boy."

Many other pieces of Chris Farley memorabilia were donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison.

"That state (Wisconsin) loved Chris so much. I just wanted to give back," Tom said.

Chris Farley was a popular cast member on "Saturday Night Live" in the '90s and starred in films such as "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep." His popularity hasn't waned since his death on Dec. 18, 1997.

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

Tom co-authored with Tanner Colby the book "The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts." 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."

Tom added that Chris didn't get the opportunity to do many stupid things.

Pandemic and addiction

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

"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.