Si Harrison spent £16,000 on Dave Myers’ beloved BSA Goldstar during an auction at the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull, West Midlands, which has seen little use since filming
A man has expressed his joy to buy Dave Myers’ last motorbike for £16,000.
Si Harrison purchased the BSA Goldstar when it went under the hammer at the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull, West Midlands on Wednesday. The grey and black motorcycle famously featured in the BBC’s The Hairy Bikers Go West, which was the last series made by the popular TV chef duo Si King and the late Dave who died aged 66 of cancer in February last year.
Si was Dave’s close friend and his passing “absolutely devastated” him. So he bought the wheels as the bike – and Dave’s legacy – “means so much to” him. Si plans to ride the BSA Goldstar on Dave Day, which sees the biking community gather to travel across the country and raise money in the chef’s memory. More than 20,000 completed a journey from London to Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, last year to raise £127,000.
And now Si hopes to ride Dave’s BSA Goldstar when the community gathers this year to repeat the journey. He told the BBC: “We’ve been such good mates and the news of Dave’s passing was absolutely devastating. I couldn’t think of a bike that I’d rather be on, and the idea of riding in Dave Day meant so much to me.”
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Dave, himself from Barrow-in-Furness, found fame alongside his friend Si as part of the motorcycle-riding cooking duo The Hairy Bikers – their last show together was broadcast shortly after Dave’s death. Until it was sold, the bike was displayed at the National Motorcycle Museum, alongside a life-size cut-out of the pair, as well as Dave’s riding gear.
Speaking after the auction, the presenter’s widow Lilian Myers, 58, said: “I am really, really happy to see this bike being loved, and I’m sure the person who got it will love it as much as Dave did. I’m delighted that Dave’s bike has found a new home and raised proceeds for three very worthy charities close to Dave’s heart. It’s a special motorbike with some special memories and I hope the new owner will love riding it as much as Dave did, creating their own memories to treasure.”
The funds will now be donated to NSPCC Childline and CancerCare North Lancashire & South Cumbria, Lilian added.
James Hewing, National Motorcycle Museum director, said: “Dave spread so much joy, it was an absolute pleasure to be involved in the auction of his beloved BSA Gold Star.
He also said the motorbike is a “unique piece of motorcycling history” which he is “sure it will continue to bring happiness wherever it goes”. The BSA Goldstar was first produced in 1938, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that it became popular.
