Sega is auctioning the one-off Dark Rider motorcycle built for Shadow the Hedgehog’s Year of Shadow campaign, with the proceeds going to a children’s charity foundation.
The bike goes under the hammer at Bonhams’ Autumn Stafford Sale on 10–11 October, with an estimate of £10,000–15,000 (about AED 49,500–74,000) and no reserve. The beneficiary is the Luca Guintoli Foundation, set up by World Superbike champion Sylvain Guintoli after his six-year-old son Luca died of cancer last year. It supports the physical and mental health of children with autism or cancer in England and Wales.
The Dark Rider was commissioned for 2024’s Fearless: Year of Shadow campaign, which promoted Shadow’s big-screen debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It is the work of Bourget’s Bike Works, in collaboration with Sega, Oil Sweat & Gears and Atmospherics SFX, and it toured Gamescom, EGX and UK cinema foyers before Sega gifted it to the foundation.
It is not the bike from the film, though it wears Shadow’s red-and-black scheme and his symbol. Underneath sits a 1,750cc S&S Super Stock engine with Edelbrock cylinder heads and an Ultimate six-speed gearbox. It cannot actually be ridden: the fuel tank is a foam dummy and the machine is set up for static display. Recommissioning it for the road would mean replacing that tank and a good deal more.
Sega announced the sale on its social channels:
“We’re trying to stay positive,” Guintoli said. “We wanted to start the foundation in [Luca’s] name, to try and help people and do something positive, and Sega was super helpful.”
“We were aware that we had this bike in storage, so it was just really a bit of a mad idea,” said Sega’s senior partnerships manager, Aaron Kirby. “The fact that it can raise money for such a good cause is fantastic to us.”
Bonhams believes it is the first time memorabilia straight from Sega has been offered at auction. The bike is on display at the British MotoGP round at Silverstone this weekend before the sale, and bidding registration is open to international buyers.
It is not Guintoli’s first Sonic fundraiser: in April he ran the London Marathon in Sonic-themed leathers, setting a world record for running in motorcycle leathers and raising more than £150,000 for PASIC. The story was first reported by IGN.
Can the Dark Rider motorcycle actually be ridden?
No. The fuel tank is a foam dummy and the bike is configured for static display; making it road-worthy would mean replacing the tank and significant recommissioning work.
When and where is the auction?
Bonhams’ Autumn Stafford Sale at Staffordshire County Showground, 10–11 October 2026. The estimate is £10,000–15,000 (about AED 49,500–74,000) and it sells without reserve.
What is the Luca Guintoli Foundation?
A charity set up by World Superbike champion Sylvain Guintoli after his six-year-old son Luca died of cancer. It supports the physical and mental health of children with autism or cancer in England and Wales.
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