Former Rush Drummer, Neil Peart’s BMW at Auction
One of the best of his generation, Neil Peart was also an avid motorcyclist, riding this bike between shows
A BMW BMW R1200 GS that once belonged to the legendary drummer of the prog’ rock band Rush is going up for auction, with the winning bidder also getting some Neil Peart used drumsticks.
Peart (known as ‘The Professor’ thanks to his innate technical prowess even during physically demanding live shows) played drums for the Candian band from 1974 to 2015 before his untimely death in 2020. Famously experimental, Rush became a band that you either loved or hated, and as with any long-standing band, life on the road wasn’t always smooth.
To help deal with some of the friction that can come from touring, Peart took to the road to help him relax between gigs, using this actual BMW to ride between shows during the band’s R40 anniversary tour. Sounding like one of BMW’s early models, the R40 tour encompassed 35 events across the USA and Canada, and was to mark the 40th anniversary of Peart being part of the famous band. He also took to two wheels after the tragic deaths of both his wife and daughter, who passed away within a year of each other. That journey covered an estimated 55,000 miles and led him to write his 2002 memoir Ghost Rider: Travels On The Healing Road.
Despite obviously seeing some big trips at the hands of the Ontario native, the BMW looks to be in surprisingly fine fettle, and is finished in the popular Marrakech Red colour scheme. Included with the sale of the bike is a comprehensive bundle of bonus parts and memorabilia, including some Jesse aluminium panniers, a canvas tank bag that looks to have been used by Peart, the original purchase receipt signed by Neil from McBride Cycle of Toronto. The cherry on top for any real Rush fans though will be the bonus buy of a set of Promark 'Neil Peart Signature' drumsticks which are said to have been used by the man himself.
The auction of the bike is taking place at the Mecum Las Vegas sale, where it will be rolling over the auction block on February 1st 2025. The guide price is between $30,000 and $40,000.
More information can be found on the official website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
