A person’s reputation certainly has value attached to it – as to whether this perceived value lies in positive or negative territory, that depends a whole lot on that particular individual’s life as well as the choices that he or she makes to impact the world around. Case in point – a Harley-Davidson motorbike which went underneath the hammer yesterday was sold for nearly 20 times its estimated value, all because its previous owner happened to be the pope. Yes sir, this Dyna Super Glide has “Francesco” signed on its tank, and it managed to raise 241,500 euros (which translates to approximately $328,300 after conversion), where it would not have been complete without the Harley-Davidson leather jacket that also bear’s the Pope’s signature, which went for nearly one fifth of the motorbike’s amount at 57,500 euros. According to the auction house Bonhams, the sales of both went to anonymous bidders.
A certain Ben Walker who is head of motorcycles at Bonhams had this to say about the auction after it was over, “It has to be a world record for a 21st century Harley-Davidson and certainly for a Harley-Davidson leather jacket.” Both of these items can be said to be fairly new, considering how they were presented to the Pope just last June in a move to mark the manufacturer’s 110th anniversary. All proceeds raised from this auction will go towards the renovation of a hostel and soup kitchen that is based at Rome’s Termini railway station.
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