James Bond Skyfall Honda CRF250R to be Auctioned for Charity

Honda is donating the modified CRF250R ridden by actor Daniel Craig in the James Bond thriller “Skyfall” to a charity auction benefiting disadvantaged children in the U.K.

The modified Honda CRF250R is one of several lots in this year’s BBC Children in Need auction. The BBC‘s UK Corporate charity provides grants to programs across the U.K. to help improve the lives of needy children and young adults. The auction begins begins Nov. 16 with the airing of the BBC One show with bids accepted until midnight (GMT) on Nov. 22.

The CRF250R is one of two motorcycles heavily featured in the opening chase scene for “Skyfall”, the 23rd entry in the 007 James Bond film franchise. Bond, played by Craig, commandeers the bike from a Turkish street merchant to chase after the villain Patrice (played by Ola Rapace) who rides another CRF250R dressed to look like a police bike.

The unique CRF250R is expected to raise “tens of thousands” of British Pounds (so at least US$15,800). Bids will be accepted online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey.

“We are very pleased to be able to support BBC Children in Need and with such an exclusive, unique and exciting item,” says Fiona Cole, Honda (UK) corporate communications manager. “Original items such as this are usually highly sought after and with the Bond films having incredibly broad appeal, we hope that 007′s ‘street merchant’ bike will raise a significant amount of money and awareness for such an invaluable cause. At Honda we like to look for innovative ways to raise money for charity and we are so pleased that our exciting association with Skyfall has enabled us to do this for BBC Children in Need.”

[Source: Honda]

By Dennis Chung