Batman's Batpod: The Only Officially Released Production Bike Heads to Auction

A 750cc Honda motorcycle used in Christopher Nolan's Batman films is listed with an estimated value of $1.2 million, or £900,000, as the primary item in a memorabilia sale. The vehicle, known as the Batpod, will go under the hammer at a live auction in London on December 4. Online bidding for the piece, along with hundreds of other movie artifacts, opened on Thursday.

The motorcycle appears in "The Dark Knight" (2008) and "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012), films that starred Christian Bale. Stephen Lane, CEO and founder of Propstore Auction, described the machine as a "cracking thing" in a statement to CNN. Lane noted that the bike, nicknamed "The Beast," was designed by Nolan and production designer Nathan Crowley. Chris Corbould, an Academy Award winner for visual effects, engineered the vehicle to function practically on set.

Mechanically, the Batpod features 31-inch tires that Lane called "monstrous." The engineering complexity made the vehicle difficult to operate during filming. Lane stated that the bike was "really, really tricky" for both actors and stunt drivers to handle. He cited several incidents where the vehicle lost control, including one captured on video where the Batpod smashed into a camera. "It basically sort of careers out of control and knocks the camera over," Lane explained.

While six Batpods were constructed for the films, this specific unit is the only one officially released by Warner Bros. Studios. Lane attributed the high demand for such items to their unique nature and impressive aesthetic. He described the Batpod as one of the most memorable movie vehicles of all time. The sale includes other high-profile items, such as two complete Batsuits, one worn by Bale in 2005's "Batman Begins" and another worn by Val Kilmer in "Batman Forever."

Additional lots in the auction include the fedora and shirt worn by stuntman Vic Armstrong in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984) and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989). The sword used by Kit Harington as Jon Snow in "Game of Thrones" is also available. Freddy Krueger's glove from the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise met its reserve price of £25,000, or $34,000, shortly after the auction launched.

The collection will be available for public viewing at a preview exhibition at the Cumberland Hotel in London. The display runs from November 19 to November 22, allowing collectors and fans to inspect the items in person before the final sale concludes on December 4.