Paul Hollywood puts his treasured chopper up for auction after riding it on 3,000 mile journey from New York to Los Angeles – and experts have given it an eyewatering valuation

Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood is offering his impressive Chopper to the highest bidder.

The famous baker has put the motorcycle – a Big Dog Ridgeback – up for auction.

Hollywood, 58, noted motorcycle enthusiast rode the powerful motorcycle during his 2019 road trip miniseries Paul Goes to Hollywood.

It was built by Big Dog Motorcycles in Kansas in an “old school” hardtail chopper style.

Equipped with a 1750cc v-twin engine, Hollywood traveled 3,000 miles (4,830 km) from New York to Los Angeles.

Mark Bryan of Iconic Auctioneers said: ‘Celebrity origins are always great and when you combine that with someone like car enthusiast Paul Hollywood, an American road trip TV show and a cool bike, it all fits together nicely.’

The famous baker has put the motorcycle – a Big Dog Ridgeback (photo) – up for auction

At the MCN London Motorcycle Show on February 16, the bike is estimated to sell for between £12,000 and £14,000.

Neighbors living close to Hollywood previously claimed the Bake Off star flew over their homes in a very different kind of helicopter.

In August, MailOnline captured the moment the star landed his Robinson Raven helicopter on a strip of land between his farm and the local pub in the quiet village of Smarden, Kent.

Local Sue Keys, 72, said: ‘You definitely hear it when it’s overhead, there’s a lot of aircraft noise anyway as we’re so close to Headcorn airport.

“He’s been using the helicopter for about three months now and when he first started I thought to myself, what is that? it’s a bit low’ and it would scare me a bit, but I’m used to it now.’

Another neighbour, who gave his name only as John, 62, said: ‘We have horses so when the helicopter comes in on certain days they get a bit scared and don’t like it.

“But that said, we live in a noisy environment. There is an airfield behind us where Spitfires fly from, other helicopters and planes come flying over the fields.

‘During rush hour the road is busy and there is a busy café opposite.’

It was built by Big Dog Motorcycles in Kansas in an “old school” hardtail chopper style

The bike is estimated to fetch between £12,000 and £14,000 at the MCN London Motorcycle Show on February 16

However, a woman who lived a few doors down from Hollywood said she enjoyed him buzzing around, adding: ‘I actually enjoy watching him fly over, it’s quite exciting. It’s something different from all the old spitfires roaring through the house.’

Hollywood is said to be keeping his Robinson Raven helicopter at Manston Airport rather than the nearby Headcorn Aerodrome as he continues to work on his private license.

A private license is obtained after 45 hours of flight instruction, consisting of 25 hours of dual flight instruction and 10 hours of supervised solo flight time, including at least five hours of solo cross-country.

Five hours may be completed in an approved flight simulator.

Paul, who earned £21,000 for sessions in a World War II Spitfire, started training as a pilot two years ago in a bid to escape the ‘madness’ of his celebrity life.

He explained at the time: ‘You’re just a machine, and you’re away from all the madness. Of course I’m a little nervous. But up there you have total freedom.’

Hollywood has hosted The Great British Bake Off since 2010.

Neighbors living close to Hollywood previously claimed the Bake Off star flew over their homes in a very different kind of helicopter