Photographs and descriptions only go so far. A museum lets you walk round a bike that is correct, in good light, and look at the things that sellers and books rarely show: the colour of the paint, the finish of the fasteners, the shape of the exhaust, the routing of a cable.
Two large collections
- National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull (UK). It describes itself as the world's largest collection of British motorcycles. It holds over 1,000 machines from 170 manufacturers, with about 850 on display across five exhibition halls. The earliest machine dates from 1898. The museum opened in October 1984 with 350 motorcycles, was founded by William Roy Richards and receives no public funding. The collection is exclusively British, which makes it a reference for Triumph, BSA, Norton, Vincent and many smaller names. See the histories of Triumph, BSA, Norton and Vincent.
- Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama (US). A museum dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, exhibition and history of motorcycles, vintage vehicles and motorsports. Its motorcycles run from 1894, including the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, to the 1995 Britten V1000. It also has a research library, and it sits next to Barber Motorsports Park, a racing facility with a 2.38 mile road course. The museum is the home of the annual Barber Vintage Festival.
Factory museums
Some manufacturers keep their own museums at the factory. Ducati has one at its Borgo Panigale factory in Bologna and Moto Guzzi has one at Mandello del Lario on Lake Como, which is a good reason to combine a trip with the history of those makes: Ducati and Moto Guzzi. Opening times and booking arrangements change, so check the manufacturer's website before you travel.
How to use a museum when you buy or restore
- Take photographs of details. Switches, badges, decals, cable runs, fasteners, tank paint and seat covers.
- Compare with your bike. If you are looking at one for sale, bring photographs of it and compare the finish and the details.
- Ask the staff. Curators and volunteers often know where parts and specialists are. They may also know the clubs: see clubs and federations.
- Use the library or the archive, where there is one, for brochures, manuals and period photographs.
- Remember that museum bikes are not always original. A museum may restore a bike to its best look. Ask what has been done: originality and patina.
Combine with events
Many museums host events and have an autojumble or a rally attached. See autojumbles, shows and events.
