I always enjoy a visit to the UK National Motorcycle Museum, even if a sense of lost engineering prowess pervades my emotions. It’s a unique place, and worthy of a visit any time you’re passing. I have been on numerous occasions and it’s always a great day and a trip down memory lane for those of us old enough to remember. Great for the younger generations too as the bikes are immaculately presented and not fenced off like some other places. Hope you enjoy a few pictures from my day there.
Triumph X75, one of my favourite bikes
Barry Sheene’s last race bike
No wonder they leak oil
Check out that steering arrangement
Outboard rear disc – odd
The Norton rotary racing bikes of the 1990s. Wouldn’t it be great to see Norton rise again like Triumph has?
I love Vincent V-Twin Engines. They are so handsome
Wild exhausts
Makes you feel proud
BSA Fury and its Triumph Bandit brother behind. 350cc four strokes from the early 1970’s abandoned in the pre-production phase. Hundreds were scrapped. What a missed opportunity. Honda sold 26,000 of the rather mundane CB250N Superdream in the UK alone. These bikes could have faced that sales challenge with ease in my opinion
Prototype Triumph 1000cc four. Could of taken on the Kawasaki Z1 and Honda CB750K
Just exquisite
Finely crafted, what wonderful workmanship
Editor’s note: These photos were taken a while back now, but most bikes are thankfully still there. The National Motorcycle Museum remains open and a fabulous place to visit
Words and Pictures: Tony Donnelly