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

Recently I have been to a number of transport related museums and enjoyed using them as an excuse to get out and about on two wheels. Well, I have another one for you to check out. The Oakham Treasures collection is located not too far from Bristol and junction 19 of the M5. Although I suggest you pick a more interesting road to get there!

It has a Cafe!

The collection has a large café attached and you can use that without paying the £10 to get in the museum itself. Although it would seem a waste not to. The collection is genuinely astonishing: There are two halls packed with re-creations of old retail shops or crammed with artefacts from would seems to most the first half of the 20th century.

Just one of literally hundreds of signs

From hardware stores, chemists, old workshops, general stores etc, everything is represented. There is also extensive collection of tractors spanning the 1930’s-70’s , if that floats your boat. I like them; my old man used to drive an old Fordson when he was a kid back in Ireland.

Onto the Bikes

The hall with the bike collection is adjacent to the tractors. There are a few nice cars in there too and about 20 of so bikes are on parade, so to speak. All the bikes are British, but a couple of Italian scooters add an exotic touch.  Dating from the 1920’s to the 60’s in the main and all of them are in great condition, well maintained and sparkling. This not always the case in museums sadly.

It took us over an hour to get to the bikes, there is a lot to see here

The pair of AA bikes were good to see. Whilst I don’t remember them being in service personally. They were using Mini and Marina vans by the time that I started biking in the 1980’s. I wish the Police were sill using the prim little BSA that was in plod spec on show. Not as bad as the slightly comical Velocette LE ‘Noddy Bikes’ some forces foisted on their riders, but not far off!

Neat AA pairing and good to see all the related bits and bobs too

I wish the Boys in Blue were riding these now!

It’s always good to see motorcycles preserved. Now as I age and head towards my sixties, I find myself increasing drawn to older machines. I was dismissive of them as I roared around on my RD350YPVS back in the day! My appreciation of British bikes of the 50s/60s and 70s has really grown. I can see myself buying on at this rate. My recent acquisition of a new Royal Enfield 650 twin shows the way I am headed.

A selection of the bikes on display

Douglas flat-twins always catch my eye (I have a R1200RS BMW), they are such pretty bikes: Delicate even. There were a couple of ‘flat-tankers’ too. They look so cool, I bet they were demanding to ride. One of them of was a Royal Enfield, which serves to illustrate the lineage of the now Indian owned brand.

A couple of the older bikes in the collection, a Douglas and a Royal Enfield

So, there we have it, another destination for you. I hope you found it as interesting as I did.

Words and Pictures: Tony Donnelly

More details about Oakham Treasures can be found here

Tucked away in the North-West corner of Wales, the Anglesey Transport Museum is a bit of a hidden gem. Situated close to fantastic roads for motorcycling that run through the Snowdonia (Eyri) National Park, the museum is an ideal  ‘target-destination’ for a ride-out. Especially so for those based in the North-West and English Midlands.

More Than Just Bikes

The museum itself, as the title implies, covers most aspects of transport: Cars, bikes, trains, agricultural, construction, military and even aircraft. Not just bikes are on show. These in fact form a relatively small proportion of the vehicles on display. All the exhibits are in good order and crisply presented. If you are a more general petrol-head like me, you will love it here.

Just a fraction of what is on display

Vauxhall Lotus Carlton undergoing restoration

Good Selection

As for the motorcycle section, it is small but has some great machines on display. Panther, AJS, Royal Enfield, Norton, Triumph, Ariel and Honda (amongst others) feature. Most of them are located in dedicated area up some stairs and over-looking the main exhibition hall. The walls of the area are lined with period posters, memorabilia and motorcycle-related artwork. It’s a cracking little display.

The good old Bullet

The original Interceptor engine of the late 1960’s

The original Royal Enfield Interceptor. The museum has a thing for mannequins 

Tidy BSA greets you on entry

Check on the front suspension set up on this Greeves

A bit more modern. Honda CBR600 race bike

Notable bikes for me were a humble 50cc Tomos A3K moped. I remember when you could order one form your local Woolworths back in the 1980s! Of all places, Woolworths?! This was when I first got into biking. I wouldn’t have been seen dead on one. Back then walking would have been seen as cooler than riding one of these! Poor little A3K. Now, a little over forty years down the line, I actually felt a pang of nostalgia. I am glad that one example has survived in such good order.

Tomos A3K… would you?

The uncelebrated, celebrated

There were another couple of interesting small bikes keeping the Tomos company, notably an Ariel 3. But there was a delicate little Raleigh Wisp as well. Two British attempts to tackle the commuter market. Both were swept aside by ubiquitous, but rather brilliant, Honda Cub range: C50/C70 and the mighty C90. Variously known as the Step-Thru, ‘The Crunchie’ etc..

Ariel 3… better as a washing powder

Sinclair C5… err, just no…

Having just bought a brand-new Royal Enfield 650 myself, the original 1960’s edition obviously caught my eye. The Jubilee Edition Triumph Bonneville alongside also attracted me. You see quite of few of these in museums and private collections. All low, or in some cases delivery miles showing on the odometer. It begs the question; does anybody actually ever RIDE any of these bikes? They date from 1977 and were produced to mark the Silver Jubilee of our late Queen Elizabeth II. She was trained to ride a motorbike during her service in WW2, so it is a more fitting tribute that you at first think.

Panther

Good Value

There’s loads of other stuff to look at, particularly if you enjoy cars from the 1950s through to the 1980s as I do. The military and commercial vehicle display in a separate hall is good too. There is also an engine hall housing a large motor from a train, and outside a Hawker Hunter T8 aircraft. There is a lot to see for the £10.50 (June 2024) entrance fee. Great value.

Crucially for a good biker, the museum also boasts a rather excellent tearoom and restaurant serving hot drinks, snack and some full meals. You can use this without going into the museum, although that would be daft. Seems a pity to miss out!

The next time you are thinking of heading to North Wales on your bike, you would be well advised to make a beeline for the Anglesey Transport Museum.

Words and Pictures: Tony Donnelly

Well, this museum was a very pleasant surprise. I only learned of its existence a few weeks ago. Unexpectedly I found myself  in the area recently, so I took the opportunity and popped in for a look around.

The museum is housed in a former bus garage

This is a cracking set-up: Housed in what was once a garage and repair depot for a local bus company. The extensive collection is, at least from a floor area point of view, dominated by cars, particularly the lower floor. These are all presented beautifully. Some fabulous machines span the decades principally from the 1940’s to the 1970s. The Jaguar D-Type replica and a stunning Riley salon took my eye.

Extensive Collection of Bikes

From a biking perspective I was pleased to see a Royal Enfield Bullet 500 given a prime slot. This particular example being an Indian built and registered model. Owned by an amazing British woman called Jacqui Furneaux. She has ridden the Enfield across more than 30 countries spread over a period of seven years. Impressive stuff. Even breaking a leg at one point didn’t deter her!

New Displays

In a bid to reflect the more recent biking scene a small room is being set up, but this only has a couple of bikes in it right now. But one of those, a 1987/8 Honda CBR600F ‘Jellymould’ brought back happy memories of testing one back in 1987 for me. I took it out from a dealer called Lings of Watton in deepest, darkest Norfolk. That bike blew me away at the time. Smooth, fast and you could really throw it around. It was light years ahead of the 1985 Suzuki GS550E I was riding at the time. The sobering thought is that was thirty-four years ago. So much for being modern!

I still think of these as a new bike…they are in museums now! 1987 Honda CBR600F

Head Up the Stairs!

The bulk of the bike collection is accommodated on the museum upper level. Very impressive it is too. All the usual suspects are in evidence. Triumph, BSA, Vincent, Norton etc. A few machines piqued my interest in particular: The single cylinder 500cc Vincent Comet for example. They just look a little odd to me with the rearmost cylinder missing from the full-fat 1,000cc V twin engine which is now a thing of legend.

The Often Overlooked Vincent Comet

A very pert little BSA C15 is a bike I could very much see as ‘My first classic Brit bike’. Funny how your taste changes as you spin into the oblivion of old age!

I really liked this little BSA

Meaty Sunbeam

Matchless from the AFS

One of the older bikes, this flat tank Douglas

The collection of smaller motorcycles and scooters was very interesting too. My favourite was an immaculate 1957 BSA Dandy, about as un-macho name as you could possibly imagine. The Dandy was just cute, for want of a better word.

Cute 57 Dandy

There seemed to be a big emphasis on sidecar outfits. Both RAC and AA patrol outfits were on display and made for an interesting contrast. There was a 1984 Neval of Russian origin, which looked light a right bruiser; it even had a small ‘Jerrycan’ strapped to it! All that is missing is a machine gun mounting on the nose. It looked like something from the Great Escape film!

Tough Neval

Your choice of recovery options: AA or RAC

Lots of Combinations on display

Memorabilia featured heavily too. Old petrol pumps, petrol cans, signage etc. Henry Cole would approve.

A Bit of Everything

The collection was varied as I say, and not just limited to smelly old Brit bikes. Japanese bikes, Honda in particular, featured and they were small real oddball machines. There was even a couple I had simply never even heard of before!

Mighty Africa Twin. The most recent bike on show

Honda C90. Leading a quieter life than the example once owned by my sister

Odd set up

New one on me: The Aspes 125 Hopi of 1975 vintage 

All this for £10 entry fee. A bargain, especially in tourist focussed Devon. It is a shame that it may be closing in the coming months as the owner is thinking of retiring.

No tea room

There wasn’t a tearoom or café on site unfortunately, but you only have to wonder down the hill into the middle of the town to find several choices. I opted for the central tea room, serves good food and hot drinks.

Overall then, well worth heading for next time you are looking for an excuse to get out on the bike. Just remember that it is closed on a Monday and Friday!

Words and Pictures: Tony Donnelly

Full details on location, entry times and costs etc can be found by following the link below

https://www.moretonmotormuseum.co.uk/

The rebirth of Triumph Motorcycles since 1990 has been a truly amazing success story. They have grown to a point now where they are a global brand once more. Triumph now have sales and manufacturing sites all over the world. The bikes are very well regarded by both the motorcycle press and owners alike. A an engineer I have always been interested in their progress since 1990.

Letting the Public in

Recently Triumph have opened up their Hinckley factory for pre-arranged tours and opened an impressive visitor centre and museum that greets you upon arrival at the modern and immaculately presented site. Those of you harbouring images of a more, let’s say ‘traditional’ facility, all ancient machinery and men in brown coats puffing away on a woodbine…are going to be sorely disappointed!

Slick, modern and immaculate…the modern face of Triumph

Our small party of six, included a quartet of current or former Triumph owners and a couple of ‘non-believers’ myself included. I have always admired the order Meriden bikes for their ice cool appearance and image. While the new generation bikes appeal for their brutish good looks and robust engineering. Somehow I have never got around to actually owing one!

Our motley crew for the day…

The Visitor centre is free to enter (I think), but the factory tour is extra and needs to be booked in advance, but at only £18 for a guided tour it represents excellent value. The bikes on display in the visitor centre range right across Triumph’s history and all are immaculately presented. I was slightly surprised that there was not more emphasis on the original ‘Hinckley’ re-launch modular models of 1990, only the 1000 Daytona being represented and a couple of others leading up to the modern range. Especially when you consider some of the fabulous models made, such as the Speed Triple, 675 Daytona, and mighty 2.3 Rocket III.

Reach for the Stars

However the display  split over two levels did have some of bikes ridden by ‘A-list’ celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and David Beckham. Then of course the connections with such icons as Steve McQueen (the coolest man to ever wonder the face of the earth) and the incomparable Marlon Brando, the original ‘Wild One’.

The display of test bikes and cut away models was interesting as was the breakdown of Triumphs truly global manufacturing footprint; they now have plants in India, Brazil and most notably Thailand in addition to their UK base. Triumph manufacture far more of their bikes themselves when compared with certain Italian brands for example….I took a bit of ribbing over this. Typically around 37% of a Triumph is sourced in house according to our guide, although it was not clear how this was measured.

State of the Art Facility

The tour itself was led by an amiable and knowledgeable chap called Simon. He could speak to us via transmitter into earpieces we were issued with. The factory itself is immaculate and looks extremely well run. We saw everything from where parts come in, through to the machining of key engine parts such as crankshafts and camshafts, through computerised inspection of parts all the way to final assembly of 765, 800, 1050 and 1200 models.

About to go into the factory, getting all the high-viz and safety stuff sorted. No pictures allowed of the production process understandably

We also saw where the bikes are stored prior to dispatch around the world. Towering storage racks, like all our dream garages!

It made an interesting contrast to the Morgan car factory I also toured a few years ago. That is firmly rooted in the past. Triumph is bang up to date and has a keen eye on the future.

We finished off our enjoyable tour with a cuppa in the excellent on site café. Then had a look about the factory shop where a bewildering array of ‘Triumph’ branded goods were on sale. I passed on the £30 T shirt, but the quality of all the items looked good.

Somebody was happy!

A highly enjoyable day rounded nicely off in a nearby pub, supping real ale like proper ‘Brit-bikers’. So there you have it: A fascinating insight into the modern Triumph. I heartily recommend you go and take a look when you can!

Random fact

1. A German founded this most British of brands
2.  The nick name ‘Trumpet’ derives from their first logo with a horn running through it

https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/

https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/visitor-experience

Words and Pictures: Tony Donnelly

Tucked away in the Wiltshire village of Calne you will find the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum. Being honest, I have to admit that I had never heard of it until very recently. But the feedback I’d heard and read was very positive. So I decided to check it out for myself.

Hidden gem

Upon arrival you are greeted by the sight of what appears to be a domestic bungalow. Only an old forecourt petrol station sign draws you around to the back of  building, where you soon see the museum building and entrance proper.

Park up and initially the museum seems simple and compact externally. However when you enter you immediately go into a small but inviting entrance lobby and tea-room. Many bikers love a good tea-room and I am no different! Things are looking promising already!

Cough up the very reasonable £10 entrance fee to a friendly member of staff and in you go: Wow! I wasn’t expecting that.. the place is WAY bigger than it looks! The collection has it’s focus on cars, rather than bikes, but I’m a big petrol head in general, so I was more than happy. The exhibits range from a works Mini in full 1960’s rally specification, a Williams F1 car, loads of American tin and a hall of cars like those our parents drove: Vauxhalls, Fords etc. I loved it.

The museum has some great exhibits

But what about the bikes? Well as you work your way around the halls you double back on yourself and are greeted by a neatly presented hall dedicated to all thing two-wheeled.  Laid out in two precise rows, the collection consists of around two-dozen bikes spanning from the early days of biking, right up to more recent machines form the 70’s and 80’s that I can relate to more.

Soft Spot

A late 1970’s Suzuki GS1000E caught my eye straight away. A beefy bike that I have always rather liked. They seem to sit in the shadow of the Kawasaki Z1 somehow. Unfairly in my view. A friend of mine rode one back in day and even rocked up to my wedding on it. My wife and I had some of our wedding pictures taken with it.

Suzuki GS1000G. Cool and capable

Honda CB125T  Superdream. The thinking man’s choice

Other notable bikes for me included an Ariel Square Four sidecar outfit. a lovely 1969 Triumph 500 and a Honda Cub.

Honda Cub, I had some great fun on my example as a snotty teenager

Gorgeous ’69 Triumph

BSA

Legendary Square Four. Plenty of grunt to move the chair about

Very tidy Ariel

Honda Vision. My wife had one, and I was once part of a team that rode one from John O’Groats to Lands End!

Lovely old Douglas

The Mystery Machine

I even came across a bike that I have never heard of. Produced in Russia (or more correctly the USSR) the Voskhod 175 dated from 1972. It looked a neat enough bike, in the spirit of a Bantam or James.

Voskhod 175. A What?

Drop in When You’re in the Area

Overall then, the Atwell Wilson Motoring Museum is a cracking set up. The ideal place to to drop in for a cuppa and a gander the next time you’re riding a loop in the area. Just remember that it is closed on a Monday.

Words and Pictures: Tony Donnelly