Solvang Motorcycle Museum

[TechNoir]

Hello folks. I was in California for the last couple of weeks and whilst there I went to the Solvang Motorcycle Museum. What a pleasant surprise for me, it was filled with bikes right up my street. Not so wall to wall American Iron as I had expected but a lot of great racing motorcycles from the 50's, 60's and 70's and my most favourite bike of all time, a Britten V1000. Number 10 of 10. This bike is indescribably fantastic and this is the second time I have had chance to get right up close to one (the first time was at the Guggenheim in the 90's). This bike (for me) was worth the $10 entrance fee alone.

The bikes are part of a private collection. There are 100 bikes in the museum and the collection is 200 in total and he rotates them around occasionally.

I took 165 pictures and I thought I would share some of the highlights on here in case anyone here is interested, I am sure someone might be. I have grouped the bikes roughly by continent in the post but they were were all mixed in together in the museum.

Sign outside





A couple of panoramas of the room.






The Britten.

[TechNoir]

Some British Bikes

A bike described as a flat tank Norton. It looks like an OHV Model 18 to me







Not the only Vincent in there but Comets don’t get the air time that the Vee Twins get and at the moment prices are on the up.

[TechNoir]

No collection is complete without a Brough it would seem. This is a 680cc from 1932



Manx Norton but I prefer the 7R below it





You dont see these every day. I put my fist next to the bell mouth for scale.

[TechNoir]

The original superbike.



This bike is a genuine Mike Hailwood 250 four. Giacomo and Nobby Clark went into the museum one day and there is a picture on the wall behind of Mike on this exact bike in a race with Giacomo right behind him. Therefore Giacomo signed the back of the bike because that’s what he could see in the race. Nobby signed it too. For the uninitiated, Nobby is the most famous wrench guy ever, more famous over here in Europe than even Gerry Burgess.





H1R. Fantastic bike from a unique era.



One of a pair of TZ700's. Rarer than the 750.



Lovely Honda



The famous, or should I say infamous?, NR750



The other TZ700



One of several MV's.



A nice Benelli

[TechNoir]

I loved this Husky. I love the details including the pie crust on the tank.





This Velux is unique, the only one. Look at the angle of the steering!



Usually a 750 Sport would be belle of the ball but not here. A great bike but totally outshone by its neighbours.



This Gilera is one of my favourites in here (after the Britten). It is sublime.





You don’t usually see too many DKW's but this one was not on its own in here.



This CZ is another fabulous racer



Another MV, this in original paint

[TechNoir]

And another



A Jawa. Its a shame that there wasn’t an MZ, perhaps there is one on the other half of the collection?



NSU Sportmax



A Pre-war DKW split single. Another of my favourite bike in there. I would have loved to have heard it. For those who are not familiar bikes like these were banned after the war due to supercharging being banned but these would have also failed the lower noise limits. They were LOUD!!!







And another one. This was my favourite of the MV's

[TechNoir]

This Jawa is another favourite of mine. Not because it won a rivet counting contest at Pebble Beach (see the trophy on the seat) but because I would love to see it in classic racing and because of its fabulous styling.








A pre war supercharged Rennesport BMW. Another rare bike.







And another that you don’t see everyday.



1954 Rennesport, note the absence of the now banned supercharger.




A replica V8 Moto Guzzi. You couldn’t see much of it as the fairing was on. If anyone is interested in them I have some pictures of the one in Sammy Millers place without the fairing.

[TechNoir]

A lovely little Benelli in original clothes





And then a bike I have never seen before








FN Four



A couple more Italians





This Aermacchi Chimera reminds me of the Thunderbirds (the Gerry Anderson show). Very distinctive.



Another one that is new to me.

[TechNoir]

A fantastic Montesa. Note the description, a rare beast.





A Mondial. Can this place get any better?





Yes it can! I really really love this Villa.









The styling on this IMME is great. Note how the tank and cylinders mirror each other

[TechNoir]

A 1916, I think.



A Harley Davidson. Or is it an Aermacchi???



This is definitely a Harley



This one is amazing.







An old girl





I am not into these but I bet a few on here are so it is included for those guys & gals who are

[TechNoir]

This was a beauty



This too



1929 JDH



I love the styling of the Yale engine. Not sure what year it is, no plaque



27 Henderson



1912 Flying Merkel

[TechNoir]

Did I mention that the Britten is the best bike ever? No apologies for including it twice.




If you get chance to visit then I would recommend it. It may not be to everyone’s taste but there are some seriously exotic bikes to see there.


John

[jim d]

You would really like the Barber Museum in Birmingham Alabama. A few years ago they featured the Britten for the fall 2015 Vintage Festival. I think there were 9 out of 10 examples known to be produced there. I could be off a bit on my numbers. Some of his family including his wife were also there to be honored at the event. The restoration shops are all open and some of the bikes were running in the shop and I think there was 5 on the track at one time for about 15 -20 minutes. A couple were also in a later race with some other bikes for some light spirited competition. It was a gathering of Britten motorcycles together that may never be seen again. Thanks to Mr. Barber and his wonderful museum. A very neat event that I was fortunate to attend.

[painterdale]

Great coverage, John! Thanks for taking the time to post all those photos.

Dale

[pisten-bully]

Great coverage, John! Thanks for taking the time to post all those photos.

Dale

I second that, thanks John!