Audrain Museum, Newport, RI

[joe fxs fxr]

Sunday a friend and I went to the Audrain Museum in Newport, RI to see their motorcycle exhibit called Balance & Power, the World on Two Wheels 1885-1995. It was so good that I want to share some pictures, starting with some bicycles and going thru the years. I needed my buddy in this picture for scale. How they got this thing going is beyond me.

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It was very clear that there were no rules on how things should be back then. This tricycle had the driving wheel on the side and both the little wheels pivoted for steering:

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It didn't take long for bicycle manufacturers to add a motor. I can't remember if this was a Thor, I'm sure you guys will know:

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Pierce also made motor bikes, this one looked very classy with all the nickle plating, and the oil and gas tanks part of the frame. There was a Pierce bicycle above it.

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[joe fxs fxr]

This Pope motor bike was also finished very nicely, with a Pope bicycle above.

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The bicycle was turn of the century and had a shaft drive, presumably to keep your clothes clean?

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My buddy and I liked this Indian board track racer. There were no brakes or throttle, just WFO all the way. The spark advance was a series of rods and levers from the right hand grip, very complex.

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One of the docents, by the name of Chuck, was very knowledgeable about this and all the other bikes. We talked to him quite a bit throughout the day. Turns out we both raced RD400s, but he did back in the day and I was just vintage racing at Loudon NH.

We then jumped to the time between World Wars with this Harley

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[joe fxs fxr]

And of course an Indian right beside:

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There were two Brough Superiors, an SS100:

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And this SS80 with an interesting sidecar that hung from a rigid frame.

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Chuck explained to me why Moto Guzzi had their external flywheel. Besides making the crankcase smaller, it allowed you to change the flywheel size to suit your needs. Bigger for more torque, smaller for faster revs. I never knew that.

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[joe fxs fxr]

This Merkel looks like a conversion kit:

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Schwinn did the conversion for you with their Whizzer, including very fancy saddlebags on this one that could have come from an Indian or Harley:

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There was also this Cotton, but I don't know anything about it.

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[joe fxs fxr]

Some of the other displays highlighted the scooters that got Europeans back on the road after WWII

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And this custom Mod example:

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There was this wall of mini bikes, too. Chuck asks everyone which one of these was their first bike, but I started on an Italian Moto Bebe. I haven't seen one of those since ours was stolen in 1971.

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The dirt bike exhibit brought back memories, but I don't remember an all-red Honda Elsinore:

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[joe fxs fxr]

Moving into the 50's they had a wide variety, including this nice Moto Guzzi ...

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... and this equally nice BMW.

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What exhibit would be complete without a Vincent or two?

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But have you ever seen the short-lived fully enclosed version? According to Chuck, the company regularly surveyed their customers to see what they wanted, and this was the response. Unfortunately fiberglass was a new invention and they hadn't mastered it yet.

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[joe fxs fxr]

For a short time, Maserati tried to get into the market by attaching their brand to an uninspired single. Reminds me of Harley-Aeromacci, good marketing, mediocre bikes.

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Triumph and BSA were represented, starting with these:

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And jumping to these Triples:

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[FNG1]

Thanks for the pics

[joe fxs fxr]

One Norton...

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...and a Ducati brought us into the 70's

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There was also this nice Shovelhead in the corner:


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[joe fxs fxr]

I got my motorcycle endorsement in 1975, so before then I was devouring motorcycle magazines right at the peak of the first Japanese superbike war.

Kawasaki struck first with the H1 triple:

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Honda came right back with the legendary 750 Four:


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Not to be outdone, Kawasaki released their KH900 shortly afterwards. I almost fell off the back of one of these when my college buddy gave me a ride. I was holding onto the seat rail and was prepared for 1st gear acceleration, but relaxed too much when he shifted into second. Lucky for me he saw or felt my feet coming up beside him and slowed down!

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This was what Chuck was excited to show me - the street version of my race bike:

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[joe fxs fxr]

Then there was the 80's where anything goes, from six cylinders...

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...to Turbos...

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... to small companies using other brand motors.


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It was a great day, followed by a late lunch in Newport. The exhibit runs thru May, and I encourage anyone in the area to check it out.

Lastly, what many say is the most beautiful motorcycle ever made, the Ducati 916:

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[pisten-bully]

What a great day, thanks for sharing!

[exeric]

Fantastic pictures, and thank you so much for making the effort to post them for us. The motorcycle in the 3rd picture down is a Curtis twin, an incredibly valuable, and desirable bike. The Pope, and the 8 valve Indian sure got my attention. Thanks again.

[painterdale]

Very cool pictures! Looks like a great time. Thanks for sharing.

Dale

[JoJo357]

Thank You for your Time & Effort.

*M.A.D.*