European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse England s National motorcycle museum Story and photos by Dave Diehl staff writer crowds Are sparse at Britain s National motorcycle museum but that makes it better to see the Vintage bikes like the Ever so rare 1904 Bra Minerva the Only example of its kind left in the world. Perhaps the absence of Large throngs of people can be attributed to the fact that bikers Are not generally museum goers. Those who Are can enjoy this Superb Cycle museum located on the outskirts of Birmingham. The 6-year-old National motorcycle museum like its exhibits is a classic. Not Only is it uncrowded it is Well kept. More importantly the bikes there a dating from the first year of the Century to the 1980s a Are without exception in Pristine condition. Among the museum s 600 machines Are 500 different models of British bikes of bygone Days once household names that have become relics. There Are the big muscle Bias Royal Enfield match Lesses triumphs and Norton that thumped out their Macho rhythms during the 1950s and 1960s. A special Hall marking 60 years of British motorcycling history also gives visitors a Clear picture of the evolution of the motorcycle from its infancy in 1901 up to 1961, when the motorcycle manufacturing world was All but a British Dominion. For the Benefit of the connoisseur most of the two wheeled displays feature clearly written descriptions and histories of the bikes. On these descriptions Are interesting facts that give More than just insight into the Bies and their makers. For instance the placard next to the 1975 Norton commando interstate Marks the Bike s place in history it was plucked from the troubled maker s Assembly line soon after the Wolverhampton factory Hail closed Down. The National motorcycle museum is in Solihull near Birmingham at the Junction of the a45 and m42 highways. It is open every Day except Christmas from 10 . To 6 . Admission is $6.30 for adults and $4.50 for children 14 and under. Phone 06755 3311
