Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum
For my first long distance solo trip, I used my Butler Maps SoCal map extensively to plan my route. If you haven't seen one of these you are missing out. Now admittedly they only offer maps for western states at the moment so if you are from somewhere else you are out of luck. They make the maps with the motorcyclist in mind and have color codes so you can see how the roads are rated for the motorcycle riding experience. I have not been disappointed with their recommendations yet.
While planning the route I saw a note for the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum and made it a point to stop there on the last day of my ride.
It is a small museum and the private collection of one man that made some good money with a medical device he designed and is now able to indulge in his passion for rare motorbikes.
For $10 you can wander right up to the bikes and get some good photos. Afterwards you can stroll through the town along with the busloads of tourists that come from L.A. for the charm of this small Scandinavian town north of Santa Barbara. Here are some of my favorite bike from the collection.
While planning the route I saw a note for the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum and made it a point to stop there on the last day of my ride.
It is a small museum and the private collection of one man that made some good money with a medical device he designed and is now able to indulge in his passion for rare motorbikes.
For $10 you can wander right up to the bikes and get some good photos. Afterwards you can stroll through the town along with the busloads of tourists that come from L.A. for the charm of this small Scandinavian town north of Santa Barbara. Here are some of my favorite bike from the collection.
'74 Harley Davidson XR750 Flat Tracker. The funny thing is that these are still competitive in modern AMA Pro Flat Track though the new Kawasaki twins are giving them a run for the money.
'71 Kawasaki H1R, love the green. I want to use the white and green for the Ninja race bike.
'74 Harley Davidson RR250 with a water cooled Aermacchi engine and conical brakes (not drum or disks, but something weird in between).
'52 MV 350-4 Cylinder. The first year for a chain drive, telescopic fork racer.
'60s Era Benelli Racer and the inspiration for my MMO Logo.
'74 Ducati 750 Sport with the signature 90 degree L-Twin engine.
Britton V1000. So much Carbon Fiber!
Villa 250-4 Cylinder Gran Prix bike. Look at those fins on the cylinder head.
With so many race related bikes from many periods of racing history you can see how racing technology has changed over the years. I have made it twice up North twice to see these bikes and can easily see myself going back again. I want to get more photos, especially more closeups of the great mechanical innovations that are out there on full display. I love modern MotoGP motorcycles, but seeing how things were done 70 years ago is inspirational and I might be able to find a couple of ideas for prepping the Ninja Race bike that I can use. If you get the chance, you shouldn't pass up a visit.
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