I dropped some parts to a Jockey Journal buddy in NY this week and on Thursday and we went down to the new "Motorcyclepedia Museum" near Newburgh NY. Weird name, fantastic place. Run, don't walk to this museum if you are anywhere near the area. It is really an unbelievable collection of bikes/choppers. We spent two hours there, but felt rushed because I had to drive back to Maryland. I was expecting a "barn full of bikes" (which would have been fine) but this place is more Smithsonian than garage. Someone definitely threw a ton of money into the building/contents.
http://motorcyclepediamuseums.com/main.htmlThe place is huge and still a work in progress. One hall is dedicated to choppers and custom bikes (4-5 Ness bikes). There are tons of memorabilia everywhere, but I didn't really have time to carefully take in all that was on the walls, just bikes. I'll definitely be back, well worth the $10 admission.
Another hall is dedicated to Indian motorcycles with a bike from every hear except 1901. Sensory overload here as well. Some restored, others survivors.
As we were leaving, Speed asked about the "Wall of Death" pictured on the webpage. That, "oh yeah, it's downstairs in the main hall". WHAT, there is more??? Half the downstairs is an open exhibition room for the Wall of Death and they do demonstrations. You can sign up for notification when they are running the wall. Wish I lived closer...
The other half of that hall is all Harley-Davidson, a Triumph display and the start of a V-twin display.
I asked who owned the bikes and was told the museum owner also owns "V-twin". Ah, that explains the vast collection and choppers. A whole wall of HD motors is displayed. I was out of time here, didn't really have time to take all that in.
I had my crappy cell phone for pix, but Speed used his good camera. We each got a shot in front of our favorite display. I was unsure which was mine, until I got downstairs and saw the Megacycle Hauler and bike. Wow, hands down cool and in the proper red color to boot!:
Rest of my pictures are here, hopefully my buddy adds his shortly:
http://rides.webshots.com/album/580260059YHvcogThey are working on putting the story to each bike on display, which would be terrific to learn (like who built the Easyrider bikes on display, etc.). Five minutes off the NY Thruway or I-84. Give yourself a good 3-4 hours to take in most of it. 5-6 if you want to thoroughly take in the memorabilia.
