museum

The motorcycles in the museum are from the private collection of Virgil Elings. He has been collecting motorcycles for 2 decades. The collection is quite broad with something for everyone, ranging from a 1910 FN to the present, and across all makes. The emphasis is tilted toward racing motorcycles since Virgil and his son Jeff were involved in vintage motorcycle racing, both motocross and road racing.

The museum came about after Dr. Elings retired. He bought a home in the Santa Ynez valley and this business property, called Solvang Village Square, in Solvang, California. He decided to open the motorcycle museum as an afterthought, when he realized it would be a great place to store some of his rare motorbike collection. Prior to this, Elings kept his bikes in his garages, living room, family room, bedrooms, offices, and wherever else he could find space. He opened the museum to the public in March 2000.

The Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum is an easy day ride northward out of Los Angeles, CA through the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley.

The museum is located in the former Solvang Designer Outlet Center now owned by Dr. Elings. The museum rotates some of the bikes each month so that the bikes on display are constantly changing and expanding.


A few pics.



1904 NSU V Twin

NSU was a German company whose motorcycles ranked along with BMW and DKW as Germany's most famous manufactures. They started making motorcycles in 1900 and their racing bikes won the 250cc world championship in 1953, 1954 and 1955. NSU became involved with the rotary engine with Felix Wankel in the 50's and 60's and due to engineering difficulties, was to spell the end of NSU. They were eventually bought by Volkswagen.




1910 FN

The Begian Arms company 'FN' was the first to make 4 cylinder motorcycles in 1905. This is a 500cc engine, as big as that in the Gilera, but doesn't look big because of the small cooling fins on the engine. These and other inline 4's would usually be limited by the back cylinder getting hot. This bike has no clutch. When you stop, you must stop the engine and then peddle to get started again.




1920 ABC Sopwith

Designed by the All British (Engine) Company (ABC) it was built by Sopwith Engineering, the same people who made the Sopwith Camel WWI airplane.

This bike was very innovative and is generally considered as the engine that BMW copied in 1925 (BMW also made airplanes in WWI). This bike has front and rear suspension, overhead valves, a 4-speed transmission and an electric generator. These engines have a reputation that if you ever rev them too much, the pushrods fall out.



AJS &

1918 Thor

The Thor was made by the Aurora Machine & Tool Company in Chicago, Illinois. They made the first engines for Indian in 1902 and then started their own line in 1903. The 1200cc motor in this bike was only made until 1915 but Thor assembled bikes up to 1918. Several thousand were built. Aurora also made home appliances and at one time sold a combination clothes washer/dishwasher, which probably speeded up their eventual demise.




1925 DOT Racer

This bike, like many early English bikes, had JAP (J.A. Prestwich) engines. Oddly enough, DOT stood for 'Devoid of Trouble'.









1927 Henderson Four

The Henderson Brothers were the fathers of the 4 cylinder motorcycles in America. The company was bought by Schwinn (the bicycle people) and the Hendersons went on to make the ACE, which was bought by Indian.



1928 Neander (German)

This bike was a Swiss engine called a M.A.G. Neander quit making bikes in 1929. Originally, these bikes are cadmium plated, including fender and tank. This bike was restored in Germany where cadmium plating is not allowed, so was painted with dull aluminum paint.






1933 Matchless Silverhawk

Hi tech of the 30's from the English. This engine is a V4 overhead camshaft and the fram is a swinging arm with the springs under the seat. None of the other 30's bikes in teh museum have any rear suspension. Did the bike sell? No, bad timing - the depression stopped it.

1936 Nimbus w/ Sidecar OK, you Vikings, here is a real Danish motorcycle with sidecar from Denmark. Notice the interesting contrast of technology. A four cylinder overhead camshaft engine with a foot shift and shaft drive, contrasted with a frame made from flat strips of steel. Note the open valve springs. Nowdays found underneath the valve cover. 1936 Nimbus w/ Sidecar OK, you Vikings, here is a real Danish motorcycle with sidecar from Denmark. Notice the interesting contrast of technology. A four cylinder overhead camshaft engine with a foot shift and shaft drive, contrasted with a frame made from flat strips of steel. Note the open valve springs. Nowdays found underneath the valve cover.

1946 Indian Chief

Recognized by its deeply valanced fenders, the Chief was first made in 1922 and production stopped in 1953, when Indian quit making its own motorcycles and started selling British bikes with the Indian label. Oddly enough, one of the DuPont family took control of the company in 1930, making the full range of DuPont paint colors available on Indians in 1931.