London Motorcycle Museum


London Motorcycle Museum displayed a range of over 150 classic and British motorcycles. It closed on October 2019, partly due to inability to meet the running costs.
A charitable trust, it opened in May 1999 at Oldfield Lane South, Greenford, Middlesex. It displayed a range of over 150 classic and British motorcycles. Notable exhibits included the last Triumph Bonneville T140 out of the Meriden gates in 1983.

History

Bill Crosby, the museum's founder, started collecting good examples of British motorcycles in 1960 when he took over the Reg Allen motorcycle shop in Hanwell. The bikes were displayed at Syon Park until 1979 and then at a number of temporary locations until the site in Greenford was found. Formerly Coston's Farm, it had been used as an Ealing Council depot since the 1930s. Run by the charitable trust volunteers, the museum promoted educational visits, and was affiliated to the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust.

Intended expansion

In 2008, the museum was raising money for an extension to display another sixty motorcycles. The main building was planned as "The Home of Triumph" with special areas for other makes, military and police motorcycles.

Exhibits

All the motorcycles on display were in excellent condition and represented the best examples of all the well-known makes, such as BSA, Triumph and Norton as well as less well known makers including Coventry-Eagle and Rudge. A full inventory of exhibits could be seen listed on the museum's official web site, including a number of unique prototypes, such as the development Triumph Trident and motorcycles that have been featured in the media.
Exhibits ranged from one of the earliest motorcycles, a 1902 0rmonde 2 h.p. to a 1993 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 cc and included:
Motorcycles from the London museum have featured in EastEnders, Dad's Army, A-Z of Royalty and Men & Motors ‘Full Throttle Famous’. The museum is also regularly featured in Classic Bike Guide, Classic Bike, Moto Legende and Motoiclismo. The museum was also featured in US TV series, American Chopper in the episode where the Teutul family of Orange County Choppers visited the United Kingdom being shown to be directed there by the actor and well-known motorcycling enthusiast, Ewan McGregor.