Triumphrat

beef706 · 11-29-2007, 03:43 PM

Hi all, I am fortunate enough to be planning a trip tto the UK this summer and I am setting aside a day to go to the National Motorcycle museum in Birmingham. I have a couple of queries for those who have been. First, would it be a worthy way to spend most of a day?
second I am traveling on a BritRail pass so does anyone know what station would be closest (and how close it would be)? I also know that railway stations and airpeorts no longer have lockers, so is there any sort of facility for luggage? I tried an email to the museum but, have not received a reply. On another tangent, the EPL are not active in June are they? are there pre-season friendlies?

Skyblue62 · 11-29-2007, 04:06 PM

Beef to answer your questions

I doubt whether you could spend a full day there, unless you spend 20 mins examining every bike, (apparently you could spend a day they have 650 bikes on display now), you could finish off the day at Coventry Motor Museum (free entrance) and about 30 old bikes on display but mostly cars

There is a train station at the National exhibition centre, only a stones throw from the museum, probably a 20min walk away

I'll give the museum a ring tomorrow about lockers for luggage and let you know.

Do you intend visiting Hinckley?

If your visit coincides with my day off I'd gladly meet up and show you around, might even buy you a beer

alf885 · 11-29-2007, 04:07 PM

Hi beef, Yes, a full day no problem. Nearest station, National Exhibtion Centre railway station isn't too far away but someone from Birmingham may be able to offer better advice.

Sorry, no EPL (English Premier League Football I presume) in June. But, if you're here in early June you've got to get yourself to the Isle of Man TT. You can't come that far and miss it surely? See the link below. alf

http://www.iomtt.com/

barneys · 11-29-2007, 05:35 PM

Hi Beef,

Went there myself last year, really worth a visit. Can you spend all day there? Well yes and no, there are so many bikes there it is a bit overwhelming. If you look at each bike and read all the dispay boards next to each bike it would probably take you a week! but I would say allow yourself about 4 hours. There is a cafe\restaurant upstairs that serve hot & cold food all day and is a good place to chat with other bike enthusiasts. However you should be aware that the building is also so a conference centre. So if you get blank looks form someone you start talking bike to they are probably attending another function in another hall

Also you might have a look at what is on at the nearby National Exhibition Centre (NEC) as you might be able to combine visit to see a concert. NEC website http://www.necgroup.co.uk/

CoburnAndHughes · 11-29-2007, 07:48 PM

Hinckley is so close to the NEC, you may want to try and arrange for a factory tour in the morning and then 20 minutes over to the motorcycle museum for the rest of the day. There is also a motorcycle museum in London.

HOGUSERRECTUS · 11-29-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alf885

Hi beef, Yes, a full day no problem. Nearest station, National Exhibtion Centre railway station isn't too far away but someone from Birmingham may be able to offer better advice.

Sorry, no EPL (English Premier League Football I presume) in June. But, if you're here in early June you've got to get yourself to the Isle of Man TT. You can't come that far and miss it surely? See the link below. alf

http://www.iomtt.com/

alf885-Thanks for posting the link on the Isle of Man TT! I hope to attend this great event someday in the near future.

GeoDiablo · 11-29-2007, 09:06 PM

Sounds like a great trip.

Enjoy the exchange rate.

Odysseus · 11-30-2007, 03:56 AM

Beef, I'm with those who say that you can spend a good day there (many hours, at the very least). But bear in mind that the exhibits are 100% British bikes. Hundreds of them. When I was there two years ago, the only arguably non-Brit was an Indian made for a US police force, which was there either because it was built in Britain or had a British engine - I can't remember which. But I thought the collection was astounding. My favourite was a Trackmaster-framed BSA which was thought to be one of Dave Aldana's bikes in the AMA championship back in the early 70s.

Skyblue62 · 11-30-2007, 08:23 AM

Beef - have just spoken to Motorcycle museum staff, she says that although they do not provide lockers etc for luggage, they would be more than willing to look after your luggage, they could always lock it away safely for you.

She also said that National Exhibition Centre is the nearest railway station and a cab ride is about £5/$10

beef706 · 11-30-2007, 10:54 AM

Thanks to all, and the trip is definitely on (I know my wallet will hurt, especially compared to other trips, we have lost ground every year :-0 ) Skyblue, thanks especially for the info on luggage, my father in law and I are splitting off from our wives for the day ( we have no real wish to look at pottery in Stoke on Trent) so I don't know if we will find a B&B somewhere nearby or just head up to Edinburgh at the end of the day and meet our wives there the next day. Don't yet know what the day will be but if any of you are nearby I will gladly buy a couple of pints. I had asked my Triumph dealer about arranging a visit to the factory (the website said you had to arrange it though a dealer) but he didn't know if he could or not. I would like to see that if I could, I would even schedule another day. My father in Law is a British car enthusiast, so a trip to the car museum would be awesome, (he has 2 MG's and an unrestored Bugeye Sprite). I am getting all excited just planning it, I think the rail pass is going to be more fun. Usually I end up doing all the driving for 2 weeks, which isd fun but I never really get to look at the sights.