The Moto Museum

3441 Olive Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
(314) 446-1805

Admission is free. Metered parking on the street.

https://www.themotomuseum.com/

Opened in 2007

The Moto Museum is housed in the Midtown Moto complex which also houses a boutique hotel, a motorcycle-themed restaurant, a European motorcycle store, and a lounge, all owned by Steve Smith. 

Upon entering through the above door you are greeted by this sign explaining that the museum holds Steve Smith's collection of rare and vintage European motorcycles from about 1900 to 1975. 

The museum is available to rent for events such as fundraisers, weddings, and other social events.  This main room has all of the motorcycles around the edge creating great space for entertaining. 

There is also the lobby and this second large room that also has lots of open space. 

And finally there is a balcony that includes a lounge and allows you to look down upon some of the exhibit. 

Almost all of the motorcycles have a sign like this that tells you about the model and explains how Mr. Smith came into possession of this particular bike.

There are also large murals with time lines for the Ducati and Triumph lines of bikes.

The collection has more bikes from Germany than any other country including these nine bikes.

1928 - DKW E300cc - In the late 1920's this company was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. 

1928 Wanderer Kaffeemuhle 185cc. Wanderer began making motorcycles in 1902.

 1938 - NSU OSL251

1947 - BMW R25 250cc  This bike shifts gears with a hand shifter like a car. 

1947 BMW engine  This is an unusual BMW engine in that it is single cylinder. 

1949 - IMME  R100 100cc

1953 -Adler  MB25OS 250cc.  The high exhaust pipes is what qualified this bike as a sport model. 

1955 - Victoria Bergmeister 350cc

1959 - Heinkel Tourist 175cc  This company began making bikes after WWII.  Before the war Heinkel was a major German aircraft manufacturer. 

1975 - Maico AW 250cc

East Germany - one bike

1956 - MZ BK 350 350cc  MZ bikes were first manufactured after World War II.

France - two bikes
1931 - Peugeot Type P 175cc. Peugeot built their first motorized bicycle in 1899 and their first car in 1907.  For fifty years they produced both. 

1937 - Gnome & Rhome Major 350cc These bikes were used by the occupying Nazis during World War II. 

 Austria
1973 - Puch MX 175cc  By 1914 Puch was one of the leading motorcycle manufacturers in Europe. 

Italy - 4 bikes

1935 - Bianchi 500 cc - this bike has both front and rear tire stands

 1948 - Moto Guzzi Astore 500cc

 1956 - Maserati Corsa 125cc

2000 Beta Rev 3 250cc - notice that there is no seat.  This bike is used for trail competition and the rider stands. 

Switzerland

1932 - Motosacoche Jubilee 500cc - a military version of another model

Sweden
1925 - Husqvarna V Twin 500cc

Denmark
1937 - Nimbus 750cc  Nimbus was the leading Danish manufacturer of motorcycles before it closed in the 1950's. 

Spain - two bikes

1975 - Bultaco Pursang 250cc  This was the first bike in his collection having obtained it while in college. 

1976 0 Ossa GP II 250cc This bike was restored at the MOTO Museum. 

Great Britain - three bikes
1914 - AJS Model G 350cc  This bike has separate oil and gas tanks and was purchased from a broker in Melbourne, Australia. 

1920 - Levis Popular 211 cc  This bike was also bought from the broker in Australia.

 1924 - Matchless L3 350cc What a great horn!

Soviet Union
1961 IZH IZ-56 350cc  When the Nazi's invaded the Soviet Union, the Russians copied the Nazi bikes in producing this one and others. 

Czechoslovakia
1927 Bohmerland Langtourenmodel 600  This three-seater is VERY long!  

Czech Republic
2002 - Jawa 884-5 500cc  This speedway bike has no brakes and was assembled in a small factory by hand. 

Hungary

1959 - Pannonia DeLuxe TLF 250cc  Side cars are very popular in Eastern Europe where less people own cars.

North America - Mexico 
1973 - Cooper MX 250cc  Cooper bikes were only made for two years.

Canada
1974 - Can Am MX 175cc Like the snowmobiles for which this company is known, this bike was produced for mostly off road use. 

United States
Wooden Motorcycle - made by a farmer with material on his farm - i.e. old car tires, seat off the farm hay rake, and scrap lumber

Old chainsaw engine was used for the motor!

Some more motorcycles with sidecars - not labeled. 

Ceiling light fixture in the lobby made with motorcycle mirrors! 

While we were there, two men worked to get a motorcycle brought into the museum to add to the collection. There is a place in the building for rehabbing bikes. 

From the main room of the museum one can walk directly into the "gift shop"!

Or one can come in through the front door of Moto Europa where you can buy Ducati, Triumph, KTM, Vespa, and Piaggio motorcycles. Moto Europa also sells scooters, plenty of parts, apparel and accessories from a variety of brands.

 Everywhere you look there are motorcycles for sale.  

 They come in all shapes and sizes!

On the opposite side of the Museum is Triumph Grill.

This is a motorcycle themed restaurant! This chandelier of spokes hung above us while we ate! 

This wall decoration of speedometers was also in our dining area.  

Many of the restaurant rooms are covered with motorcycle themed prints and pictures.

 One room even has two motorcycles hanging from the ceiling! 

 And this art work is made from motorcycle headers. 

But let's talk about food.  It was EXCELLENT! Yummy Flash Fried Spinach! 

 Turkey Club Melt with Yuzu Kale Slaw

 Big Greek Salad with Grilled Shrimp

COMMENTS: Although none of us are particularly interested in motorcycles we had a fun time walking through the museum and seeing all of them.  Every bike was well restored. Some were quite fascinating.  They were mostly well labeled.

It was clever to organize the museum around great rental space.  This way more people are likely to see the collection.  The museum was well-kept and the space inviting.

Because they rent the space often one must call before going to be sure that the museum is open.  (The first time we planned to go we learned that it would be closed for a function.)  

We were the only ones at the museum when we went about 1:00 on a Friday afternoon. We spent maybe 40 minutes there. 

Triumph Grill was wonderful.  The food was excellent and plentiful.  All of us took took home leftovers. Our waitress was great.  We would highly recommend this restaurant.