Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum

This weekends ride was a pilgrimage to the Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. I apologize for it being on the wrong side of the pond! It houses American built bikes from the very beginnings of motorized bikes up through some more modern machines. All the complete bikes are runners, even the old survivors from the early 1900’s. The gents who are responsible for maintaining this fleet of over 300 bikes are on the floor to talk to you, and will start any of the bikes so you can hear them run! I know, no Triumphs, right? Well, one of the mechanics is a closet Triumph nut. If you show up with a local Triumph dealer shirt from your neck of the woods he will probably try to trade you out of it! I had my jacket on and his wife said if he saw it he’d want it! Cheers and hope you enjoy, even if they are ‘Murican!

 

More.

 

Best use for a Harley? Seriously though, this is part of an exhibit that shows how in the early part of the 20th century rural farmers would take surplus bikes and modify them to perform tasks. This one is an ice harvesting saw. To my mind people don’t think like they used to when solving problems, probably has something to do with not working with your hands.

 

Here’s one for you top box fans, you know who you are!

 

I think it was a show called American Pickers with two guys that travel around looking for antiques to buy. If you visit try and get ahold of a bike, you don’t want to miss some of the riding in this area. The Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains NP, even Deals Gap ( look up Tail of the Dragon)

 

Haven’t kept up with that show in a bit. I’ll have to look for that episode.