One of the Southern Hemisphere’s best collections of classic motorbikes is now open to the public six days a week.
Initially, the NZ Classic Motorcycles in central Nelson was only open a few hours a week when it opened last December. Since then, demand has meant the owners of the collection have opened it on a more regular basis and are now actively marketing it to other parts of New Zealand and to international tourists.
The impressive selection of 290-odd motorbikes is owned by Nelson businessman Tom Sturgess and his wife Heather.
The building on Haven Rd is state-of-the-art and even includes a classic motorcycle library, rare motorbike art and a working mechanics garage.
Last month NZ Classic Motorcycles revealed the world-famous Britten V1100 as its latest – and most expensive – display.
The collection stretches from two 1902 bikes, a Peugeot Perfecta and a Motosacoche, right through to an impressive collection of racing bikes, Indians, Harley Davidsons and even sidecars.
Another highlight of the collection is a QR code on each of the machines that allows owners of a smartphone to scan the code and read about the bike they’re looking at. Its website also has extensive information about many of the bikes on display.
Around 15 of the bikes are warranted and registered for the road and “active” according to specialist mechanic Steve Scullion. “We’ve got about 15 or so that rider’s bikes and we’re working to get that up to 20 or 25 and we’ll do some tours with those, where people hire them and take them on a tour.”
Steve says it’s the best collection in New Zealand. He says there are other good collections, one in Palmerston North and one in Auckland, but the bikes in Nelson are “classier and with classier surrounds”.
NZ Classic Motorbikes is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm, except on Anzac weekend. Adults are $20 and children between 5 and 15 are $10 and children under 5 are free.
