Museu de Moto, Barcelona (w/ pics)

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[aka Miscellaneous Cool Catalan Bikes]

I just returned from visiting family in Barcelona.  Wandering the old city one day I came across a motorcycle museum.  Current exhibition was on bikes manufacturers of Catalunya.  In fact, there have been 196 brands in the region from 1905-2010: 88 mass producers, 7 engine manufacturers, 56 race bike makers, and 46 others!

Here's are a bunch of pics. (Hope I'm not violating some forum etiquette by over-posting---if so, let me know DP and I will remove some.)

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Older bikes:

Such a simple design on this Simo.  Belt-drive and only rear-brake, which was like a bicycle brake:











Love this Moto Guzzi Hispania.  Looks like it has an ipad mount!


...and the gear is stick-shift:

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Can anyone explain what the function of the two left-side foot controls are?  They both seem to be connected to the gear shifter:


Cross-section of the above Derbi's engine:


Nice Montessa:


Again, why the two foot controls on one side?  Looks like they both control the brake:

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Small bike that was perfect for my 6-yr old nephew.  Wish I put something in the picture for scale, because it is really a kid's bike.




Helmet worn by Miguel Sanchez Simo (see first bike pictured in thread) in the Isle of Mann TT when he had a bad crash.  Note is for hospital detailing damage to skull, arm, and spine.  Never tried racing again:

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Race bikes:

Arisco Moto is powered by what looks like a reel-to-reel tape player:


The red Derbi is really sweet looking.  Look how far back the seat is:

[DarkMonster620]

Can anyone explain what the function of the two left-side foot controls are?  They both seem to be connected to the gear shifter:
<snip>
Again, why the two foot controls on one side?  Looks like they both control the brake:

Think H-D .  .  . and the riders how the shift, they push first down and then do the rest with the heel . . . lots of Chinese small displacement bikes have the shifter like that . .. you go up either by lifting with toes or pushing with heel

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Think H-D .  .  . and the riders how the shift, they push first down and then do the rest with the heel . . . lots of Chinese small displacement bikes have the shifter like that . .. you go up either by lifting with toes or pushing with heel

Ahh, makes sense.  Still the left controls on the Derbi (the maroon one) are really far apart.  I imagine that the rider uses a foot for the bottom one and his shin/calf for the upper one.

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Good showing of off-road stuff:

Bike on left was owned by King Juan Carlos:


Expansion chamber on this Gas Gas brand bike looks the enlarged liver of an engine that has been drinking too much:

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Single purpose stuff:

Yellow bike is for MOTOBALL.  Dirty thing in the case is an oversized soccer ball.  If you look at the wall image, you can see a pic of them playing MOTOBALL.  Men were men back then:



Ossa Monocasco, 250cc, 1968.  Was allegedly the fastest 1-cylinder bike at the time and won many races:


Beautiful racing Bultaco:

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Italians present.

Cagiva with HD engine:


And of course, had to share the Duc.  50cc Mini:

[SpikeC]

If you look closely I think that you will see concentric Shafts, one for the shifter and one for the kick starter.

Can anyone explain what the function of the two left-side foot controls are?  They both seem to be connected to the gear shifter:


Cross-section of the above Derbi's engine:


Nice Montessa:


Again, why the two foot controls on one side?  Looks like they both control the brake:

[abby normal]

very nice.  thanks for posting.  i love twin crank arisco (two stroke?).

[ducatiz]

very nice.  thanks for posting.  i love twin crank arisco (two stroke?).

yeah, that is wild.  Italian engineering in the 40-60s was "wtf, lessee if it will work!"

very cool stuff!!

[TWDucfan]

Thank you for sharing. 

Post more pictures please !

[red baron]

Italians

And of course, had to share the Duc.  50cc Mini:

Brilliant, a bar stool attached.