Britbike forum Forums General discussion The Rod and Tappet Los Angeles must see Brit bike shops, collections

I am headed to LA in a couple weeks-

Peterson Museum is on my agenda already .

I would love to visit a Brit bike repair shop, museums any suggestions ??

I live on the east coast and am not a veteran LA visitor.

Thanks
Tommy


I have a couple B44's

I haven’t been, but a stop to Franz & Grub would be on my list. Dan is (was?) a poster here and they do some amazing work.

There is a museum I tried to visit but I couldn't find it (north of L.A.?) Can't remember the name, it was around 2007/2008

Solvang Museum

Century Cycles !!!!! South of LAX, in the San Pedro town, which is on the Ocean front. There’s a Navel “museum” and some interesting places that were WWII gun emplacements to see and imagine the times. Google San Pedro and Century Cycles. Century is an OLD shop, and the original owners ashes are in the shop, in a Vincent tank, which I believe is still on display. Fun place to see! Buy a Tee shirt,…. http://www.centurymotorcycles.net/
Be sure to click Our History at the top: http://www.centurymotorcycles.net/our-history

That place IS quite special, and worth the travel. At 100 miles N. It might be a bit too much though. He had(s) one of the very few “Britten” bikes on display. THAT storywas an amazing endeavor!

If you go to Solvang, I'd suggest calling and making arrangements to visit first. When I was there some years back (and of course things may have changed), I had to phone in the morning, and a fella came and opened up for me to view for an hour or so late that afternoon.

And if in Solvang, get a bowl of namesake soup at Pea Soup Anderson's.

Yes, do this. I went there in 2017. Called the number on the door and someone came and opened up about half an hour later.

I found the place brilliant and spent 2 or 3 hours there. What struck me was that when I was waiting for it to open a few more people came and stood in line and went in when it opened. These other people (mostly "tourists" rather than Motorcycle fans) spent 15 to 20 mins there, had a cursory glance at the bikes and then went.

Well worth the visit. We were in the Santa Ynez Valley for other reasons so I took the opportunity to visit and I was not disappointed.

Annoyingly, I didn't have enough time in La to visit the Peterson. Next time I will.


I took a ton of pictures when I was there, here are a couple showing the overall room.







John

Ummmmmm.... Navels? male, female, or both?

One would be interesting, the other not so much...

Hah! Didn’t notice that mis-use! But likely trans-something I’d guess out here….

Well, it is California.