Cycles Classic Cafe Museum rolls out history two wheels at a time

Looking for a fun specialty museum on your next visit to the North Shore? This should be on your top-five list of things to do. Located conveniently just off of Route 128 in Beverly, the Cycles Classic Cafe Museum has delighted visitors of all ages for the past several years. It may be one of the most significant silver linings for fans of two-wheeled transportation that came out of the Covid pandemic.

Cycles 128 is the Beverly location of one of the largest high-end motorsports dealers in the Northeast, New England Power Sports. Over the years its owner, Rob Cerundolo, has had customers offer older bikes that they no longer rode or didn’t run, knowing that he’d appreciate their significance and take good care of them. He amassed a collection of vintage motorcycles as a result, starting in 1975.

During the pandemic, demand for motorcycles was high but supply was challenged and the showroom floor had very limited inventory to offer customers. At the suggestion of his General Manager and fellow vintage bike fan Randy Pawlyk, the dealership reconfigured their showroom, freeing up space on the second floor. It proved to be the perfect space to display Rob’s rare vintage bikes and collection of vintage posters, signs, license plates and petroleana – gas station signage and packaging from years gone by.

Rob invited his good friend Charles Gould to share bikes from his impressive collection – a few at a time – in the new space. And just like that Cycles Classic Cafe Museum was born! 

Visitors may be surprised to find that there is no admission fee – sharing a passion for historic motorcycles is what the museum is all about. When you visit you’ll be greeted by several rooms packed vintage Hondas, Triumphs, Ducatis and BSAs. In addition you’ll see motorcycle ‘ghost’ brands that are lost to history – Vincent, Douglas, Velocette, Aeromachi, Pesaro, and Nimbus to name a few. Here at the museum they are all very much alive. Rob and Charles both believe in preserving the bikes as ‘ridable reminders’ of the past with stickers, scratches, and imperfections telling stories of a life well-lived. As Randy related on my visit, almost all the bikes can made roadworthy with a few hours preparation. I ran into a classic bike cruise over the summer and the Douglas rolled with the best of them. Negotiating its various controls takes special skills that few riders possess these days.

If you’ve every ridden a motorcycle, don’t be surprised if you come across a bike that you fondly remember as Doug Meehan did on his visit during a WCVB Chronicle episode.

Looking for a way to spend a memorable hour or two while visiting the North Shore of Boston? Look no further than the Cycles Classic Cafe Museum.

Fun Fact: As you walk into the museum, look for a framed poster on the right. Don Burnett, an independent competitor at the National Championships at Daytona in 1962, won the race and set a new track record while riding a Triumph, putting the Brit brand on the map in the US. Don still rides at 89 years young and is a local legend. 

Cycles Classic Cafe Museum
107 Brimbal Ave. Beverly, MA
978-927-3400
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9-6pm; Saturday 9-5pm
Admission: Free