Filenews 29 November 2020 - by Giorgos Christoforou
Hundreds of stories on both wheels have to tell the historical motorcycles that have found their place in the last 20 years in the museum of the private collector Andreas Nikolaos. A personal route that goes back in time and counts over 450 collectible motorcycles, has been transformed into a museum, which honours Cyprus internationally after receiving visitors from all over the world, after opening the world of motorcycles to the public. A journey into the history of motorcycles through the exhibits, starting from 1914 to 1983 and includes some AJS, MV Agusta, the unparalleled Norton, BSA, Triumph, Ariel, BMW, James, Moto Guzzi, Royal Enfield and many others.
Through his tour of the area, the visitor will know the evolution of technology and at the same time the cultural heritage and culture of our country as well as the world heritage in terms of two wheels. He also has the opportunity to see before his eyes the process of restoring a motorcycle since within the space a small machine shop has been created for this purpose.
The Museum of Historical Motorcycle is located in the heart of Old Nicosia, at 44 Granikos Street (despite Paphos Gate) and is home to a hundred and ten historical treasures of the two wheels, several of them, to be exhibits of particularly high historical value. Among others stand out the motorcycles of the heroes of the EOKA Stylianos Lena and Andreas Azina, the gunman of the organization, four motorcycles of the guard of Archbishop Makarios, other military motorcycles of the Second World War.
Also hosted is the motorcycle of the first Cypriot champion of the Turkish Cypriot Zeki Isa with which he won four consecutive trophies from 1970-1973. For the preparation of his motorcycle to run in races, but also his award arrived in Cyprus the BSA team, along with the world champion John Cooper.
We opened the doors of the Museum of Historical Motorcycle and boarded "by boat the motorcycle" as the famous song says, on this journey of history. From locating and buying an old rusty motorcycle, to the moment it comes to life and reaches a form that can comfortably be released on the road.
The walls of the Museum adorn photographs reviving old times, in which Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots lived peacefully on the island, with only a means of transporting the motorcycle. A rare journey of priceless value the process... It is the first photography exhibition on the historical motorcycle, the inauguration of which was held by the late former Minister of Education Pefkios Georgiadis. Today it is a permanent part of the Museum.
"Since I was 15, I've been collecting historical motor vehicles..."
Museum founder Andreas Nikolaou, 55 years old today, told us that he has been collecting and restoring historic motorcycles and cars since he was 15 years old. Over the past 40 years he has spent thousands of hours and money to read, search, collect and repair motorcycles and other historic motor vehicles. Several pieces of them are unique now all over the world.
A man with a particular passion for the history of two-wheel motor vehicles Andreas Nikolaou and we could not help but ask him how all this love and pursuit of the creation of this collection came about. He confesses it was next, because both his father and grandfather didn't have cars... They had motorcycles.
In fact, his grandfather and grandmother were killed in a motorcycle accident in 1983, on his birthday. This did not stand in the way of his plans to collect, restoration and preserve historical two-wheelers. In fact, this effort has been added to the dissemination of road safety rules for motorcyclists, since they are the most road users. Helmet - uniform - defensive driving, the basic triptych.
In 2001 he decided to transfer this treasure from the basement of his house in the centre of Nicosia and share it with the public who could now see historical motorcycles up close. It rents and creates the Museum of Historical Motorcycle. A point - station for lovers of historical motorcycles all over the world.
There are a few tourists who arrive in Cyprus just to visit the Museum. As he explains, the Museum has the ability to accommodate about 150 motorcycles, which are occasionally exchanged with others in his possession, so that the visitor can visit the Museum again and again and see different exhibits.
The most historic motorcycle
Each exhibit has behind it its own history and the special place in the heart of Andreas, because with them he has lived various joys and problems. We asked him to pick out one of them and tell us her story. He couldn't... We singled out the oldest motorcycle a New Hudson of 1914 of British origin.
One of the first pieces built. Her movement, as he explains, is with a belt. It has two speeds, one slow and one a little slower. It doesn't have a crank to start with, but it needs pushing. Her machine had to be "oiled" very often so as not to burn because then there were no automatic systems. Her lantern is aceteline. It's a bike-like motorcycle. It was found in his possession by an English collector, who was under particular pressure not to send it to Cyprus, from corresponding Museums of Great Britain, because it is part of the country's cultural heritage...
Motorcycles from archbishop Makarios' police escort are on display at the Museum. Their historical evidence suggests that these were donated to Makarios' garrison by U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Later in the mid-1960s a member of the guard was killed in a car accident, causing the motorcycles to be decommissioned, after Archbishop Makarios III asked for the police escort to be withdrawn on motorcycles. They joined the collection of Andreas Nikolaos a few years ago after they were given by Archbishop Chrysostomos II.
Zero support from the State
Although the museum offers the historical knowledge and cultural heritage of the place as well as the road safety of young people, since in its premises there are road safety courses for students, however, as Andreas Nikolaou says, it does not receive the appropriate support as other private museums. Especially in this difficult time.
He sent letters to all the relevant departments of the Ministry of Education, the Cultural Services, sending out a distress signal to receive answers that... the museum is listed on the official pages of the state by the Ministry of Tourism and that is enough. He even complained that no one in charge visited the museum to see the work being done on the ground.
But he continues to be there whatever the weather, following the path he started 40 years ago and surpassing any dream of creating a huge collection... What if the Museum and Andrew's collection will have continuity? The answer is yes, since both his sons, Argyris and Christos, follow the same path. Loyal follower and his wife Maria, who is a motorcycle driver.
In the next 20 years he would like the museum to be able to grow, to be able to exhibit his entire collection at the same time and to create a library, open to the public for research by schools and universities, with regard to historical motor vehicles.
* Part of the title is a part of the song "Koursaros" by Vasilis Papakonstantinou
