Filenews 14 December 2025 - by Dr Sotiroula Vassiliou
The visit to the Historic Motorcycle Museum, in the heart of old Nicosia, next to the Paphos Gate, was pending for months. It took place 19 days before Christmas. Starting motivation: Motorcycles associated with historical events and people: World War II, the EOKA Struggle, Ethnarch Makarios III and John F. Kennedy. Why now? Because of the motorcyclist Santa Claus and his timely message.
The founder of the museum, Andreas Nikolaou (by order I omit the "gentleman") was born in 1965, in Kyra Morphou, the fourth child of nine in the family. As a refugee in Nicosia, he was still a student in various professions, but collecting motorcycles was a constant passion.
The Historic Motorcycle Museum, a lifelong dream, was inaugurated in January 2000. "I wanted to create a space where I could showcase, along with the motorcycles I rescue, the history of our country, and, at the same time, help society," Andreas emphasizes. By his side, since 1991, in this effort, is his wife Maria. Born in 1995 and 1998, their sons Argyris and Christos grew up, literally, inside the museum and are now assistants in repairs, restorations and guided tours.
The museum collection includes more than 450 motorcycles. Of these, about 150 are on display. Brands: AJS, Ariel, BSA, BMW, James, Harley Davidson, Matchless, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, New Hudson, Norton, Royal Enfield, Triumph, etc. Most were discovered and bought by Andreas, while others were donated or loaned. Their restoration and maintenance: A personal and family matter, with the state – as it was emphasized – essentially absent.
Chronologically, the motorcycles cover the 70 years 1914-1983 and each one tells its own story. The same applies to the relevant photographs, books and heirlooms (clothing, helmets, trophies, tools, etc.). These stories are linked to the great story, that is, the political and war events as well as other aspects of life (technology, transport, professions, society, economy, culture, etc.) attracting men and women of all ages and capacities, from all over the world. After all, the Museum of Historic Motorcycle is an official member of FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens).
The oldest motorcycle, a 1914 New Hudson, lacked a clutch, started with a push, was belt-driven, and the headlight ran on acetylene.
In a prominent position in the museum is the photograph of the founder's grandfather, Nicolas Paul Hadji-Constantine, who served in World War II, in the Cyprus Volunteer Force (CVF 2313), as a "despatch rider". It was the veteran grandfather who bequeathed to his sons, especially Argyros and Argyros' sons, especially Andreas, along with war memories, the passion for motorcycles. While I look at the license, Andreas shows me a motorcycle, similar to the one my grandfather drove as a volunteer in Egypt, a BSA of 1942, in beige colour (no. C4667076).
The motorcycle, driven by Stylianos Lenas, the deeply religious "Krup" of EOKA, who died on March 28, 1957, after being injured in an ambush, was bought by a private individual, in Lakatamia. It is a red James Cadet of 1954 (no. J305). The connection with Lena was revealed to Andreas by the "imprisoned poet" Stylianos Koiranidis (D.P. 87), a comrade of the hero. Next to her, a 1953 Ariel Red Hunter, which belonged to Andreas Azinas, a close associate of Archbishop Makarios III and Georgios Grivas Digenis. Next to it, the BSA of 1939, a motorcycle of Christodoulos Allagiotis, a gunsmith of EOKA, a member of a strike group in Kyperounta and Pitsilia, with a patent for the transport of weapons (no. N1054).
Kennedy's gifts and the BSA of the Turkish Cypriot railist Zeki Issa
The police motorcycles on display, which accompanied President Makarios from time to time, are a total of four. Two of them, branded Triumph, were among the first to be used for this purpose (no. AE903 & AE904). The other two, Harley Davidson (no. BK91 & BK92), arrived in Cyprus from the USA, as gifts from President John F. Kennedy to Makarios, after his historic visit in June 1962. Both were donated to the museum by Archbishop Chrysostomos II. A special feature of them is the missing parts, which were removed during the treacherous Coup d'état of July 15, 1974. Blessed Chrysostomos wanted them to stay that way, recounting the crime that marked the history of Cyprus. It should be noted that Kennedy had donated two more Harleys Davidsons. One is exhibited at the Cyprus Police Museum, while another was destroyed, shortly after its arrival, in an accident (information from Costas Theodotou, Archivist of IAK).
The last point of focus, the motorcycle (BSA A50, 1962) of the Turkish Cypriot rally driver, champion from 1970 to 1973, Zeki Issa. Andreas remembers Isa's visit to the museum, after the opening of the barricades, with a mixture of emotion and bitterness: "We exchanged memories and thoughts, we also talked about the suffering of Cyprus and its people and about what Cypriots like Zeki suffered from the Turkish settlers. Too bad...".
Visitors to the museum also include schools with the family offering driving tips during the tours. "For me, the motorcycle is a way of life, a vehicle with which you will enjoy every smell of nature and takes you to the most incredible places. Our message is summed up in the phrase "defensive driving", with a clear mind. So, alcohol and steering wheel are not combined. The driver must be focused on driving, anticipate the risks, not become the same danger. I tell children to remember how many times they saw adults, even their parents, talking on the phone or surfing or exceeding the speed limit. On the roads, the motorcycle should be a means of transport, neither a tool for demonstrating skills nor a means of relief – that's it, on the tracks", Andreas emphasizes, adding that children can become their parents' most effective teachers.
Before leaving, the host suggests me a ride in Santa's vehicle, as, since 2007, in collaboration with the Municipality of Nicosia, on Christmas days he wears a red uniform and beard and on a modified motorcycle he roams Old Nicosia, inspiring joy and smiles to children and adults. Since I answer in the affirmative, as a passenger I become a spectator of spontaneous, manifest joy. Because, despite what plagues us, "la vita è bella" and joy suits Christmas. The sacrifices in the "Moloch" of the asphalt are clearly incongruous.
PS: On Larnakos Avenue, at the site of the fatal road collision on July 29, 2025, a chapel was placed, with an icon of Agios Kyriakos and a photo of the victim, Kyriakos Antoniou. "Traditionally", during the festive seasons, when traffic becomes less frequent, Larnakos Avenue is transformed into a speed track. Let this chapel also contribute to preventing the repetition of such phenomena this year and in the future, on Larnakos Avenue and every other street.
* Tel. Museum: 22680222, 99543215
Facebook: Cyprus Classic Motorcycle Museum
