Saturday, October 14, 2023

Motorcycle Display in Chania, Crete


Chania is a city on the north-west coast of Crete. The old town is centred on the Venetian harbour, a lovely old-town with architecture dating back to the 14th century.

The Venetian warehouses

As we explored the old town we came across a notice that there was a classic bicycle and motorcycle display. We were lucky enough to be there on the last day of the display.

The exhibition was held in one of the Venetian warehouses that has been converted into a theatre / exhibition hall.

In the forecourt outside the hall was a fine display of lightweigh 50cc European motorcycles, including a Kreidler, Horex and Zundapp. These machines are never seen in Australia. I photographed all of them in detail but unfortunately my phone was hijacked and I lost almost all my photographs.

Crete in summer is extremely hot so the exhibition opened at 7.30pm and closed at midnight. What a great idea and something we in Australia should consider during the heat of summer.

The vintage bicycle display

Vintage bicycles

Around the time of the First World War the militaries of Europe began to use bicycles to "mobilise" their armies. It was better than marching!

Celebrating the centenary of BMW

Two early girder frame BMW models

Some BMW history: https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2023/01/bmw-isetta-saviour-of-company.html

1937 BMW R12 in Germany military spec

BMW with front shield

1962 BMW outfit

The beautiful Jawa from Czechoslovakia:
https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2022/07/1950-jawa-350-motorcycle.html

The scooter corner (from the Chania Motorcycle Club Facebook page

Lambrettas and their derivatives

NSU Prima based on the Italian Lambretta

The moped section

DKW Hummel 'tin banana'

The Hummel is a beautifully stylish machine that really should have been more successful than it was.
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/04/1965-zweirad-union-dkw-hummel-range.html

1970 Gilera 98SS

1954 Horex Regina from Germany

Two DKWs - one civilian and one military in the German section

1954 DKW RT250H just like my example:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/03/1954-dkw-rt250-h-motorcycle.html

Another DKW in unusual colour scheme

The world's most successful scooter - the Honda Cub, sold in the millions in every market on earth

Honda 50cc motorcycles

Honda 500 Four

The British section

Matchless and Nortons in the British section

Norton

1929 BSA H28

The Chania Classic Motorcycle Club put on an absolutely fantastic and professional display. It was really excellent and it appears from their Facebook page they do this every year. My only regret is that I lost 90% of the photographs I took when my phone was hacked. For more information about the Chania Classic Motorcycle Club, check out their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064406690425

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