Find vintage mopeds and motorcycles in India’s first museum dedicated to two-wheelers

Do you remember Luna? A lightweight 50cc bike, the Luna became the vehicle of choice for moms to drop off their kids to school, the only affordable moped you could buy in the ’70s with the first salary, a cross between a bicycle and a motorcycle. The tiny vehicle has created countless memories for families across India, but this special vehicle, owned by collector Vineet Kenjle, also managed a train run.

“It was in the mid 70s. Our Luna took on heavyweight Deccan Queen. Both started for Dadar station at 7.20 am and Luna beat Deccan Queen by 20 minutes. It was incredible!” Kenjle’s eyes light up as he recounts other stories of the 550 mopeds, motorcycles and scooters he proudly owns, and will soon be on display at the Vintage Miles in Mahabaleshwar in late 2021, India’s first museum Which is its two-wheeled miracle.

“Soon, India is going to make the transition to electric scooters, and I want to tell the story of our two-wheelers, since you could hear them before eyeing them. It was a definite allure to kickstart or push your friends to start your moped and later scooter. Each of the bikes I have collected from people across India has a story to tell,” explains Kenjle, who currently maintains his impressive two-wheeler collection in a shed near his home in Pune.

“I have a team of old mechanics who are familiar with two-wheelers from the 1960s-70s. They love working on mopeds, making spare parts, polishing them, or just listening to engines revving up. ,

What started out as a hobby collection in 1986 soon took up space all over Kenzley’s yard. He realized that other homes in Pune were also facing a similar problem – owners of unused old vehicles refused to leave the garage for emotional reasons. “Sometimes it takes me four meetings and tearful farewells to convince the owners that I will care for the vehicle the same way they did, that no part will end up with the scrap dealer. If they sell it at the local garage If so, I offer them double the price,” says Kenzale.

The museum, Vintage Miles, has taken decades to build. Spread over a large plot of land in Mahabaleshwar, the impressive collection will be organized in three sheds: one each for mopeds, scooters and motorcycles. “The idea is to have audio-visual aids for visitors so they can experience what these vehicles feel like on the road. Some vehicles will be available for experience and ride as well. I want to keep ticket sales affordable,” Kenjle, whose collection has been entered in the Limca Book of Records in 2018.

“I was featured on a show on The History Channel and it drew a lot of inquiries from all over India; The owners wanted their vehicles to have a second life in the museum, not to be lying unused in the parking lot,” says Kenzale.

While most of the vehicles in the collection are from Maharashtra, Kenjle organizes the transport and pays for the transport if the two wheelers are from outside the state.

Harsh Mann Rai, Co-Founder, Helmet Story Adventures (a motorcycle touring group) and former Managing Editor, rolling stone india, is excited about this unique tribute to the biking history of India. “Mopeds have been a part of our landscape for so long and I am glad they are finding a place in our auto-heritage,” he says.

From the oldest – a military green matchless (1930) – to the Innocenti B-125, with a visible chassis that was a pet project for refurbishment, Kenzley’s interest for mopeds and scooters is evident. “They take you back to simpler times,” he says.