On a recent motorcycle trip back to Ohio we found ourselves in Columbus. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) headquarters and Motorcycle Hall of Fame & Museum is not far away in Pickerington, Ohio. I had been there before, but it must have been about 20 years ago and Heather had never been before.

After passing through the brick AMA gates, we rode up the curvy driveway. Winding through lush green grass and trees, we followed signs for the Hall of Fame & Museum. Covered visitor motorcycle parking, complete with benches and lockers, was a welcome sight given the storm that we rode through to get there and the additional rain forecasted for that afternoon.

I was surprised to see that we were the only motorcycle there. After removing and stowing our gear, we walked to the entrance, stopping for a photo with the sign.

The museum was opened in 1990 and relocated to Pickerington in 1999. The AMA describes the museum as follows:

From riding to racing to motorcycle rights and advocacy; from industry developments to aftermarket innovations; from motorcycles in popular culture to motorcycles at work in the military and so much more, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame & Museum truly is the place where these legends live. https://americanmotorcyclist.com/hall-of-fame/

Once inside, we were pleasantly greeted and it was obvious we had the place to ourselves. AMA members get free admission and non-members are charged $10 (at the time of this writing).

We wound through the top floor and I particularly enjoyed getting an up-close look at the Henderson and Ace 4 cylinders as well as some of the vintage flat track machines. The off-road and motocross sections really show how far technology has advanced over the years (check out the lighting setup on the KX500 below – really makes me appreciate the current generation LEDs).

We enjoyed some of the road racing stories, including those about a broken clutch cable on the first lap of a race and a rag getting sucked into a carburetor, robbing a competitor of victory. 

The section on Craig Vetter and the quest to increase fuel efficiency was also very interesting. Maybe the need to extend range for electric motorcycles will lead to some additional research in this area. It’s amazing that they were able to achieve 400+ mpg in the mid-1980s.

It was great to see women recognized in the Museum & Hall of Fame, including ‘The Motorcycle Queen of Miami’ Bessie Stringfield as well as the Van Buren Sisters, who road coast to coast on Indians in 1916, stopping to become the first women to ride to the summit of Pike’s Peak along the way.

(Editor’s Note: For more stories about women motorcycle riders who have been inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame, visit the Making Her Mark section of the AMA website.)

The section on advocacy was interesting, though a bit dated. I was surprised that wasn’t featured more throughout the museum since it is one of the main purposes of the AMA.

We headed downstairs, which had more bikes on display but with less information. It would be nice to know the historical importance of a given model in addition to its year, model, and displacement. It is a great opportunity to see many iconic motorcycles up close, and there is even a 1958 Panhead with sidecar that museum guests are allowed to sit on (see pic below).

There was a section in the back with some interesting cutaway motors and spare parts, but the farther we got from the main stairway, the less information was available. 

I got to see a Yamaha GTS for the first time in person. I really appreciate it when companies try something new, even if it doesn’t result in commercial success. I also never get tired of looking at vintage skirted fender Indians (1947 Chief in this case). It is such a recognizable design.

Overall it was a good visit, and I would recommend checking it out if you’re in the area. Hopefully the AMA will continue updating the content in the future. Happy riding!