John W. Barry

Poughkeepsie Journal

There are plenty of motorcycles at Motorcyclepedia, a museum in Newburgh.

And there is plenty of history.

Among the approximately 550 motorcycles and roughly 2,500 pieces of memorabilia in the 85,000-square-foot space, there are three motorcycles that stand out.

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Two of them were owned by actor Steve McQueen.

A third is a Dallas Police Department motorcycle that was in President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade on Nov. 22, 1963, when he was fatally shot. That Dallas Police Department motorcycle was also used in the 1991 Oliver Stone film, “JFK.”

There is also a replica of the motorcycle that actor Peter Fonda rode in the 1969 film, “Easy Rider,” complete with the stars and stripes emblazoned on its gas tank.

Motorcyclepedia is home to a solar-powered motorcycle with three wheels, a motorcycle with two engines and a motorcycle made of wood that is designed for admiration rather than riding.

On two levels inside a building that once housed a lumber yard and building supply company, this museum’s offerings are likely to stoke your passion, regardless of how deep your interest in motorcycles runs.

With staff members and guides fluent in the language of throttles, rims, choppers and gears, this destination could pique the interest of the mildly curious. At the same time, it is likely to thrill anyone whose head ever turned when they heard the growl of an engine that had been placed between two wheels and beneath a seat.

Without ever turning an engine or a wheel, Motorcyclepedia immerses its guests in the mechanics, the mystique, the culture and the creativity that drive America’s love affair with this mode of travel.

You can learn about motorcycles and Motorcyclepedia on Friday night in Clinton Corners. Keith Jones of Hyde Park, a Motorcyclepedia archivist and member of the board of trustees, will speak to the Town of Clinton Historical Society. The program is free and open to the public.

“They’re fun, they're exciting, sometimes dangerous,” Jones said of motorcycles, “But the fun definitely makes it all worthwhile.”

Jason Adams of Rosendale is a 45-year-old Poughkeepsie native who utilizes motorcycles in numerous ways — he rides them, races them, builds them and uses motorcycle parts to create art. He had strong praise for Motorcyclepedia.

“They do a great job,” he said. “They have a ton of unique machinery. If you have any interest in bikes, it’s super cool.”

A visit to the museum will add depth and dimension to Friday’s lecture. Head west across the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge from Dutchess and you can gain insight into the allure and romance that lie at the heart of all that chrome, rubber and leather.

“It’s just that freedom of being out in the open air and getting your mind off the daily routine,” said Dale Prusinowski of Rockland County, who owns 15 motorcycles and is treasurer, archivist and a member of the board of trustees at Motorcyclepedia.

The first motorcycles, according to Jones, were bicycles with motors attached to them.

Today, as you can learn at Motorcyclepedia, motorcycles can come in a range of shapes and colors, with two and three wheels, various forms of propulsion and, above all, an identity that evokes various facets of those who command the American open road, from rebel to racer to weekend warrior.

In a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center, 14 percent of Americans said they owned a motorcycle. That figure was 26 percent for Italy and 23 percent for Greece.

Two enthusiasts who have certainly left an impact on the world of motorcycles and the Hudson Valley are Gerald Doering and his son, Ted.

The Doerings originally hailed from New Windsor, not far from Newburgh. Gerald Doering had a small engine repair shop and raced motorcycles. Ted Doering worked at his father’s shop, then opened his own shop in Newburgh.

Over decades, the father-and-son collected motorcycles and motorcycle-related items, including movie posters, comic books, parts, accessories, manuals, jackets and helmets.

“The dream was always to share it with the public, open up a museum,” Prusinowski said.

The Doerings, Prusinowski said, wanted to “Share their interest, share the history of motorcycles, the passion they had.”

Motorcyclepedia opened in 2011 and was chartered by the state Board of Regents in 2016. And through this collection, Jones said, you can learn about a mode of transportion that offers “the best way to travel.”

John W. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo

If you go

Motorcyclepedia

Where: 250 Lake St., Newburgh

When: The museum is open 10 a.m-5 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Admission: $11; $5 for children ages 3-12; childrern under 3 are free

Information: Visit www.motorcyclepediamuseum.org or call 845-569-9065

Also:

Town of Clinton Historical Society lecture: The Development of Motorcycles

Where: Creek Meeting House, 2433 Salt Point Tpke., Clinton Corners

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Admission: Free

Information: Call 845-889-4016