From Passion to Business: The Story Behind VintageMotorcycles.nl

''What started as a hobby quickly spiraled into something much bigger…''

It had been 22 years since I last rode a motorcycle when a friend surprised us during a sailing weekend. He had collected ten classic motorcycles, and we were all invited to take them for a ride. After such a long time, being back on a classic bike was an unforgettable experience. You can probably guess what happened next—I immediately set out to find a bike for myself. The choice? A 1978 Kawasaki Z650 to get things started.

One Thing Led to Another

The Kawasaki Z650 didn’t stay for long. Soon, I upgraded to a 1977 Kawasaki Z1000—an incredible machine to ride. I still own this bike today, and you can find it in our photo album. But, of course, it didn’t stop there. Before I knew it, another Kawasaki Z650 joined the collection, along with a 1977 Suzuki GS750. A new passion was born, and the search for rare classics never stopped.

Finding these hidden gems often meant traveling far and wide—from Groningen to Friesland, Zeeland, and even deep into Germany—in pursuit of the perfect examples. But many of these bikes arrived in less-than-perfect condition—incomplete, non-running, or missing key original parts. Restoring them to their former glory became part of the thrill. It required endless research, detective work, time, energy, and, of course, money. But the reward was always worth it.

A Garage That Couldn’t Keep Up

With nine classic motorcycles packed into my home garage, space quickly became an issue. I had to make a decision: everything under 1000cc had to go. And so, in just one week, my blue 1978 Kawasaki Z650, light blue 1977 Suzuki GS750, and red 1979 Honda 550F all found new owners. The Honda went to Portugal, the Suzuki to Cyprus, and the Kawasaki Z650 to Belgium.

Each bike went to a true enthusiast or collector, someone who genuinely appreciated its history and character. And in the end, that’s what this is all about—keeping these legendary machines alive and in the hands of people who love them.

VintageMotorcycles.nl is Born

Fast forward to today, and what started as a hobby has grown into VintageMotorcycles.nl, with over 250 classic motorcycles now on display at our showrooms in Someren-Eind and Uden.

But we didn't stop there. The world of classic motorcycles is more connected than ever, and we develed this brand-new online platform to take our passion global. This platform allows enthusiasts and collectors worldwide to browse, buy, and even export classic motorcycles with ease. Whether you’re in Europe, the USA, or anywhere else in the world, our goal is to make the process of finding your dream classic smoother and more accessible than ever.

But our mission remains the same: keeping vintage motorcycles alive and making them available to riders and collectors who appreciate their history and craftsmanship.