The latest addition came from its restorer, Mike Bell, who is preparing a full set of 750cc Norton desert sleds in tip-top condition for the NMM. Mike built the P11A from boxes of dismantled parts which were in a very poor state.

Mike, an Armstrong-Siddeley Motors and Rolls-Royce trained engineer, imported it to Britain from North America along with a number of similar machines in need of restoration about 20 years ago. Some cycle parts had to be made from scratch and care was taken to get every detail correct. The restoration was thorough, both inside and out - these bike's aren't simply being prepared for static show. Even the crankshaft sludge trap was cleaned out as part of its rebuild. One more P11, a 1969 Norton P11A Ranger, is presently being prepared by Mike Bell for the Museum.

The desert sled display is just a small part of the NMM's collection of over 675 bikes, many of which had to be restored or replaced after the fire.

Visitors who knew the original displays will be amazed by how closely the recreated exhibits echo their earlier counterparts - although the labels and descriptions have definitely improved, giving more detail about the models and their development. It can take all day to inspect all the bikes, and we advise that you make use of the café facilities to rest yourselves at regular intervals, otherwise a trip can become something of a blur!