When he was a kid, Steve Smith begged and badgered his parents for anything with two wheels and a motor. He eventually got his wish in the form of a Harley Davidson minicycle. The bike is long gone. But Smith's two-wheel fascination?


Stronger than ever.


That fascination will be on display as Smith, head of the Lawrence Group architecture firm, and his son Zach unveil their midtown Moto Museum on Olive Street.


As part of the museum kick-off, the father-son enthusiasts also will host this weekend's St. Louis International Motorcycle Festival. Those wanting to see cyclists in action can watch teams of stunt riders in one of the nearby parking lots, which will be roped off for the fest's block party. As for those wishing to get up close and personal with vintage and unique rides, a trip inside the 15,000-square-foot museum should do the trick. Advertisement 


Inside this former printing factory, visitors will find, displayed in seven geographical galleries, many of the Smiths' 100 motorcycles gathered from across the globe. The age range? The newest dates from just two years ago, while the oldest models had their engines first revved in the early 20th century.


"Rather than have them grouped from oldest to newest, we decided to concentrate on the international aspect of the collection," Steve Smith said during a recent tour of the museum.


After this weekend, regular hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, with the building available for special events.


The international flavor begins with Smith's first racing bike — a 1975 Spanish Bultaco — and winds its way through British Triumphs, German BMWs and Italian Ducatis. The journey includes side trips through Poland, Switzerland, the United States and about a dozen other countries. St. Louis itself gets the spotlight in a special exhibit honoring the late Dave Mungenast, a local motorcycling legend whose collection of bikes inhabit a museum on Gravois Avenue.


Smith, who still races, says he began thinking seriously about a motorcycle collection a decade ago. He acquired a handful of models in the first few years, but it was a trip to Colorado that brought him into contact with a major collector. He came home with 13 new family members. Soon afterward Smith discovered foreign eBay sites, and the international flavor of the collection strengthened.


Stopping near a 1964 Junak 350, he provided a glimpse into how the bike made its way from Poland to Olive Street:


— Smith found the Junak on Polish eBay and paid about 900 zloty — roughly $300.


— One of his employees, formerly of Warsaw, interpreted the transaction and shipping arrangements.


— The seller agreed to take the bike across the German border to Dresden.


— A contact in Mannheim shipped the Junak on the Rhine River to Rotterdam.


— From Rotterdam, the bike went by sea to Norfolk, Va., from which it took a train to St. Louis and, finally, a truck to the new Moto Museum.


"It's not the prettiest bike or the most historically significant, but it's such a product of the time and the culture," Smith said. "And you just don't see a lot of them over here."


Although the Junak does have a certain minimalist aesthetic going for it, its competition in the museum is quite fierce, such as a 1964 Vespa scooter that comes complete with a rare, streamlined sidecar, or postwar German bikes that effortlessly combine beauty and brawn.


For Smith, the appeal depends on the particular bike. Could be looks; could be technical innovation; could be historical impact. Or all of the above. In the end, he hopes others will share his enthusiasm.


"Our ultimate goal is to offer an appeal that goes beyond motorcycling," he said. "It could be the history that draws people, or it could be the international aspect. I hope people might say: 'I'm never going to ride a motorcycle ... but that sounds pretty interesting.'"