NECKARSULM, Germany -- In 1956 a brilliant German came up with a bicycle factory in Neckarsulm. Bicycles and motorcycles. In 1986 the biggest bicycle / motorcycle museum opened in the same city to pay tribute to NSU motorcycles and the history of the bike.

Over 600 motorcycles and 350 bicycles from around the world are featured on five floors of the building.

The oldest bicycle dates to 1897. It's a single speed, black bike with an old leather seat, drop handlebars and cork grips. There's a red pedal brake and a front hand brake that doesn't pinch the rim, yet pushes down on the top of the tire.

A silver name plate, Neckarsolmer Fahrader, is stamped on the top of the rear fender.

There's a kangaroo bike dated 1884 with two chains that have industrial links measuring one-and-a-half-inches long by a half inch thick.

A bicycle built for five, the Dieses Quintuplets dates to 1894 and looks like it's never been used.

The basement of the museum is a stone cavern with arched doorways and old street lights lining the aisle. The oldest series of motorcycles and cars is featured including a 1964 NSU Spider and a 1953 Rennfox racing cycle.

Of all the motorcycles set up in a mock old time repair shop, it's a 1919 Harley Davidson. The workbench is full of old oil cans and wrenches at the ready.

A 1927 Ardie TM 5000 motorcycle is interesting because of the Shell motor oilcan mounted to the front fender.

A 1935 Indian was donated from Springfield, Mass., and there's a 1987 red, white and blue Harley-Davidson from "Easy Rider." A mural of Peter Fonda is the backdrop on the wall with the saying "American Way of Life."

I asked museum technical director Peter Kuhn if I can sleep there for the night. He initially declined but I said in the States, it's allowed. Robin Williams and Ben Stiller slept in a museum and they made a movie out of it.

I'm so close to convincing him I can feel it, but in the end ... no.