Museu Isern de la Moto

Museu Isern de la Moto is a private motorcycle museum in Mollet del Vallès, a town in the Vallès Oriental region just a short drive from Barcelona. It occupies the fifth floor of the landmark Edifici Isern, the building owned by the Isern family that housed the Motos Isern dealership and workshop from the 1970s onward.

Why does this museum exist?

The museum was opened in July 2008 by Josep Isern, right after he stepped back from the family's long-running motorcycle business. Rather than close the shop and walk away, he turned the space into a record of motorcycle history and of Mollet del Vallès's own place in that industry. The result feels distinctly personal — a collector's project rather than a large public institution — which shapes the intimate, low-key visiting experience.

What is actually on display?

The collection brings together motorcycles from different brands and periods, alongside mechanical components, sporting trophies, photographs and assorted documents tied to motorcycling culture. Machines on show range from models built in the 1930s to Wankel-engine bikes from the 1970s, spanning roughly four decades of engineering change in a single space.

Why are Derbi and Ducson given their own areas?

Dedicated sections are set aside for Derbi and Ducson, two brands founded in Mollet del Vallès itself, which makes them a point of civic pride as much as an automotive one. Several pieces in these areas were donated by the Rabasa and Solà families, the founders of the two companies, giving the display something closer to an archival record than a simple showroom — it documents how these manufacturers actually started.

What other manufacturers show up in the collection?

Beyond the two local marques, the museum holds motorcycles from well-known Spanish and European names such as Bultaco, OSSA, Merlin, Ducati and Moto Guzzi. That mix lets visitors place Catalonia's motorcycle manufacturing within a broader Spanish and European context.

Who is this museum for?

It suits visitors curious about motoring history, collectors, and locals wanting a closer look at the town's industrial past. Given its small scale and private nature, a visit tends to feel more personal than at large transport museums — it's not unusual to end up talking with someone who remembers the events behind the exhibits firsthand.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Museu Isern de la Moto located? In Mollet del Vallès, in the Vallès Oriental region of Barcelona province, on the fifth floor of the Edifici Isern.

Who founded the museum, and when? Josep Isern opened it in July 2008, after winding down the family's Motos Isern business, which had occupied the same building since the 1970s.

What kind of motorcycles are on display? The collection spans different brands and eras — from 1930s machines to 1970s Wankel-engine models — including Derbi, Ducson, Bultaco, OSSA, Merlin, Ducati and Moto Guzzi.

What makes the Derbi and Ducson sections special? They're dedicated to two brands founded in Mollet del Vallès, with exhibits donated by the Rabasa and Solà families, the companies' founders, tying the collection directly to the town's own history.