We’re throwing it back to one of our most memorable chats — a conversation with none other than Johnny Gee. If you’re into bikes, you’ve definitely heard the name. A larger-than-life character with a wild backstory, Johnny isn’t just part of the Australian motorcycle scene – he’s one of its most iconic figures.
With over 30 years of passion-fueled dedication, Johnny has built Naked Racer Moto Co (formerly Antique Motorcycles) into a mecca for motorcycle lovers. Tucked away in Cheltenham, just across from Moorabbin Airport, the space is more than a motorcycle museum – it’s an eclectic cultural destination. With over 250 rare and exotic machines on display, a buzzing café and bar, and a working vintage motorcycle workshop, it’s a place where stories are told, engines roar, and history lives.
But Johnny’s journey didn’t start with a business plan – it started with obsession.
“The first time I saw one, I was hook, line, and sinker,” Johnny says, eyes lighting up as he recalls his earliest memory. “Dad relented at about eight years old, and I was gone. We were lucky to be on the fringes of Melbourne. Dad bought me a ‘Grand Prix’ – a locally made thing with a Victa lawnmower engine. It didn’t have a Honda engine, which was what I really wanted, so I had to save for that one myself.”
From that moment on, motorcycles were more than a hobby – they were a calling.
“It all happened by accident,” Johnny explains. “I took off in the mid-80s on a motorcycle to discover Australia. Five years later, I came back and decided to go to America. I imported a couple of bikes, fixed them, sold them – and people just started knocking on the door. It just happened. One day I thought, ‘I better put a sign on the door.’”
That door became Naked Racer Moto Co – and it’s been buzzing ever since.
A visit to the space isn’t just about bikes; it’s about the experience. You’ll find everything from vintage Indian Motorcycles to wild, modern beasts – and if you’re lucky, Johnny himself might be there, happy to spin a yarn or fire up a classic engine.
“I ride to work every day,” he says. “I look forward to every trip and every event around the world.”
One of the crown jewels in Johnny’s collection? The mythical Y2K turbine motorcycle – a machine as rare as it is outrageous.
“The Y2K was a bucket list thing. It’s in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest and most expensive production motorcycle ever made. I found one in Scottsdale, Arizona – the guy told me he’d just sold it. I kept in touch, kept niggling him. Eventually, it turned out he had another one. I jumped straight on a plane and bought it.”
“It’s got a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter engine made by Rolls-Royce – 320 horsepower, 425 foot-pounds of torque. It goes over 400 km/h. Jay Leno loves his. The wheelbase is about four inches longer than a sports bike – it turns, just not like a hyper sports bike. But it’s interesting to ride… if you spool it up, put it into gear, it just goes. There’s a delay when you put the power on and take it off – so you have to keep that in mind.”
Yeah – not your average Sunday cruiser.
So, if you’re in Melbourne and motorcycles are your thing (old, new, loud, weird – it’s all here), head to Naked Racer Moto Co at 1 Grange Road, Cheltenham. Come for the collection, stay for the café, and maybe catch Johnny himself – he’s always up for a chat.
Don’t miss this month’s throwback podcast featuring Johnny Gee. And to dig deeper into this one-of-a-kind destination, check out the motorcycle museum
