Ultimate day trip idea: Bike Forge in Tulbagh

Part museum, restaurant, and getaway, with the most amazing stories 

Last updated: Friday, 12 December 2025

While Bike Forge may be for “anyone with love for an internal combustion engine”, says co-owner Freddie van Eyk, it's the stories behind the museum that will surprise and touch you, even if you don’t know the difference between a fairing and a flywheel. 

Like the 1952 Sunbeam bike brought back to life by Freddie for its owner’s widow, or the tiny scooter that travelled 14 500km across Africa, preserved with the original dirt still on it. Petrolhead or not, it’s packed with things to do like a restaurant, live music, and big-screen sports events.

There’s a bike museum, restaurant, and accommodation at Bike Forge. Image: Bike Forge

EVERY BIKE HAS A STORY 

“People who have never ridden a bike are still completely fascinated when they visit,” says Freddie. It’s likely because of the stories and history behind each bike, which easily takes two to three hours to unpack on a guided tour. 

One of the most heartwarming is of the 1952 Sunbeam S8. It was gifted to Freddie by a woman whose late husband had owned it. “It hadn’t run for over 30 years, and I got it going again,” he says. “Before she passed away, she asked me to name it after her. So I’ve put a little plate on it; Lady Di.”

People also love the story behind the tiny Chinese Lifan scooter. “A man from Alaska rode this little 110cc bike all the way from Dakar in Senegal, 14 500 kilometres in 124 days.” 

When the traveller reached Cape Agulhas, he called Freddie from the southernmost tip of Africa. “He said, ‘Meet me at the airport, I’m leaving the bike with you.’” The scooter sits in the museum with the original dirt still on it, alongside a map and poster documenting the journey. 

You’ll end up seeing bikes you’ve never seen before. Image: Bike Forge

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM 

Bike Forge’s collection spans classic and vintage bikes from the 1950s to the 1990s.

“Guys will come in and go, ‘My God, that was my first bike or my father's first bike.’ People visit and then come back with their father or their grandfather. And then they come back a third time to bring me a piece of memorabilia. We've had emotional scenes,” says Freddie. 

Many models were limited production runs, built for racing, or “firsts” in motorcycle design, like the earliest bike to ever come fitted with a fairing (a shell placed over the frame of a motorcycle to reduce air drag). One of the rarest finds is a Gilera 500cc, the only one of its kind in the country. 

Freddie’s collection even includes the infamous Kawasaki “Widowmaker,” a dangerously fast bike known for throwing inexperienced riders off and killing them. “People have always heard of it, and they've never in their lives seen one, and then they see it here.” 

The collection spans classic and vintage bikes from the 1950s to the 1990s. Image: Bike Forge 

FOOD & DRINKS SERVED BIKER STYLE  

After exploring the museum, most visitors wander toward the restaurant. Mornings are busy with petrolheads stopping in for breakfast after a bike run, and by the afternoon, the space fills up with families. 

The Cowboy Chow is one of their most unique dishes; rump steak with beans and a red-eye sauce made the “old cowboy way” with bacon fat and a shot of coffee.

Other favourites are the butter chicken curry, chicken livers, Toni van Vuuren’s (co-owner) filo-pastry lamb pie made from the meat of their spit braai, and a slow-cooked brisket pie inspired by the pies once sold at railway stations.

“The secret behind Bike Forge’s excellent food and extensive menu is the quality of ingredients and the fact that it is all prepared by ourselves using our unique recipes”, says Toni, the driving force behind the success of their food. 

Freddie says that most people are surprised by how good the food is. Image: Bike Forge 

LIVE MUSIC & UPCOMING EVENTS  

Food and bikes are at the core of Bike Forge, but the atmosphere is really buzzing during events. 

When there’s a big game on, the place fills up quickly, with everyone gathered around the big screen. They show rugby, motorsport (like Formula 1, MotoGP and World Superbike) and people even book overnight stays. 

They host regular live music nights, bringing in South African artists like Black Cat Bones, Robin Auld and Wendy Oldfield. 

On 26 December 2025 they are hosting a Boxing Day bash, an annual event that has run for six years with live music from Luna Lane, Uncle Righteous, and Tangerine. Tickets are R120 online, and R150 at the door. You can get your Bike Forge Boxing Day Bash tickets on Quicket. 

They often do live music events spotlighting local artists. Image: Bike Forge 

PRIVATE FUNCTIONS & TEAM BUILDING

Bike Forge also doubles as an events venue, hosting up to 250 people for everything from parties, weddings and wakes to conferences and team-buildings. They even offer free function hire during the week.

For teams, there’s a conference centre that works well for workshops and brainstorming sessions. It can accommodate 30 people indoors, and up to 80 under a Bedouin tent. 

Catering and coffee are sorted, and there are optional add-ons like hikes, target shooting, and braais. Enquire about their team building activities or plan your event via Bike Forge’s website. 

Bike Forge also doubles as an events venue, hosting everything from parties and weddings to conferences and team-buildings. Image: Bike Forge

GLAMPING IN THE FYNBOS

If you want to stay over, Bike Forge has glamping tents. These sit in the middle of fynbos, surrounded by indigenous birds, tortoises and the odd buck wandering past. In winter, the mountain peaks are topped with snow.

The glamping tents are simple with wifi, private patios, outdoor braai areas, and hot showers. If you prefer pitching your own tent, there’s a small campsite for that. 

“We’re on the R46, which is one of the main routes from Cape Town into the Boland Karoo. Many use us as a base to explore the area. There’s a hell of a lot to do in Tulbagh, like wine and olive tastings, fruit picking and waterfall hikes.” 

They offer a mix of glamping, camping and simple B&B-style rooms. Image: Bike Forge

VISIT BIKE FORGE 

At Bike Forge, the engines might draw you in, but it’s the stories, people, and eclectic mix of things to do that make it worth lingering and coming back to. 

Bike Forge is open: Thursday 10am to 5pm; Friday 10am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm
Find it: De Heuvel Estate, R46, Tulbagh, Tulbagh, Western Cape
Contact on: Freddie: 073 281 0896; Toni: 083 520 8000; @bike_forge_tulbagh on Instagram; Bike Forge website 

By Saarah Gierdien

MORE MOTORBIKES & THINGS TO DO 

See more vintage bikes at the Helderberg Motorcycle Museum. 

Here’s our guide to 7+ things to do this weekend.

There’s hikes, garden picnics, & fruit picking at Murludi family farm.

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