Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, AL

[markbvt]

Saturday before last I had the opportunity to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. This place is a must-see for anyone who loves motorcycles. George Barber has a collection of over 1200 bikes, with about 700 on display at any given time (the collection rotates). The best part is that the bikes are not roped off, so you can walk right up and scrutinize them up close.

The museum is designed so you start on the top floor -- and the very first bike that I rushed over to look at was one of the most iconic bikes in the world, the Britten V-1000.











They have several Hondas that look like they just came off the assembly line.







I'd love to get a GB500 like this one.



Puch 250 SGS, almost identical to the bike my dad rode from Vienna to Istanbul when he was a student



Pics from my dad's trip:





1967 Triumph Bonneville



BSA Gold Star Clubman



A couple of Tritons





Manx Norton



Norvin



1938 Brough Superior SS100





Egli Vincent. I love Vincents.





Vincent Rapide



Vincent Black Shadow (have I mentioned I love Vincents?)







A pair of Ducatis, old and new



This Sport Classic has been lightly breathed on. Just a little.



While we were wandering around the museum, a vintage race was going on outside on the track (yes, they also do track days here).



The museum is a large, modern concrete structure designed specifically for showing off this collection.



Tower of bikes.



Downstairs in the basement is the restoration area.



Last but not least, Mike Hailwood's Ducati. (Note the Desmosedici tucked unceremoniously behind it.)



If you ever have a chance to visit this museum, do it. It's absolutely stunning.

Ride report for the rest of the trip will be coming along eventually.

--mark

[catamount]

[NobodySpecific]

I'll try and get some of my pictures up as well, just not sure when I'll have the time and/or motivation. It was amazing to see.

[SVenpointsixtwo]

Wow. All I can say!

[slowrider]

If you ever have a chance to visit this museum, do it. It's absolutely stunning.

Ride report for the rest of the trip will be coming along eventually.

Combine it with a couple of trackdays and you'll be in motorcycle heaven. I did that trip a couple of years back and it was fantastic. It was some semi-organized Triumph 675 event through Sport Track Time and there was a catered dinner at the museum after the first track day.

It was a long drive though.

[-jro-]

I am fighting tooth and nail to get the time off of work to go visit during the AMA races....I've been dying to see the museum, looks epic. Thanks for sharing the pics!

[Rambunctous]

I am fighting tooth and nail to get the time off of work to go visit during the AMA races....I've been dying to see the museum, looks epic. Thanks for sharing the pics!

Even better is AHRMA Barber Vintage Festival. Bring and race your bike.

[mojobreakfast]

Place is truly, absolutely the definition of epic and actually disorienting in scope if you aren't prepared for it. In some ways, kind of a shame the museum is in such an out of the way place; but on the other hand, the locale affords them a spectacular track.

Wife and I dropped in during a road trip two years ago and brought a (female) friend who had no interest in motorcycles and even she found it awe-inspiring.

[Talus]

awesome pics! thanks for sharing. Never been but it's now on the list.

[markbvt]

I finally got around to writing the rest of the ride report:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=697639

--mark