When the average person thinks of a museum, paintings, sculptures, fossils and the remains of ancient cultures come to mind. But motorbike lovers know there are also real gems specifically for them, museums full of classic motorbikes, prototypes that still amaze today and relics from the world of racing. Here at NG BRAKES, we share your love for motorcycling and racing. And, as always, we want to make it easy for you to enjoy your hobby in every possible way. That’s why we have compiled the 5 essential motorbike museums that you have to visit at least once in your life.
Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum
It holds the Guinness World Record for the museum with the most motorbikes in the world – more than 2,000 in case you were wondering – and all of them in are good condition (i.e. able to run without any kind of problem). Located in the United States, specifically in Birmingham, Alabama, it has more than 30 years of history and offers a total experience to its visitors. In addition to being able to enjoy all the motorbikes on display (there are five floors!), they also have a 4-kilometre circuit.
This is one of the most historic museums in our country. This museum was founded by a two-wheeler lover who has dedicated part of his life to restoring classic models. Mario Soler managed to restore 190 motorbikes, mostly Spanish brands, which are now on display in the exhibition space that’s more than 1,000 square metres. When there, you can also visit the founder’s workshop.
A must on your trip to Italy. If you happen to be in Bologna, spend an entire morning visiting the Ducati museum and factory in Borgo Panigale. There, visitors are taken on an exciting journey through the history of the brand, from its origins away from the world of motorbikes to the present day, where you can see an array of machines made for both the public and competition. What’s more, you can see the bikes of all the riders who have won a title with the factory. After this visit, you can also tour the factory, where you learn first-hand about the design, manufacturing and assembly process of its motorbikes, all of which are handcrafted. An unforgettable experience.
If you are a Yamaha fan, you have to visit the Collezione Moto Poggi, which is also located in Bologna, in this case in Vilanova del Castesano. It has such an extensive collection of Yamaha motorbikes that even the engineers themselves visit the museum from time to time. That’s not all; there’s no shortage of Yamaha motorbikes from the MotoGP World Championship in years gone by. And there are many street models on display on top of that.
Over 30 years ago, Roy Richards opened the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, UK. Today, it houses more than 1,000 motorbikes from 170 different manufacturers and is the perfect place to explore the history of motorcycling. Its permanent exhibition takes visitors back to the 19th century, with the emergence of the first models, from where they can trace the evolution of motorbikes right up to the present day.
