Amazing Visit to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

I was telling a friend about how much fun we had at The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She said we would probably also enjoy the Barber Motorsports Museum located in Leeds, Alabama – just on the outskirts of Birmingham. We recently visited this museum and it was amazing! I’m not even a motorcycle or car enthusiast, but I even enjoyed it!

This museum is beautiful – visually stunning. The design of the museum is an open layout with creative and interesting displays of bikes (and cars). According to the Guinness World Records, Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum has the world’s largest collection of motorcycles. It was amazing to see all of them at the museum! Keep scrolling and see why the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum should be on every motorsport enthusiast’s bucket list.

Things to Know

This museum is 5 floors mostly full of motorbikes – all kinds of company brands and designs. There are motorcycles dating back to when they were invented over a century ago. You will see everything from wooden steam-powered motorcycles to top-fuel racing motorcycles. Seeing the evolution of motorcycle design and concepts throughout history was very interesting. This massive collection includes Harley Davidson bikes, BMWs, British bikes, Italian bikes, and Japanese motorcycles.

After paying for admission, you can hop on the glass elevator that takes you to the 5th floor. It is recommended that you start at the top/5th floor and work your way down. There are ramps that spiral downward on both sides of the elevator. You can travel up and down the ramps as you like, touring the museum at your own pace.

Level 5

We took the elevator to the top floor/5th floor and started our tour. Each floor has its own special exhibit or collection – usually organized by the model years, theme, or special event. You can spend as much or little time at each gallery as you like. Look for signs showing you where the museum store, restrooms, and vending machines are.

Level 4

Where do all of the bikes come from? Well, some have been purchased locally in Birmingham, Alabama. Some were brought in from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. Barber has motorbikes from 22 different countries, representing 220 different manufacturers.

Level 3

Level 3 features a huge collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. There are currently over 97 Harleys in the collection, and more are continually being added.

After heading outside, you will come to the first bridge where the cars go underneath you. If you keep going, you will find yourself at a second bridge where you will be able to see the whole track. Here, you can watch the instructor’s cars followed by the students as they speed around the track.

Level 2

The museum showcases several vehicles and race cars in addition to all the motorcycles. Barber has focused primarily on featuring Lotus racecars, although other cars are exhibited.

How much time should I allow for my visit?

You could probably breeze through the museum in an hour or so. But, if you are an enthusiast and you like to stop and read the information about the bikes and vehicles, you might want to allow 2-3 hours for your visit. I know some MEGA enthusiasts who have spent the entire day here on their visit.

There are several bikes in storage at the museum. Guests can explore this area of the collection during large events. You can also see them when purchasing a Premium Museum Tour, which includes the Restoration Level.

Events

Barber Motorsports hosts special events usually every month. Some of these events include:

• Hot Laps – You can ride around the Barber road course with a certified Porsche Track Experience instructor. This event is for Museum members ages 16 and older.
• The Annual Barber Vintage Festival –  food, entertainment, a swap meet, vintage motorcycle vendors, motorcycle parts for sale, and a VJMC gathering.
• Tag Days – purchase a distinctive Barber Museum motorcycle or car tag
• Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama – Ticket purchase is required.
• Barber Small Bore – Small Bike Racing

See all of the upcoming events HERE.

Nearby…

If you’re planning on staying in the area, there are a few other places to visit. The Outlet Shoppes of Grand River is nearby as well as a large BUC-EE’S. Right down the road from the museum is a HUGE Outdoor World/Bass Pro Shop.

There isn’t any kind of food service at the Barber Museum, only a few vending machines and a small sitting area. So, you might want to make plans to eat before/after your visit or even bring a picnic. There are some sitting areas and even a gazebo outside if you want to have a break/snack. We have actually eaten at The Backyard at The Outlet of Grand River. They have a Saw’s BBQ, a Snack Shack, and a Neighbors Brews and Pies. Neighbor’s also has a brewery/bar and there is a Backyard Bar. There are games, live music, a dog park, and even a Drive-In Movie.

Museum Hours

April 1 – September 30

Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: Noon – 6 pm

October 1 – March 31

Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday: Noon – 5 pm

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum // 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy Birmingham, AL 35094 // (205) 699-7275

WEBSITE

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