Vintage Motorcycling is Alive and Well on the VMCC Banbury Run

The role of the motorcycle has evolved significantly over time, far more so than that of the motor car. What began as the simplest and most affordable means of motorised personal transportation has more or less become a hobby. Today, the vast majority of motorcyclists ride because they want to, not because they have to. It’s clearly in decline amongst hobbyists, too, with motorcycle and scooter registrations in the UK down by almost twenty-six per cent in the first quarter of 2025. Britain’s ever more crowded, increasingly potholed roads are a dangerous place for those on two wheels. Cars are getting safer, but they’re also getting bigger and heavier; a motorcyclist doesn’t stand much of a chance against a two and a half ton SUV…

Nevertheless, a recent visit to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, which hosts the annual Banbury Run, was a reassuring reminder that pre-war motorcycling is still alive and well.

The Banbury Run celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025. The event has taken place every year since 1949, excluding those of the COVID pandemic. There’s also an autojumble element, so if you’re looking for a magneto for your 1925 BSA, you might just be in luck.

In the words of the organisers: “It is the largest event in the British Isles for motorcycles and three-wheelers built before 1931, and up to 500 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles can be seen riding out from the British Motor Museum at Gaydon to make their way to and from Banbury.”

As early as the 1950s, most bikes could be operated without removing either of one’s hands from the handlebars. Whereas, pre-war machines, with hand-change gearboxes, manual adjustment of fuel mixture and ignition timing, and the need to use hand signals, kept riders very busy. Foot-operated clutches were also common, necessitating one leg off the ground while coming to a stop or pulling away. It’s not at all easy, especially for the modern rider who would almost have to relearn from scratch.

Motorcycles of this era were certainly very different to ride, but their performance was often leagues ahead of most cars on the road. Sporting machines such as Velocettes, Vincents and Brough Superiors were quicker than almost any road car in their day, and far more affordable too. To put that in perspective, in 1930, a Brough Superior SS100 shared roughly the same top speed as an Eight Litre Bentley. The Brough cost approximately £170 all-in, while you’d have paid the Cricklewood factory £1,850 for a Bentley Eight Litre chassis alone, excluding coachwork. Come to think of it, motorcycle design has also changed significantly less than cars since the 1920s. Some modern bikes still share a similar appearance, are comparatively low-tech, and often rely on a similar engine configuration to those built a century ago.

Before embarking upon their intrepid ride, 40-70 miles to Banbury and back (depending on which class they’re entered in), the pre-31 bikes line up outside the  British Motor Museum. Their owners busied about them, readying them for the off by cleaning spark plugs, consulting tulip diagrams, and donning vintage leathers.

From 10:00 am, the riders assemble their machines on the start line, amidst clouds of smoke and a heady aroma of Castrol R. They’re let off in small batches, some needing a little encouragement by way of a push from marshals, but almost all make it away from the start line. Impressive considering many of these motorcycles are now over one hundred years old.

We had to head off before the first bikes made their way back to Gaydon, but the morning spent at the start line of the Banbury Run is more than enough to whet the appetite of any vintage motorcycle enthusiast. It’s wonderful to see bikes of this age still being used, and there’s a palpable sense of enthusiasm in the air, with owners eager to tell you all about their rare Norton, Scott, or Levis. The demographic, however, is ageing on the whole, so an influx of younger enthusiasts is essential if we’re to continue seeing these esoteric, older machines in use in the future.

As a rule, motorcycles of this age still command quite the premium, although prices do seem to be coming down, allowing more people to sample the delights of riding a century-old bike. We hope to see the Banbury Run and other events like it taking place for a good many years yet.