The Bol d'Or was first organized by Eugene Mauve in 1922, initially as a combined event for both motorcycles and automobiles, with engine capacity limited to 1100cc. In its earliest form, the regulations required a single rider per machine, a format that produced legendary performances such as those of Gustave Lefèvre, the record holder with seven victories, who completed the full 24 hours solo aboard his Norton Manx at an average speed of 107 kilometres per hour. From 1954 to 1977 regulations were revised to permit teams of two riders per machine, and then expanded further to three riders in the interests of safety.
The early running of the Bol d'Or took place at a variety of venues. Circuits at Saint-Germain-en-Laye hosted several editions from 1923 through the late 1940s, while Linas-Montlhéry was used repeatedly between 1937 and 1970. From 1971 to 1977 the race moved to the permanent Le Mans Bugatti circuit, using a layout that excluded the full Le Mans street section. When the Bol d'Or subsequently departed Le Mans, the 24 Heures du Mans motorcycle race was created to fill the gap, meaning that for a time two separate 24-hour events were held on the Bugatti circuit in the same year.
The race then spent two decades at the Paul Ricard circuit, from 1978 to 1999, before moving to Magny-Cours where it remained until 2014. A return to Paul Ricard followed from 2015 onward. The reorganisation of the wider French motorcycle endurance calendar saw the timing of the events swap, with the Bol d'Or settling into a September slot at Paul Ricard while the Le Mans 24-hour race moved to the spring.
The Bol d'Or has long held a strong Francophone identity. The three major French motorcycle endurance events — at Le Mans, Magny-Cours, and the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in French-speaking Belgium — share a common cultural base, and the most successful teams and riders competing at the Bol d'Or have historically been French. Exceptions have occurred, notably in 1970, 1971, and 1992 when all-British rider combinations claimed victory. British rider Terry Rymer produced consistent results across multiple editions. Among international competitors who have appeared at the race are Phil Read and Neil Tuxworth, the latter of whom later led Honda Racing UK.
As part of the FIM Endurance World Championship, the Bol d'Or carries full championship points and attracts factory and works-supported teams from the major Japanese and European manufacturers. The 2016 edition marked the race's 80th running, underscoring the longevity of the event within the international motorsport calendar.
The Bol d'Or is accompanied by a wider motorcycle festival that takes place around the main race. Supporting competition categories include La Tasse d'Or, a race for motorcycles of less than 50cc; the Bol d'Or Classic, reserved for historic motorcycles; and the Bol d'Argent, an amateur competition that runs ahead of the main event. The surrounding carnival atmosphere and motorcycle rally have made the weekend one of the larger gatherings of motorcycle enthusiasts in Europe.
As one of the founding events of long-distance motorcycle endurance racing, the Bol d'Or has helped define the technical and sporting standards of the discipline across more than a century of competition. It predates the formal structure of the FIM Endurance World Championship by several decades and has served as a proving ground for factory teams seeking to demonstrate the durability and performance of their production-based machines. The race's longevity and its ability to adapt across different venues, formats, and regulatory eras reflect the enduring appeal of the 24-hour endurance format in motorcycle competition.