European Bike Week: rock and motors for a party of 125.000 people

European Bike Week – More than a party it was a real event. We are talking about the 2017 edition ofEuropean Bike Week. Also a symbolic edition given that 20 years of life were celebrated. Nobody wanted to miss it and nobody missed it. Official data speak of 125.000 participants, of which 70.000 came on motorbikes, who met from 5 to 10 September in the Carinthia region, in southern Austria, to give life to the 20th edition of the great Harley-Davidson rally.

Over the last 20 years the event has grown to become the largest free motorcycle rally in Europe – and is now the main event on the European motorcycle calendar. Among the visitors who came from further afield to the shores of Lake Faak this year also Karen Davidson: the great-granddaughter of one of the founders of Harley-Davidson came to Austria directly from Milwaukee expressly to participate in this unique event.

Bike Week also marked the European debut of the new 2018 Harley-Davidson family motorcycle range Softail in place of honor in the Expo Zone, while many of the bikes from the 2018 range were also available for public testing in the Demo Rides area. Harley Village, as usual, took center stage, occupying a large area of ​​over 40.000 square meters. There were 22 Harley dealers present, coming from five different countries. Together with them, over 130 independent traders and food stands offered an unbeatable range of products for all tastes.

Jeep – main partner and official sponsor of Harley's major rallies and events throughout 2017 – had a major presence on all days of the Faaker See event. The two areas Jeep Test Drive Experience and Jeep Off Road Experience gave the public the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of the products of one of the most iconic motoring brands. Furthermore, the brand new Jeep Compass was on display in the Jeep lounge and a vast assortment of Jeep merchandise could be purchased, plus the Bullfrog Barbers bonus.

For many motorcyclists, the trip to the Faaker See means above all the chance to visit the beautiful landscape of Carinthia, with its ideal motorcycling roads, incredible Alpine panoramas and the local Alpe Adria Chapter always ready to provide beautiful guided tours of the region for those who are participating for the first time. And in the evening, over 25 bands brought the main stage and the other places used for live music to life in rock time. Among the protagonist artists, i Black Stone Cherry, Danko Jones e The Picturebooks.

Friday, the traditional Custom Bike Shows brought to the catwalk some of the most beautiful specials built in Europe and beyond, with over 70 participants in the competition. The title of Best in Show was awarded to Nedal Amin from Kuwait, who received a trophy worth over 4.000 Euros made by 2SAINTS of Paris. Two people also won two Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycles specially customized 'European Bike Week 20th Anniversary'. The first motorbike was given as a gift on Friday evening to Ana “Mamana” Ivancic as part of a ceremony celebrating twenty years of the Faaker See event. The second bike was instead won by Peter Van De Luijster in a random draw on Saturday evening; his was the lucky number drawn from the thousands of bracelets distributed at the event.

The inevitable parade took place on Saturday and saw at least 10.000 motorbikes cross the starting line and parade, protagonists on the circuit that winds through the mountains, lakes and villages of Carinthia, while later in the afternoon the Red Bull Flying Bulls greeted the crowd with an aerobatic display from their Alpha Jet piloted by Stefan Doblhammer. And in the evening, an extraordinary display of fireworks at high altitude lit up the night above the lake, a tribute from the Motor Company to all the fans present.

The appointment is renewed for next year, from 4 to 9 September 2018.