Between 4th and 9th September is when the 21st edition of the European Bike Week 2018 will be coming back. It also happens to be the biggest event in Harley-Davidson’s European festival calendar. Which is why this 2017 report is so heavily Harley oriented. Plus they made sure that the details were available when needed.
European Bike Week 2018 promises to be just as well attended as last year where 125,000 revelers and more than 70,000 motorcycles attended. This was in Carinthia, southern Austria, for the 20th Harley-Davidson festival to be located on the shores of the iconic Lake Faak.
This epic celebration brings together a vast and diverse array of people from all over the world. Over the last 20 years, the festival has grown to become Europe’s biggest free motorcycle rally. And, before the snow sets in, is the final major event in the European riding calendar.
Among the visitors who traveled furthest to get to Lake Faak was Karen Davidson who made her way from Milwaukee to Austria to join this unique experience.
Leave a comment if you know which of the HD founders was her great-grandfather?
Racing at European Bike Week 2018
Taking place on a purpose-made dirt oval each journalist rode a Street Rod 750. They were specially prepared for the event with modified handlebars, seat unit, fuel tank, exhaust, wheels and tyres. Tuition was expertly provided by flat track master Marco Belli. He is a 4-time Italian champion who also has the UK and European titles to his name.
- The top spot on the rostrum was won by Italian Elia Sammartin from Rider’s Magazine.
- Second went to Spain’s Ferran Mas, of Solo Moto magazine
- Third place was claimed by Daigoro Suzuki, a freelance journalist from Japan.
But perhaps the real prize of the day went to second-placed Mas. He took home the Number 1-plated Street Rod 750 flat tracker he raced on (pictured above), thanks to his fastest lap time in the final.
Partying and “the scene”
The Harley Village took centre stage as usual, with a huge area of more than 40,000 square meters.
- 22 Harley-Davidson dealers from five countries
- 130+ independent retailers and food stalls
This presented an unbeatable range of delights for shopping, admiring and savouring.
For many riders, the journey to Faaker See is all about the beautiful Carinthian countryside with its ideal riding roads and incredible alpine vistas. The local Alpe Adria Chapter was also on hand to provide guided tours for the uninitiated. In the evenings, more than 25 bands kept the big open-air main stage and two-party marquees rocking – including Black Stone Cherry, Danko Jones and The Picturebooks.
On Friday, the Custom Bike Show featured some of the most beautiful builds from Europe and beyond with more than 70 entries. The title ‘Best in Show’ was awarded to Nedal Amin from Kuwait, who received a trophy worth more than €4,000 designed by 2SAINTS Paris.
Two people also received specially customised European Bike Week 20th Anniversary Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycles as part of the celebrations. On Friday night Ana “Mamana” Ivancic received one as a gift in a ceremony to mark the 20 years the event has been hosted at Faaker See. Peter Van De Luijsterwon one in a prize draw on Saturday night, where a lucky number was drawn from 6000 wristbands given away at the event.
The Parade on Saturday saw at least 10,000 bikes cross the starting line for a tour around the surrounding Carinthian mountains and lakes. And later that night, a spectacular high-altitude fireworks display lit up the night sky above the lake – a gift from the Motor Company to all of its fans.
