CUSTOM BIKE SHOW 2017

The world's largest trade fair for converted motorcycles remains the mecca of the custom scene

More than 31,800 people visited the CUSTOMBIKE SHOW 2017 on the first weekend in December. That was almost 500 fewer visitors than last year, but this was mainly due to the snowfall across Germany on the Sunday of the trade fair. With four exhibition halls, 28,000 square meters of exhibition space, 300 exhibitors and almost 1,000 radically converted motorcycles from all over the world, the event remains a pulse monitor for conversion trends and the world's largest trade fair for motorcycle customizing.

This year too, the Biker Build-Off was one of the main attractions. During the three days of the trade fair, the teams from Harley-Davidson Würzburg and Wannabe Choppers from Giessen fought an unusual duel. While the Franconian Harley specialists transplanted the Milwaukee Eight engine from a touring model into a self-constructed Softail frame with a single-sided swing arm, the guys from Hesse went with a spartan-looking old-school bike that, to everyone's surprise, is powered by an electric motor. A coup that caused a lot of conversation... In the end, the drag styler of the old Harley hands was able to prevail against the youngsters' future concept by a narrow margin of 21 votes. Congratulations to Würzburg!  

For the participants in the International Custombike Championship Germany (ICCG), it was about fame, honor and trophies in 18 categories - with each victory being like an accolade in the Champions League of international motorcycle construction, while the winner of the Best-of-Show Cup also received an award was able to look forward to 2,500 euros in prize money.

Best of Show: Harley-Davidson Shovelhead from Pete Pearson/Rocket Bobs, England	Craziest Bike: BMW F800GT from Kestutis Trinkunas, Lithuania
Best Paint Job: Harley-Davidson Shovelhead from Black Ace Customs, Germany	Best Engineering: Homemade BMW Harley by Michael Fuchs, Germany
Best Sportsbike: VH GSX-R 750 from Klaus Vosteen, Germany	Best Cafe Racer: Kawasaki ER-6 from Motorrad Höly, Germany
Best Roadster: Honda CB 550 F2 from Marco Hermann, Belgium	Best Chopper: Honda CB 750 from Markus von Möllendorf, Germany
Best Bobber: BSA B33 from Thomas Knoblauch, Germany	Best Old School: Harley-Davidson Knucklehead by Reini Servello/Bobber Garage, Liechtenstein
Best Radical: Ultima self-made by Horst and Helmuth Nachtigall, Germany	Best power cruiser: Harley-Davidson V-Rod by Etienne Gerau/Extremebikes, Germany
Editors Choice »BIKERS NEWS«: Royal Enfield Bullet by Uwe Craayvanger, Germany	Editors Choice “CUSTOMBIKE”: Simson Spatz 4/1 from Swen Weber, Germany
Editors Choice »ROADSTER«: Honda CB 500 from Manfred Hunkenschröer, Germany	Editors Choice “DREAM MACHINES”: Harley VL team from Mac and Sandra Fröhlich/McSands, Switzerland
Best Fighter: Mortagua-GSX-R from Carlos Rodriguez, Portugal	Rookie of the Year: Honda CB 550 F2 from Marco Hermann, Belgium

There were also plenty of other highlights at the CUSTOMBIKE SHOW. The lucky main winners of the visitor competition can start the new season with a Triumph Bonneville Bobber or a Harley-Davidson Sportster - both brand new, of course. The main stage hosted a lot of motorcycle premieres and award ceremonies or heartwarming events such as the presentation of the spectacular machines from the Build da Fukker contest. The supporting program was complemented by an extensive range of shows and action, such as the Miss CUSTOMBIKE election, lively fashion shows or the daring devil rides on the steep wall, where Henny Kroeze and his team thrilled the audience with breathtaking performances.

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The sporting icing on the cake at this year's trade fair was the exclusively arranged special exhibition "The Art of Racing" in Hall 22.2. 26 machines, all different, but all committed to the same theme. 100 years of racing history were told here, with original bikes that were as valuable as half a house and custom bikes that made history. And when visitors kneel reverently in front of Ernst Henne's 1935 world record BMW, admire the "Spirit of Munro" Salt Lake Indian or pay homage to a Harley board tracker that only exists twice in the world, the enthusiasm for it is high Motorcycle literally within reach.

The next CUSTOMBIKE SHOW will take place from November 30th to December 2nd, 2018 in Bad Salzuflen.