LIVE AT THE LAKE: EUROPEAN BIKE WEEK WELCOMES MORE THAN 120,000 MOTORCYCLE FANS TO LAKE FAAK IN CARINTHIA
- More than 120,000 motorcycle enthusiasts met in Faak am See, Austria
- Free admission and visitors from all over the world
- Harley-Davidson presented its 2020 models including the new Low Rider S
- New, extended Softail Experience Rides during the test rides
- Daily Harley-Davidson MotorClothes Dance Shows
- The electrically powered LiveWire on the Jumpstart driving simulator
- Vans pro skaters on the new skateboard ramp
- Raffle of a new Iron 1200 among the guests
NEU-ISENBURG (10.09.2019) - The European Bike Week, one of the largest and most successful motorcycle festivals in the world, attracted more than 120,000 guests with 70,000 bikes to the Austrian province of Carinthia from September 3 to 8.
Visitors enjoyed the alpine surroundings and the fascinatingly relaxed party atmosphere of Europe's largest and admission-free Harley-Davidson event. This year's guests, who had traveled from all over the world, included Karen and Bill Davidson, great-grandchildren of William A. Davidson, one of the founders of the motor company.
They greeted dealers and fans, explored the winding mountain roads together with other bikers, presented the prizes at the custom bike show and tirelessly signed jackets, shirts, caps and tanks.
Year after year, the European Bike Week around Lake Faak creates a veritable state of emergency, with all accommodation booked out months in advance.
The heart of the event is always the Harley Village in Faak, where the largest Harley-Davidson Expo of all time could be seen on the Main Plaza this year. All 2020 models were exhibited here, including the new Low Rider S and the updated Touring models.
Before the Expo, guests were able to climb into the saddle of the LiveWire, which was mounted on the Jumpstart driving simulator, to get an impression of the breathtaking acceleration generated by the electric drivetrain.
In the Demo Ride Area, the new petrol-powered bikes of the 2020 model year were on display - above all the Low Rider S. Guests with a motorcycle driving license were able to take a 30-minute test ride or familiarize themselves with the advantages of the current Softail models on a one-and-a-half-hour Softail Experience Ride.
The Custom Bike Show took place in the Customizer Area on Friday. More than 70 machines demonstrated the creativity of their builders. The „Best in Show“ prize went to Mirko Perugini from Italy, while Laurent Lehmann from France took home the coveted People's Choice Trophy.
In the new Harley Saloon Lounge and in two new large tents - the Bavarian-inspired Faaktoberfest Bar and the large Harley Bar, where the main stage had found its new home - people rocked, rocked and partied to a number of live acts.
Bands and DJs provided good vibrations there until after midnight and on Saturday evening, The Picturebooks headlined and brought the atmosphere to a boil. In addition to the three new music hotspots, the enlarged Vida Loca dance bar guaranteed a good mood day after day.
From a red double-decker bus, Italian DJs played from the afternoon until late into the night, while more than 150 dealers, bartenders and caterers read the bikers' every wish from their eyes.
Among the news in 2019 were the dance shows opened by Karen Davidson with Harley-Davidson clothing from the latest collections. Many of the items presented were available in the boutiques of authorized dealers and at the official merchandising stands.
Another new feature was the skate ramp, where members of the European Vans Pro Skater team demonstrated their skills.
While Peter had given his best until Friday afternoon, the parade took place in the rain on Saturday took place in the rain. Led by Bill and Karen Davidson, the police, Rita Minozzi from the Irish Gaelic Chapter, who had won a competition organized by the Harley Harley Owners Group competition, and the flag bearers of the H.O.G. community from from all over the world, the lindworm of around 5,000 machines meandered over 15 kilometers through the most beautiful landscapes of Carinthia.
The event finale on Saturday evening brought a huge surprise for a guest from Turin: Luciano Banzato Luciano Banzato won a brand new Iron 1200 in the big raffle sponsored by the raffle sponsored by the Villach brewery.
„I attend quite a few Harley-Davidson events in the USA and abroad and this is not my first European Bike Week,“ admitted a visibly enthusiastic Bill Davidson.
„But I like it here so much that I just had to come back! With the introduction of the electrically powered LiveWire and the return of the Low Rider S, we celebrated two real milestones for Harley-Davidson in Faak.
I will remember the many people I met here and the many stories we exchanged for a long time to come. And I'm really impressed by how this event has grown over the years: in 1998, around 1,500 customers visited us here and now there are more than 120,000!“ Karen Davidson added: „What a week! I arrived in Faak on Tuesday and in the meantime I have taken the people and the landscape here on the shores of the lake to my heart.
Everywhere you look, you see cool custom bikes and bikers living their very own style. We went to Sturgis in the USA and Cascais in Europe this year and rode some great tarmac, but I have to admit that the winding roads here are one of my personal highlights of the year. Simply unreservedly recommendable!“
When The Picturebooks took to the stage on the last evening of the festival, visitors to the European Bike Week were already looking forward to next year's event. In 2020, the European Bike Week will take place from September 8 to 13 - once again at Lake Faak, of course. If you want to take part, you should book your accommodation quickly!
First pictures are already online
European Bike Week 2020
Text and image credits: Harley-Davidson
