Won't forget these days
The Hamburg Harley Days took place from June 26th to 28th and 500,000 bike and party fans were there
- Test drives, over 100 dealers, a “Rolling Barber” and lots of music
- Fascinating ride-in bike show with 77 machines
- Big parade past Hamburg's landmarks with 8,000 participants
It was nice! A long weekend of Harley Days – a long weekend of pure partying. And the whole of Hamburg seemed to be upside down again.
Around 500,000 fans and friends of the American Way of Ride made a pilgrimage to the impressive Hanseatic city over the three days. Their destination: the wholesale market with its lavish open spaces, where the large tent city called Harley Village stood from June 26th to 28th. Here, over 100 dealers presented everything a motorcycle fan could desire, from indicators to leather jackets. People fortified themselves at the catering stands, relaxedly discussed the plans for the season, marveled at the latest creations from Harley-Davidson, talked shop about vintage and classic cars and were inspired by the custom bikes that had been customized according to every trick in the book.
“Touching allowed” applied to the current Harley-Davidson model range, which was available for free test rides. Around 500 fans couldn't resist the tempting offer, while a driving simulator made the mouths of those who don't yet have a driver's license water. Right next door, the rolling barber was shaping hair and beards - for a good cause, as every cent went to the German Society for Muscular Patients. A few meters further on, Jeep's latest off-road vehicles could be tried out on an off-road course. From three stages, 19 live bands heated up the audience with rock, blues and country. In addition to roots music wonder Nikki Hill and the hard rockers UFO, the German formation The New Roses , who impressed with relaxed, down-to-earth and honest rock, were particularly acclaimed.
Romantic pyro shows elicited awe-inspiring “Ahs” and “Ohs” from everyone who celebrated and danced in front of the stages until late in the evening. The party then continued at Spielbudenplatz on the Reeperbahn, where the second event location offered music, catering and fashion stands.
On Saturday, the Ride-In Bike Show on Mönckebergstrasse formed the fascinating catwalk for 77 machines that had been transformed into rolling works of art over months of work.
And because the Harley Days wouldn't be the Harley Days without a parade, around 8,000 machines on a joint, over 30 kilometer long ride through the city on Sunday. Hamburg stood on guard and the bikers said thank you for an extremely successful weekend. It's a matter of honor that all of this calls for a repeat: The next Hamburg Harley Days will take place from June 24th to 26th, 2016 - of course again in Hamburg and of course again at the wholesale market.
Text and image credit: Copyright Harley-Davidson
