Down by the River

From July 19th to 21st, Vienna celebrated 110 years of Harley-Davidson and five years of Vienna Harley Days on the Danube Island

Austria's lively and creative capital has been hosting the Vienna Harley Days since 2008.

Reason enough to have a particularly big time at the 2013 edition of the event, which also marked Harley-Davidson's 110th anniversary.

On July 19th the time had come: the first V2 engines could be heard on the Reichsbrücke over the Danube - they formed the vanguard of the big “Capital Ride” , for which Harleys from all over Austria set off to Vienna.

Bike after bike followed, people and motorcycles from all over Europe filled the large event area on the Danube Island with life and pure rock'n'roll: Over the three days, more than 40,000 visitors celebrated like hell. As always, entry was free.

on “ Main Street ”, at numerous dealer stands you could buy not only food and drinks, but also everything related to the Harley-Davidson lifestyle, and in the large expo tent you could marvel at the latest motorcycle models and the latest fashion trends made in UNITED STATES.

, Harley-Davidson advised their customers on tuning, chrome and ergonomics in their own technology pavilion.

On Saturday, the most beautiful converted machines faced the astonished eyes of motor maniacs and the verdict of an expert jury.

Anyone who didn't just want to look at the bikes in awe, but also wanted to get into the saddle themselves, was allowed to take a free test ride on a brand new Harley - whole truckloads of them and an authentic driving simulator for fans without a license were available.

Six hot stunt shows gave visitors lots of adrenaline rushes, while bands like “Acht” and “Alkbottle” brought the atmosphere in front of the open air stage to a boil in the evening hours. A guest who tested “Casino on Tour” Meanwhile, hundreds of little event visitors found happiness in the new Kids Zone: face painting, sack races and juggling made their eyes shine. On Sunday, around 4,000 bikers enjoyed all the Habsburg splendor of the capital: once again the large motorcycle parade led along the magnificent Ringstrasse through the historic center of Vienna.

Of course the party continues - for example in Faak am See, where the European Bike Week September 3rd to 8th, 2013 .

Text & Photos: Copyright Harley-Davidson 2013

Austrian spirit

Right in the middle of May:
The Vienna Harley Days rocked Austria's capital

From May 13th to 15th, Harley-Davidson invited people to Vienna, and over 30,000 came. They came from all Austrian federal states and from Germany, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland. They came by Harley, by car or by tram. And they streamed into the Village directly in front of the huge Ernst Happel Stadium.

Although the weather could be described as mixed and the temperatures were mostly “shady”, the relaxed atmosphere at the stadium resembled that from the dreams of a real biker: Anyone who sat down relaxed on the grounds or chilled in the party bus enjoyed the thunder from 5,000 to 6,000 V-twins that roared through the picture either from left to right or the other way around.

No one was like the other... On Saturday, around 1,200 of them formed up for a huge parade that drove down the magnificent Ringstrasse to the cheers of the Viennese.

And everyone who was looking for action got more than enough of it: People were amazed at the daring motorcycle acrobatics of Rainer Schwarz, who let it rip several times a day, and took the latest Harley models for test rides. Particularly popular: the new Forty-Eight, which took hearts by storm with its classic bobber look.

People bought clothing and accessories at countless stands, ate and drank in the festival tent, feasted at the numerous catering stands, and listened to lots of music. No fewer than eleven bands performed on the open-air stage. Blues, country, rock, rockabilly or pop – personal preference was irrelevant, as the ear canals were treated to all of them. The biggest cheer once again went to Supermax, and singer Kurt Hauenstein – himself a declared fan of the bikes from Milwaukee – enjoyed it as a top act, cool as ever despite the onset of rain.

Anyone who attended the event this year will come back to the beautiful city of the Habsburgs next year, and everyone else now knows what they missed. So make a note of the date for 2011: from May 12th to 14th, 2011 there will be a lot going on again in Vienna, and the highlight will be a motorcycle rally that will take participants from all directions to Vienna.

Text / images Harley-Davidson press service

 Unlike previously announced, the Vienna Harley Days will take place from May 13th to 15th

Christianity celebrates the Ascension of Christ 39 days after Easter Sunday. This Thursday is a public holiday in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and many other European countries. In 2010 it falls on May 13th.

And on this May 13th, the Vienna Harley Days will open their doors in the Austrian capital. Different than originally announced, because on the following Sunday the engines in the approximately 20,000 m² event area around the huge Ernst Happel Stadium have to rest due to the Austrian Football Cup final.

Not only will the start of the major motorcycle event be brought forward one day, the finale will also take place one day earlier, namely on Saturday, May 15th.

{mosgoogle}Nothing changes in the program! In the large festival tent city, motorcycle fans will find everything their hearts desire - including a main street where seeing and being seen is celebrated. Driver's license holders are allowed to hop on a Harley-Davidson or Buell to take a free and extensive test drive - although a certain risk of addiction cannot be ruled out.

On the large open air stage, hot rock, pop and blues bands give each other the microphone, and on the stunt mile, two-wheeler professional Rainer Schwarz shows motorcycle acrobatics that every normal biker should stay away from. The spectators will be left breathless by the stoppies, wheelies and burnouts!

During the highlight, the big motorcycle parade, all motorcyclists from near and far are invited to a tour along the famous Ringstrasse, which is celebrated by the Viennese, and which is closed for a short time especially for this purpose.

In short: you shouldn't miss the Vienna Harley Days. Simply mark May 13th and delete May 15th – and off you go to the Danube metropolis!