Review – Spring gathering at Harley-Davidson Weser Ems in Augustfehn
The multi-brand spring meet in Augustfehn has set new standards. All the major motorcycle manufacturers are present in Augustfehn, something that is no longer even seen in this form at the relevant motorcycle trade fairs. The highlight was the stand of Ducati, You just have to say it!
With Harley-Davidson It looked rather small, but that was somewhat deceptive, as there were over 20 Harley-Davidson demonstration bikes on site, which could be test ridden several times. Nevertheless, this is definitely something Harley-Davidson should work on. If you want to be a premium manufacturer, this should not only be reflected in high surcharges for special paint finishes; I also expect Harley-Davidson to present itself in a manner that lives up to its own standards.
There was a very special highlight for Harley-Davidson fans.
The team at Börjes American Bikes has three models from the 120th Anniversary Collection presented in Augustfehn. For the 120th Street Glide Special and the 120th Fat Boy 114 it was even the German premiere. The 120th Anniversary Road Glide Special We were already able to marvel at them in Dortmund at the motorcycle fair.
The anniversary models are currently the hot topic in the Harley scene, which was certainly one reason why some bikers even traveled from Kiel and Hanover—after all, they want to be able to join in the conversation, and so far hardly anyone has seen the anniversary models.
Not even Harley dealers can really have a say, because they can no longer attend dealer shows; the shows for dealers have been canceled without further ado, so of course it's impossible to convey any emotion to customers.
The weather always cooperates somehow!
On Saturday, attendance remained below expectations, as the weather simply did not cooperate. On the positive side, those who were interested in specific exhibitors received more in-depth advice. After all, when else do you have the opportunity to ask companies your questions in person, enabling you to make a better decision in the end?.
There were some really good companies there, especially when it came to the consultation-intensive topic of chassis. Here, visitors could take their time gathering information from the Wilbers team, or from Kellermann, who provided all the information about Jetstream LED turn signals with running lights and their other LED products.
Friends of sound could enjoy themselves at KessTech, Jekill & Hyde provide information, and Sena, Cardo was also involved with sound in the broadest sense, but was more responsible for communication. Bag manufacturer DEEMEED, or SW-Motech, not to mention the two large Börjes stores, which were open, as were the workshop and the DynoJet Tuning Center.
New to this segment and a product with a promising future, those responsible at SE-MOTO They presented their anti-glare film for the Boom Box and the GTS infotainment system. Above all, they showed how easy it is to install the film and what advantages the high-quality display protection offers. We are expecting something big from Harley-Davidson this year, especially when it comes to displays.
On Sunday, not only was the sun shining, but thousands of bikers arrived, the thoroughfare was closed, and only open to two-wheelers. On the one hand, it's great to have so many bikes on your doorstep, as there's a lot to see, but on the other hand, you have to put up with long queues at the stands and at the coffee and cake bar, so arriving early has always been an advantage.
KING OF CUSTOM – CUSTOM CONTEST
The Custombike Contest will be expanded even further in the future. Börjes has not only trademarked the name, but also plans to turn the competition into a brand name. This year, for example, there was an exclusive KING OF CUSTOM silver ring worth €500 to be won, similar to what you might see at the big US bike shows.
The winners are: 1. Rolf Müller 2. Jerome Plaisir 3. Luis Erdmann
CONCLUSION
In summary, Saturday was quiet due to the weather, but still good. On Sunday, things really got going, with thousands of bikers coming to check out the manufacturers. The big advantage was that you could take a test ride right away, which is not possible at a motorcycle show held indoors.
It is clear that the market is focusing on certain events. The „Motorräder Dortmund“ motorcycle fair was very well attended this year, with many manufacturers well represented, and we saw this trend even more strongly in Augustfehn. The top manufacturers were present here and showcased their current product ranges.
At the spring meeting in Augustfehn, we enjoyed an excellent start to the new 2023 season.
Pictures from the Spring Meeting 2023
