H.O.G. Rally 2025 in Medulin Croatia - Harley tour with highlights

My tour to the H.O.G. Rally 2025 in Medulin - Croatia

Another great event is over. Senigallia was already great last year. At the end there are tips for the H.O.G. Rally 2026 in Cascais / Portugal.

Medulin instead of Senigallia

In my opinion, Medulin even outdid Senigallia. The scenery and the old town of Senigallia was a lot nicer, but in Medulin everything was closer together and there were more restaurants with a main street.

The journey to Medulin

My journey took me from Plön via Berlin, Prague, on to Austria and through beautiful Slovenia to reach Medulin in Croatia. The shortest route is not always the best choice. In my case, I took a detour to get through without traffic jams. I had planned two overnight stays, which made the trip even more relaxed. My first stop was in Teplitz-Schönau, a small town in the Czech Republic, where I found the very good Prince Hotel.

From here, I continued in search of sunshine and summer temperatures. The weather only got really good in Slovenia, where I made my second stop at the G-Design Hotel. The next day, summer clothes were finally the order of the day. After 12 degrees in Austria, I set off in the morning at 22 degrees. My journey took me through Slovenia and across the green border. The start of the dream route was in Koper on the 625, a real cruiser route - nothing to chase, but really to cruise and enjoy.

The reason for my route was that I wanted to avoid traffic jams. That's why I drove via Prague and only on country roads in Slovenia and Croatia.

Arrival in Medulin

I had already arrived in Medulin on Monday and stayed at the Plaza Bellevue for the week. Many others had the same plan. A particularly large number of people from Germany took part in the international H.O.G. Rally this time.

It was a great feeling as more and more Harleys arrived in the town every day. Some in large groups and from many European countries, the bikers and their bikes arrived in Medulin and the surrounding area.

There was a particularly skeptical look on the faces of the locals. Even in the ice cream parlor, people were unsure about what was happening in the tranquil vacation town. The people of Medulin were not familiar with the event and its possible dimensions, as the H.O.G. Rally had registered in Medulin for the first time.

The only people who had any idea were the hotel operators and the many apartment owners from the surrounding area, as almost everything was fully booked. Incidentally, this was very noticeable - there were a particularly large number of apartments. Afterwards, I heard very positive feedback from many people. If there's one thing the Croatians are particularly good at, it's hospitality.

Harley-Davidson Pan America Experience Offroad Tours

On Tuesday, I went on an inspection tour with Ralle and Dennis. Ralle had ridden a route for the Harley-Davidson Pan America Experience Offroad Tours and wanted to know whether the tour was also suitable for beginners - his plan was to have the route checked out by beginners like us.

We were given the full program with instructions and various announcements about what we had to watch out for. With Ralle, only one person is in charge, and that's Ralle. That's a good thing, because he's the professional, and we all want to arrive back safe and sound at the place where we started. The video of the Adventure Tour is already online on the Harleysite YouTube Channel.

The interest in the Pan America tours was also very high among you. Many of you reserved a slot with Ralle and rode the route. In the end, you always take something with you that you can use for motorcycling in general.

The town of Medulin

Medulin is located on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula and used to be a small fishing village - today it is a popular vacation resort that really blossoms, especially in the summer months. Nevertheless, it does not seem overcrowded. The special thing about Medulin is the mixture of Mediterranean flair, relaxed atmosphere and a touch of adventure - perfect for bikers.

The surrounding area is characterized by turquoise blue water, small bays and a promenade lined with restaurants, cafés and bars. If you want, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast with a view of the sea in the morning and treat yourself to a cool drink while listening to live music in the evening - all within walking distance.

The historic town center with its white church on the hill is small but charming. There are many small accommodations around it, from apartments to hotels - perfect for those who don't want to sleep in a tent but still want to remain independent.

What stands out: Medulin is not a place for party vacationers, but rather for people who want to enjoy life. Especially in combination with the H.O.G. Rally, the whole thing has a special appeal - have a relaxed breakfast in the morning, enjoy the event during the day and finish off on the promenade in the evening.

For the first few days, the waiters stood in rows in front of their restaurants and tried to lure guests into the store. But that came to an end on Thursday because it didn't really work with the bikers anyway.

The event area in Medulin

The H.O.G. Rally in Medulin took place in the middle of the harbor - right on the waterfront promenade between casual cafés, stalls and open squares, perfectly integrated into the heart of the town.

The Harley Village and the H.O.G. Zone were set up near the beach and in the forest of the peninsula. This had the advantage that you weren't fully roasted by the sun and there was always a cool breeze coming in from the sea through the forest. The exhibitors I spoke to were all very satisfied. You mustn't forget: If they don't have fun and don't earn anything, it looks bad for such events in the long term.

The European Harley-Davidson dealerships were represented by H-D Zagreb, H-D Graz and half a dealer from Italy. According to feedback from the community, this was simply not enough presence.

The Harley community also wants to browse and buy something at such events - sometimes to get a bargain, but also to see the new collections. If the dealers are no longer coming, Harley-Davidson itself should at least exhibit the new collections so that people can see and touch them. Otherwise you don't have to be surprised if nobody buys anything.

Nobody buys a pig in a poke anymore. The quality of the MotorClothes collection - if it is still called that at all - has been too varied in recent years.

You can't land with bikers with eco-clothes that look like a cleaning rag after the third wash. The quality, fit and color simply have to be right. That's why bikers generally like to come into the stores to see the clothes.

This was a little excursion to place your criticism that has reached me.

Rush and atmosphere

The Italians came to Medulin on Thursday. It was actually very busy until Saturday. I noticed that many of them arrived at very short notice. The atmosphere was generally really great, everyone was in a good mood. There were lots of cool Harleys all over the town and also in front of the restaurants. That was particularly cool because you had something to look at. When a group rode in or out of the pedestrian zone, it was always a show - exactly what we wanted to see.

The arena in Pula

A major highlight was the bike show in front of the spectacular arena - one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters with four fully preserved side towers. The polished chrome and gladiatorial history of the arena created a unique atmosphere.

At the bike show, bike owners were not fighting for their lives, but for the honor. Everyone who took part wanted to take home one of the first prizes. And how could it be otherwise - there were winners and losers at the bike show too. The winners were definitely the spectators. The awards ceremony could have been held two hours earlier. A whole day in the sun wasn't just exhausting for the visitors.

I passed the time at the harbor and sat down on the bench next to an older man who seemed to be lingering there. What I didn't see straight away was that he was a bottle collector and kept an eye on the garbage can, so when passers-by threw their bottles in, they went straight into his bag. When a group of bikers from Germany threw their bottles in the garbage can, they didn't notice that the old man was collecting them.

One of them went up to him and gave him a few euros, which he refused to accept at first because he was probably uncomfortable, but you could see his gratitude. These are the contrasts we live in, even in other countries, the elderly are often left behind.

Contact with the community

It's always important for me to meet many of you. It never ceases to amaze me how detailed you read my posts and how you plan your tours based on my tips. I wasn't sitting alone on the bench at the harbour for long when the old man moved on. Suddenly a biker couple from Germany sat down with me. At first I hadn't realized that they knew me and were actually among those who read my posts and plan their tours. I only realized this when they thanked me for my work and told me how they use my tips for themselves and encouraged me to continue in the same way.

But my highlight with them was something else! By now I knew that I was sitting on the bench with Ute and Roberto from Eberswalde. I immediately noticed Ute's tattoo - she had Harley-Davidson tattooed on her forearm. Of course Roberto wasn't at the back of the queue - he's also pimped. I felt like I'd found his entire Harley garage on his body. Even the license plate was tattooed. I thought it was really cool how the two of them are on the road.

The two of them live it to the full - they mostly travel alone, combining such events with my tips, their vacation and the attractions that can be experienced around these places. They've just come back from a boat trip - they went to see dolphins. Simply amazing. And once again, thank you both for the great conversation and your openness!

Friday evening and music program

On Friday evening, the music was played on the large stage that had been placed in front of the historic mill. That was kind of a shame, because the mill was always a big feature in my postings and the announcements from the H.O.G. itself - it was clear that everyone who was there would have taken a photo themselves.

The parade on Saturday

On Saturday, things really got going. The town of Medulin had been cordoned off within a radius of over five kilometers since Friday. You only had access to Medulin as a local, resident or biker. I was wondering why we didn't have any traffic jams on the main road. It was really well organized, and it has to be said: the fact that the locals put up with it all was really great.

For me, the highlight on Saturday and a very special honor was to be Bill Davidson's wingman for the parade. We had planned a short interview in advance before we went to Pula to line up for the parade. I was simply blown away the whole way.

In Pula, we stood at the harbor in front of the large inflated Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield logo that was set up there. Bill Davidson and his wife were in a really good mood - you could tell they were having fun. I noticed the good mood during my interview when I asked Bill why it was called the Harley Owners Group and not the Harley-Davidson Owners Group. Visibly surprised by the question, he started to grin slightly.

He's just a very approachable and great guy. I remember when he drove up to the parade on the European Bike - it was raining heavily and you generally didn't know whether it was going to start at all. All of a sudden Bill drove up on the Street Glide in rain gear - that was the end of the question.

In Pula we had sunshine, a good mood and a great parade ahead of us. We went along the harbor into the city, past the historic arena to Medulin. It was just great to see how welcome you were. The dancing grandma on the side of the road was a symbol of hospitality for me.

Departure and afterglow

The party really got going on Saturday evening - it was very full. Most people were back from their tours and it was packed everywhere. It was simply fantastic - all the bikes, cool people, everything together created an indescribable atmosphere.

One thing that has to be mentioned: The police were only seen cordoning off the streets. I'm not aware of anyone being stopped or being conspicuous in any other way. On Thursday, there was talk in Pula that bikers also needed a parking ticket. On Friday, you didn't hear anything more about it - after I posted a warning about it. Let me put it this way: they just let everything run its course. It used to be the same here in Germany - it's unthinkable today. We should think about whether we really need to suppress all the fun.

On Sunday, it was buzzing everywhere as the bikes were continuously fired up for the ride home. There were thousands of Harleys heading off in all directions. I was driven south again to the 66. I took a detour to Rijeka to take in the brilliant coastal road again. Then I headed north overland, where I ended up in Flachau late in the evening just before Salzburg because of a storm at the Hotel Rainerhof. The owner immediately offered to dry my wet clothes. That was a great gesture and not a matter of course to want to dry clothes late in the evening. Fortunately, I was well packed - the clothes all held tight.

Ride home with motorcycle change

I drove from Flachau to Willingen to swap the CVO Road Glide for the CVO Street Glide the next day in the Westerwald. The CVO Road Glide had now reached 27,600 kilometers and had reliably taken me all over Europe. I'm definitely crying after her, but time goes on. New colors - and the CVO Street Glide is also a lot of fun.

That day we went all the way home to the north - which put 700 kilometers on the odometer of the Street Glide. You can do it with the tours - and that's a good thing!

What I think about it

For me, this year's H.O.G. Rally is already one of the highlights. You don't have to be an H.O.G. member to take part - but you can. If you are interested in the H.O.G.: Almost every authorized Harley-Davidson dealer has a chapter where you can join - depending on the rules.

In Medulin, Harley-Davidson once again showed how important these events are for the brand. What is striking is that events in sunny regions in particular are becoming increasingly important. In Germany, on the other hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult for organizers to put on an event at all. The requirements are increasing, especially in the area of safety. This is actually a government task - not that of the organizers.

In any case, the H.O.G. Rally in Medulin was a complete success: not too big, everything within easy reach - and the weather was perfect. For me it's clear: any time again!

H.O.G. Rally 2026 in Cascais / Portugal

Link to the driving report of the Heritage 114, where I drove from Cascais to Normandy.

Many people have already approached me in Medulin about the H.O.G. Rally 2026 in Portugal. Yes, it is very far to drive from Germany in the direction of Lisbon. But it has to be said that the drive through Spain is very relaxed, you can drive on the highway and there is often a country road next to the highway that you can drive on. This is actually a lot nicer, and if you keep an eye on the journey time, you can make a good mix out of it.

It is the temperatures that make driving very pleasant, the town of Cascais is a small and beautiful harbor town. The H.O.G. Rally took place here in 2018 and the stage was right on the beach. My tip would be to take in the west coast of Portugal either on the outward journey or on the return journey and also travel to the north of Spain.

The direct route from Frankfurt to Cascais is about 2300 kilometers. But I would always want to do a tour along the coast. It's certainly a real journey that will take some time. But it's worth it!

Text & photo credits: Volker Wolf / Harleysite

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