BIKER FEST INTERNATIONAL OPENS ON-THE-ROAD SEASON WITH OVERWHELMING SUCCESS
Authenticity and increasingly wide-ranging program underpins a memorable edition.
The 38th Biker Fest International reports a record-breaking edition. Admissions to the Village and Demo Ride areas increased exponentially, estimated at 240,000 over the four days of the event. The numbers reward beyond all expectations and say much, not all. Behind the massive popularity of the BFI are the credibility and increasingly thorough work of the Organizers, the Persello family; free admission, the enchanting location and dates.
The Ascension weekend, from May 9 to 12, greets the opening of the tourist season and, thanks to the almost summer sun, attracts in Lignano Sabbiadoro many bikers from all over Italy and European countries – Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary. The BFI, which this year had the pleasure of having as its patroness the italo-american model and actress Justine Mattera, thus confirms its role as a driving event.
At Biker Fest International, enthusiasts like to return because they know they will find a friendly atmosphere and an increasingly mixed crowd. They are also attracted by the many opportunities for fun, guaranteed by a comprehensive offer, which for years has gone far beyond the “welcome bikers” philosophy.
The focus on the two-wheel market and the general public is increasingly meeting with the favor of the riders. The great motor festival enhanced the beauty of the region with a series of itineraries dedicated to mototourists and the Cavalcata Tassellata, a mini off-road raid which revives the myth of the legendary 12 Hours Enduro Lignano. It offered 5.000 free test rides, gathered hundreds of American cars in the spectacular US Car Reunion – the main meeting of its kind in Italy with its huge parade – which was joined by the e-Mobility area and the 50cc Fever Fest dedicated to vintage mopeds.
The volume and atmosphere remained high with a variety of 11 live rock concerts on the Village Main Stage and the Pin Up Contest, which elected its Biker Fest “Miss”. The Saturday Light Fever, the traditional parade involving thousands of motorbikes, has returned to thrill motorcyclists and spectators with a simply incredible turnout.
While staying true to itself, each year BFI introduces new features that help create new reasons for interest. Like the Chicano Show, dedicated to Mexican-style custom Harley-Davidsons, one of the most popular trends of the moment. The invitation-only show has further enhanced the quality of Europe’s most historic custom bike show (held continuously since 1987), which brings together the best custom workshops from the Italian Motorcycle Championship, the springboard to the World Custom Bike Championships. On the jury for this edition, also the representatives of the Twin Club MC, who have been organizing since 1971 the most historic european event of this in the Swedish city of Norrtälje.
The “975 Monza” by Bad Boys Garage is the Best in Show of the 38th Biker Fest International
The Custom Bike Show, the most historic in Europe, also awards Mannaia, Mayerl Motorcycles and an e-boardtracker
In a Biker Fest International that in its 38th edition offered an increasingly rich and varied program, the traditional Custom Bike Show – the only one in Europe that has been held continuously since 1987 – proved to be an irresistible magnet. The dozens of custom bikes on display in the covered area inside the Village attracted a crowd of enthusiasts.
As the Italian final of the Italian Motorcycle Championship (IMC) and the only Italian stage of the World and European Custom Bike Championships organized by American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD), the BFI catwalk attracted the best talents, craftsmen and custom bike professionals from Italy and abroad.
This year in particular, the international vocation was strengthened by the partnership with the legendary Sturgis Bike Week and the presence of the Twin Club MC of Norrtälje, Sweden, which for exactly 50 editions, this year scheduled the 1st of June, has organized the eponymous Custom Bike Show, a prestigious chopper and old school showcase. The BFI has thus placed itself at the apex of the triangle that unites the benchmark custom and biker events between the United States and Northern and Southern Europe.
The Best in Show award of the Italian Motorcycle Championship (IMC) went to the Harley-Davidson Nightster “975 Monza” by Lorenzo Nisi, aka Bad Boys Garage. The customizer has created a masterpiece of modern craftsmanship and sportiness. For the finals of the AMD-sponsored event, the expert international judging panel selected the classic Harley-Davidson FX chopper built by Austria’s Mayerl Motorcycles, the evocative single-cylinder Norton “La Mona” from Italy’s Mannaia Workshop, and, in a bold and forward-thinking choice, the electric boardtracker “Murata” built by Belgium’s Ruben Mellaerts for RM Builds.
New to BFI 2024 was the Chicano Show, dedicated to “viclas,” the spectacular Mexican-style lowriders that don’t skimp on chrome, flake paint and gold and silver leaf detailing. The most popular was the Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage from the Italian workshop RCKroll-Chop, already the cover star of the May issue of Bikers Life Magazine.
RESULTS CUSTOM BIKE SHOW – BIKER FEST INTERNATIONAL 2024
AMD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
H-D FX CHOPPER – W. Mayerl (Austria) – wins €1000 shopping voucher by VPerformance
NORTON “LA MONA” – Mannaia (VA) – wins €1000 shopping voucher by FG Racing
“MURATA” – RM Builds (Belgio) – wins €1000 shopping voucher by Rizoma
BEST IN SHOW (IMC)
H-D 975 MONZA – Bad Boys Garage (MB) – wins €1000 shopping voucher by Zodiac
SCRAMBLER
1°- H-D SPORTSTER – Number 8 Workshop (UD) – wins €400 shopping voucher by Zox Art Factory + wins €100 shopping voucher by Faster96
2°- YAMAHA XT – Raw Custom (PD) – wins gift card and WeMoto.it T-shirt
3°- BMW R45 – Motoatelier (UD) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
CAFE RACER
1°- YAMAHA XS400 – VM Cycles (UD) – wins Shoei Helmet
2°- H-D XL 1200 – Mirco Maranini (FC) – wins gift card and WeMoto.it T-shirt
3°- GARELLI 50 CROSS – Davide Zannier (UD) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
OLD STYLE
1°- HONDA CB750 – Andrea Turco (UD) – wins €200 shopping voucher by Faster96
2°- STYL’SON CR 250 “PEL E OS” – PDF Motociclette (BG) – wins backrest by IMCO Motorcycles
3°- H-D DYNA – GDesign Custom (CO) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
STREETFIGHTER
1°- H-D XR 1200 – Niko Bikes (BG) – wins €300 Gift Card by Alex de Pase Tattoo Studio
2°- BUELL XB12S – Rod Motorcycles (Repubblica Ceca) – wins €200 Gift Card by Alex de Pase Tattoo Studio
3°- H-D NIGHT ROD – Custom Thom – wins €100 Gift Card by Alex de Pase Tattoo Studio
MODIFIED H-D
1°- H-D V-ROD – Kustom Kio (VR) – wins €500 shopping voucher by Zodiac
2°- H-D 1340 – BSide Motorcycles (PO) – wins €100 shopping voucher by Faster96
3°- H-D FAT BOY – Customade Garage (BG) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
METRIC
1°- SUZUKI 650 “HAGANE” – Overdrive Customs (VE) – wins €200 shopping voucher by Faster96
2°- HONDA SHADOW – Croy Garage (VR) – wins Rebuffini Motorcycle part
3° – HONDA SHADOW – Goro (MB) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
BAGGER
1°- H-D BAGGER – Asso Special Bike (CO) – wins €200 shopping voucher by MCJ Exhaust Systems
2°- H-D ROAD GLIDE – Shoot Fire (MC) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
3°- H-D STREET GLIDE – Punto Moto Factory Bike (VE) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
FREESTYLE
1°- UNBIRTHDAY – American Dreams (MB) – wins €500 shopping voucher by Zodiac
2°- H-D IRONHEAD – Il Meccanicamente (MI) – wins Rebuffini Motorcycle part
3°- KAWASAKI Z750 – Max Vidoni (UD) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
CHICANO SHOW
1°- H-D HERITAGE – Rckroll-Chop (VA) – wins €200 shopping voucher by Faster96
2°- H-D “EL CHAPO” – HD Bergamo (BG) – wins Rebuffini Motorcycle part
3°- H-D “SEGUNDA VIDA” – MC Cycles (TV) – €100 San Marco Petroli fuel coupon
Like any great story, the end of Italy’s number one outdoor motorcycle event already heralds the anticipation for the third edition of Italian Bike Week, scheduled for September 12-15.
