At Harley-Davidson, it's one blow after another

Harley-Davidson is once again offering brand fans in Germany, Austria and Switzerland a number of its own events in the new year and is also supporting one or two other events. In some cases, there is a weekly rhythm of events. Around a dozen events are planned, with the traditional Bike Week at Lake Faak as the highlight and end of the season.

The Love Ride kicks off on May 5 in Dübendorf, Switzerland. Europe's largest one-day motorcycle charity event is held for the benefit of people with muscle diseases and disabilities. Next on the Harley calendar is the Magic Bike in Rüdesheim (30.5.-2.6.) with lots of live music and a spectacular parade through the Rheingau. Just a few days later, the 30th European H.O.G. Rally in Senigallia on the Italian Adriatic (6-9 June) will be a highlight of the program. Visitors and participants can expect sun, sea and sand as well as fascinating motorcycle routes and a great entertainment program. If you don't want to travel quite so far, you can visit the Sylt chapter's Summertime Party on Germany's northernmost island at the same time.

Hamburg Harley Days, the largest urban motorcycle event in the country, will take place again from June 28 to 30. July (5-7) begins with the Swiss Harley Days on the northern shore of Lake Lugano, which has both a Swiss and Mediterranean flavor. A week later, Harley-Davidson fans make the pilgrimage to Bike Week in Willingen (July 11-14), where the Rothaargebirge mountains promise wonderful rides. This is followed two weeks later by Harley Days Dresden (26-28 July). There will be concerts, bike shows, guided rides and a motorcycle parade through the Florence of the Elbe.

The LWL Industrial Museum Henrichshütte in Hattingen, where the blast furnaces boiled iron for 150 years, forms the impressive backdrop for the one-day Harley Meeting Ruhrpott on August 4. The "Ladies of Harley" meet a short time later with a large program in Potsdam (7-11.8.). Hundreds of Harleys will also be rolling across Austria in August (August 14-18) for a good cause: under the motto "Loud for the quiet, strong for the weak", the Harley-Davidson Charity Tour is supporting children with muscular diseases for the 27th time.

The final highlight of the year is once again the European Bike Week (September 3-8) in Carinthia, Austria. Europe's biggest motorcycle party takes place around Lake Faak with free admission. The motorcycle transport company SKS, a long-standing partner of Harley-Davidson Germany and Austria, will ring visitors' motorcycles to Faak and back on request. The two-wheeler professionals from the Westerwald also offer their own events with all-round carefree packages including motorcycle transportation to several southern European countries. (aum)