With one exception, the Best of Show bike, all the bikes rolled onto the stage under their own power. The winner, a radical Yamaha XS 650 chopper creation from England, gave up only after a hot five-hour struggle to ride the bike on stage. Owner Gareth Rudy had the beast fired up several times, but unfortunately not at the all-important trophy ceremony. Sickboy Customs created this unique XS 650 which is street-legal in the UK and scored high with another New School type bobber. This won him a $5,100 voucher for Zodiac Parts and a $6,800 prize to go to the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building at Sturgis 2011, of which the Bigtwin Expo is the Dutch affiliate event.
Netherlands-based custom parts distributor Zodiac also held their annual dealer show with 30 exhibitors and new items at the same location, opening the doors to the public in the afternoon and allowing the public to interact with representatives and specialists from all over the world. Zodiac sponsored the bike show as a well as the new, fresh (and with a rousing response from audience and participants) Master Technician Contest 2010 for which no less than 18 competitors applied. Organizers were Innovam Tweewieler Academy, Barselaar Auto & Motortechniek, Zodiac, along with support by Bigtwin magazine. Competitors had to pass four station challenges, such as changing the pistons on a Twin Cam, changing a bagger pulley cover, setting up a complete electrical circuit, and adjusting the ignition timing on a Sportster. They had 30 minutes to perform each task.
Of course the traditional swapmeet floor, vendors, distributors, Dutch customizers, and the biker party with live music and strip shows made up for a very short weekend. This year, visitors interest was way up, compared to the previous two decining years. Althought the weather was not enviable, many visitors arrived on two wheels. I’d say Bigtwin Bike Show and Expo is back on track.