Custombike Aftermarket Show Part 1 – Bad Salzuflen, Germany

Story by Mark Barnett and Horst Rosler

Photos by Horst Rosler

Crisis? What crisis? Europe’s largest custom bike and aftermarket parts show was bigger and better than ever. It had more exhibitors, more bikes in the show, more visitors, and probably the biggest traffic jam the German spa town has ever seen. The halls were crowded with visitors all three days, signaling that at least the German motorcycle market is still in good condition.

Organized by German Huber-Verlag for the fifth year, the show has become a well-oiled machine with a custom bike show, a Biker Build Off, and a Pimp My Softail demonstration in which the happy winner has his bike “pimped” in front of the audience by Custom Chrome Europe.

New this year was the presence of Drag Specialties, their new warehouse in Konz, Germany is stocked and ready to start selling to dealerships. With all the doom and gloom in the newspapers and increasingly restrictive environmental restrictions, German manufacturers reacted with innovative ideas, often creating new niches. (Continued Monday, June 14)