The second show I attended was the CustomBike Show in Bad Salzuflen, Germany. Leading in Europe, just like the BigTwin Bikeshow.

This time no heavy storm, like in Houten, but ‘Winter is Coming’. The V8 is heavy so, better safe than sorry, I tightened an extra set of tension straps over the swingarm.

The trip went well, and Bad Salzuflen was wintery.

Familiar faces and familiar motorcycles: it was nice to have the beautiful ‘Murata’ by Ruben Mellaerts close by again.

We got a nice spot, right at the entrance.

One of the few license plated motorcycles was this Boss Hoss. This V8 was the actual reason for my project, with the question: ‘can it be done differently?’

It really was a reunion: ‘The Crown’, by Dirk Oehlerking, also present.

I was very impressed with ‘Miss Penny’, Jimmi Mannaia’s 2020 creation. It not only had a small turbo and very futuristic styling …

… but also a very special and beautifully designed hub control. Wonderful.

And look at this Moto Martin CBX, built by ExtremeBikes. Aggressively styled, and with a wide rear tire. Almost (almost!) as beautiful as a Spondon CBX.

I know, cafe racers are already a bit out of fashion. But I can’t resist them. Another one, based on a XV920, and just look at that beautiful exhaust.

This is in what you can transform a BMW K100, just about the most boring motorcycles ever. Also note that single-sided swingarm and seatpipe. Both bikes are built by Brückner.

I thought this BMW ‘Hercules II’ was absolutely crazy. A boxer engine on steroids, purely made for speed. Look at how beautifully the air filters are incorporated, how far the fork legs protrude through the triple trees, and the extremely short front suspension way: all to be as compact as possible and thus catch as little wind as possible.

And then add a little nitrous, why not? ;)

This bike won all sprint competitions at Glemseck. No wonder: cover 200 meters in under 5 seconds, and then at 200 km/h.

From narrow to wide: a 400mm (!) wide rear tire. I also had the choice to go wider than my chosen 300mm, but I think those wheels look more like a rain barrel than a wheel. So I didn’t go ‘all the way’ with the ‘More is More’ concept, but with good reason.

The show was very well attended.

It’s funny to listen to the comments every now and then. :)

The extremely steep head angle was noted.

I made new friends: bike builders, engine technology teachers, that kind of people.

Bikes were occasionally presented on stage, but also mopeds. The quality of these builds was very high and can absolutely compete with motorcycle custom builds.

Take this ‘Schwalbe 74’, by René Fiedler. Based on a Simson Schwalbe from, yes, 1974. With two enormous brake discs at the front and one at the back. Wonderfully over the top.

In the middle a familiar face: bike journalist Horst Rösler.

Because I might have to go on stage, I had made a small calculation in advance about the maximum angle of inclination. An angle of 15 degrees is the absolute limit to prevent scraping my frame.

This stage had a clever ramp, with a downwards starting arch and a bulging end arch.

But measuring is knowing, and this should work out just fine.

On Sunday morning I received a call: I had won ‘Best Engineering’, great!

Shortly before the awards ceremony, the bikes gathered near the stage. Including this bizarre creation, with the entire engine wrapped around the front wheel, and winner of ‘Craziest Bike’.

And yes, the Simson was also present. As it deserved.

It was busy at the awards ceremony. Lots of tense faces.

My good friend Micky had arrived in the meantime.

I was told in advance that I was not allowed to burn-out on stage. Unlike the show in Houten, hardly any bikes were started anyway.

I rode the bike on stage without any problems. Because pushing: no way!

‘Best Engineering’. Yes!

Photo: Horst Rösler

‘Miss Penny’ had to be pushed onto the stage by three people. Not a ‘chicken’ in sight here. ;)

Truly a work of art. You constantly discover new design gems in this bike.

This Harley became ‘Best of Show’. I had walked past it for three days. But hey, to each his own.

Micky posed among the ladies of the act ‘The Fuel Girls’. :)

The winding down of the show was, like always, quite chaotic. Vans, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, a mix of all.

The bike was just pulled in the trailer when we were suddenly ‘salt blasted’. Apparently some idiot had decided that a gritter should do its thing at that moment; those white grains in the rim are salt. And it was absolutely everywhere. Such timing is truly shocking.

Sprinkling salt on the way back was not such a bad idea. It started snowing harder and harder. But the little Hyundai got me home safely.

Next day I treated the trailer to a shower.

Some days later I found a really interesting report of the show on the (until then unknown to me) website bikebound.com, with very good photos. Followed by – sadly but that’s how it goes these days – the most idiotic comments; for me a reason never to visit such sites. I just can’t handle extreme stupidity.

But the razor-sharp response from one called Allora really struck me. And for the first time in years I posted a comment on a forum.