January 19 – 21, 2024: MBE Verona, the third important custom show in Europe, and the last one my wishlist for the near future.

Mid-January … to Italy … over the Alps; luckily I was well prepared, with a braked trailer on winter tires.
I had made a construction for the spare wheel on the drawbar; this position also increased the so-called ‘nose weight’ to a perfect 41 kilos.

It’s only a short distance from garage to ramp, but the spikes I put under my shoes were really necessary on the icy asphalt.

The little Hyundai was technically (and legally…) unsuitable to undertake this journey. My childhood friend Benno – also mentioned in previous reports – offered to use his much stronger Toyota. He and his wife Ellen were going to enjoy a little holiday in Verona while I was at the show; a perfect deal. :)

It rained incessantly for the first part of the trip; that was actually not a problem …

… but the weather predictions did worry us. In Germany ‘code purple’ applied: heavy snowfall and icy conditions. Schools were closed and people were advised to stay indoors. And we had to go straight through that, there was no escape.

Google advised driving via Austria, then via Switzerland, Austria, Switzerland. We gambled on Austria, and were eventually led to Trento via the winding Fern Pass (1,215 meters) and the Reschen Pass (1,504 meters). Quite exciting, in the dark, with powder snow on the road.

We arrived in Trento around 8 p.m. Hardly any traffic jams, hardly any snow either, as if the weather forecast had been a big hoax. We didn’t complain though.

Slept well and enjoyed a very good breakfast, with sweets baked by the hotel owner.

It was only an hour’s drive to Verona, so that was really relaxing. The weather also was in a good mood.

Being allowed to enter the gigantic exhibition grounds was not easy. But hey, it’s Italy. ;)

They let me pick a nice spot, next to an advertisement from bike magazine LowRide, the organizer of the bike show.

A bit of sunshine, the V8 looked happy.

I parked the trailer on the fairground. That was nice, because parking spaces are hard to find in Verona and, if you succeed, very expensive.

Benno, Ellen and I visited Verona in the afternoon, a city like a fairytale, even in mid-January.

Also a city with a long history. For example, the arena of Verona dates from Roman times and is still in use as a theater. For 2000 years!

Okay then, some more culture: here you see the balcony of Romeo and Juliet, from Shakespeare’s love story.

We finished the afternoon with a gin tonic and a beer.

Onno Wieringa invited me to meet some Italian bike builders. Here you see Luigi (‘Don’ Luigi…), whose safeword is ‘piano!’, while he actually doesn’t sit still for a second, let alone in silence. ;)

Great to get to know the rich Italian cuisine ‘from the locals’. This dessert is called scugnizzi. Really delicious, and so sweet that your teeth might spontaneously fall out.

“No, no no, no límoncello! Méloncello!”.

Exploring Verona by car was not an option. I decided, adviced by Benno and Ellen, to try the Google Maps – Public Transport combo. That worked surprisingly well.

That morning it was already extremely busy at the entrance. With visitors ranging between casual …

…and motorcycle clubs. The MC Bandidos, banned in the Netherlands, were present in large numbers on Saturday.

Just like at the previous two shows, I informed the visitors with a ‘specs sheet’, this time in English …

… and this was, again, studied very often.

The first few hours of the show the visitors were allowed to walk around the bikes. I didn’t like that at all. People get stuck, with all the ugly consequences.

Fortunately, a barrier tape was put in place to prevent damage.

Photographing, filming …

… and the riding position was imitated, from an appropriate distance.

Yes, on thát tiny seat. ;)

Unfortunately, some couldn’t keep their hands to themselves in this show either, young …

… and old. Wanting to be sure it’s for real? I don’t understand this demeanor.

Benno and Ellen visited the show and brought me healthy food; some welcome vitamins, in between the abundance of Italian food.

Of course, acting healthy for too long is not healthy; we had to toast.

That evening I went out with the bike builders again. Behind me you see Niko, Luigi’s son. Opposite him sits his customer Dominique, also a really nice guy, and next to him Luigi. In the front right the irreplaceable Onno.

On Sunday, back at the show, I met an old acquaintance from the BigTwin bike show: ‘Divaria’.
This type of motorcycle is very popular in Italy: Harley, extremely colorful and shiny. Craftsmanship at its best, but not my cup of tea.

This style. Hip and happening.

As if it you don’t wánt to ride it. ;)

You can see from the awards that not everyone agrees with me. And that’s completely okay.

A bit steampunk, I like it.

Brutal, in form and styling, was ‘Tiberius’, from the Austrian Bernard Naumann a.k.a. Blechmann. Futuristic, almost Transformers-like, and very unconventionally based on a Yamaha.

Also really different: the Tiduca, a 1,098cc Ducati  based racer. Beautiful style.

But … with this bike, made by Paolo Manara, my jaw dropped. My God. Double front fork? And wood? That styling? Too much of everything?

Actually: yes. But put together at an unreal skill level.

There is so much to discover on this motorcycle. You don’t watch it, you go on a trip with it. Every detail has been worked out with the precision of a Swiss watch.

An absolute work of art. I walked around it for half an hour and took many pictures …

… as you can see. Just look how that brake hose is mounted.

This bike is based on a Suzuki GSX-R. But acually that doesn’t matter at all.

The interplay of lines of steel, brass, hoses and wood.

The refined paintjob.

Yes, too much of everything. But just do it, if you do it this way.

All specially manufactured parts.

Okay, one more then.

I have never paid so much attention to one bike in any my posts. That says something. A wonderful piece of art.

Even more GSX-Rs, outside, with a slightly different use.

At closing time the halls emtpied. The many models gathered and used my bike as a nice sofa. Did that stress me out? Of course, because I don’t want scratches. But the seat and fenders are built robustly and can handle the weight. And even more: I didn’t see any zippers on the ladies. So it’s okay with me. :)

In the evening we gathered in a very good restaurant, this time in Dossobuono, just outside Verona; a promising name, isn’t it?
I made a trip by bus and train. And the motto was ‘meat’.

The desserts were excellent as well. Weren’t they, Onno…?

Look at that content face. :)

Sunday January 19: again the halls filled up quickly.

This day it was the turn of the Hells Angels. They don’t get along very well with the Bandidos, so each club has its own fair day.

The bike was requested for a photo shoot, and a beautiful girl posed behind it.

There were more models at this show than I had ever seen before. Most of them were female, but there were also male models; emancipation has reached Italy.

Onno dragged me to the moped department of the MBE to judge there. I liked it a lot.

Before the judging took place, the jury members were given an extensive tour along all candidates.

Just like in Germany, the level here was very high. From sprinters …

… to very extravagant creations …

… where the resemblance with the Black Beast of Aaaaaargghh, from Monty Python’s movie ‘The Holy Grail’, was obvious. :)

These are no ordinary mopeds; they are built with the same care as their big brothers …

… often while retaining their original styling.

Speaking of ‘conversion’: many girls had also undergone extensive tinkering. ;)

Quite often the V8 was the decor of a model.

The awards ceremony took place in the afternoon. The hall was packed.

Best of Show was Pepe Lazzara’s Harley ‘Divaria’.
At the BigTwin Bikeshow he had won first prize in the ‘Custom Modified’ category.

I didn’t expect to win an award, with my black-sheep-on-steroids among the colorful parrots. ;)
And was therefore pleasantly surprised with ‘Top 20’.

Photo: Dominique

Ending up in the top 20 at the MBE is a truly great honor.

Don Luigi treated us to a Sambuca. A regular Sambuca? Nooo, of course not! ;)

I spent the last evening with Benno and Ellen, in a very good sushi restaurant.

We left early …

… and had a very pleasant journey home, through sun-drenched Italy.

An unforgettable trip. :)