Aftermarket Moto Design 296 March 2023 AMD296 March 2023 | Page 60

" All the same , yet somehow different ... "

MOTOR BIKE EXPO 2024 Verona , Italy , January 19th - 21st

Excitement in the custom scene in Europe runs high every January : it ' s MOTOR BIKE EXPO / MBE time - and the 16th edition at the Verona Expo Center again opened the new season as a showcase for the Italian and European custom bike and motorcycle scene . MBE 2024 did not disappoint in terms of creativity and high-class custombuilt motorcycles from builders in Italy and all over Europe , yet there were many long-term exhibitors and Big- Name names from Italy missing .
As were some traditional U . S . customizers , who were attending the Parts Unlimited & Drag Specialities Spring NVP Product Expo , held at the Louisville / Kentucky International Convention Center on the same weekend . Nevertheless , an " all American " jury ( Michael Lichter , Bobby Seeger , Jeff Holt and Cary Brobeck ) judged the MBE " Top 10 " bikes from the ' Class of 2024 ' and who got to be crowned the show ' s " King of Custom " on Saturday . There was no lack of cool bikes - and enthusiasm for building one-off
motorcycles still seems to be high , at least south of the Alps it is - with 100,000 sq m of exhibition space , 700 + exhibitors and the usual variety of exhibits and shopping opportunities that make MBE such a great visit . The only blemish on the weekend was a Stunt Show accident in which ten members of the public were hurt as a " Donut Burnout " went out of control and the stuntcar went off into the safety barriers . The result was the cancelation of all the further planned stunt
Words and pictures by Horst Rösler , Motographer
The " King of Custom " of MOTOR BIKE EXPO 2024 , Geneva / Switzerland based Stephane Grand of " T4 " won the prestigious award for his wild single downtube Knucklehead conversion with unique handcrafted parts and very special steering head arrangement .
Despite running it ' s own event in the USA at the same time , the Drag Specialties / Parts Europe team attended in force ! competitions and displays for the weekend . Friday saw numerous bike premieres , including Dr . Jekill & Mr . Hyde ' s new Race Bagger , a customized BMW R18 by Paul Yaffe and new custom bikes by Boccin Custom Cycles , Bad Boys Garage , Custommade Garage and others . All four of the big European parts distributors were there - Custom Chrome Europe and Parts Europe from Germany , and Zodiac International and Motorcycle Storehouse from the Netherlands - all making their presence known , looking for new ideas , products and clients .
Dr . Jekill & Mr Hyde ' s Race Bagger featuring a new exhaust system .
However , many leading Italian customizers that had been everpresents in previous years were missing , as exhibitors at least - maybe just visiting or competing in one or another of the custom bike shows instead . New names are slowly but steadily starting to emerge as the eternal cycle of renewal starts over again - and with some new ideas too . The competitions , including the " King of Custom " ( formerly " King of Verona ") and no less than 27 (!) " magazine " and " special awards " took their share of the stage time on Saturday - an interminable process of ' me too / we too ' that takes considerable time . While magazine and special awards are handed out to
60 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - MARCH 2024 www . AMDmag . com