Showtime for the German custom bike industry came at the end of November last year, when one of Europe ' s oldest, longest established shows saw over 20,000 visitors, over 250 bike show entries, over 200 exhibitors gathering for the German market ' s largest annual custom motorcycle expo. Situated in northern Germany, the small Spa town of Bad Salzuflen( south of Hannover) has been hosting Custombike shows at its modern exhibition center since 1997. The three halls offer 23,000 sq. m.( approx. 250,000 sq. ft.) of indoor expo space and most of the main ' players ' in the European custom market were present- vendors and builders. Two customizing competitions are staged and inclusive of all the custom bikes on exhibitor booths and noncompetition displays there were some 1,000 plus examples on show. The European Harley scene had a tough year in 2025, especially in Germany. The economic conditions continued to be a challenge, consumer confidence has been ' sketchy ' at best, Harley ' s ongoing corporate issues have continued to dog the dealer community, especially dealer policy, with general oversupply of units camouflaging a shortage of the models that would be the best sellers in Europe, if sufficient inventory had

been available on a reliable and timely basis. In general, the motorcycle market in Europe has been through the impacts of the latest ' upgrade ' to the emissions laws, with Euro 5 + regulations meaning that thousands of new bikes, including Harleys, having to be preregistered before midnight on December 31st 2024, then struggling to find buyers in early 2025 despite deep discounting and promotional package support. The net result has been the closure of a number of dealers in Germany and elsewhere in Europe( Britain and Italy

especially). In Germany the casualties included several renowned and longtime Harley such as in Koblenz, Berlin and Rhein-Neckar. All dealers have felt a reduced demand for custom parts and services and a general drop in sales numbers. As prices continue to increase, garages are packed with old and used models( including custom bikes), and even winter storage has become more difficult and expensive than ever, thanks to all to so-called electronic ' creature comforts ' and gimmicks. Europe in general, and Germany in particular, remains more of a

traditional, purist market than the United States. Having had to file for bankruptcy protection last year( when German financial bureaucracy and banking conservatism saw the credit lines at their bank of choice reduced) Custom Chrome Europe has bounced back and were exhibiting at Custombike under new, European and engineering based ownership. The degrees of such difficulty encountered by German businesses in last year, especially motorcycle industry businesses, have seen many others, from all sectors similarly

>>>