The annual Custombike Show in Bad Salzuflen, Germany is billed as the “world’s largest motorcycle show for rebuilt motorcycles,” featuring as many as 400 custom bikes over a space of 17,000 square meters! The show has been running since 2004, though a two-year hiatus for the pandemic means that 2024 was the 18th edition of the event, not the 20th anniversary.
Our friend and builder Roman Juriš made the 2000-km round-trip journey from his home country of Slovakia for the show, bringing along his Yamaha XS400 roadster to compete in the European Custombike Championship (ECC) being held at the show. With a scratch-built frame and patented Progressive Upside Down Fork (PUSDF) assembly intended to minimize dive under braking, Roman’s bike was one of the most popular machines we featured in 2024.
We felt Roman’s XS400 deserved to take home a prize — after all, how many customs can boast a European patent for a major part of the build? However, we aren’t judges at this show, and the competition was fierce, even if the event seemed a bit smaller than in past years.
Below are Roman’s observations from the show, several standpoints he picked, show winners in each category, and a whole gallery of other builds and details. Enjoy!
Event Report: Roman Juriš at Custombike Show 2024
The first weekend of December traditionally sees the annual CUSTOMBIKE-SHOW, which showcases the best machines created in garages and workshops mainly in Germany but also in surrounding countries.
I was particularly looking forward to this year because I could participate in the European Custombike Championship with my Yamaha. So I again completed the route of almost 1000 km and then back.
This year the organizers gave a chance to about 250 motorcycles. The show lasted three days, from Friday to Sunday. The official announcement of the results was on Sunday at 3:30 PM. Despite my hopes, I did not win anything again. The winners were decided by a professional jury.
Germans feel a certain nostalgia for the imperfect machines produced during socialism in the eastern part of Germany and so they dedicate themselves to their modifications with undisguised nostalgia.
A large part of one hall was occupied by machines mainly of the Simson brand in various modifications. Sometimes I felt that these bikes were more interesting than the big machines. The workshop design was top-notch, no one spared any ideas.
Traditionally, the European Biker Build-Off competition took place and even a similar competition in the 50cc category.
I can’t objectively assess the attendance, but I had the impression that fewer people came than in previous years. It is true that there was a break caused by the pandemic at that time and after that break, many visitors came because they couldn’t wait to get their dose of custom bike drugs.
Class Winners: European Custombike Championship
Photos by Dirk Behlau.
More Photos
Photos by Roman Juriš
Follow the Show
Web: www.custombike-show.de
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CustombikeShow/
Instagram: @custombike_show
German taste must be acquired first (can it be???). No need to quote Picasso on good taste, that quote has been used ad nauseam.
The vast majority of bikes exhibited is absolutely ghastly; there is not one single bike here that I would like to own, ride or even just keep in my garage.
Next show please; in Japan preferably (these guys have an impeccable sense of aesthetics).
AGREED
I see things differently.
If we placed a few motorcycles from Germany at the Yokohama exhibition in the category “motorcycle for motorcycle”, i.e. a work of art that is almost impossible to ride, they would apply there.
On the other hand, in the category “motorcycle that can be ridden”, Germany would win.
At first, I thought the photographer must not be an avid motorcyclist since the show was so large and these bikes were the ones selected for this good blog??? Then, I saw “best sports bike” winner and thought what the hell is wrong with this show? (even if those modified “baggers” are lapping tracks with good time, you mean there was not one custom sportbike in attendance?)
Best bikes displayed are the Buell and, imagine, a Nighthawk?
Our favorites are the Ducati, the Buell, Roman’s XS400 (featured here on BikeBound), the burgundy Simson, and the XS650 board tracker.