For 15 years, BMW Motorrad fans have gathered in Germany to celebrate BMW Motorrad Days. This year, BMW Motorrad Days will also come to America in a partnership with the Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, Alabama (read our report from the 2021 Barber Vintage Festival). This first BMW Motorrad Days Americas event comes right in time for BMW Motorrad’s 100th anniversary.
BMW invites fans from across the Americas to come celebrate the legacy of BMW Motorrad and gather with other BMW riders and fans for three days of fun and activities. Events will include a fan zone, demo rides, stunt shows, bike shows, a scavenger hunt, the DoubleR Fest, and more. Attendees to BMW Motorrad Days Americas can also get a 20% discount on Barber Vintage Festival tickets by registering for the event through BMW.
For more information about BMW Motorrad Days Americas, read the press release below.
BMW Motorrad USA is proud to announce that, for the very first time, BMW Motorrad Days will be celebrated in the United States, and will be held in partnership with the Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, AL. Taking place from October 6-8, 2023, BMW Motorrad Days Americas will be a celebration of the storied 100 Year history of BMW motorcycles. BMW Motorrad looks forward to celebrating its very special centenary with not only BMW fans but with all motorcycling fans from all over the Americas. It will be a weekend not to be missed!
In December 1922, BMW chief designer Max Friz put the first full-scale BMW motorcycle on the drawing board. At its heart was a 494 cc, 8.5 hp, air-cooled two-cylinder, four- stroke boxer engine. The first BMW motorcycle, the R 32, was unveiled in September 1923 at the German Motor Show in Berlin. Production began that same month in an area of the BMW engine works on the edge of the Munich’s Oberwiesenfeld airfield. Just 56 motorcycles were built that first year. Those humble beginnings of BMW motorcycle production launched an unprecedented success story that would span a century.
BMW Motorrad celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023.
For 15 years, thousands of fans from around the world have traveled to Germany to celebrate BMW Motorrad Days and finally, during this important year, the fans from all over the Americas will have an event of their own where they can gather to celebrate with friends, old and new.
“We are so very excited to have the opportunity to celebrate our 100 Year anniversary with our friends at the Barber Motorsports Park.” said Luciana Francisco, Head of Marketing and Product, BMW Motorrad USA. “After all, you only get to celebrate such a significant milestone once and you have to do it right. There is no better event than the Barber Vintage Festival to co-host the first ever BMW Motorrad Days Americas. We look forward to celebrating our centenary with the extended BMW enthusiast family from Canada to Argentina and from all of the amazing places in between.”
The Barber Vintage Festival, a three-day motorcycle festival, is one of the largest vintage festivals in the country. Each year, this event brings 65,000+ motorcycle fans from around the country.
“We are honored to have the first ever BMW Motorrad Days Americas take place at Barber Vintage Festival,” said George Dennis, President of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive promotor of Barber Motorsports Park. “This event is a must-see for any motorcycle fans or Birmingham residents.”
Inside the incomparable Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
The three-day festival will include vintage racing, a fan zone with vendors and entertainment, a swap meet with hundreds of vendors selling vintage motorcycles and parts, demo rides, training experiences, family fun and of course, the world-famous Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
• Fan Zone: Product display, beer garden, live music, food trucks, partner displays, merchandise store, kid zone
• Ride Experiences: Demo Rides of the latest motorcycles, Off Road demos led by BMW Performance Center, Electric demos with the CE 04 and more.
• Stunt Shows: Chris McNeil performing awe inspiring stunts all weekend! (TBD)
• Ride in Bike Show: Vintage and Custom motorcycles with special awards
• Barber Museum Scavenger Hunt: explore the museum to find historic highlights
• DoubleR Fest: Register to ride on-track with Nate Kern during DoubleR Fest, Monday Oct 9th. You do not have to ride a BMW motorcycle, but seats are limited so register now!
Discounted Festival Tickets through BMW Motorrad USA
Attendees can purchase Barber Vintage Festival tickets at a 20% discount by registering through BMW Motorrad Days Americas and they may pre-register for BMW Demo Rides by clicking here.
Event Information and Links
Dates: October 6-8
Location: Barber Motorsports Park
Address: 6040 barber Motorsports parkway, Leeds, AL 35094
BMW Motorrad Days is the annual gathering of BMW motorcycle enthusiasts in Germany, and it will be extra special this year because the marque is celebrating a century of building motorcycles. BMW has announced limited-edition 100 Years Editions for the R 18 and R nineT for 2023, and BMW Motorrad Days will no doubt be a heckuva party. Read the official announcement below.
Munich, Germany (Tuesday, February 27, 2023) – For more than 20 years, the BMW Motorrad Days have been a highlight and must-attend event in the annual calendar of motorbike enthusiasts from all over the world. Be it sport or touring riders, off- road cracks or customizing and racing fans – in some cases they travel not only from European countries, but even from the USA, Japan, and Australia to experience a thrilling BMW Motorrad themed time in Berlin with like-minded enthusiasts. This time, the 21st edition of the BMW Motorrad Days, from July 7-9 2023, will be dedicated to the 100th anniversary of BMW Motorrad.
BMW Motorrad Days on grounds of Messe Berlin.
Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, said “We successfully anchored the BMW Motorrad Days at the BMW plant location in Berlin last year with a new concept and there will be no shortage of highlights at this year’s 100th BMW Motorrad anniversary event. This time, we will not only be offering a wide range of exciting activities at the central event in the Summer Garden at Messe Berlin trade fair, but also other event areas in and around Berlin to meet the wishes and interests of our customers and fans. For example, the Pure&Crafted Festival takes place at the same time, which BMW Motorrad initiated and for which it is also the title sponsor. There are tours of the BMW Motorrad plant in Spandau, and there is the MCC Schenkenhorst off-road area, where the International Qualifying for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 in Namibia will also be held from July 6-8. In short, for our 100th BMW Motorrad anniversary, we have put together an action-packed program for our visitors. And I can promise you: Everyone will get their money’s worth here.”
Plant Tours at BMW Motorrad Days
This is where BMW motorcycles come to life. In the heart of Berlin’s Spandau district stands the birthplace of BMW Motorrad. From morning to evening, over 1,000 visitors will have the opportunity to experience the BMW Motorrad plant in Spandau up close on an exciting guided tour on the weekend. Free shuttles will be provided from Messe Berlin to the plant and back.
Booking is only possible at the BMW Motorrad Days event site. The number of participants is limited.
Pure&Crafted Festival
In addition to the BMW Motorrad Days, music enthusiasts will also get their money’s worth at the Pure&Crafted Festival initiated by BMW Motorrad.
Music, motorbike culture, and lifestyle come together in a tried and tested manner in vibrant Kreuzberg, at the heart of the city. A unique mix that makes this small, fine festival so extraordinary and special. International music acts, spectacular BMW Motorrad Heritage bikes, renowned customizers, and a General Store with a wide range of products will make the hearts of the Heritage community beat faster.
The Pure&Crafted Festival will have plenty of music and fun.
This year, for the first time, electric mobility will also play a central role at Pure&Crafted. BMW Motorrad – as the festival’s title sponsor – is building a bridge from heritage to mobility concepts of the future, thereby consistently developing this event format. Finally, the Pure&Crafted program is rounded off by a world premiere.
BMW Motorrad Days Adventure Hub: MCC Schenkenhorst Offroad Area
BMW Motorrad has come up with something very special for BMW GS enthusiasts. In addition to the range of enduro training courses and guided offroad tours through beautiful Brandenburg, the grounds of MCC Schenkenhorst will be transformed into the “place to be” for the international BMW GS community.
From July 6-9, camping areas for 500 people and 30 camper van pitches will be available. You need to pre-register for this from March 2023 at BMW Motorrad’s website. Food and drink will be provided and sanitary facilities are also available.
In the evening, fans can look forward to talking shop around the campfire with live entertainment, or they can use one of the free shuttle buses to visit the big anniversary party on the exhibition grounds. The trip takes just under half an hour, and the buses also shuttle back and forth regularly during the day.
International Qualifying for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 Namibia
From July 6-8, the MCC Schenkenhorst grounds will also be the venue for the “International Qualifying” for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 Namibia. All BMW GS riders whose home country does not offer national qualifying for the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2024 can take part here. The top three will then form an “International Team” for the first time in the history of the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy, which will compete in the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy in Namibia in 2024.
Race Track Training on the Spreewaldring
A short hour’s drive from Messe Berlin, nestled in the unique cultural landscape of the Spreewald forest, lies the Spreewaldring, a training and racing circuit. The 2.7-km-long and 10-m-wide race track offers ten right-hand and seven left-hand corners, high-level grip, and can be used in two circuit variants.
You can ride the latest BMW S 1000 models there under the professional guidance of experienced instructors from our partner MotoRacingSchool. In addition, Race Taxi Drives with BMW M2 cars are offered several times a day. Product advisors, exhibitors, and partners will be on site as well.
Campervan pitches are also available here for the sports community. The Tropical Islands water park and the Stork Club Whiskey Distillery, well-known from the Pure&Crafted Festival with its beautiful courtyard garden, are also in the immediate vicinity. All other BMW Motorrad Days events and areas are also quick and easy to get to.
BMW Motorrad Days Summer Garden, Heritage Area, and Festival Tent
On July 7 at 2 p.m., Messe Berlin will open its doors at the north entrance to the exhibition grounds for the 21st BMW Motorrad Days.
Visitors will be able to choose from a great variety of food and drink at many different outlets all over the grounds: in the Summer Garden, the Heritage Area, or the specially erected large Festival Tent. It offers space for around 2,000 people and will become the focal point for party-goers from all over the world. The live music already ramps up here in the late afternoon offering a cross-over of laid-back Bavarian and Berlin metropolitan flair. And if that’s not enough for you, the party continues into the small hours with international cover hits at the Palais.
At the fair grounds, attendees can shop through a variety of vendors.
The Heritage Area offers lots of custom bikes, cool music, and a beer garden. The DJ gets going in the afternoon, while on Friday and Saturday evening, rock ‘n’ roll bands deliver the musical goods.
The original motodrome, already a tradition in the Heritage Area, is where the legendary “Motorellos” defy gravity and put on an impressive show with their motorbikes.
Those who prefer a quieter atmosphere can simply find a shady spot in the spacious Summer Garden and chill out with a delicious ice cream or a freshly prepared cocktail.
BMW Motorrad Days Exhibitions
The various exhibition areas are BMW Motorrad Days fixtures. The BMW Motorrad brand experience will be celebrated with more than 60 red-hot motorcycle models, accessories, and a large fan shop, as well as more than 30 international travel, training, and test ride partners in the air-conditioned and approximately 4,000-sqm hall 20. In addition to Rent A Ride, Fuel for Life, the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy, and BMW Group Classic, there will be numerous international exhibitors and partners in hall 18 and in the outdoor area.
There will be custom BMW motorcycles on display at the custom bike exhibition.
“100 years of BMW Motorrad” Special Exhibition
To mark the anniversary, visitors to the BMW Motorrad Days can of course also look forward to a special exhibition with motorbikes and experiences from every decade of the company’s 100-year history.
And after all, what would the BMW Motorrad Days be without loads of bike action? That’s why spectacular motorbike shows will be hot in 2023: a breathtaking FMX show, the trial show by and with Adrian Guggemos, or the streetbike stunt show with Dirk Manderbach.
Test Rides
Attractive riding offers will also be a central feature at the 21st BMW Motorrad Days. The program includes extensive test rides with the fleet of over 100 motorcycles, consisting of the latest BMW Motorrad models including the BMW CE 04 scooters, which you can use to explore Berlin electrically.
And if you’ve never sat on a motorcycle before, simply book a slot at “Riding without a license.” Here, your first attempts at riding a motorcycle are sure to succeed under the expert guidance of our partner riding school.
Family Activities
The BMW Motorrad Days are traditionally a festival for the entire family, with plenty to offer for kids and youngsters in particular, whether it’s the miniature town for the little ones, the kids course for bicycles and push bikes, the wheelie school by Dirk Manderbach, or the BMW Motorrad e-gaming trailer for fast-paced racing battles.
BMW motorcycles will be lining the streets of Munich July 7-9 for BMW Motorrad Days.
There is something for everyone here. The program is rounded off by presentations held by world travelers, and there will be many other exciting fringe events.
BMW Motorrad Days will move to Berlin in 2021, according to a recent announcement. Previously, the event was held in Munich. There were 18 successful BMW Motorrad Days held in Munich, so the move to Berlin is an important one.
Berlin is “in the heart of Europe” as BMW puts it in its press release, and it’s where BMW has built motorcycles for half a century. This new location for the event is a new chapter for the event, and it should be a smart move.
“The BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen has been a genuine success story – an event that has attracted tens of thousands of visitors every year and was founded on excellent cooperation with the municipality of Garmisch-Partenkirchen,” said Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad.
The idea behind the move is the “break new ground.” the company wants to shake things up, in a way, and focus on brand development and the new design concepts. BMW wants to keep the BMW Motorrad Days fresh and interesting for the future, which will likely include many new zero-emissions mobility solutions and unique urban mobility concepts.
“I am very pleased that the BMW Motorrad Days, one of the largest motorcycle events in Europe, will come to Berlin next year and that we were able to win this attractive and traditional event for our city,” said the mayor of Berlin, Michael Muller.
Hopefully, this will translate to further success for BMW and the BMW Motorrad Days.
