Billed as the best 'Rally-Race-Rock' Motorcycle Festival in Europe, and host to an AMD Approved International Custom Bike Show, the 40th annual Biker Fest will be staged from May 14-17, 2026, at Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine, Italy) - its regular destination resort north of Venice on Italy's Adriatic Coast. It is said that in 2025 the event attracted some 240,000 visitors, making it the largest rally outside of the United States; www.bikerfest.com
The MRF in the USA (Motorcycle Riders Foundation) has announced September 25-28 for its annual 'Meeting Of The Minds' convention at Shreveport, Louisiana. Agenda items include topical presentations, 16 info-packed workshops and Capitol Hill updates. First time attendees between the ages of 18-35 receive a 35% discount on event registrations. The venue is Sam's Town Hotel & Casino - which is poetic since expecting legislators to ever do anything helpful is always a crapshoot at best; www.mrf.org
Michael Ballard's Full Throttle at Sturgis is set to host an Industry Day and Exclusive party on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, during the 85th annual Pappy Hoel Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis Rally). "This event is designed to bring together top-tier brands, builders, and media for a day of connection, collaboration, and celebration at the world's largest biker bar." Highlights at the Full Throttle Expo Center on the 30-acre site include a Mama Tried custom motorcycle Sturgis Showcase, the Trask Performance Invitational Bike Show and a new venue for the Michael Lichter Photography Exhibition. This year, the exhibition includes never-before-seen works in celebration of Lichter's 2025 Arlen Ness Lifetime Achievement Award; www.fullthrottlesaloon.com
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame has its six inductees to be honored at the 2025 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Oct. 23 in Pickerington, Ohio. They are riders rights advocate Dana Bell; ISDT Gold Medalist and Motion Pro founder Chris Carter; 'Texas Tornado' Colin Edwards - 2-time WSBK champion (2000/2002); Dirt Track 'Grand Slammer' Joe Kopp; Chad Reed Australian SuperX Champion and AMA career wins record holder and Ryan Young - the 6-time AMA/NATC Trials Champion.
AFAM, the iconic Belgian manufacturer renowned for its high-performance motorcycle transmission components, is officially returning to the U.S. market through a new distribution partnership with Kimpex USA. A staple of the American powersports scene in the 1980s and '90s, AFAM earned a strong reputation among road riders, motocross racers, and off-road enthusiasts for its durable chains, sprockets, and transmission kits/PSB
Colorado based F1 owner Liberty Media has been given the green light by the EU's competition authority to conclude its controversial plan to add Madrid based MotoGP and WorldSBK rights holder Dorna Sports - without any conditions being imposed. The € 4.3bn deal was first announced at the end of March 2024. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna since 1998, will continue to run MotoGP along with his management team. Liberty Media will acquire 84% of Dorna, with MotoGP management retaining 16% of the business.
Milwaukee and West Bend H-D are under new ownership - acquired by Scott Fischer Enterprises. SFE additionally owns Thunderbird H-D in Albuquerque and Wicked West H-D in Santa Fe NM.
Effective July 1, Minnesota has become the sixth US State to make lanesplitting legal (aka 'lane sharing'). Restrictions apply - including but not limited to motorcycles not going at more than 25 mph and no more than 15 mph over the traffic speed. The others are California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Montana. In Oregon the Governor blocked such a bill.
Revival Cycles' popular Handbuilt Show is to follow-up its efforts to propagate the brand to California with a 2025 Los Angeles show on Saturday, September 13; www.revivalcycles.com
