The event wrapped up the motorcycle summer with a weekend full of emotions. Many foreign visitors highlighted the event’s increasingly international appeal. Great success for the Demo Rides: IBW is one of the very few European venues where you can also test the latest off-road models
«It was another amazing edition. Every year I ask the staff to raise the bar a little, and although it seems impossible, IBW always manages to surprise us with new initiatives and flawless organization» said Massimo Brini, Tourism Councilor for the Municipality of Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine, Italy), commenting on the ITALIAN BIKE WEEK, the end-of-summer motorcycling event that once again brought life to the Adriatic town from September 18 to 21, 2025.
Brini himself was present on Friday, September 19, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony held on the main stage in the Luna Park area, attended by various authorities. Initial data collected by the Tourism Department of Lignano Sabbiadoro confirm the event’s strong growth: «During the event days, our city welcomed nearly 270,000 people, many of whom came from abroad specifically to take part in Italian Bike Week. The number of motorcycles on our roads this weekend speaks for itself» Brini added. «Notably, 40% of attendees were foreigners, confirming the international projection of an event that draws audiences from across Europe — especially Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic».
A valuable event for the region, not only for the economic impact but also for the promotion it brings through various side activities aimed at encouraging tourism and showcasing regional beauty. A prime example: the Mototours, which took participants to visit Cividale del Friuli, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and San Daniele, a hill town known as the ham capital of Friuli. Also notable were the Adventure Rides, 150-km off-road itineraries for off-road enthusiasts.
Off-road riding took center stage, highlighting the key difference between ITALIAN BIKE WEEK and its bigger “sister”, Biker Fest International. On Saturday and Sunday around 100 professional and amateur riders — including Lorenzo Macoritto, factory rider for Osellini Husqvarna Racing in the Enduro World Championship — wowed audiences during the Enduro Days, two days of open trials held on the legendary 12-hour Enduro Lignano course by MC Sabbiadoro. This same club also organized the Enduro Moto-Therapy, a charitable initiative involving about 20 people with disabilities from the CAMPP institutes (Consortium for Medical, Psychological and Educational Assistance) of Lower Friuli.
In the Off-Road Arena, IBW’s dirt area, Demo Rides were held for Adventure, Enduro, Cross, and Scrambler models — completely free test rides offered by top motorcycle manufacturers including Ducati, Fantic, Kove, KTM, RedMoto, Triumph, and Yamaha. Meanwhile, the Stadium Area hosted on-road tests of new models from Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, QJ Motor, Rieju, and Honda, the latter also running its Young Riders School — a course aimed at new riders, especially aspiring female bikers. A total of 1,900 test rides were conducted over the four days.
As a spin-off of Biker Fest International, ITALIAN BIKE WEEK remains true to its roots. From BFI, it inherited the winning format of the Custom Bike Show, a round of the Italian Motorcycle Championship (IMC) — the first and only national championship for custom bike builders. The Lignano round crowned the stunning “Kilometro 32” by Pacelli Custom (CE) as Best in Show and featured the debut of the ARTigliate Custom Contest, dedicated to off-road builds in the Adventure, Scrambler, Tracker, and Classic Enduro styles. The winner was Santafox from Savona, with his Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Sterrato.
The weekend also hosted the Free Chapter Italian Event, a “rally within the rally” that drew around 700 Harley-Davidson riders from the Free Chapter HOG, who came from all over Italy for their national event, organized by the Porta d’Oriente Chapter and its director Gabriele Molfetta. They led the way in the big Saturday Night Parade, followed Sunday morning by the US Car on the Beach parade of American cars. This massive gathering of U.S.-made four-wheelers and roaring V8s — organized by Cruisin’ Life magazine and the Old School Garage Club — brought 240 cars to the parking lot of the Guido Teghil Stadium, showcasing vehicles of all eras, which paraded through the city streets to the cheers of roadside spectators. The top 30 cars were awarded — the oldest was a nearly century-old 1927 Ford Roadster owned by Gualtiero Grilli (RA).
Speaking of V8s, albeit with two fewer wheels, much attention was drawn by the presentation of the Galbusera, a motorcycle powered by a 500 cc eight-cylinder, two-stroke engine, originally designed in the late 1930s by Plinio Galbusera of Brescia, in collaboration with Adolf Marama Toyo, a mechanic from Fiume and early Italian speedway pioneer. The prototype, shown as a mockup at the 1938 Milan Motorcycle Show, was never produced — until nearly 90 years later, when Mirco Snaidero, a craftsman from Friuli, recreated a fully functional and faithful replica from just four vintage photos. The story of this fascinating project was recently told in the book “Sulle tracce di Marama e Toyo. Misteri svelati e il sogno della Galbusera V8 – la moto scomparsa” (On the Trail of Marama and Toyo: Secrets Revealed and the Dream of the Lost Galbusera V8) by Franco Damiani di Vergada of the Moto Club Trieste for Tiglio Edizioni.
The event also featured a packed music program (with 11 rock concerts on the Main Stage starting Thursday), a wide selection of 15 ethnic cuisines, scenic helicopter rides and even space for fun and playful contests. Highlights included the Pin-Up Contest, won by Milan-based makeup artist Cristina Oddo (aka Miss Twinklered); Ciao in Ciabatte, a summer celebration where a long caravan of Piaggio Ciao mopeds headed to the beach for a collective swim and aperitif; and the Beard’s Race, dedicated to beards and mustaches, conceived by Fabrizio Bottos from Pordenone, two-time world champion at the World Beard and Moustache Championships. The winner of the top category (beards over 10 cm) was Nicola Fusi from Verona.
«The weather was on our side with four days of summer sun — the rest was thanks to the public, who rewarded us with massive attendance» concluded organizer Micke Persello. «We’re especially pleased with the excellent response to all the side events and initiatives aimed at promoting the wider region. That fills us with pride and motivates us to keep going».
Now that ITALIAN BIKE WEEK has concluded, the next big date is a special anniversary: the 40th edition of the Biker Fest International, set to take place once again in Lignano Sabbiadoro from May 14–17, 2026.
Posted on September 26, 2025 by Michael Le Pard
