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Thunderbike goes St. Tropez!
May 8th to 11th 2025, Harley-Davidson EURO-FESTIVAL in Grimaud / Port Grimaud, Golf of Saint Tropez/France
The view of the Gulf of Saint Tropez is almost the same as in the legendary EURO FESTIVAL years: the 18-hectare 4-star campsite “Camping de la Plage” in Grimaud is just one step further than the previous event venue and dead-bang on the beach with a view of the „harbor of the rich and beautiful“. The program will also rock like it used to: live music, Harley expo, demo rides, bike show, parade – everything that warms any Harley rider’s heart! And all under a southern sun and perfect light!
A big event for Harley-Davidson fans: The EURO FESTIVAL has been a popular event in the Harley community for many years! And an International too.
Creativity and customizing will be celebrated at the Custombike Show in downtown Grimaud on Friday, May 9: Expect to see some of the most creative and wild customized H-D custombikes of Europe, as all renowned custom bike builders are invited to showcase their machines in this competition. Local Harley dealers and customizers will certainly be adding their own events to the weekend’s activities.
One certain highlight is the parade passing Grimaud and Saint-Tropez on Saturday, May 10th. In a spectacular procession full of passion, chrome and rumble, several thousand Harley riders will roam the streets and bring all other traffic to a complete standstill! The Thunderbike team will plunge headlong into the action and be “on the road” with the coolest bikes – meet them somewhere between Grimaud, St. Tropez and St. Maxime!
For more info’s, check Websites!
The Thunderbike “Bolt On And Ride” Bike 2015: „Slim Jim“ at the Pampelone beach access west of Saint Tropez.
2015 on the peninsula tip of St. Maxime during the filming of the “This Is” music video by Custom Chrome Europe.
Harbor impressions: In the early morning it is still quiet on the beach promenade and at the harbor of Saint Tropez…
CCE Video (2015): This Is! by Ruby Shock
Following the success of the “Sexy Thing” music video clip in 2014 – and the problem that the rights to the song were only acquired for one year – the first ‘successor’ was shot in 2015:
featuring the cool rock of the Stuttgart-based rock band “Ruby Shock”, who offered the dynamic “This Is” as the song-theme for the video. The filming of the (once again) funny storyline took place during the EURO FESTIVAL GRIMAUD 2015 – under the often hectic and crowded conditions of a major Harley event! Ruby Shock performed “unplugged” at the CCE party and live at the Grimaud Festival on the main stage in downtown Grimaud. Previous CCE-researched shooting locations were used for the music clip, the filmed images and the legendary light of the South of France make the music video a genuine document of the period!
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The Custom Chrome Europe Team 2015 at the music video shoot of “This Is! Thunderbike’s Slim Jim joins the party!
You can only take pictures like this on the coastal road near Sainte Maxime on weekdays evening! At the weekend, the traffic here is crazy!
Ruby Shock from Stuttgart in Cogolin at the “alternative” Meeting. The cult band from Stuttgart provided the sound for three CCE music videos.
CCE Bolt On And Ride: Thunderbike’s Slim Jim
Ride in style with Thunderbike: Slimming down Harley‘s fat-tired Softail–Bobber into a cool Custom Ride. Few Harley-Davidson ever had such a misleading and ironic name as the FLS Slim: While the term „slim“ arouses certain expectations in styling and look, the „FL“ designator signals quite the contrary. A low seated Bobber version that has its roots in the Fourties and Fifties, when the Panhead-powered „FLs“ ruled American roads.
The task to „slim down“ the stock version came to well-established German Harley-Dealer and customparts manufacturer Thunderbike in Hamminkeln. Not their first entry to the „Bolt On And Ride“ bike garage of Custom Chrome Europe, but a special one for sure: In 2015 „Thunderbike“.
Thunderbike Touring Tip: Grand Canyon du Verdon
A little trip to a Grand Canyon (du Verdon). Spectacular landscapes in reach: Only 100 km from Grimaud to the most spectacular gorge of the French sea alps! Whether as a day trip or (better!) as an “on the road” stop on the way to or from the EURO FESTIVAL: the Grand Canyon du Verdon is always worth a detour!
The most spectacular views can be seen from the super scenic “Route de Crêtes” on the north side of the gorge. The starting and finishing point of this (partially one-way!) route is La Palud, where you can also set up your base camp. If you want to “sniff” a short walk into the gorge: tunnels have been drilled at the “Couloir Samson” which once were intended for a projected dam. Don’t forget your flashlights! The tunnels are NOT illuminated and your cell phone battery won’t last forever!
There are also spectacular panoramic views at the exit of the gorge to Lac St-Croix and a detour to Moustiers Sainte-Marie is a must. A descent into the gorge to the Blanc-Martel path is NOT really worth time and effort: One bike parked at the “Couloir Samson”, a second bike at the “Chalet de la Maline”, the descent into the gorge – then 8 hours of hiking, crawling and a climb over a Verdon loop rock barricade. Without much gain in “new insights”, which you can get more easily at the tunnel entrance in less time.
With a lot of luck – and a very early start – you can find the Grand Canyon du Verdon in the spectacular morning mist: A sight you will never forget! Sunrise on May 11th 2025: approx. 6:15 a.m. You should allow half an hour to get to the viewpoint and be there half an hour earlier. Notice that your Hotel and parts of the road may also still be covered in heavy fog. And: the Belvédère de Guègues is at 984 m – it’s still “fresh” there in May!
Magical! Shortly before sunrise and the Grand Canyon du Verdon is hidden in the early morning mist.
The sun leaps over the horizon and illuminates the rock faces that rise out of the mist.
At the exit of the canyon, Lac St. Croix attracts water sports enthusiasts and amateur paddlers. The road winds its way down from the rock faces to the valley.
Magic Impressions
Grand Canyon (du Verdon) South Rim
Not quite as spectacular as the nothern path, but quicker to reach: The southern rim road along the Grand Canyon du Verdon: driven at least partially on a “Bolt On And Ride” tour during EURO FESTIVAL in 2013, there are also deep views into the scenic gorge here – and less traffic than on the northern route. If you can, you can ride both sides of the gorge.
In 2013, the Custom Chrome Europe team undertook several photo tours, including a tour to the south side of the Verdon.
The Pont d’Artuby crosses a side gorge of the Verdon river. Here, too, you can drive very close to the gorge.
From the Balcon de la Mescala, you have a panoramic view of the Verdon Loop. The hiking trail inside the gorge climbs over the rocky ridge.
On the way to the “Relais des Balcons” on the southern flank of the Verdon gorge. Viewpoints and a staircase tempt you to make a stop!
Thunderbike Touring Tip: Luberon & Roussillon
Thunderbike Touring Tip: Luberon & Roussillon – this is where it gets really colourful! Spectacular scenery along the way: along the Luberon!
Still an insider tip – and one of the lesser visited landscapes in the south of France: the “Luberon” mountain range. A super scenic detour on the way from Avignon or Mont Ventoux that adds a splash of color: the ochre quarries in Roussillon can now only be visited with an entrance fee, but are still worth the money and time! The ochre mines of Broux can be visited by appointment. You can visit the “Colorado” ochre rocks near Rustrel without an entrance fee, but on foot. If the scent of lavender is more your style or passion, you should also add the spectacular town of Gordes and the nearby Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey to your itinerary. Depending on the weather, the lavender may not yet be in full bloom in May. Apt – a great base for a night stop – was the scene of a HOG rally in 1995…
The ochre cliffs of Roussillon – now a closed tour with a ticket office and parking lot. But still worth seeing.
A watercolor box next to the road: on the way to Roussillon, you drive through a landscape full of color.
The ochre rocks are within walking distance of the town – and the colorful buildings are also made of the material.
You will only find Roussillon without tourists outside the vacation season. You should plan 3-4 hours for the village center and a walk through the ochre quarries.
Interesting websites
Text/Photos: Dipl.-Ing. Horst »der Motographer« Rösler