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A weekend with friends, fantastic weather, winding roads, and plenty of Harley-Davidson—that’s exactly how we’d describe our company trip to Harley Days Willingen. With twelve people from the Thunderbike Team, we set off for the Sauerland on Friday and quickly realized: We had completely underestimated this region as a motorcycle destination.
Harley Days Willingen itself ran from Wednesday through Sunday and offered a varied program for all motorcycle and scene fans. The first live bands kicked off the event as early as Wednesday, before the grounds really came to life starting Thursday. For us, it was the perfect opportunity to spend a weekend together—both on and off the motorcycle.
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#thunderbiketeam – We had fun. Thanks, Willingen—see you next time!
First built, now put through its paces—Glatten and the Road Glide LDA.
A summer evening, live music, and high spirits—the atmosphere couldn’t have been better.
Curves, kilometers, and sunsets—that’s all you need.
Among those present was Rainer Norff, who has been working in our shop since 1993 and has been one of the creative minds behind our custom bikes for many years. He showed up on his newly built Evo—rough, old-school, and just as authentic as he is.
Rainer Dutz, better known as Glatten, has also been part of the Thunderbike team for many years. Together with Rainer, he’s one of the minds that brings our high-end custom bikes to life with a wealth of expertise and attention to detail. He was out riding the new Road Glide by Lance David Arnold.
Lucas Ferreira recently fulfilled his dream of owning an Evo Fat Boy—the tour through the Sauerland region was the perfect opportunity to thoroughly enjoy his new bike. Motorcycle mechanic Lucas Lenz also didn’t want to miss the chance to thoroughly test the Low Rider ST on the winding roads around Willingen. You could tell from every turn that he was having a blast.
Rainer and his Evo—rough, old-school, and just as authentic as he is.
Lucas Lenz—finally at the event venue after a day full of twists and turns on the Low Rider ST.
A quick pit stop—Gatten wants to get back on the road.
More than just a mechanic: Lucas Ferreira lives for bikes and music.
Ronan Lenk has just completed his training with honours—and is now enjoying his first season as a certified motorcycle mechanic. He spent the weekend exploring the winding roads around Willingen on a restricted Sport Glide from our demo fleet. Simon, a good friend of Kim’s and now a regular on many of their joint rides, came along on his Low Rider S. André Kosthorst has also been part of the Thunderbike team for many years. Once an apprentice with us himself, he now works in parts development. He brought his Evo Springer along for the ride. Jan Jansen, a mechanic in our service shop, arrived on his Clubstyle conversion—which isn’t quite finished yet—and used the ride to log his first few kilometers on it. Despite some minor finishing touches still needed, he didn’t want to miss out on the weekend on two wheels. Rounding out the group were Andreas Bergerforth, who relaxed and enjoyed the tour on his new Road Glide CVO ST, and Kim, who took the opportunity to thoroughly test the highly coveted Sport Glide. Of course, our man behind the camera couldn’t be left out: Michael Rauscher, better known as Glatzzo, captured the weekend’s best moments in photos and videos.
We’ve covered a few kilometers, and we’re hungry, too. Ronan is waiting for dinner.
André—true to the motto: Live to Ride.
Curves, kilometers—no problem—Simon’s bike keeps going strong. André—true to the motto: Live to Ride.
Not elegant, but effective—Jan’s parking solution.
Day 1 – Arrival, First Impressions, and the Perfect Evening Tour
On Friday, we set off in two groups toward Willingen. After arriving, we first stopped by the event grounds briefly to get a first impression of the Harley Days. It was clear after just a few minutes: The weekend was going to be exactly to our liking. But before heading out on our first big ride, we needed to recharge—so we all shared an ice cream.
Our real highlight, however, awaited us on the roads around Willingen. The Sauerland region truly surprised us with its winding roads, magnificent views, and perfect motorcycle weather. Our tour took us, among other places, to Möhnesee, where we took a relaxing break at Geronimo—a large wooden cabin right on the water—enjoying delicious burgers and an ice-cold drink. Afterward, we rode back to Willingen as the sun set, before wrapping up the evening together on the hotel balcony.
Next Day – Full Speed Ahead Through the Rothaar Mountains
Saturday was also all about motorcycling. Our first stop took us to the Kahlen Asten, whose impressive view over the Sauerland was definitely one of the highlights of the day. From there, we continued through the beautiful Rothaar Mountains. The winding roads, vast cornfields with circling ravens, dense coniferous forests, and the bright blue sky provided a dreamlike backdrop. The small towns along the route were also always worth a stop. The many half-timbered houses, in particular, got us excited about our upcoming trip to European Bike Week Faaker See. And just as delightful: All the bikes ran smoothly the entire weekend.
A bare branch on the Kahlen Asten.
A quick stop to tighten a screw is just part of the process.
Turn after turn—the Sport Glide feels right at home in the Sauerland.
From the mountains to the lake and back—that’s exactly how it should be.
After an extensive day trip, we headed to the Harley Days Willingen grounds that evening. There, a relaxed festival atmosphere awaited us, complete with live music, a large dealer area, and many familiar faces. With a cool drink in hand, we made ourselves comfortable on the lawn, listened to the concert, and enjoyed the balmy summer evening. Right in front of the stage, spectacular burnouts on the runway provided plenty of action, while it remained pleasantly quiet a little further back—perfect for catching up with friends.
Bands like Jimmy Cornett & The Deadmen, T.H. & The Bikeshakerz, Cherry Gang, and Lost Brotherhood kept the mood lively all weekend long. At the same time, numerous dealers and exhibitors—including Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde, Bikethebest, Jack’s Inn 54, Dock66, Wilbers Products, Müller Motorcycles AG, as well as our fellow Harley-Davidson dealers from Harley-Davidson Motomaxx and Harley-Davidson Pfeiffer—showcased their latest products and custom builds.
Montes Bike at the Harley-Davidson Expo.
When fun trumps horsepower.
Whether it’s parts, motorcycle gear, or jewelry—there’s something for everyone here.
Of course, Micky from bikethebest had to be there, too.
It’s exactly this mix of fantastic motorcycle rides, a relaxed festival atmosphere, great music, exciting exhibitors, and lots of like-minded people that makes Harley Days Willingen an event we can’t recommend highly enough to every motorcyclist. We’ll definitely be back.
