REFLECTING ON MAXLRIDE MOTOFESTIVAL 2023
BY: SILKE HOERL
Friday night, I stand on the stage of the MaxlRIDE Motofestival, observing smiling faces and overlooking tents and pavilions showcasing over 50 exhibiting brands, a scrambler parcours, tents, motorcycles—all framed by the silhouette of the Bavarian Alps. I would be lying if I said I didn't have goosebumps all over. Undoubtedly, one of the most emotional moments in my life. What we created in our minds, on paper, through many emails, phone calls and CAD drawings over months had become reality, and our vision had materialized.
One weekend filled with motorcycle love, 3,000 visitors, camping, chatting, riding, and partying—the concept worked, and the feedback was fantastic. It justified all the effort, hours, and sanity we put into the preparations. We provided over 5,000 km of tracks to download for ride-outs, offered guided tours, and had brands like Yamaha and BMW offering test rides on their latest models. The campground we set up on the venue started to fill up on Thursday night, and all spots were booked. Riders from over 20 countries shared stories with fellow enthusiasts around their tents. The communal spirit of camping added an extra layer to the festival and created lasting memories.
As the sun set over the festival grounds, live bands took the stage, filling the air with the sounds of rock, blues, and everything in between. It was a blast to see over 500 riders dance in the rain in front of the stage, and that atmosphere still gives me chills when thinking about it. The weather was challenging, facing two hefty thunderstorms on Thursday and Saturday night, but we had the chance to showcase that risk management is part of our skill set as well. We had to pause for about an hour on Saturday, but continued to party until 1:00 AM, and for sure, that evening will be kept in the memories of everyone participating.
I want to thank all 53 brands that believed in our vision and supported the event. Without them, this would not have been possible. A special thanks to Yamaha, who chose our event to celebrate their 40 years of Tenere, and no else than Pol Tarrés gave everyone a demo of his riding skills that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
We aim to inspire, push limits, offer experiences and knowledge, but first of all, connect riders from all over the world and with all kinds of riding styles. This is the reason why we call it "where custom meets adventure" as every biker is welcome—no matter if they are rocking up on a coffee racer or a sports enduro bike.
To make this happen, it took more than just our team—Matthias and Barbara from Bad & Bold and Roel and me from Mosko Moto . Around 60 volunteers worked long hours from set up to tear down and during the event. We can't thank them enough. Experiencing the enthusiasm of being part of an event from rider to rider that created new friendships and strengthened the bonds forged over a shared passion for motorcycles was so great to see.
That first edition set the starting point for a new festival we want to establish over the next couple of years. It showed us the potential and the need for an event like this in the riders' community, and we will put in all we have to connect more and more people, get more brands involved, while keeping the quality at a high level.
As the first vision became a reality in 2023, a new vision has to be put out in the world: I want to be on that stage in 10 years, thinking back on 2023 with a big fat smile on my face!
For everyone who wants to get more info, please check out http://www.maxlride.com, and I am more than happy to talk about brand participation when you send me an email at silke@maxlridemotofestival.
