Even the worst winter storms that Germany has seen in the past 20 years couldn't keep almost 50,000 cold but happy streetfighting fans from across Europe from making the trip to Fighterama 2005. Located at the Niederrhein, a spacious exhibition center on the picturesque river Rhine close to the Dutch border, the fifth-annual Fighterama, sponsored by the cult German bike magazine, Fighters, once again turned out to be Europe's largest show for sport bikes, streetfighters, specials and aftermarket accessories. This being Germany, we're talking about a lot more than a few chrome doodads and flashing strobe lights-the German aftermarket, one of the best in the world of modified motorcycles, is known for its high quality and innovation.
With floor space of more than 200,000 square feet, some 210 exhibitors presented their highly specialized products and services to an enthusiastic audience-and by "enthusiastic" we mean "beered-up and ready to spend money," as everything at Fighterama is for sale, and the only thing that German streetfighter fans like more than spending money on their bikes is invading their neighbors. Only this time it was the other way around as, due to Niederrhein's close proximity to both borders, hordes of Dutch and Belgians were doing the invading, aided and abetted by a significant raiding party of Brits from across the North Sea.
More than just a bike show, the extraordinary entertainment program at Fighterama offered non-stop workshops showcasing the latest in motorcycle technology and other bike related topics, as well as live performances from international stunt riders such as Awol Streetryderz, the X-Boyz (why do these stunt "kidz" so despise the letter "s"?), Johnny Do, Dirk Manderbach and multiple world champion Kevin Carmichael. Fighterama has also gained itself a reputation as a happening party event with live music and the election of Miss Fighterama '06 from a bevy of scantily-clad fruleins by the 6000 leering drunks who kept the party boiling till the early hours of Sunday morning. Prizes worth more than $46,000 were also given away in the big raffle at the Fighterama party on Saturday night, including the Voxan Caf Racer, (Voxan is a hi-tech French-built V-twin), that'd been officially "pimped" by Fighters. If you want to see the best in Eurofighters, Fighterama is the definitely the place to be.