Motorcycle festivals/rallys 2026
Discussion
I recently bought my first big bike and I’m eager to get out on some trips. I don’t have much of a social media presence as I’m not in Facebook or Instagram but I’d be keen to head to some rally’s or festivals next year.
Does anyone have anyone have any recommendations?
I’m not too into leather cuts and assless chaps which is mostly what I can find on YouTube apart from ABR. Is there any good all rounders for classics, sports, tourers and everything in between?
Does anyone have anyone have any recommendations?
I’m not too into leather cuts and assless chaps which is mostly what I can find on YouTube apart from ABR. Is there any good all rounders for classics, sports, tourers and everything in between?
The Bruce Pollard (now sold out but tickets available when people drop out) and The Dragon Rally are both good fun.
Held on the friday and saturday respectively of the first weekend in February in North Wales. Deliberately designed to be held on one of the worst weekends of the year for weather (albeit the last few years it's been warmish and sunny....) to make it more of a challenge.
BP will see about 200 bikes and Dragon about 1000 iirc. You can choose to engage in the socialising/drinking/music or just go for the roads and the absolutely widest variety of bikes you'll ever see like I do. Both (particuarly the Dragon) tend to be the absolute polar opposite of things like the ABR festival's glamping experience. The roads of Wales and the borders are littered with bikes of all descriptions all weekend - quite a scene.
Held on the friday and saturday respectively of the first weekend in February in North Wales. Deliberately designed to be held on one of the worst weekends of the year for weather (albeit the last few years it's been warmish and sunny....) to make it more of a challenge.
BP will see about 200 bikes and Dragon about 1000 iirc. You can choose to engage in the socialising/drinking/music or just go for the roads and the absolutely widest variety of bikes you'll ever see like I do. Both (particuarly the Dragon) tend to be the absolute polar opposite of things like the ABR festival's glamping experience. The roads of Wales and the borders are littered with bikes of all descriptions all weekend - quite a scene.
mobile chicane22 said:
ABR is amazing but expensive
I have to confess that I really don’t get the ABR - just looks like a load of fat blokes on GSs who enjoy a bit of bar room bulls
t - all totally evidenced by the “off-road course” (they PAY to ride round it?) which looks like something you could drive a sports car around. Still, whatever floats your boat.
Biker9090 said:
The Bruce Pollard (now sold out but tickets available when people drop out) and The Dragon Rally are both good fun.
Held on the friday and saturday respectively of the first weekend in February in North Wales. Deliberately designed to be held on one of the worst weekends of the year for weather (albeit the last few years it's been warmish and sunny....) to make it more of a challenge.
I’ve been doing the Dragon every year since 1991, it’s become a tradition and for some odd reason my favourite night of the year. Had some truly horrific nights and a few years ago ended up in an ambulance with hyperthermia! Held on the friday and saturday respectively of the first weekend in February in North Wales. Deliberately designed to be held on one of the worst weekends of the year for weather (albeit the last few years it's been warmish and sunny....) to make it more of a challenge.
I’ll keep doing it til I can’t physically ride any more. I’ve also done the BP for the last few years - got my ticket for that.
Just for a bit of nostalgia - here’s me in 91 and my MTX125R on the site. I was woefully unprepared with such basic gear. Still - what a great time. You meet some real characters and see them all over the place - the Elefant for example (and if you’re feeling well ‘ard you can do a double header Elefant (Bavarian) and get back to the UK and do the Dragon in one hit - done that a few times).
Dog Star said:
I ve been doing the Dragon every year since 1991, it s become a tradition and for some odd reason my favourite night of the year. Had some truly horrific nights and a few years ago ended up in an ambulance with hyperthermia!
I ll keep doing it til I can t physically ride any more. I ve also done the BP for the last few years - got my ticket for that.
Just for a bit of nostalgia - here s me in 91 and my MTX125R on the site. I was woefully unprepared with such basic gear. Still - what a great time. You meet some real characters and see them all over the place - the Elefant for example (and if you re feeling well ard you can do a double header Elefant (Bavarian) and get back to the UK and do the Dragon in one hit - done that a few times).
Agree on the ABR!I ll keep doing it til I can t physically ride any more. I ve also done the BP for the last few years - got my ticket for that.
Just for a bit of nostalgia - here s me in 91 and my MTX125R on the site. I was woefully unprepared with such basic gear. Still - what a great time. You meet some real characters and see them all over the place - the Elefant for example (and if you re feeling well ard you can do a double header Elefant (Bavarian) and get back to the UK and do the Dragon in one hit - done that a few times).
Yep, did my first Dragon in 2022 (hadn't heard of it before then).
One of the worst days riding I've ever done getting home!
Got to Chipping Norton fuel station and just laid on the floor (obviously getting some VERY funny looks!) under the canopy deliberating whether to cut an ignition cable or valve stem off so I could get recovery for the next 40 miles.....
I don't think I've ever felt so cold and wet, Gerbings absolutely FULL of water as were my boots and a nearly flat phone that I couldn't charge due to water ingress..... Don't think I even looked at my bikes for about a week after that!
I started to get flu - and I do mean “proper” flu, not a cold, on the 2019 rally. Started feeling a bit “off”. I was on my R1 as well, and a few miles from him (Pennines) it started snowing heavily. I just made it home, I honestly don’t think if it had been five minutes more I could have made it as I was so ill. Managed to get the bike into the garage, staggered inside and into bed and was absolutely dead, poorly as you like for two weeks. I’ve never been so ill in my life and wanted to die. To this day it’s the only time in 36 years I’ve been off work sick. Grim.
Not a festival/rally as such and more of just an epic bike night but the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre hold two nights per year and those are fantastic!
Usually a few thousand there at least, £5 at the gate but the money goes to the charity.
If you can think of a bike, it’s usually there from young lads on 125s to the rare exotica.
Watching and hearing the Lancaster going up and down the runway is quite an experience in itself.
https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/
Usually a few thousand there at least, £5 at the gate but the money goes to the charity.
If you can think of a bike, it’s usually there from young lads on 125s to the rare exotica.
Watching and hearing the Lancaster going up and down the runway is quite an experience in itself.
https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/
Dog Star said:
I started to get flu - and I do mean proper flu, not a cold, on the 2019 rally. Started feeling a bit off . I was on my R1 as well, and a few miles from him (Pennines) it started snowing heavily. I just made it home, I honestly don t think if it had been five minutes more I could have made it as I was so ill. Managed to get the bike into the garage, staggered inside and into bed and was absolutely dead, poorly as you like for two weeks. I ve never been so ill in my life and wanted to die. To this day it s the only time in 36 years I ve been off work sick. Grim.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Sounded exactly like me in 22. I was told it was a mix of hypothermia and severe dehydration..... When I finally managed to check my stuff later in the week mold had grown on some of it. Forums | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff