On the road to Medulin

As the 2025 European H.O.G.^® Rally in Croatia approaches, we speak to members from across the region who are planning their routes to the beautiful seaside resort of Medulin in June

Dave Parden from H.O.G. St Leger Chapter, Doncaster, UK

Q. What do you think about the rally locations of Pula and Medulin?
A. The backdrop of the colosseum in Pula with a few hundred Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be spectacular. Medulin also looks fantastic; sea to the one side, marina to the other. Just add sunshine and bikes and we’re nearing perfection!

Q. Which events is your chapter attending this year, and how many members travel to rallies? 
A. St Leger is a fairly small chapter (82 members at the start of 2025), but we support most of the UK rallies and some in Europe. This year we’ll attend the 2025 European H.O.G.^® Rally and European Bike Week in Faaker See, Austria. We’re also no strangers to the US, with members visiting Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Daytona Bike Week over the past couple of years. 

Q. What route is your chapter taking to Medulin?
A. We’re travelling the same route I did when attending the EMEA directors meeting. On the outward journey we’ll take LeShuttle from Folkstone to France, then a direct route via the A26 and A4. Bypassing Reims and Metz we’ll cross the German border near Saarbrücken en route to Karlsruhe. We’ll bypass Stuttgart and Munich and cross the border into Austria using the E55, A10 and A11 route into Slovenia, staying overnight in Lake Bled. Then it’s a four-hour ride through Slovenia, arriving at Pula just in time for lunch.

On the return journey, we’ll head back through Croatia into Slovenia, then hang a left into Italy and follow the E70 towards Milan. After Milan, we’ll pass Lake Como and into the 35-mile-long Gotthard Base Tunnel. Switzerland is awesome to ride through with stunning views and roads. We’ll cross into France for a well-deserved rest in Mulhouse before heading northwest past Nancy, Reims and Arass to get to LeShuttle to the UK then home to Lincolnshire. The whole trip is just over 4,000km and takes around five days.

Q. What is your best local event and why should people attend? 
A. Each May, we host the Yorkshire Iron Horse Rally, where 500 people attend the Blue Dolphin Holiday Park in Filey, North Yorkshire, for three days of bands, ride-outs and an amazing time. This event has been running for 20 years and is popular with UK Chapters. The event would be great for European chapters to visit as Filey is less than an hour from the ferry port of Hull and you can travel on to Scotland, the Lakes or even into Wales – all less than a day’s ride away. 

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Fabrizio Salucci from H.O.G. Route 76 Chapter, Jesi, Italy

Q. What do you think about the rally locations of Pula and Medulin?
A. Pula, with its incredible Roman arena, is very impressive and bears witness to a thousand-year history. The beautiful seaside resort of Medulin promises a relaxing and fun atmosphere.

Q. What should participants expect at the rally?
A. An exciting mix of culture, music and the chance to meet other H.O.G. enthusiasts from all over Europe. It will also be great to see the latest Harley-Davidson models up close. And, of course, we’ll get to discover scenic routes.

Q. Which events is your chapter attending this year, and how many members travel to rallies?
A. We try not to miss the main Italian and European H.O.G. events. In 2024, we had the pleasure of helping organise the European H.O.G. Rally in Senigallia, which was a wonderful experience. We have a group of 112 members heading to the event this year, but that number will probably increase.

Q. What route is your chapter taking to Medulin?
A. We will depart from Harley-Davidson Route 76 in Jesi and most likely follow the A4 motorway towards Trieste, then the SS202, and finally the Istrian coastal road. The round-trip is around 1,300km, plus we plan to ride another 400km visiting places around the event and will take four days and three nights.

Q. What is your best local event and why should people attend? 
A. We organise regular Sunday outings and themed weekends and also participate in events run by other Italian and European chapters. Our main local event is called Run del Picchio and usually takes place in April. It attracts many enthusiasts from all over Italy and further afield, thanks to our beautiful region, Marche, and is an unmissable opportunity to share our passion for bikes and make new friends.

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Stephan Honinx from H.O.G. Sunset Chapter, Aachen, Germany

Q. What do you think about the rally locations of Pula and Medulin?
A. Although it will be hard to beat Senigallia, I’m looking forward to seeing what Pula and Medulin can offer.

Q. What should participants expect at the Rally?  
A. Camaraderie and a relaxed atmosphere with thousands of like-minded people enjoying themselves. 

Q. Which events is your chapter attending this year, and how many members travel to rallies?
We have around 100 members and a quarter of them travel to events regularly. We’re probably one of the most active in the DACH region: we did 44 day trips last year, spending 106 days on our bikes in 2024, and it looks like 2025 will top that. As well as this event, we’ll be at Harley-Davidson Euro Festival, Harley-Days Hamburg, Harley-Days Dresden, European Bike Week, Sylt Summertime, Magic Bike Rüdesheim, Bike Days Willingen and a couple of local events such as Harley-Davidson Meeting Ruhrpott.

Q. What route is your chapter taking to Medulin?
A. We will go the shortest way with some little curves right and left on the way. It will cover between 3,000km and 3,500km and take nine to 10 days. 

Q. What is your best local event and why should people attend? 
A. Our 30th anniversary takes place in August this year, offering a party with breakfast, ride-outs and live music. We also have a charity project for this event and throughout the 2025 riding season, raising funds for a local organisation that supports children with cancer and their families.

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Marc Kilian from H.O.G. Midland Chapter, Switzerland

Q. What do you think about the rally locations of Pula and Medulin?
A. I can’t think of two better spots for this year’s rally. Plus, there are many cool attractions nearby, including Cape Kamenjak and Rovinj, not to mention the Istrian countryside, packed with vineyards, olive groves, and picturesque medieval towns.

Q. What should participants expect at the rally?
A. There’s so much to be excited about, including bike shows and custom culture, but above all, the atmosphere.

Q. Which events is your chapter attending this year, and how many members travel to rallies? 
A. Our chapter has a tradition of attending many rallies and events. Six members are riding to Medulin, and a group of 12 is going to the Harley-Davidson Euro Festival in Saint-Tropez. As well as our own tours (we have 11 on the agenda), we also support neighbouring chapters and will be celebrating the 15-year anniversary of H.O.G. Bündner Chapter Switzerland.

Q. What route is your chapter taking to Medulin?
A. The route to Medulin is about 900km, most of it on smooth highways. We’ll likely ride through the Gotthard Base Tunnel into Italy, pass by Milan and the scenic shores of Lake Garda, then dip into Slovenia for a stretch before crossing into Croatia.

Q. What is your best local event and why should people attend? 
A. Two events stand out for us this year. The Ascension Rideout is a four-day tour through the beautiful Lake Geneva region, and the Indian Summer Tour, which we introduced last year. It’s a slower-paced ride that lets us soak up Switzerland’s forests lit up in golden reds and oranges in the autumn.

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