Big builds and small prize pots at the European Custombike Championship

The Custombike Show is rolling into 2025 with a stacked programme, and right at the centre of it all is the European Custombike Championship. The best of the best will battle it out for bragging rights, shiny trophies, and a share of €12,000 in prize money.

Now, €12,000 sounds like a fair old chunk, but before you start dreaming of buying a new CNC machine or a small shed to keep it in, it’s worth noting that only €5,000 goes to the “Best of Show.” The other 14 categories? They get €500 each. That’s about the price of a decent torque wrench set, or if you’re lucky, a halfway decent exhaust system. Let’s just say no one’s retiring off the back of winning “Best Bobber” in this show.

Still, even 20 years after its debut, the Custombike Show remains the world’s biggest custom bike expo, and this year’s event will see nearly 300 heavily modified machines entered into the Championship, with around 1,000 bikes filling the halls in total.

Some 200 exhibitors will be on site too, showing off everything from parts and accessories to clothing and lifestyle gear. Add in a hefty stage programme, a few world premieres, and a generous amount of petrol fumes, and Bad Salzuflen looks set to be the place to be for anyone who likes their motorcycles with a little more character than the showroom floor usually provides.

One of the big draws is always the European Biker Build Off, which has been a fixture since 2008. This year it’s Harley versus Harley, with American Dream Cycles from Germany going head-to-head with Lithuania’s Killer Custom. Both will build bikes live on stage across the three days, and the crowd will vote to decide the winner.

And if big V-twins aren’t your thing, the second-ever European Moped Build Off promises a battle on a slightly smaller scale. This time it’s Germany versus Germany, with the Zweitaktkeiler team hoping to avenge their runners-up finish last year against the challengers from Sollso Moppeds and their Simson S52. Two-stroke enthusiasts, this one’s for you.

For something a little different, “Little Miss Nasty” will be making their European debut. The American burlesque rock ’n’ roll troupe will be performing every day of the show. And if that’s not quite your thing, there’ll also be a dedicated tattoo area for anyone looking to leave with something a bit more permanent than a souvenir keyring.

The European Custom Bike Championship itself will once again be the crown jewel of the weekend. Since its inception, bikes from over 20 countries have taken home wins, and in 2025 the stage is set for another international showdown. With categories ranging from Best Cafe Racer to Best Engineering, there’s a spot for every style and every builder, whether pro or amateur.

Think your build is good enough? Registration is open now on the official website. You’ll need to submit photos of your bike, and not everyone gets in - the organisers will handpick who makes the cut. If you do get the nod, expect a packed weekend of bikes, banter, and beer, with the big award ceremony wrapping things up on Sunday, November 30.

European Custombike Championship Prize Categories 2025

• Craziest Bike (€500, or enough for a flashy set of grips and some stickers)
• Best Moped (€500, because mopeds deserve love too)
• Rookie of the Year (€500, just enough for another project that will bankrupt you)
• Best Big Twin Performance (€500)
• Best Paint Job (€500)
• Best Roadster (€500)
• Best Metric (€500)
• Best Sportsbike (€500)
• Best Bobber (€500)
• Best Chopper (€500)
• Best Cafe Racer (€500)
• Best Oldschool (€500)
• Best Engineering (€500)
• Best Radical (€500)
• Best of Show, European Custombike Champion, €5,000!

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