This isn't a RUN—it's an adventure.
In the summer of 2009, at the invitation of Mr. Wolfgang Schmidt, president of W&W CYCLES AG in Germany, I attended the “A-BOMBERS” hot rod meet held in Sweden. It’s been 17 years since then. As I reread the entries I wrote on my blog back then, I’d like to retrace that journey once more.
The ones who gave me the push I needed were Mr. Hashimoto, a longtime customer of BAD LAND, and my wife. The president of a Japanese Harley shop was going out of his way to come all the way to Sweden just to participate in the A-BOMBERS. That was sure to be the talk of the town there, and it would get my face recognized among Harley enthusiasts in Europe. Those connections would undoubtedly become a huge asset for BAD LAND’s future.“This trip will absolutely be a great opportunity for BAD LAND’s future.” After they both emphasized this so strongly—almost persuading me against my will—I left Japan. It was also on this trip that my trusty, beat-up helmet set foot on European soil for the first time.
A 13.5-hour boat trip from Kiel to Gothenburg
The trip began with boarding a large ferry in the German port city of Kiel, bound for Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city. The distance from Würzburg, a city in southern Germany where W&W is located, to Kiel is about 600 km. We traveled by truck carrying our motorcycles, a journey that took about seven hours, starting early in the morning.
Although the route doesn’t look like much of a distance on a map, it’s actually about 1,300 km. It’s a long 13.5-hour journey—we set sail at 5:00 p.m. and arrived at 7:00 a.m. the next morning. While all the cabins were private and comfortable, having just finished a 12-hour flight from Narita the day before, spending more than half a day at sea was definitely a bit much for me.
Once we boarded the ship and finished securing our motorcycles in their designated spots, all the W&W staff members, their eyes lighting up, headed straight for the ship’s restaurant. It had been a 7-hour drive. I suppose everyone just wanted to quench their thirst with a beer as soon as possible. I still remember that scene vividly.
From Gothenburg to Uddebala: A Stormy 300 km
The journey from Gothenburg to the venue in Udebara is about 300 km north along the coastal autobahn toward Norway. Having heard that it would take no more than about four hours, I had completely underestimated this road trip. Without even researching the local geography before leaving, I set off from Japan feeling completely confident that it would be a piece of cake.
That was, in fact, a gross underestimation.
Since MINAKO, who was in Germany, had given me some advice on the climate, I didn’t end up shivering from the cold. Even though it was the height of summer, it was, after all, Scandinavia. I remember needing early-winter gear for running, and temperatures would drop to around 10 degrees at night.
However, I never in my wildest dreams imagined we’d end up sailing along the coastline. The torrential rain on the first day was soon accompanied by strong winds, and eventually took on the appearance of a hurricane. I didn’t realize why until I saw a local map posted on board the ship on our return trip.
A crosswind from the ocean that felt like it could blow me into the oncoming lane if I let my guard down even for a moment. Amid that wind, I crossed several tall, long bridges spanning the strait. On one side, cars were closing in from behind; on the other, the road dropped straight down from the high vantage point into the sea. My leisurely ride suddenly turned into a real adventure.
The rain was lashing sideways so hard I couldn’t see a thing, and the wind was so strong I could barely breathe. Clinging to my 1952 PANHEAD—a veritable fossil—I resented my wife and Mr. Hashimoto, who had talked me into this trip, with every fiber of my being.
“I’ll never come back to a place like this again!!”
Even as I cursed under my breath, I kept the throttle open, chasing after the W&W crew.
Although we somehow made it through unscathed, everyone said in unison, “I thought I was going to die.” The crew even went so far as to tell us, “This isn’t a RUN—it’s an adventure.”
The lesson I learned back then still holds true today. You must never underestimate the climate and environment of a foreign country. Even if it’s the same season, it’s never exactly the same as Japan.
Hot rodders from all over Europe
When we finally arrived at the venue, HOT RODDERS had gathered not only from Sweden but from all over Europe. The number of cars wasn’t just some measly 500 or 600. Men dressed like Elvis, J. Dean, and Brian Setzer were everywhere, and everyone was having a great time with a beer in hand.
I’ve heard that Sweden is one of the world’s leading hot rod powerhouses—and undoubtedly the number one in Europe. According to MINAKO, while similar gatherings are held in Germany, they don’t seem to draw crowds this large. Engines tuned to the max, straight-pipe exhausts, and cars lowered to the ground. The venue and the highways were overflowing with classic American cars, each customized to the owner’s own taste.
In that vast venue, MINAKO and I were the only ones with Asian features. While we often drew curious stares, there were also people who came up to us and said, “I know who you are. You’re the one in the W&W catalog, right? Are you from Japan?!!” and I was genuinely happy to hear that. Maybe what those two had said was right after all.
My Partner, the '52 PANHEAD
The bike I rented for this trip was a 1952 Panhead owned by W&W CYCLES. Although the engine is apparently stock, it’s surprisingly well-balanced and incredibly torquey. When you open the throttle, it revs up instantly without any hesitation. I didn’t have a single problem along the way—it was a truly reliable companion. To be honest, it’s a bike I wanted with all my heart.
It had been about ten years since I’d last taken a long ride on an old Harley. My personal feelings toward old Harleys—which I’d sort of kept locked away until then—quietly resurfaced during this trip.
After driving about 1,200 km over three days
Over the course of four days, I traveled about 1,200 km across Sweden with W&W President Wolfgang and a crew of six. That same night after returning to Narita, as soon as I put my luggage away, I sat down at my computer and wrote a blog post.
Even the torrential rain and strong winds on the first day—which I had resented so much—had turned into wonderful memories by the time I was ready to head home. I think it was precisely because it was such a rare experience that it added a special touch to my first run in Sweden.
At the end of the trip, I took a commemorative photo with Mr. Wolfgang Schmidt, who had invited me. Vielen Dank!!
What That Trip Taught Me
There was one thing I realized deeply on this trip. It goes without saying, but for anyone involved in customizing Harleys, it really doesn’t mean anything unless you ride it yourself. When you’re swamped with work, it’s easy to lose even the time to ride. But riding a Harley is truly fun. That was the answer—and that was all there was to it.
Together with our customers, we aim to showcase and share the joy of riding a Harley in the BAD LAND style. Returning to my roots, I’ve come to realize once again that this is the very essence of my work.
Through this tour, the boss and crew at W&W showed me firsthand that they enjoy riding more than anyone else—and that it is precisely because they understand that joy that they are able to deliver such great products. It was a trip that made me feel strongly that I want to continue running a shop where I can keep riding myself and share those experiences with our customers.
Whether it’s a standard or wide-tire setup, a TWIN CAM or a KNUCKLE—it’s all about the ride. That’s why, back then, I made up my mind to “STAY FOOLISH”—to stay a fool until the day I die.
Now, 17 years later, I’d like to once again express my gratitude to everyone who was involved in that trip: Mr. Wolfgang Schmidt, who gave me this wonderful opportunity; MINAKO, who took such good care of me throughout the trip; and all the staff at W&W. Thank you so much.
And the ’52 PANHEAD that was my traveling companion back then is still being carefully stored in the W&W garage in Germany. I’ve heard the engine is running just as well as it did back then—it’s still in top condition.
