SW-MOTECH Celebrates its 15th Annual OPEN HOUSE

With bright blue skies and summer-like temperatures, over 38,000 visitors celebrated SW-MOTECH's Annual OPEN HOUSE event for 2024 this past weekend, June 8th and 9th. 

Since 2009, the motorcycle accessories manufacturer SW-MOTECH has opened its doors in Rauschenberg, Germany to the public for free in what has grown to be a festival-sized celebration of motorcycle test rides, exhibitors, presentations, stunt shows, live music, food, drink and camping.

Learn more about the history of SW-MOTECH here.

15 Years of OPEN HOUSE | 25 Years of Business

Now in its 15th year (including two years off during COVID), this year’s OPEN HOUSE coincided with the company’s 25th anniversary. To kick things off on the first evening, there was a formal send-off for two of the company’s co-owners, Jürgen Swora (from which the SW of SW-MOTECH originates) and Achim Kessler, both stepping back from day-to-day operations to enjoy retirement.

A highlight of the event was the ability for attendees to see, touch and feel—and even test ride—the latest motorcycles from nearly every manufacturer around the world. OEMs present included: Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, GASGAS, Harley Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha and Zero. The newcomers for this year's event were Royal Enfield, CFMoto and Tinbot. All were well received with great interest from the community.  

The test rides through the surrounding area of Rauschenberg of rolling hills and farmland, combined with the ideal weather, made riding conditions idyllic. Over 3,500 test rides were had over the entire weekend, a new record in the 15-year history of SW-MOTECH's OPEN HOUSE. 

Many other motorcycle brands presented their products on the long vendor row: Continental, HJC, Heidenau, Shoei, Arai, John Doe, Kurven & Knödel, Held, Macna, Nolan, Shark, Öhlins, Rukka, Schuberth, Stadler, Wilbers and many more contributed to the festival feeling. For the first time, riders were able to also visit booths and handle products from Klim, Michelin, Nexx and Yuasa.

In the SW-MOTECH showroom, a tireless sales team was available all weekend to provide visitors with help and advice with SW-MOTECH products. The B-STOCK department was also on–hand, offering customers bargains on returned or dent-and-scratch items. 

OPEN HOUSE also included a dynamic live stage program with presentations on bikes, rider adventures, motorcycle projects and live music. Ducati and Martin Litschauer delighted the audience with impressive pictures from Tunisia on the Desert X Rally. Joshua from WetzlosWeltwärts and Mat from Vintage Rides captivated the audience with inspiring travel presentations. Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki and other manufacturers took the opportunity to show off their latest flagship bikes on the big stage. On Friday and Saturday evening, media partner RadioBOB! took over on stage and presented the cover bands WeRock and BarbWire. Both bands created an exuberant party atmosphere and delivered a worthy ending for each day of the festivities.

On the large festival meadow, the CIRCUS TRIAL STUNT-SHOW thrilled the audiences with their daredevil tricks. In six shows, the stunters showcased their trials skills. The neighboring outdoor Benediktiner beer garden provided a popular meeting place for extended breaks and created a relaxing atmosphere. A bouncy castle and a staked-out course for Yamaha PW50 and quads entertained the many children attending the OPEN HOUSE.

The festival atmosphere extended to the on-site free campground areas. This year, the area was expanded to two acres mid-event as campers filled up the 1.5 acre area initially setup for camping on the company property. Brand ambassador, Valle on Tour, provided a special camping experience with a communal firepit area for campers to enjoy and share stories with each other.

SW-MOTECH has extended its appreciation to event visitors, vendors, exhibitors, the Town of Rauschenberg, its police department and the entire local community for their continued support in making the event possible. Many exciting new ideas for next year's OPEN HOUSE are already in discussion and the date for next year’s event is expected to be announced soon.

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