BIGTWIN MAGAZINE IS THE NETHERLAND'S PREMIER Harley title, it has been going for several years and features some of Europe's best custom machines. The magazine organises - or at the very least, lends its name - to the annual MotorSale, which since the early nineties has become one of Europe's most successful customising Expos, featuring two custom shows and a plethora of trade stands and exhibitors. In an adjoining marquee, down a covered tunnel, a Biker's Café boasted food, a bar, a disco, hourly sessions from a rock band and every hour on-the-hour striptease shows, appreciated by adult and child alike - only in Holland eh!

The aptly named 'Home Made Show' was extremely well supported and with no dealer bikes allowed, these machines truly had been created by the likes of you and me. As well as creating a massive amount of public and dealer interest, exhibitors also had a chance of winning a share of the 5000 Euros put up as prize money by Zodiac BV, and other prizes offered by Avon Tyres and Snap On tools.

The event also played host to Zodiac's Dealer Show, about the only part of the show that wasn't open to the general public all the time, but even that normally restricted area threw open its doors every afternoon so that visitors could view the mainly American-based manufacturers exhibiting upstairs. That was the big difference between this and the CCI show in the 'States - just how welcome the public were. It is good to see that Custom Chrome Europe saw this to be a good thing too, as the public were welcome at their show in Mainz, Germany earlier this year.

Visitors paid 12 Euros for their tickets - not much at all considering what they got for their money - and bikers descended on the show in droves; in fact it was so popular that at some points on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons it was hard to move about. Group discounts were available, children under 12 got in free and even dogs were allowed - provided they were on a leash - and 'properly walked' beforehand.

Downstairs in the Autotron exhibition area, the show was well supported by the likes of Avon Tyres, Harley-Davidson and even Custom Chrome - which was a surprise - while the balcony above sported smaller dealer stands, clothing and jewellery shops.

Paul from Zodiac UK was able to sort out at very short notice some passes for the Am-V crew, so many thanks to him, and also to Robin Bradley from European Dealer News who allowed us to deposit magazines and leathers in a convenient part of his stand.

Though we missed Custom Chrome's friendly rival party in the same hotel the night before, on Saturday the three of us grabbed a taxi out to the Hotel Nuland in Rosmalen for the Zodiac Dealer bash. Down a wide flight of steps, big doors opened out into a large room half full of tables laden with a variety of food. At one side of the room was a packed bar - the drink, like the food, was gratis - which led to a huge function room, one side of which was made up of a casino which only accepted the pretend money that Zodiac had issued to all of their guests. Whatever anybody won from the casino could be used later to bid for Zodiac catalogue parts in an auction scheduled for 11pm. A canny British dealer near our table had decided to forego any 'gambling' and just hold on to his 'money' for later.

The Rock disco was fun - storming music that failed to fill the dance floor, then a heavy-metal tribute to ABBA's 'Thank You For The Music' - truly, a hell of a lot better than it sounds - hailed a sea change to the music menu. When you've witnessed respected European dealers, MC members, Zodiac Staff and, ahem, American-V staffers grooving to Sister Sledge and Cool and the Gang you can start to think you've seen it all. A truly great night!

Entertainment back at the MotorSale wasn't lacking either, the music was provided, in exhausting half hour sets every hour, by traditional rock band Dr Bob on both Saturday and Sunday, and while the band rested, the erotic acts took to the stage. I only saw one
girl, from an outfit called Hot Stuff - or she was called Hot Stuff - anyway she was bloody excellent. Attitude is everything in her particular art and she seemed to really enjoy every minute.

Given that the overnight crossing from Hull to Zeebrugge wasn't too extortionate in November and the hotel we stopped in overnight in s-Hertogenbosch, the Golden Tulip Central, did us a cracking late deal too, meaning the whole trip didn't cost anything like as much as we had feared. With the Autotron being so easy to find, I would heartily recommend more UK bikers try the Bigtwin MotorSale in 2004, I don't think you will be at all disappointed … but I would get your hotel booked as soon as possible for next year if you need one.