By Seth Bowman
Friendly bikers, beautiful landscapes, and obscenely long summer days make Sweden a motorcycle rider’s paradise. (Plus, it’s where Indian Motorcycle co-founder Oscar Hedstrom was born.) To learn about Swedish riding culture and where to ride, we spoke with Patrik Hinrichs, who founded the country’s first IMRG chapter—and then started two more.
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SIGHTINGS ARE NO LONGER RARE.
“When I used to ride my Indian Motorcycle around, people would always stop me to ask about it. ‘I didn’t know they were still manufacturing,’ they’d say. But not anymore. Indian Motorcycle has a great reputation in Scandinavia.”
RIDER EVENTS ARE EPIC.
“The Custom Bike Show is June 5 in Norrtälje, 70 miles outside of Stockholm. It’s thousands of bikers showcasing custom bikes. At the end of June is the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg— the biggest event in Northern Europe, with bands like Metallica® and Judas Priest®. And in August, if you’re a motorcycle rider in Sweden, you’re going to Mälaren Runt. Around 10,000 riders start outside Stockholm and ride around Mälaren Lake. It all ends in the nearby town of Enköping with a party.”
AND THE RIDES ARE EPIC TOO.
“Just like in the U.S., the best rides are on smaller roads, which typically have a maximum speed limit of 90 kph (55 mph). The islands of Åland or Gotland, which are off the coast near Stockholm and reachable only by ferry, are perfect for exploring on a bike. Otherwise, the scenery up north is beautiful. If you need help picking a spot, just reach out on social media. We’re @imcs.se on Instagram®.”
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