Bern Moto Festival vs Salon 2 Roues Lyon: the big game

With the 1st edition of this new Bern Moto Festival, in Switzerland, expectations were high, and perhaps a little disproportionate. So did it live up to expectations, or did it disappoint, and how does it compare with its big brother in Lyon? Read all about it in our report.

Introduction

When planning the year’s agenda, many bikers like to kick off the season by visiting a motorcycle show, hoping to discover the latest trends and perhaps even snag a new ride.

After bidding farewell to the shores of the Limat (Zurich), the biking community felt a void in Switzerland for a true motorcycle expo.

Traditionally, the season kick-off involved a popular fair where bikers could explore new models and gear up for the upcoming season. The community was eager to experience a new version in Bern, complete with a fresh organization.

However, due to uncertainties related to pandemic management, the inaugural edition scheduled for 2022 was canceled just weeks before the festivities.

Finally, in 2023, the revamped Moto Festival took place. So, did it become a hit or a missed opportunity? Let’s assess it by comparing it to its big brother in Lyon.

Bern Moto Festival Switzerland

Bern Moto Festival Switzerland

Yeah, we know, it’s not exactly comparing apples to apples. Lyon was celebrating its 30th anniversary, while Bern was just getting started. We’ll cut it some slack for the hiccups of its youth.

However, it was a deliberate decision by the organizers to schedule it on the same weekend as the Lyon Motorbike Show (and the IMOT in Munich), with the dates announced nearly a year in advance.

Consequently, they positioned themselves as a direct alternative to these two major events, closing off a portion of potential visitors who preferred the more comprehensive programs of the two big competitors, whether they spoke French or German.

However, the organizers decided to rectify this “mistake” since the next edition won’t overlap, giving you the chance to attend multiple expos.

But, to give you an unbiased report, let’s compare Bern and Lyon, looking at what favors one over the other. Let’s revisit the criteria we chose for our Lyon expo review.

The expo itself: exhibitors, novelties, activities, etc.

It’s tough to compare the two 100% objectively. On one side, Lyon, celebrating 30 years and aiming to rival Milan’s EICMA. On the other, the Moto Festival in Bern, relaunching in a new form, with a fresh organization and in a new location.

Yet, Lyon clearly takes the lead here!

The expo boasts an incredibly diverse range of exhibitors: manufacturers, equipment providers, customizers, etc.

Also, there’s apparel, an indoor off-road track to test bikes in real conditions, vintage vehicle races, thematic retrospectives, and more. All of this on 150,000m2!! So, in an environment that can accommodate a large crowd, even on weekends, without feeling like you’re in an anthill.

The Moto Festival at BernExpo, covering around 20,000m2, has limited space and smaller booths.

We went on Friday morning, theoretically before the weekend rush, and sometimes, it was a struggle to navigate between the bikes.

No world or European premieres, with the main anticipated novelty being the new Honda Transalp (first in Switzerland).

Moreover, some major players in the industry decided to skip this first edition, including KTM, Ducati, and Group Hostettler, the importer of Yamaha in Switzerland. This trend is confirmed at many expos, with brands preferring to communicate at dedicated events.

Advantage: Lyon (for now)

Accessibility

Even though Lyon isn’t on the opposite side of the world, it’s clear that Bern is more easily accessible, by car, public transport, and motorcycle. Bikes can park for free on-site. Furthermore, Bern is roughly equidistant between Geneva and Zurich, attracting a clientele from both the Romandy and Alemannic regions, and even from Ticino. Bern Moto Festival Switzerland

Advantage: Bern

Pricing

 

Bern

Lyon

Early Bird 19 CHF 16 €
At the venue 21 CHF 19 €
Student 10 CHF 15 €
Retired 14 CHF n/a
WE Pass n/a 30 €
4-Days Pass n/a 40 €

Bern Moto Festival Switzerland

Yeah, so, salaries aren’t the same in France, so it’s only fair that prices aren’t either. But considering the level of offerings in Lyon, we think the prices are more than reasonable. Also, visitors planning to spend multiple days can get weekend or 4-day passes, making it a really popular outing.

But, you gotta note that, except for our French and/or Geneva readers who might consider a day trip, others will probably need to book one or even two hotel nights.

That will inevitably bump up the budget. Sure, but it also gives you a chance to explore Lyon, which has a lot to offer. More on that later.

Advantage: Tie

Food and Drinks

Bern had food trucks outside Bern Expo and in the basement, so inside in case of rain. However, the tables were next to a demo track, so in the smell of exhaust. And the options were somewhat limited.

Lyon, being a capital of gastronomy, had to live up to the city’s reputation. Did it succeed? Overall, yes! Sure, Bocuse wasn’t serving up his slow-cooked dishes, but there was still more than a decent selection: seated restaurants, fast food, etc.

Advantage: Lyon

 

Attendance

According to the 2023 figures published by the respective organizers:

  • Bern: approx. 50,000 visitors over 4 days
  • Lyon: approx. 150,000 visitors over 4 days

Advantage: Lyon

(but it’s in France, a country with 68 million people, nearly 7.6 times the population of Switzerland)

The location

Bern is a city that holds its own and offers many points of interest, some nice shops for shopping, and restaurants that will satisfy almost every palate. Easily accessible, it allows Swiss bikers to make it a day trip without necessarily having to organize hotel/AirBnB nights.

Lyon, on the other hand, is less suited for a day visit.

However, the city has many assets to boast about: a world-renowned gastronomic capital, numerous shopping opportunities, points of interest, etc. So, if you’re planning a biker outing, why not make it a (long) weekend and combine business with pleasure?

Bern Moto Festival Switzerland

Interested? Check out our article on the Lyon Motorcycle Show, where we also give tips on accommodations, restaurants, and favorite shops where you can find quality pieces to turn heads when you’re on your bike (or not).

Advantage: For a day, Bern, but for a weekend, Lyon without hesitation.

Verdict

As you’ve seen, both expos have a lot going for them. It’s clear that the MotoFestival in Bern still carries the weight of its youth, but we’re confident the organizers will iron out the kinks over the editions.

Deciding to deliberately organize the 1st edition at the same time as its French and German counterparts, the organizers took a big gamble, closing off a portion of their potential clientele.

Did this gamble pay off? Hard to say, but if we believe the figure of 40,000 visitors over 4 days put forward by the organizers, then the MotoFestival still managed to attract a good number of bikers.

But if we look at the statistics, knowing there are over 1.5 million people with a motorcycle license in Switzerland, that’s barely 0.026% of the potential clientele.

Sure, it’s a theoretical number because not all bikers like to attend these events, and having a license doesn’t necessarily mean having (yet) a bike. But it shows the ratio and… the achievable room for improvement for the organizers 😉

Lyon, on the other hand, retains the advantage of its size, maturity, and… its location, as it not only offers a well-polished event that caters to almost all tastes: custom bikes, novelties, accessories, textiles, etc. But visitors can also enjoy what the city has to offer. Win-win? We think so.

Last (good) news: you won’t have to choose in 2024 since the organizers have decided to schedule the MotoFestival on a different weekend than the Lyon expo.

Dates for the next edition to mark in your calendar:

  • Bern: February 29, 2024, to March 3, 2024
  • Lyon: March 7, 2024, to March 10, 2024

Need more info? Visit the MotoFestival website (here) or the Lyon Motorcycle Show website (here).

We hope this article will be useful to you.

Thanks for your time/interest, and see you soon for a new article!

Snapshots of the Bern Moto Festival

Cruizador

Hey, I'm the founder and Chief Biker Officer of Cruizador. I've been a motorcyclist and travel enthusiast for a long time, and it was in 2018 that I decided to launch this new service, hoping that it would speak to as many bikers as possible who share the same philosophy and the same thirst for the great outdoors. I'd be delighted to take note of your comments, ideas for improvement, etc. Ride on!

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Comments

  • Lyon Motorbike Show – Cruizador Culture
    2025-01-06 5:40:16

    […] organisers have announced that the Swiss Moto Festival, which took place in Bern earlier this year, will not be reopening in 2025, at least in its current […]

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