The 6th European BMW R1100S Meeting

Valle d’Aosta, Italy • June 2026

Some motorcycles become classics.

A few become cult bikes.

And then there are motorcycles like the BMW R1100S—machines that continue to bring together complete strangers from across Europe, long after production has ended.

For one weekend in late June 2026, owners from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy and even the United States gathered in Italy’s spectacular Aosta Valley for the 6th European BMW R1100S Meeting. What began years ago as an idea in an Italian Facebook group has evolved into an annual tradition built on winding mountain roads, shared meals and lasting friendships.

An Event That Almost Never Happened

Looking back, it’s remarkable that the meeting happened at all.

More than twenty-five riders had originally planned to attend, but the weeks leading up to the event became a succession of setbacks. Riders cancelled because of illness, mechanical failures, accidents and the forecast of extreme summer temperatures. One participant broke down on the Stelvio Pass with boiling clutch fluid, another suffered an accident before reaching Italy, while others simply couldn’t make the journey after unexpected problems at home.

As organiser Brunetto later joked, it almost felt as if Odin himself had sent Loki to interfere with every plan.

Yet despite everything, motorcycles continued arriving in the Aosta Valley.

Friday – Old Friends, New Friends

The headquarters for the weekend was the Relais du Foyer Hotel in Châtillon.

**PHOTO:** *Relais du Foyer became home for the weekend.*

By Friday evening the first riders had arrived after long journeys through heavy traffic, sweltering heat and endless motorway diversions. None of that mattered once the helmets came off.

One of the remarkable things about these meetings is how quickly strangers become friends. Some participants had met several times before, others were attending for the first time, yet within minutes conversations flowed as if everyone had been riding together for years.

**PHOTO:** Friday evening dinner – the first opportunity to catch up after another year apart.

Dinner set the tone for the days ahead.

Excellent local food, plenty of laughter and the first of many conversations about motorcycles, travel and life.

Into the Mountains

Saturday morning finally brought what everyone had travelled for.

The motorcycles headed into the mountains under the guidance of local rider Ermes Arserio, whose knowledge of the region led the group onto quiet roads few tourists ever discover.

**PHOTO:** The roads climbed through forests before opening onto spectacular alpine scenery.

The pace was relaxed enough to enjoy the surroundings but brisk enough to remind everyone why the R1100S remains such an enjoyable motorcycle nearly three decades after its introduction.

Italian Coffee Culture

Motorcycle trips inevitably include coffee stops.

In Italy, however, coffee is practically a religion.

At a small café in Nus-Lignan the group discovered that espresso still costs just one Euro in some parts of Italy—something that amazed riders from northern Europe. Naturally, opinions differed on which city produces the country’s finest coffee, leading to one of the weekend’s longest and most entertaining debates.

**PHOTO:** *Coffee stops are as much a part of Italian motorcycling as the mountain roads themselves.*

Brunetto remained unconvinced by all opposing arguments.

For him, the best coffee in the world still comes from Trieste.

Lunch, New Arrivals and Great St Bernard

Lunch introduced everyone to traditional cuisine from the Aosta Valley before another rider joined the group.

**PHOTO:** *Traditional food and good company at Papagrand Gignod.*

By afternoon the route climbed towards the legendary Great St Bernard Pass, one of Europe’s great historic crossings between Italy and Switzerland.

Dark clouds gathered overhead as the group reached the summit.

**PHOTO:** *Great St Bernard Pass remains one of Europe’s iconic motorcycling destinations.*

The rain finally arrived during the descent, providing welcome relief from the intense heat that had dominated the weekend. By the time everyone returned to the hotel, both riders and motorcycles were almost dry again.

**PHOTO:** The yellow R1100S overlooking the Alps after another unforgettable day.

More Than Motorcycles

Saturday evening once again revolved around food, conversation and plenty of laughter.

National stereotypes quickly became a source of amusement.

The Italians explained why every town claims to produce the country’s finest coffee.

The Danes listened with growing amusement.

The waiter even joined the debate, insisting that his local coffee was superior because of the wood used during roasting.

No consensus was ever reached—but everyone agreed that the conversation had been worth having.

**PHOTO:** *Another evening of stories, laughter and friendship.*

Sunday – The Little St Bernard

Sunday brought another classic alpine route.

The destination this time was the Little St Bernard Pass.

Not everything went entirely according to plan. Riders became separated, wrong turns were taken and a traffic accident briefly disrupted the group’s progress. Fortunately everyone eventually regrouped before continuing towards one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the weekend.

**PHOTO:** *Morning coffee before another day in the mountains.*

Waiting at the summit was exactly what everyone had hoped for.

Mountain peaks.

Perfect weather.

A line of BMW R1100S motorcycles stretching across one of Europe’s most spectacular roads.

**PHOTO:** *A line of BMW R1100S motorcycles at Little St Bernard Pass.*

**PHOTO:** The group gathered at one of the highlights of the entire weekend.

One Motorcycle, Many Friendships

As Sunday evening arrived, departures began.

Some riders had long journeys home and skipped dinner in order to leave before sunrise.

Goodbyes are never easy.

Yet everyone already knew they would meet again somewhere else in Europe.

Perhaps that is the true success of these gatherings.

They are no longer simply motorcycle meetings.

They are annual reunions.

The Spirit of the European Meeting

Brunetto ended his reflections with a thought that perfectly captures what makes these gatherings unique.

His BMW R1100S did far more than provide years of enjoyable riding.

It introduced him to lifelong friends from across Europe.

It even led him to meet the woman who would become the love of his life.

That may sound sentimental.

But anyone who has attended one of these meetings understands exactly what he means.

Motorcycles bring us to beautiful places.

People are what make us return.

Acknowledgements

A special thank you goes to Brunetto (“bretto73”), whose passion for the BMW R1100S community made this event possible, together with Hugo Sørensen, Ermes Arserio, Andrea Fava, Simone Tofanari and everyone else who helped organise another unforgettable European Meeting.