There are rallies you visit just once, perhaps out of curiosity. And then there are others that, without making a fuss, end up taking a permanent place on your calendar and, above all, in your heart. For me, the Zurich Motom Rally is exactly that. It’s not just a weekend dedicated to vintage motorcycles: it’s a get-together with friends, with the mountains, with stories, and with that feeling of being at home even when you’re across the border.
The first edition took place in 2022, and even today, I still think it’s a bit of a shame that I missed it. Not because I didn’t want to go, but simply because I didn’t even know it existed. Ever since I discovered it, though, I haven’t missed a single one.
The Discovery
In 2023, the three of us set off: me, Corrado Baracco, and Claudio Fizzardi. We were the same travel companions with whom we’d tackled the Milan-Taranto ride and other Motom events. We were already used to sharing the kilometers, the unexpected, and the banter.
We loaded the motorcycles onto the van and set off without really knowing what to expect. But as soon as we parked, we realized this wasn't just any old rally.
Our friends at the Zurich Motom Club welcomed us with impeccable organization, but above all with something that can’t be planned or bought: genuine hospitality. The kind that makes you feel welcome within five minutes, even if you didn’t know a single person until the day before.
After all, motorcycles have a curious power: just park one on its stand, and differences in language, age, and nationality disappear. There’s always someone talking about a restoration they did in their garage, someone showing off an ingenious technical solution, someone pulling out a photograph from forty years ago. And in the end, you realize you’re talking to complete strangers as if they’ve been your friends forever.
The sightseeing tour, the moments of camaraderie, the chats in front of the motorcycles, and the stories of adventures experienced in the saddle… it all helped create a family-like atmosphere. We arrived as guests and left with a few more friends.
So, in 2024, returning wasn't a decision—it was a natural consequence.
This time, the Italian group was even larger. Word of mouth clearly still works when there’s something truly worth sharing. Our Swiss friends confirmed everything we’d already discovered the previous year and organized another perfect weekend.
The only real problem? Deciding which Motom to photograph first. Or, more realistically, managing to stop photographing them all.
2025: Terremotom Meets Switzerland
In 2025, however, I decided to completely change the way I traveled to Zurich.
For months, a slightly crazy idea had been swirling around in my head—as often happens when it comes to Motom: the Terremotom, a long journey meant to take me across much of Italy to meet as many enthusiasts as possible.
If I was going to set out on an adventure like this, it was inevitable that I would include the Swiss rally among the stops.
I set out from Lecco, crossing the magnificent Spluga Pass. Once I crossed the border, I was supposed to meet up with Corrado, Enzino, Roberto, and Luciano.
On paper.
Because, in reality, I got there first and ended up… waiting for them.
Every now and then, this happens too: perfect plans that get thrown off course by the road. And maybe that's exactly what makes traveling so great.
After a packed lunch prepared strictly in Italy—because certain traditions are not up for debate—we unloaded the Motoms from the van and rode together to the rally on our Motoms.
That year, too, we found the same atmosphere that had by then become familiar: dozens of Motoms from different regions, but above all, people who get together every summer as if not even a month had passed since they last said goodbye.
Because, in the end, Motom isn't the main character.
The Motom is just an excuse.
People are our true wealth.
Throughout the weekend, the Motor Festival brings the rally area to life. It’s not just an event for motorcycles: you can admire motorcycles from every era, classic cars, tractors, farm vehicles, American cars, and many other curiosities from all over Switzerland. It’s one of those events where it’s worth stopping to take in every detail, because behind every vehicle there’s a story to tell.
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be two wonderful sightseeing tours by motorcycle through the countryside of the Canton of Thurgau, along back roads that are perfect for enjoying the scenery and the pleasure of riding at a leisurely pace.
On Saturday night, however, the stage comes alive with live music. And here, our Swiss friends always manage to surprise us with shows and ideas that are decidedly outside the box compared to how we experience car rallies. It’s this contrast, too, that makes the weekend so enjoyable: different traditions, but the exact same passion.
After dinner, the large warehouse that houses the motorcycles during the day becomes the real gathering spot for the event. The motorcycles are parked and at rest, the tables are filled with glasses of beer, and the chatter seems to go on forever.
Or at least… almost all of them.
Enzino had already succumbed to fatigue and was sleeping peacefully in his chair. It was around eleven o'clock at night.
It was right at that moment that, almost as a joke, I became curious.
I turned to Massimo Prata and asked him:
"But can an Italian become a member of the Zurich Motorcycle Club?"
Massimo looked at me, almost surprised.
"Of course! Just ask the president (Davide Prata), fill out the form… and pay the membership fee!"
No sooner said than done.
Within a few minutes, I had filled out the form and become a member of the Motom Club Zurich.
It wasn't just a matter of having one more card in my wallet. It was simply my way of thanking a group of people who, year after year, welcome us with a warmth and enthusiasm that deserve my utmost respect.
A few months later, however, it was confirmed that the beer he’d had that evening had likely influenced how he filled out the form.
While sending my Christmas greetings, I realized I had written the wrong ZIP code.
Who's to blame? Beer, of course!
Sunday mornings are almost like a ritual.
We start with a classic Swiss breakfast, where Rösti is always on the menu. Then everyone gets back on their bikes for the second sightseeing tour before heading back to the rally camp.
The event culminates in the afternoon with the traditional raffle.
In 2025, fate decided to smile on Enzino, who won the Swiss Motom GG awarded by the organizers.
What struck me most wasn't so much the prize itself as the reaction of my Swiss friends. They celebrated almost more than we did. It was clear that they were happy to see that Motom end up in the hands of someone they'd spent the weekend with.
It's one of those little moments that captures the spirit of the Zurich Motom Rally better than any words ever could.
For me, however, the journey wasn't over yet.
The next morning, I said goodbye to everyone and returned to Italy via the San Bernardino Pass. After just one night’s sleep, I would set off again on an adventure spanning over 3,000 kilometers: the Terremotom.
But that's another story. And it deserves an article all its own.
See you at the 2026 Zurich Motom Rally
And here we are in 2026.
This August, I’ll be back at the Motom Rally in Zurich. It will be my fourth consecutive time attending, and by now I already know what to expect: a few more kilometers, a few more laughs, a few photos that will end up in my memory album, and, most likely, a few new friends.
Because that's why I keep coming back.
Not just to see the Motoms.
I see those all year round.
I also come back to see people again.
If you've never attended the Motom Rally in Zurich, treat yourself to this experience at least once. You'll discover an event organized with passion, set against the backdrop of Switzerland's stunning landscapes, where the Motom is just the starting point.
People take care of the rest.
The handshakes, the large dinner tables, the streets we walked down together, the laughter that goes on late into the evening, and that increasingly rare feeling of belonging to a genuine community.
In the coming weeks, I’ll also be posting the full account of the Terremotom, including all the stops, encounters, unexpected events, and adventures I experienced along the way.
In the meantime, you can find all the information about the 2026 Zurich Motom Rally here.
And who knows…
Maybe this year, too, the Motom from the lottery will decide to pack his bags and return to Italy after 63 years 😁
Why attend the Zurich Motom Rally?
Because it’s not just one of the most important motorcycle rallies in Europe—it’s a weekend where a passion for these motorcycles becomes an opportunity to meet people, explore Switzerland, and forge friendships that last for years.
Information about the Zurich Motorcycle Club on Facebook
If you found this article useful and would like to help keep Motom Club alive, you can support the project with a small contribution.
SUPPORT MOTOM CLUBAll content on this site is protected by copyright. Reproduction, even partial, is prohibited without written permission.