Motorcycle lovers are often like families, once they meet their fellow riders. Meeting a motorcyclist on the road is usually filled with courtesy and pleasant experience sharing. Long have passed the days of motorcycle gangs waging war with one another. Even though that used to be a thing and rivalries still exist, they are often settled at rallies, by racing, rather than using violence.

Speaking of rallies, there are plenty of those in the world, but which ones should you visit if you get the chance? Polish people, for example, love watching Formula 1 which is one of their most-watched racing events. What about the other less famous events? Read all about them here!

The Elephant Rally

This rally is actually called the Elefantentreffen which does translate to Elephant Rally and is held in the Bavarian Forest, near Thurmansbang in Germany, at the end of January or the beginning of February, every year. This meeting is obviously a winter meeting and winters in Germany can really be scenic. You can expect snow and a lot of cold.

It is called the Elephant Rally thanks to the Zundapp KS 601, a green motorcycle and sidecar called the Green Elephant. It was founded in 1956.

It is a rather spartan meeting, where participants cannot bring tents or trailers to the event but must leave them outside and bring everything they need on their motorcycle. The motorcycles present can be stock or modded. The motorcycles have to be street-legal, however. You can expect anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 people at this event.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been here since 1938 and has been held in Sturgis in South Dakota, United States. The rally was originally meant for stunts and races but expanded over the years.

It is the most popular annual motorcycle rally in the United States and gather around 500,000 fans on average, even exceeding 700,000 in 2015. The event is held in August so expect high temperatures and bring your summer gear.

Penguins Rally

The Penguins Rally takes place in Spain, in a town known as Valladolid, or rather, next to it in a pine forest. Dedicated fans come from all over the world to enjoy this chilly festival, which takes place during the second week of January, as it has since 1982. This is one of the most visited motorcycle festivals in Europe, gathering up to 35,000 motorcycle lovers. It was named a festival of great importance in 2011.

Daytona Beach Bike Week

A direct competitor to the Sturgis Rally for the most visitors and best rally in the United States, the Daytona Beach Bike Week is also a popular motorcycle rally. It takes place in Daytona Beach, Florida. It has been around since 1937 and is as important as the Sturgis Rally. It also attracts around 500,000 and is a 10-day event, held in March.

These are some of the most important motorcycle rallies in the world. They are all in different months so if you are passionate enough, you can visit all of them in a single year. There are more events like these, just check your surroundings for a local rally.