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A taste of ABR Festival 2025
As adventure bikers descend on Ragley Hall for the ABR Festival we pay an early visit for a taste of what’s in store
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 27 June 2025 | 0 min read
There are bike meets. And there is ABR Festival. Taking place this weekend in the grounds of Ragley Hall just south of Birmingham, ABR Festival is, as the name suggests, inspired by the ongoing popularity of adventure bikes in their many and various forms. But, really, has evolved into a three-day outdoor celebration of all things two-wheeled and, to all intents and purposes, the motorcycling equivalent of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. And pretty much as big, as we discovered on a trip for the opening Super Thursday ahead of this weekend’s main festivities.
As ABR Festival newbies the sheer scale of the event proves a real eye opener. While the beating heart of it all is the central event village with the stands for all the leading bike and kit manufacturers, food outlets, refreshments, live entertainment stage and more the real vibe is in the vast campsites sprawling across the rolling grasslands of the huge Ragley estate. It’s here adventure bikers gather in their thousands, pitching tents alongside their bikes with their mates to create their own mini festivals within a festival.
As ABR Festival newbies the sheer scale of the event proves a real eye opener. While the beating heart of it all is the central event village with the stands for all the leading bike and kit manufacturers, food outlets, refreshments, live entertainment stage and more the real vibe is in the vast campsites sprawling across the rolling grasslands of the huge Ragley estate. It’s here adventure bikers gather in their thousands, pitching tents alongside their bikes with their mates to create their own mini festivals within a festival.
The range of attractions is more than enough to keep visitors entertained for the full weekend as well, whether that be riding your own bike around the 30 miles or so of marked out off-road trails within the estate or taking the opportunity to test out new models from the various manufacturers present, these including the Voge DS800X Rally announced just the other week.
We took the opportunity for a run on Triumph’s ‘baby’ Scrambler 400 X with the guys from the brand’s Adventure Experience, who took us on an epic ride around South Wales not so long ago. OK, the ABR Festival tracks are a little more mellow in comparison. But it’s a great teaser, and chance to meet the team and bag a discount on any bookings on one of the many programmes they run out of their Brecon Beacons HQ.
Going up a notch or two in bike terms we also took out the rather more serious Ducati Desert X, again under the supervision of the Italian brand’s own off-road experience experts who run a similar operation at the Sweet Lamb rally centre in central Wales, where you can bring your own bike or try one of theirs for size.
While adventure bikes themselves are but one corner of the wider motorcycling landscape these versatile machines remain one of the most popular, their do-anything, go-anywhere image tapping into the same spirit that makes SUVs so popular in car world. And whether it’s the bikes, the kit or the companies offering tours and guiding in the more exotic corners of the world for those wanting to follow in the wheel tracks of Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor everything you need from the inspiration to the clobber to support you is gathered in one place.
While adventure bikes themselves are but one corner of the wider motorcycling landscape these versatile machines remain one of the most popular, their do-anything, go-anywhere image tapping into the same spirit that makes SUVs so popular in car world. And whether it’s the bikes, the kit or the companies offering tours and guiding in the more exotic corners of the world for those wanting to follow in the wheel tracks of Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor everything you need from the inspiration to the clobber to support you is gathered in one place.
Presentations from adventurous riders who’ve really pushed the limits of what’s possible on two wheels are also a popular part of the event, and we enjoyed listening in on talk from racer and explorer Vanessa Ruck (AKA The Girl On A Bike) as we explored the show between rides.
If you haven’t already got your tickets for this year’s ABR Festival the news it’s a sell-out success may be a disappointment. But our little taste was enough to already be looking forward to the next one, and for doing it properly and making a weekend of it. If reading this has you suitably inspired as well we’ll see you there!
If you haven’t already got your tickets for this year’s ABR Festival the news it’s a sell-out success may be a disappointment. But our little taste was enough to already be looking forward to the next one, and for doing it properly and making a weekend of it. If reading this has you suitably inspired as well we’ll see you there!
