What’s a VIM?The VIM - Honda Adventure Riders Meeting - is a recurring event, which is organised each year at the weekend of either Whit Sunday or Ascension day, in a different country, by a different group of volunteers who propose themselves as hosts on a previous VIM. Meeting, eating and touring together participants sleep on a camp-site or a near hotel and explore the surroundings in groups of equally minded Adventure riders, guided by road book or local guide.
VIM has become an annual gathering for many owners of Honda Adventure bikes, originating from the Varadero International Meeting (hence VIM). Since the first VIM was organised in Europe, by XL1000V owners, 22 Nationalities of riders from all over the world have met annually 17 times (as of 2017). Despite the fact that members of the Honda Adventure Riders Forum have right of first admission to VIM, participation is open to any Honda Adventure bike rider who would like to join in!
Where does VIM originate from?After the founding of the International Varadero Mailing list in 1999 (the predecessor to the Forum) the idea of a ‘joining together’ of members of the list came about and so the first Varadero International Meeting was born.
The first VIM took place in the north of the Netherlands, where Varadero owners from 6 different countries met for the first time at campsite the Blue Star in Onstwedde, Groningen Province.
A tradition was born and after The Netherlands (1999) meeting others followed.
VIM & VCIM Meetings- 1999 - VIM 1 - Onstwedde, Netherlands
- 2000 - VIM 2 - Luxembourg
- 2001 - VIM 3 - Austria
- 2002 - VIM 4 - Greece
- 2003 - VIM 5 - Germany (5th Anniversary)
- 2004 - VIM 6 - Portugal
- 2005 - VIM 7 - Poland
- 2006 - VIM 8 - The Isle of Sicily
- 2007 - VIM 9 - Northern Ireland
- 2008 - VIM 10 - Hungary (10th Anniversary)
- 2009 - VIM 11 - Turkey
- 2010 - VIM 12 - Tyrole, Austria
- 2011 - VIM 13 - Slovakia
- 2012 - VCIM 14 - Tarragona, Spain (See Note:1)
- 2013 - VCIM 15 - Wales (15th Anniversary)(See Note:2)
- 2014 - VCIM 16 - Norway
- 2015 - VCIM 17 - France
- 2016 - VCIM 18 - Winterberg, Germany (See Note: 3)
- 2017 - VIM 19 - Gotland, Sweden (See note: 4)
- 2018 - VIM 20 - Andorra (20th Anniversary)
Note: (1) In 2012 The community was expanded with the arrival of a new Honda adventure bike, the VFR1200X Crosstourer. At the 14th meeting, 2012 in Tarragona, Spain, the meeting was been re-badged to VCIM (Varadero AND Crosstourer International Meeting) and the Forum's URL was changed to VCI-forum (Varadero & Crosstourer International).
Note: (2) In 2013: VCIM 15 took place in Wales (the 15th anniversary edition).
Note: (3) In 2016: Due to the introduction, and acceptance into the Forum and VIM, of the new Honda CRF1000F Africa Twin the meeting was rebadged to VIM to take effect from 2017 onwards.
Note: (4) In 2017 the VIM name resumed as agreed and was hosted at Gotland, Sweden.
With the mailing-list replaced by the first version of the International Varadero Forum in 2003, the community expanded. The current forum is the 3rd generation.
VIM does not strive for success in vast numbers. We are just organising ourselves, in conjunction with the Honda Adventure Riders Forum as home base, to give us all a good reason for a (long) exciting Adventure Ride and meet up with other like minded riders over a spring weekend.
Who are the participants?One of the major enjoyments of a VIM is to do what the Honda Adventure Bikes are designed for: Buy the necessary maps for your GPS and find yourself a pleasant route to get there… a few hundred kilometres this year, a few thousand the next; In a group as individuals, fast or easy going, through flatlands, over high mountains or an occasional ferry. If that not far enough for your taste, you just plan a detour to visit neighbouring countries.
VIM participants are active members of the Honda Adventure Riders Forum and VIM is our annual 'Clubhouse'. Although any International Honda Adventure bike riders are invited to a VIM, the main goal is an annual meeting between members of The Honda Adventure Riders Forum.
Although VIM started as bi-lingual meeting (English and the language of the hosting country), the official VIM language is now English which is widely accepted and used by the members of the Honda Adventure Riders International community.
Unwritten rulesAlthough VIM is set up purely by volunteers, rules do apply sometimes. VIM has no affiliation to any commercial or non-commercial organisation or club, but is associated with the Honda Adventure Riders Forum. Nonetheless there is an understanding between organisers and participants about the basic idea. As much as possible each VIM will be in a different country hosted by a different local organising team.
Sometimes VIM is organised by groups; sometimes VIM is put on track by a couple of local individuals. We can not - and will not - cut out non- Honda Adventure Riders Forum members, but the first option to participate is always offered to the active members of our community.
Every VIM organisation Team has its own set-up. The available VIM guide for future VIM Organisations (see the other topic) is just a general guideline to follow - not rules set in stone.
Growing success!With participants from across Europe and beyond, VIM truly is an international event. VIM participants not only demonstrate that they readily adapt to the location (travel distance) but also that they are often riding greater distances each year – individually as well as combined – to be able to participate in this event.
Everyone should bear in mind that VIM is not about achieving record breaking numbers for a meeting. Every participant and member of Honda Adventure Riders Forum is entitled to have the same amount of quality service and attention. In other words; Quality take priority over quantity in numbers!
In 2010 - VIM 12 in Austria went back to the basic VIM roots: Hosted for, and by, members of the Honda Adventure Riders Forum community.
Be honest... Why bother to visit an International meeting if you are not a member to an international community?
But please always bear in mind... Every Honda Adventure Rider is warmly invited to drop in to any VIM location as a visitor to say hello, maybe have a drink together with the crowd or just to have a ride with us.
SponsoringVIM will never be hosted by a big name commercial sponsor.
For VIM organisers, and the Honda Adventure Riders Community, ‘Sponsor’ is not a dirty word, although the independence of VIM as a non sponsored event is paramount to its friendly non commercial nature.
For motorcycle product related companies, the VIM might be an attractive proposition because the riders common interests are obvious and international in nature. Whomever might wish to promote their products among this target group, and spread the word throughout the world, might find a VIM to be one of the best places to do so!
If invited by the VIM organisers, one or two ‘local’ Motorcycle dealers or companies are welcome to add a little extra to a VIM by setting up a display which might add to the enjoyment of a meeting. Riders might be interested in possible additions or gadgets for their bike, but primarily are at a VIM to enjoy a good party with a band and have probably already spent enough cash on the trip to get there in the first place.
Regards
Bernard 'Two Plugs',
Founder of VIM.
