Its reputation has long since crossed the borders of its department of Mayenne and even those of Europe. In 2016, Jean-Luc Gaignard received a visit from Brad Pitt, who came specially by helicopter from Le Mans to admire his collection of old motorcycles. And he was amazed, because there are hundreds of exceptional machines there, some of which date from before the very creation of Harley-Davidson. Jean-Luc even owns the only example of a Landru brand motorcycle, built by the infamous eponymous serial killer. But this French machine will not be part of the retrospective of fifteen Milwaukee motorcycles, which the collector will install under a marquee on the Avoriaz site.

To immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the very first beginnings, a reproduction of the famous “1903 cabin” of William S. Harley and the Davidson brothers will be presented along with a faithful copy of the “Number One”, with its single cylinder inspired by the De Dion-Bouton block. We will then go back in time chronologically, with another belt-driven mono, a Flathead single cylinder and two rare OHV versions (including a hillclimber), semi-tumbled boardtrackers, military models from the First and Second World Wars, a hitch “sport model” with a longitudinal Flat Twin engine, a few other hitched Big Twins and a Knucklehead, to name just a few examples.

So get your cameras ready and fill up on the story!