🚀 go-pugleaf

On Tue, 21 Aug 2001 13:25:52 -0700, in ba.motorcycles you wrote:

>
>Hmmm... how do you say "which way to the biker-bar" in Italian?

I dunno. But when my friend and I rode into a small Italian village the
waitress ended up having to use animal noises in order to get us to
understand what each item was. Lamb, chicken, and beef. It was a riot.

Italy is freakin' fabulous to ride. Drivers DRIVE, and motorcycles are
viewed with respect. Well, as much respect as any Italian driver gives
another!

Go with the flow and enjoy!


---------------------------------------
Erik Astrup - Team Iguana Racing (Ret)
www.teamiguana.com
2001 Yamaha FZ-1
---------------------------------------

Jason <aphex888@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've picked up a few guide books but hope someone can give some first
> hand experiences? I guess especially helpful would be locations where
> other riders hang out so i might find like minded people, but any
> advice would be great.

The roads are in much better condition than here, the drivers are
competent and will give you enough room, but you have to *take* it, or
they'll laugh and squeeze you out.

So many "must-see" places, but here are a few:

Lago di Como, and Mandello di Lario where the Guzzi Factory museum is
open for one hour each day.

Bologna for the Ducati factory and museum tour.

Passo dello Stelvio in the Alto Adige (Sud Tirol), the highest and
twistiest pass.

If you're looking for relaxing towns to visit, I would point you to
Tuscany province. Lucca and environs are beautiful, then go north a bit
to Castello Nuevo di Garfangnolo. Park the bike in Levanto and take the
train and hiking trails south through the Cinque Terra.

- andrew, Berkeley

I've only ridden in the Alps but only road in northern Italy.  The roads
there are pretty well paved, generally narrow and very twisty in spots.
Lots of locals ride the Italian Alps and you'll find the gathering spots
along the way.  If you can get to the Dolomites, Cortina and Lake Garda ...
do it.  Very scenic and great riding.

"Jason" <aphex888@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:uvf5ot8qlo79tbb2fko0savk60qffcss85@4ax.com...
> The good news:
>
>  I've planned a spectacular month long tour of italy on a ridiculously
> overpowerd piece of Italian art with a buddy!
>
>
> The bad news:
>
> Buddy had to cancel at the last minute!
>
>
> The good news:
>
> I'm still going!
>
>
> So anyway, I was just wondering if anyone out there has done the
> Italy/European mototour thing and if so i would greatly appreciate any
> tips or reccomendations. I'm leaving in ten days and have made almost
> no plans after arrival and bike pickup. I know i should have planned
> ahead but when you're with a friend being lost and not knowing where
> you're going to sleep tonight is an adventure - now it doesn't seem so
> fun anymore. :p
>
> I've picked up a few guide books but hope someone can give some first
> hand experiences? I guess especially helpful would be locations where
> other riders hang out so i might find like minded people, but any
> advice would be great.
>
>
> Hmmm... how do you say "which way to the biker-bar" in Italian?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> Jason.
> jason13@pacbell.net
>
>
>
>
>
>

Andrew Johnson wrote:

> Jason <aphex888@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I've picked up a few guide books but hope someone can give some first
> > hand experiences? I guess especially helpful would be locations where
> > other riders hang out so i might find like minded people, but any
> > advice would be great.
>
> The roads are in much better condition than here, the drivers are
> competent and will give you enough room, but you have to *take* it, or
> they'll laugh and squeeze you out.

They are very predictable from what I saw (we avoided cities where
possible.)

> Passo dello Stelvio in the Alto Adige (Sud Tirol), the highest and
> twistiest pass.

I have a postcard and picture of this pass next to me (desk at work.)
Very nice pass.  Above the tree line it's easier to go down then up,
because you can look several corners ahead.  Watch out for the unlit
tunnel with curve.  The 6 cylinder CBX I was riding was starving for
oxygen near the top (was tuned for Holland, slightly below sea level!)

We spent most of our time in the Alps because we were more interested
in great roads than sightseeing.

Have fun,
--
Greg Henderson
Hardley: Z-90, Suze: SV650S

Go VERY VERY fast........

Thanks for all the advice guys. I am really looking forward to this
trip. It seems the big problem I'll have is that I won't be able to go
to all the places people have been suggesting: "you have to go here" ,
"you must see this", "they don't know what they're talking about, you
really have to go HERE!" etc. etc......

BTW for Tilman and anyone else who wondered (and to make you all
jealous) Ill be starting out in Milan and riding a 2001 Aprilia RSV
Mille. (The new bennelli tornado wont be shipped to the rental shop
until the end of october - boo hoo)

My one fear is that after a month on a big Italian twin will I lose my
lust for my new (to me) 929?


Jason.

>

>
>
> I've picked up a few guide books but hope someone can give some first
> hand experiences?

First rule of Italian riding is "it doesn't matter whats sa behind you"
more gas...
Larry Lovisone
94 RC45 #2
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/

"Jason" <aphex888@yahoo.com> wrote:

-snip-
> Hmmm... how do you say "which way to the biker-bar" in Italian?
-snip-

Scusi signore(a), dove � la barra del biker?


Vacanza in Italia che comincia il 1 settembre. Parlo italiano soltanto
un piccolo.

BTW, if you wanna take the tour of the Ducati factory in Bologna you
must make arrangements in advance. From the Ducati web site:

Note: guided tours/visits to the factory and Museum must be booked in
advance. Guided visits are held from Monday to Friday at 11.00 am and
4.00 pm; on Saturday morning, contonuously from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm.
Taking photographs is allowed in the Museum but not inside the
factory.

Ducati Motor
via Cavalieri Ducati 3,
40132 Bologna

For contact information
telephone (**39).051.64.13.111
fax (**39).051. 40.65.80
e-mail louise.schmidt@ducati.com

Have fun, ride fast, live slow (like the Italiani).
--
Best regards,
Dave Rivers
Moraga, CA,USA
2K F4 for sale :-(

On Tue, 21 Aug 2001 13:25:52 -0700, Jason <aphex888@yahoo.com> wrote:
>The good news:
>
> I've planned a spectacular month long tour of italy on a ridiculously
>overpowerd piece of Italian art with a buddy!
>
>
>The bad news:
>
>Buddy had to cancel at the last minute!
>
>
>The good news:
>
>I'm still going!
>
>
>So anyway, I was just wondering if anyone out there has done the
>Italy/European mototour thing and if so i would greatly appreciate any
>tips or reccomendations. I'm leaving in ten days and have made almost

Don't do it. I'm not kidding. Not on a bike. Not in a car. You have the
advantage of being used to riding on the right hand side but the
disadvantage that you don't know all the laws and regulations that the
Italian drivers utterly ignore.

Especially, keep away from the cities.

Anyway. If you survive, you could post your adventures.

--
Colin Smith (Colin.Smith@yelm.freeserve.co.uk)
"speed limit": "When the the throttle's fully open, the engine's
                screaming, the wind blast is trying to rip your
                head off and the thing just won't go any f*cking faster".

On Wed, 22 Aug 2001 16:48:37 -0700, Jason <aphex888@yahoo.com> wrote:

>BTW for Tilman and anyone else who wondered (and to make you all
>jealous) Ill be starting out in Milan and riding a 2001 Aprilia RSV
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
<fx: beer all over keyboard>

LOL.

Talk about jumping in at the deep end. Good luck.

--
|Colin Smith:  Colin.Smith@yelm.freeserve.co.uk  |   Windows 2000    |
|Windows 2000 is a REALLY dumb name for an OS!!! |        AKA        |
|Linux is a MUCH better name for an OS!    :-)   |    The W2K Bug    |