Is there any sense in talking about “women’s motorcycles” today? Probably not, especially if you consider the term as some sort of limit on freedom of choice. The figures are clear: the number of women riding motorbikes, of all types, is growing, and you only have to look around you. So no limit can or should be imposed. Where the real difficulty lies is making the right choice from the huge range available: and if experience can’t provide a guide, then the desire to learn will be decisive. However, a number of practical questions need to be resolved.
The first is something every woman who wants to ride a motorbike asks herself: will it be too heavy for me? No worries, future bikers: just remember that if the bike is straight, it is “weightless”. Two simple rules – never stop and never set off again with the handlebar at an angle, always make sure it’s straight – are a good starting point to avoid handling difficulties at very low speeds. In other words, it’s not a question of physical strength: it’s the idea that you’re riding a heavy bike or a bike with a large engine that often proves alarming, rather than your actual ability to control it.
PHOTO GALLERY
In any case, all the motorcycle makers offer plenty of suitable “starter models” for aspiring women bikers. These bikes, it should be said, are absolutely unisex, ideal for girls but also for lads learning to ride, perhaps after using a scooter. Just look for a few essential features to make your two-wheel baptism even easier and more gratifying: a low saddle, contained weight and compact size. Features you will find in our selection from the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi ranges, three models offering an original interpretation of three different riding styles for people who enjoy living life on two wheels.
MOTO GUZZI V7, THE CLASSIC MOTORBIKE
Timeless lines, compact dimensions, easy riding at the highest level. The V7 is “the motorbike”, powered by the great air-cooled 90° V-twin engine that has been the soul of all Guzzi bikes for decades. With the V7, you will ride with style in all conditions, supported by its lightweight handling, easy throttle management and unmistakeable good looks. As far as performance goes, this little Moto Guzzi makes a powerful statement! A best-selling model of undeniable charm, the V7 is available in three versions in the 2014 range: the V7 Stone: eclectic, essential, the entry model in the Moto Guzzi world; the V7 Special: a sought-after model whose vintage look is inspired by the legendary 750 SPORT S3 from 1974; the V7 Racer: an even more exclusive bike, produced in a numbered limited edition.
APRILIA SHIVER 750, THE ATHLETE
If you have a favourite road, if you love bends and if you have a competitive streak, then the Shiver 750 is the bike for you. The liquid-cooled 750 cc V-twin engine is mounted on a mixed-structure steel plate and tubular frame: the power of 95 hp, managed with three maps, provides satisfaction for the most expert, fastest and demanding riders.
APRILIA MANA, THE AUTOMATIC
A combination of the versatility of a scooter and the riding thrills of a motorbike. The Mana is all this and was specifically designed to provide a link between the two worlds. It rides like a motorbike as far as position is concerned, but it provides a helmet compartment for maximum practicality. And with the automatic sequential gearshift, you don’t even have to learn to change gears… The 850 cc twin-cylinder engine is ready for anything.
Event
PIAGGIO GROUP CENTRE STAGE AT MOTODAYS
WITH THE APRILIA RACING TEAM RIDERS
Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli, the Aprilia Racing team riders in the World Superbike Championship, were in Rome to present the new Piaggio Group products for the 2014 season. They were the stars of the Rome motorcycle show, accompanied by the fantastic RSV4 Factory Racing SBK with its new silver livery, which secured top ranking in the Rider and Manufacturer tables at the season’s “kick-off” race in Australia
Motodays is a now a classic end-of-winter event in the two-wheeler world. This year’s show, the sixth, attracted more than 140,000 visitors to the Rome Fiera exhibition centre (from 6 to 9 March 2014).
Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli were there too, fresh from the first two WSBK races at Australia’s Phillip Island track. A debut round that saw Aprilia, the reigning world Manufacturer champion, set the lead in both heats thanks to the victory won in Race 2 by Guintoli – who also took the Superpole – and Melandri’s second place in Race 1.
Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli opened Motodays 2014 and launched the many new products presented in Rome by the Piaggio Group for the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycle brands, and for its Vespa, Piaggio and Scarabeo scooter brands.
THE NEW PRODUCTS FOR THE 2014 SEASON
Rome saw the debut of an absolute newcomer, the Piaggio Beverly 300S, an unprecedented version of the best-selling mid-range high-wheeler, with a new black satin-finish trim, new-look wheel rims, mirrors, engine cover and fairing plastic, to give the new Beverly an even more rugged appeal. The Beverly S is also available in a 125 cc model. Together with the luxurious 946, Vespa presented the new Vespa Primavera to the Rome audience. A new body, new-size wheels, new front suspension, a new electronic injection system for record-low consumption and emissions, the Primavera is a cutting-edge Vespa, mobility combined with the elegance of an exclusive design, without sacrificing comfort.
In addition to its flagship California 1400 range, Moto Guzzi presented the eagerly awaited V7 MY 2014 line. All the models share a new technical feature: a new wet flywheel to replace the previous dry alternator, slightly modifying the front of the 90° V-twin, thanks to a sleeker, more compact new cover. The line confirms the three versions of the Moto Guzzi best seller: the V7 Stone: eclectic, essential, the entry model in the Moto Guzzi world; the V7 Special: a sought-after bike with a vintage look inspired by the legendary 750 SPORT S3 from 1974; the V7 Racer: with even more exclusive fittings, produced in a numbered limited edition.
In the Aprilia area, the spotlight was on the V4 one-litre range, the real power and technology standard-bearer of this brand. The 2014 version of the Tuono V4 R supernaked sports bike offers a host of new features: notably, the advanced three-level ABS racing system, which can be deactivated when necessary. The Tuono also delivers greater power (170 hp) and maximum torque, a further advance in the uniquely sophisticated APRC electronic control package and a larger fuel tank (18.5 litres) shaped to provide an improved riding feeling.
For bikers who love uncompromising track racing, all eyes were on the RSV4 R ABS and RSV4 Factory ABS, two versions of a bike that represents the best a rider can aspire to in the super sports segment. The Aprilia RSV4 is the model on which the WSBK 2013 Manufacturer world champion bike and five-times winner of the WSBK world championship in the last four seasons is based.
For 2014 the RSV4 has gained more power (184 hp) and maximum torque from its V4 engine (a unique creation in world production), an even more advanced APRC electronics package, a new and more effective braking system, a larger and more ergonomic fuel tank. New graphics were also presented for both versions: the RSV4 R ABS is available in two colours: Nero Opaco black or Rosso Formula red. The RSV4 Factory ABS, the more sophisticated and luxurious of the two models, is available in new Nero Assoluto black.
THE COMMENTS OF MARCO AND SYLVAIN Marco Melandri: “There’s a great atmosphere here in Rome, you can feel people’s enthusiasm, and that’s a good sign for the world I work in. After EICMA, this is the second event where I’ve been at the Piaggio Group stand, and I have to say that the Vespa, both the exclusive 946 and the new Primavera, have an appeal that is truly unique.” Sylvain Guintoli: “Meeting so many fans and bikers here today is really empowering, we need positive energy for the next race. I’ve also seen a lot of great bikes, the Tuono V4 is still my favourite: it has the same engine as the Superbike I race on and I’ve got one at home, which I love riding on Britain’s roads. It’s fast, easy and has a great sound. A true sporting thoroughbred.”.
HISTORIC MOTO GUZZI MOTORCYCLES
FROM THE ITALIAN NATIONAL POLICE MUSEUM
The Moto Guzzi motorcycles from the Italian National Police Museum on display at Motodays 2014, in Rome, attracted a lot of curiosity among visitors to the event and brought back memories for older members of the crowd. The motorcycles, in excellent condition, all dated from the years between 1947, when the Italian Traffic Police were founded, and 1971, when the characteristic blue and white colour scheme was introduced. Visitors to the stand admired the first motorcycle in the police fleet, a rare Moto Guzzi Sport 14, and the famous Falcone 500, exhibited in two different forms: the model with red livery built prior to 1959 and a grey and green model with a windscreen and a siren. The V7 700 and its sidecar version were other rare bikes exhibited in the same “uniform”, all bearing the symbol of the bowman identifying motorcycles in the traffic police fleet.
EVENT
TAIWAN: IN TAIPEI, A NEW APRILIA SHOWROOM
AND LAUNCH OF THE CAPONORD 1200
MOTO STAR DEALER GRAND OPENING DEDICATED TO THE ITALIAN BRAND AND CURRENT SBK WORLD CHAMPION, WITH THE DRAGON DANCE AND DANCERS IN LED LIGHTS
Aprilia was the centre of attention at an exciting event in Taiwan on 22 February: the opening of the new “Moto Star” Aprilia flagship showroom, in the Nei Hu district of Taipei City. Guests included clients, dealers, VIPs from Piaggio Asia Pacific and the Moto Star Co. Ltd. dealer, reporters from the daily press and trade journals, TV and web, and representatives from the Taiwan Government Trade Department. The event was attended by the top management of Piaggio Asia Pacific led by Managing Director Mark Franklin, and by Moto Star Chairman Lai Weng Tung.
In addition to the official launch of the new showroom, and the debut of the Aprilia Caponord 1200 motorbike, the event celebrated the return of the Aprilia brand to the Taiwanese market and the reaffirmation of its customer commitment, with the introduction of the entire Aprilia range on the local market.
PHOTO GALLERY
The new showroom
The mono-brand showroom, one of the largest in Asia, is an impressive location: cross the threshold and you walk into the Aprilia world, where Italian quality and technology, a passion for sport and racing, are taken to the nth degree. Apart from the display areas and the front desk, the site has a fully equipped service area staffed by skilled mechanics, spacious offices and a VIP room. The exhibits present the Aprilia range, the current Superbike world champion brand, together with accessories, merchandising and original spare parts. Everything a biker could want, in other words.
The opening was a spectacular event, which began with the “Dragon Dance”, a tradition in Chinese culture and widely performed at parties and celebrations; the symbol of the dragon is believed to bring good luck. After Mark Franklin, Sky Huang and Pierre Sainton had removed the red wrapping to officially unveil the showroom sign, the festivities continued inside, where the dragon moved on to a stage erected for the event. This was the cue for the presentation of the Aprilia Caponord 1200 by Mark Franklin, who rode on to the stage on the bike, to enthusiastic applause.
PHOTO GALLERY
The opening
An original performance by a group of dancers “dressed” in LED lights that sparkled in the dark showroom also received a warm reception. After the official speeches, the presentation of the Caponord and the product range, glasses were raised to toast Aprilia, a highly successful Italian brand that is building a growing reputation on the Asian markets.
The date of the opening was chosen deliberately by Moto Star to coincide with the Superbike 2014 world championship weekend in Phillip Island, Australia, which was transmitted in the Taipei showroom. The Aprilia Racing team riders did not disappoint their fans: Sylvain Guintoli triumphed in the second heat, immediately capturing the lead in the championship ranking, with Aprilia – the current champion – at the head of the Manufacturers’ table, and Marco Melandri, runner-up in the second heat, ranking third in the Riders’ table.
All in all, a great weekend for Aprilia, from Taipei to Phillip Island.
The lucky dragon couldn’t hide a smile.
racing
THE 2014 MOTOGP 2014 SEASON GETS UNDER WAY IN QATAR
ALSO ON TRACK IS THE NEW “ART” OF THE IODARACING TEAM, THE NEW APRILIA WEAPON FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2014 MotoGP season started under the artificial lights of the Qatar track with many new factors affecting the grid. First of all is the disappearance of the CRT category, replaced by "Open" bikes that will line up alongside their "Factory" counterparts. The queen of the CRTs, the ART-Aprilia, which dominated the classification for two consecutive years, has undergone some serious "lifting" over the winter to comply with the new rules.
Although the opening event in Qatar was made difficult by the lack of winter testing, it brought optimism to the Aprilia Corse team thanks to the two points obtained by Danilo Petrucci at the end of the race. The Italian rider came home in 14th position at the end of the 22 laps of the Qatar GP. This was an excellent result for Petrucci, who before that had never finished a race at the Losail track.
Throughout the weekend, Petrucci's main task was to find feel with the new ART 2014, a completely new bike for the rider from Terni, and his hard work paid off in the race. Petrucci made a good start from 20th place on the grid and managed to pass a lot of other riders in the first few metres of the race. As the race progressed, the Iodaracing MotoGP Team rider got involved in several battles but kept calm and managed to put in mile after mile under racing conditions. He used this opening race to gain experience and to get to know his machine.
Petrucci crossed the line in 14th place behind Karel Abraham (Honda) and ahead of Broc Parkes (PBM), while the victory went to Marc Marquez (Honda).
"I have finally managed to finish a race at Qatar,” said Danilo Petrucci. “I'm very satisfied with how the race went and with how we worked. We're a bit behind the others, as we weren't able to do much winter testing, but in the past few days we've managed to do a lot to get to know the bike and the new electronics. To be honest, before the race, I didn't expect to get into the points. The race also gave me the opportunity to gain experience with the bike. Compared with last year, the "softer" I ride, the faster I go. In the first part of the race, I managed to stay out of trouble in the middle of the pack, but when I found my rhythm, I was fighting with bikes from a different category. At the end of the day, I'm happy with the result and would like to thank the team and Aprilia for all the support they're giving me. The next race is in Austin and that's another difficult tack for me. However, I'm happy with how my season has started.” Romano Albesiano, the Aprilia Racing Manager, is also satisfied as he is fully aware of the difficulties of such a demanding task. He remains determined, however, to reach his goal of having a prototype Aprilia on the MotoGP grid in 2016: “Obviously we had a few problems in what was our first race of the season, as we didn't do any testing during the winter. The signs are positive; we gathered important data especially about the new electronics package, which is the biggest unknown factor for us. We have a difficult road ahead of us before we put a Factory MotoGP Prototype on the grid in 2016, but we're up to the task. Over the season, we'll debut various evolutions of the ART, and I think that by mid-season we'll start to reap the rewards of all our hard work.”
vintage
WORTHY PIONEERS
MOTORCYCLES: FEMALE PLURAL
Australian Dot, a sidecar designer. American Linda, founder of the first association to promote motorcycling for women. Jamaican Bessie, a stuntwoman on two wheels. German Anke Eve, rider, reporter and biker fashion designer. In this article (published in Chairmag.it and Motocicliste.net), Silva Fedrigo takes a look at four women who rode to victory
“How often have you watched old movies showing splendid emancipated women like Grace Kelly riding classy sports cars down bucolic country lanes? There came a point when Hollywood put women behind the wheel: it was impossible to ignore the fact that growing numbers of women were driving, out of necessity, a desire for freedom or as an exercise in equal opportunities. But motorbikes? Where are the motorbikes? Why are there no women on motorcycles in the movies, on television, in advertising, in magazines? And when they do appear, why are they usually pin-ups draped decoratively over the motorcycles, and never real bikers? Why do people say women find it difficult to ride a motorbike? Nowadays, women handle jobs that are far more complex and tiring, once the preserve of men… Perhaps an explanation exists.
Today, the automobile is a commodity, the majority of models no longer present engines as power, sport and freedom, but as useful daily tools to take the children to school or go for a Sunday drive. Cars like this can be driven by mothers, women can legitimately take the wheel. The motorcycle, on the other hand, continues to be regarded as a status symbol: not just as a means of transport, but as an object associated with pleasure and a way of life. Freedom, exploration, independence, freedom from ties, clocks and roles… Perhaps this is not yet considered suitable territory for women.
PHOTO GALLERY
Yet female bikers exist, and have always existed. When you start looking for them, browsing the internet, books and association archives, a host of fascinating characters emerge. Characters like Australia’s Dot Robinson, the daughter of a sidecar designer and engineer who emigrated to the USA to expand his motor business. Dot grew up with motorcycles and was a female two-wheeler pioneer. In the 1930s and 40s, with her husband, also a motorcyclist, she competed in many races, in a number of categories, and despite the difficulties and hostility she encountered, she won a number of important events.
With Linda Dugeau, a biker she met at a race, in 1941 she formed Motor Maids, the first American association to promote motorcycling for women. Dot carried on riding, completing many long-distance journeys, until she was 85, clocking up 1.5 million miles. Bessie Stringfield was an equally impressive figure. Born in Jamaica but raised in the USA, she rode her first bike, an Indiana Scout, at sixteen. Little more than a girl, she travelled across the States, making her living as a spectacular stunt rider at fairs. The racial discrimination she encountered on her travels often forced her to sleep on her motorcycle. During the Second World War, she worked as a civil outrider, carrying army documents from one military base to another. She was the first Afro-American woman to make a solo trip across the USA, and on her missions for the army she crossed the country eight times in four years. She entered the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002: a sort of two-wheeler Nobel Laureate!
Cross-referencing photos and fragments of information on the net, you build up a picture of another tireless biker, a figure of great charm and charisma. The legendary Anke Eve Goldmann, a tall German beauty, famous in the 1950s and 1960s for her expertise on bikes no one at the time would have thought a women could ride and control: the powerful and heavy BMW R67/3 and R69. Ms Goldmann also raced on the most demanding circuits like Nurburgring, leaving everyone open-mouthed; as a sideline, she wrote reports and articles for the trade press. Since she was a woman, however, she was not allowed to take part in the top competitions like the Grand Prix.
But her passion extended beyond racing: she was on her bike all year round, in all weathers, which is why she began designing technical leather riding clothes, which would not only look good (and are still an unparalleled model of style today), but would also be warm, comfortable and practical. It was Goldmann who invented the famous diagonal zip on motorbike jackets, which are particularly comfortable for female riders. Cold, rain, snow, nothing stopped her. Every year, she took part in the famous Elephant Rally, a sort of extreme adventure for any biker with the courage to race on snow and mud.
Like these four women, there are many others… Every so often attics and old boxes reveal yellowed photos of dignified young ladies on shiny motorbikes or intrepid amazons like Anke Eve, and someone puts them on the internet. So my advice is this: if you don’t know everything, really everything, about your grandmother, take a look at her old photo albums and ask her about the days when she was a girl. You never know, you might find her proudly posing on a Guzzi or a Gilera, ready to open the throttle and speed off into the horizon.”
THE VAN BUREN SISTERS
AND THERESA WALLACH
No account of the pioneering women who helped make the history of female motorcycling would be complete without mention of the American Van Buren sisters and Britain’s Theresa Wallach, who challenged the conventions of the age and entered world motorcycling’s Hall of Fame.
In 1916, as the USA prepared to enter the First World War, it needed dispatch riders to carry messages from military headquarters to the active units. Sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren believed this was a service women could provide, while the men were engaged on other activities.
Augusta and Adeline Van Buren 1916
Pike's Peak
To prove their riding skills, they rode 5,500 miles across the United States in 60 days. They were the first women to reach the summit of Pike’s Peak, and among the first motorcyclists to cross the USA coast to coast. Despite their success, their applications to work as dispatch riders were rejected. Even so, they had demonstrated that women could ride motorbikes, and created a precedent for female motorcycling.
Theresa Wallach was a leading British motorcyclist during the 1930s and 40s. She grew up near a motorcycle factory, and her friends taught her to ride. She applied for membership of a local motorcycling club, but was refused because she was a woman.
Theresa Wallach
Il libro "The Rugged Road"
Theresa began competing in – and winning – local motorcycling races, although her parents made her hide her trophies, because it was not considered proper for women to ride motorbikes. Wallach was later accepted by the British racing world, after she and a female friend rode more than 6,000 miles from London to Cape Town in South Africa in 1934 (on a motorcycle with a sidecar and a tent trailer), defying the deserts, wild animals and difficulties of every kind. Wallach wrote a book about their adventurous journey, entitled “The Rugged Road”, which was translated into several languages. During the Second World War, she became the British Army’s first female dispatch rider. After the war, she moved to North America. She rode 32,000 miles in two and a half years across the USA, until she settled in Chicago. She became a motorbike mechanic and opened her own motorcycle dealership. In 1973, she sold the shop and opened the Easy Motorcycle Riding Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. Her name is included in the world Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
vintage
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GILERAS EVER
A SPECIAL EXHIBITION OF VINTAGE GILERA MOTORCYCLES AT NOVEGRO (MILAN) WITH THE HISTORIC
VT 317 FROM 1909, THE FIRST BIKE BUILT BY GIUSEPPE GILERA
The 2014 "Mostra Scambio" vintage car and motorcycle exhibition was held in Novegro and involved a special show of the most famous, beautiful and prized Gilera motorbikes, including the unique VT 317 from 1909.
It was the VT 317 that, in 1909, officially marked the start of motorcycle production for Gilera, one of the Italian makes to have won the most trophies in the world, as well as the oldest Italian motorcycle manufacturer still in business. Although the company was founded in the same year in Milan by Giuseppe Gilera, the actual factory was in Arcore, in Brianza, where it remained until 1993. In 1969, the brand name was acquired by the Piaggio Group, which kept it among its motorcycling “jewels”, along with Moto Guzzi and Aprilia.
The VT 317 was at the forefront of engine technology of that period due to its evolved 7 CV engine that could propel it to 100 kph. It was the star of a special Gilera exhibition (which took place between 4 and 16 February 2014, at the "Parco Esposizioni" in Novegro, Milan) celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the "Mostra Scambio" vintage car and motorcycle exhibition. This was an unforgettable opportunity to admire first hand, not just the predecessor of all the Gileras, kindly loaned by the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera, but, in general, a magnificent selection of the Gileras that, each in their own way, have shaped the history of motorcycling the world over.
Gilera's heyday on the track was in the 50s, when it won six World Championship titles in the 500cc class with the fabulous 500 GP (with a 1955 model present at the exhibition). Two of these wins were with Umberto Masetti, three with the British rider Geoff Duke and one (in 1957) with Libero Liberati. Gilera also won five manufacturer's titles against such distinguished names as BMW, Moto Guzzi, Norton and MV Agusta. Not to mention the recent successes in the 125cc World Championship series by Manuel Poggiali in 2001 and by Marco Simoncelli in 2008.
Few motorcycle manufacturers can boast victories both on the track and in off-road events. In the 90s, Gilera took part in and won its category in some of the most demanding off-road races in the world, like the Paris-Dakar and the "Rally dei Faraoni". In these events it was their famous RC 600, which stems directly from the road-going model, that took the honours. This model was also at the exhibition, along with its counterpart dedicated to competition racing.
There is a very well stocked collection of vintage Gilera motorbikes on show at the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera (Pisa).
www.museopiaggio.it
Style
CHANGE OF SEASON:
THE MOTO GUZZI 2014 COLLECTION
A change of season: time to put away your overcoats and sweaters, and bring out your jackets and sweatshirts. To get your motorbike out of the garage and ride out of town to enjoy the springtime. But don’t put on the first thing that comes to hand: choose your outfit from the garments in the Moto Guzzi range, after browsing through the new 2014 collection (available to order from MG dealers). Quality and style are guaranteed, with that distinctive “rider look” that denotes you as a member of a very special biking community: the Mandello eagle community, complete with its own clothing range.
LEATHER JACKETS
California jacket (models for him and her), a leather jacket (with natural nap look, tanned and finished in Italy) in a classic style, with elasticated cuffs and waistband. Moto Guzzi and California logos printed in silver on a leather patch inside the jacket. Three external pockets (two in the women’s version) and one inside pocket. Thermo-formed tone-on-tone Moto Guzzi logo on the back. Just for him, the vintage look Racer leather jacket, with removable protectors on the elbows, shoulders and back, detachable internal thermal vest and pre-curved sleeves for greater comfort.
ORIGINAL SWEATSHIRTS
To avoid being run-of-the-mill, this timeless garment needs the extra touch of class provided by high-quality details and finishes. Like the MG sweatshirts, for him and her, with zip, long sleeves, the Moto Guzzi logo front and back. Elasticated ribbing on waistband and cuffs, contrasting colour inside the collar and a metal tag on the right shoulder. Anthracite, red and white for him; white and red for her.
BAGS: TRAVEL AND MESSENGER
For a weekend away, or for everyday use: all you need are the two bags from Moto Guzzi, both black, the ideal luggage solution for him and for her. The Travel Bag is in a technical fabric, with broad leather handles and an adjustable shoulder strap, with the Moto Guzzi logo on a leather patch (dimensions: 54x27x24 cm). The Shoulder Bag is a messenger model in a technical fabric, with leather inserts on a leather patch (ideal for your notebook or tablet; dimensions: 36x31x19 cm). Smart, sturdy and stylish: you’ll always look good with an MG bag.
( www.motoguzzi.com)
people
ANNIVERSARIES: “SAMU 84” TURNS 30
SAMUELA DE NARDI
WINNING RIDER WITH APRILIA
Born in 1984, blessed with runway model looks, in 2005 she was the first foreign woman to compete in Japan’s “Suzuka 8 hours”, a race in the World Endurance Championship, riding to victory in the Stockbike class. The same year, on her RSV 1000, she also dominated the European women’s championship
It was a historic event in world motorcycling: for the first time ever, a non-Japanese woman took part in the “Suzuka 8 hours”, at the race held on 31 July 2005, on the celebrated Formula 1 circuit. One of the world’s best-known motorcycle races, first organised in 1978, the “8 hours” attracts 250,000 spectators over the race weekend.
Apart from the huge crowds who flock to the race-track, the “8 hours” (the duration of the event), a race in the World Endurance Championship, owes its fame to the determination of the Japanese manufacturers to win on home ground, bringing out monstrous prototypes for the occasion and the best riders. The whole event is held under torrid temperatures and in very high humidity, conditions that test riders and bikes to the limit, with both cooled down with huge quantities of dry ice at each pit-stop.
Aprilia took part with an RSV 1000 from the Aprilia Motociclismo Team; flanking rider Daniele Veghini and Motociclismo journalist Federico Aliverti, they decided to put their trust in Samuela De Nardi. A young rider born in Castelfranco Veneto on 19 March 1984, Samuela began racing in minibike events at the age of four; after concentrating on motocross, in 2000 she came outright 13th in the Aprilia 125 Challenge, and the following year was the overall winner of the Alpe Adria 125 Trophy. She made her debut in 2003 with an Aprilia Tuono 1000, coming fourth in the European Endurance Championship trial in Rijeka (paired with Stefano Cordara) and third in the Italian women’s championship. At the end of the season, Aprilia signed her as an official rider, enabling her to race for the Superbike trophy at the MotorShow with the Aprilia SXV Supermotard world champion bike.
In 2005 Samuela moved to the RSV 1000 Factory, winning the European women’s championship and coming second in the Italian championship: these outstanding results convinced Aprilia to offer her the great opportunity of Suzuka. It was the first time a foreign rider had taken part in the race, and the appearance of her name on the list of riders, on a widely admired Italian bike to boot, sent the Japanese media into a frenzy, fuelled by the undoubted good looks of the blonde girl from the Veneto.
“I’m delighted,” said Samuela on the eve of the race. “The Suzuka 8 hours is a legendary race, and it is a great honour to have the chance to take part at the age of 21. Aprilia asked me to step up my training in preparation for this arduous race. During a race in the European championship in Rijeka, before they confirmed me, they deliberately left me without fuel in the free trials, to see whether I had the strength to push the RSV bike under the sun, in my overalls, for a couple of kilometres to the pit. In endurance events, if the rider falls or has a breakdown, they have to take the bike back to the pit lane without any assistance. We’re racing in the Stockbike class, which are bikes closely based on production bikes. Out of 76 teams, only three non-Japanese bikes are taking part (including our Aprilia), only eight European teams, including two from Italy, and just one woman! It’s the same bike I race in the women’s European. As far as the result is concerned, it’s impossible to make any forecasts when the race is so long, but we have the best twin-cylinder: the RSV has already proved to be a highly competitive stockbike, in Italy and in Europe. My greatest concern are the Japanese riders: they’ve been racing at Suzuka for years, they know every inch of the circuit, they live for this race and they’re ready for anything. People tell me Suzuka is a shock for Europeans like us coming to Japan for the first time, especially on the initial test laps: while we’re cautiously learning the circuit, which is extremely fast, the Japanese riders zip past you from everywhere, at full throttle. But I’m confident I’ll learn the track quickly and perform well.”
Samuela did perform well, winning her category (first place in the class with Aliverti and Veghini) and the following year, 2006, she was given a contract and became the first rider with an official agreement with Aprilia. The same year, “Samu” was busy in racing events for bikes based on production models and defending the European title on her RSV 1000.
The agreement between Aprilia and Samuela De Nardi was renewed for the 2007 racing season, with De Nardi competing in the Italian and European women’s championships on an official Aprilia RSV 1000. The partnership was confirmed for a fourth season, helping Samuela forget the trials of a 2006 compromised by a bout of tendinitis, resolved with surgery, although this did not prevent her from adding to her personal list of achievements with an impressive success at Rijeka and a new speed record on the Grobnik circuit in Fiume. The 2007 season was the last in her exciting adventure with Aprilia. A winning brand, and a winning rider who has earned her place in the history of women’s motorcycling. Happy birthday, “Samu 84”!
PHOTO GALLERY
People Memories
MAKING HISTORY: WOMEN IN COMPETITIVE MOTORCYCLING
THE “MOTOCICLISTE” CLUB WEBSITE LOOKS AT WOMEN WITH A PASSION FOR TWO-WHEELERS AND RACING
First in line in the history of women’s motor-racing is France’s Lea Lamoine. On 15 June 1897, she took her place at the starting line, dressed according to the dictates of the age (skirt, boots, blouse and hat), and won the first French championship for women. Six girls competed in the race, all of them riding De Dion-Bouton tricycles. The following year, Renee Divenne came a triumphant fourth in the Paris-Nice race, leaving six male riders behind her.
In 1914 Italy’s first important female rider made her debut: Vittoria Sambri from Ferrara, a real fighter. Her greatest accomplishment came in 1922, when she won a heat in the Italian track championship in the 500 class.
The most remarkable name is certainly Taru Rinne. The Finnish rider took everyone by surprise in the 125 MotoGP, at just 20 years of age, and is regarded as the pioneer of women’s motorcycle racing. In Brno (Czech Republic), she was the first woman to win GP racing points, and she was runner-up at Hockheneim (Germany).
In 1993 and 1994, Italy’s Daniela Tognoli competed in the world championship, but did not secure any significant results. In 1995, Japanese Tomoki Igata fought against male riders in the 125, coming 7th at Brno and 8th in Malaysia.
This brings us to the 2001 season, when Germany’s Katja Poensgen managed to obtain a 14th-place best in the 250 event, winning the first championship points. The whole race was held under a downpour, which saw many of her male rivals fall from their bikes (*).
In 2004, Marketa Janakova from the Czech Republic competed in a world 125 race, at Assen. She was placed last, but managed to complete a difficult race on a wet circuit. In 2007, Hungary’s Nikolett Kovacs rode as a wild card in the Turkish Grand Prix in the 125 class, but failed to qualify.
Other notable riders include Britain’s Maria Costello, who took part in a number of international competitions including the Tourist Trophy, and Ana Lima from Brazil, who won the (male) 125 national championship in 2005.
In Europe, in recent years, the European women’s championships were won in 2005 by Alessia Polita (600 class) and Samuela De Nardi (1000 class), in 2006 by Chiara Valentini (600 class) and Paola Cazzola (1000 class), in 2007 by Iris Ten Katen (600 class) and Nina Prinz (1000 class).
The most recent adventure chronologically speaking belongs to Paola Cazzola, the first woman to compete in the entire Supersport World Championship season, in 2010. In the first race, at Phillip Island, on her debut she was placed 14th and won 2 points.
(* Taken from the degree thesis of Silvia Sardi, Foreign Languages & Literature, Faculty of Linguistic Sciences, Catholic University of Brescia, 2002).
THE CLUB: MOTOCICLISTE
Formed in 1998 primarily for women with a passion for motorcycles, today the club has more than 11,000 female members and 4,000 male members. In addition to the site ( www.motocicliste.net), the community of biker fanatics meets on the motocicliste social network: events, chatrooms, blogs, forums, galleries, rallies... endless opportunities to get to know one another and have a good time together with their beloved two-wheelers.
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MIRCO SNAIDERO:
NOT A “NORMAL” PASSION
An artist of precision mechanics, 20 years ago he restored the Moto Guzzi Normale no. 51, the first Guzzi bike produced in 1921, on display at the museum in Mandello del Lario. And this year he is working on a new restyling of the beloved “creature”
If anyone is wondering what’s happened to the Moto Guzzi Normale no. 51 in the Mandello museum, they can rest assured: it’s in the best possible hands, those of Mirco Snaidero.
Unless you are familiar with the restoration of early 20th-century motorcycles, the name probably won’t mean anything; suffice it to say that Snaidero’s number is in the phonebooks, under Moto Guzzi, of Roberto Perelli, editor-in-chief of Motociclismo d’Epoca magazine, and Augusto Farneti, director of the vintage motorcycle committee of the Italian Motorcycle Federation.
PHOTO GALLERY
Born in 1960 in Mels, in the Friuli province of Udine, Mirco is an artist of precision mechanics. He began his career as a general repair mechanic, winning admiration both in and outside Italy for his ability to find permanent solutions to problems and congenital defects on motorcycles of every period. In short, he is blessed with hands worth their weight in gold and an endless supply of patience: if something didn’t work because it was defective or poor quality, Mirco would re-build it from scratch. His expertise was sought after by the owners of vintage bikes, who, in growing numbers, began asking him to take on full-scale restoration projects. Restoration became his main business, with frequent visits to the Moto Guzzi dealer in Udine.
In 1981, the Mandello company was celebrating its first 60 years with the slogan: “1921, la Prima Guzzi, 1981 Guzzi è sempre la Prima. Da sessanta anni un fatto italiano che il mondo invidia” [1921, the First Guzzi, 1981 Guzzi is still First. For sixty years, an Italian story the world envies]. The advertisement showed the new V35 II and the Moto Guzzi Normale. Mirco spotted immediately that some of the parts on the Normale used in the campaign were not original, and contacted Mandello to tell them. A few years later, in 1993, during a visit to Moto Guzzi, he found himself in front of the famous Normale from the photo. There were indeed many details to be corrected, due to a restoration that had adapted spare parts from other models. With the approval of the then Guzzi CEO Guido Ranalli and engineer Umberto Todero – and under the supervision of Augusto Farneti – Mirco decided to restore the bike, at his own expense. A search in the archives found that the chassis and engine no. 51 of the bike were those of the very first Normale built and sold by Guzzi in 1921, and later found in the 1940s at the home of a Trento resident, Onorato Petrich.
Given the poor condition of the motorcycle after the wear and tear of the preceding years, Mirco dismantled it down to the last screw, and painstakingly restored it, recovering every possible original part. He worked from the original executive drawings, samples and photos: front fork, fuel tank, oil pumps, tool kit, knobs and levers, handlebar, carburettor, exhaust and luggage rack. He finished the restoration in 1994, and the result was so impressive that Motociclismo d’Epoca editor Roberto Perelli decided to put the bike on the cover of the second issue of the magazine.
Twenty years later, during which time he has changed jobs and now produces and restores vintage slicing machines, Mirco still keeps an eye on his creature. This year, for the 93rd birthday of the historic MG Normale, he has decided to give the motorcycle a full makeover: polish, new nickel plating, cleaning of the internal parts, and other details to restore the bike to its original splendour.
THE EAGLE BRAND CELEBRATES ITS 93RD ANNIVERSARY
PARTY TIME AT MANDELLO DEL LARIO
FOR MOTO GUZZI
On Saturday 15 March 2014, Moto Guzzi celebrated its 93rd anniversary and the residents of Mandello del Lario joined Guzzi devotees in the MG Museum in Via Parodi (where the factory is located) and later in the town theatre to take part in the Eagle’s birthday festivities, organised by the Ripamonti association in cooperation with the Moto Guzzi World Club.
The welcome address was given by the head of the town department for tourism and sport, Luciano Benigni, who stressed the local community’s identification with and sense of belonging to the company that has made the name of Mandello del Lario famous all over the world.
This feeling was confirmed with the projection of a short film entitled “Un volo da sogno”, in which two former MG employees – fuel tank and mudguard decorator Federico Mapelli (born in 1915) and toolmaker Graziano Trincavelli (born in 1921) – reminisce about the company as they look through old photographs and newspapers together. Talking in the local dialect, the pair recount anecdotes about the severity of Carlo Guzzi, the cordiality of the Parodi family, the cheerfulness of Giuseppe Guzzi, the legend that was Omobono Tenni.
In addition to the two sprightly “granddads”, the audience was entertained by the tales of tester Luciano Gazzola, and of poet Elio Cantoni, who used to work with the file and lathe in the Moto Guzzi workshops.
A moving moment came for everyone in the room with the projection of an old video on Luigi Forni, the elder statesman of the Carlo Guzzi club and greatly loved guide of the Moto Guzzi Musuem, who died last year. From pictures, the celebrations moved on to words, with the presentation of the awards of the Moto Guzzi World Club to the company’s oldest former employees: Vittorino Corti, personal chauffer of the Parodi family.
Enrico Cantoni, designer.
Luciano Gazzola, test driver.
Federico Mapelli, fuel tank and mudguard decorator.
Lazzaro Poletti, painter.
Graziano Trincavelli, toolmaker.
A special tribute was paid to Mirco Snaidero, who restored the very first mass-produced Moto Guzzi bike, the Normale number 51. Displayed together with the latest V7 and California 1400, the Normale was switched on by its restorer with disarming ease, amusing the audience with its roaring exhaust, as proud and vigorous as the passion of those present for the Mandello eagle (in the video clip below, it’s possible to hear the vintage Moto Guzzi sound).
On The Road
JOURNEY ACROSS EUROPE
8 NATIONS IN 72 HOURS
Over 2,300 km in three days: travelling across Europe by motorbike can be very fast and at the same time, great fun. Heading East from Milan, we crossed eight countries with a stop at the Brno racetrack. Below is the road map and account of the ride
There are many ways to test a motorbike but none is better than undertaking a journey, preferably a long and intense one, without sparing either energy or kilometres. The idea of doing as many kilometres as possible usually grinds to a halt because of a lack of time. There is a solution though: compress a journey that would usually take much longer into a much shorter time... The original idea of crossing six countries seemed a bit lame, so we added two more for a total of eight: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany (passing through Munich), Switzerland and then back to Italy. That makes 2,300 km in all, to be covered in about 36 hours, excluding overnight stops.
DAY 1
Milano - Trieste - Lubjiana - Maribor - Graz:
805 km from Milan
Riding a motorbike lets you appreciate the smells around you and feel them change kilometre after kilometre. We set off with such a lack of urgency that we didn't actually leave the meeting point just East of Milan until well after 11.00 am instead of 7.00 am. The first road section was the boring, jam-packed A4 to Trieste. It was simply a long stretch of motorway that we wanted to get behind us as quickly as possible without falling foul of the "Tutor" motorway speed control system. What about the weather? No problem - the temperature was 30°C and the sun beat hard on our helmets as we streaked along on our two bikes. The kilometres just seemed to fly by thanks in no small measure to our bikes, which were the real stars of this trip: very little wind buffeting, almost no vibration and great comfort meant that even travelling at the speed limit, we felt completely relaxed and had plenty of time to read information about elapsed distances and fuel consumption. We did Milan to Trieste in one leg and were on the border with the first country we were to cross. SLOVENIA. A short ride from Trieste took us into Slovenia, which is like a replica of Austria as far as countryside goes. The traffic disappeared, the roads were perfect and our trip computers showed that we were averaging a very satisfying 115 kph. The roads were full of climbs, descents and long winding curves. Soon we weren't far from Maribor, famous for being one of the legs of the Alpine Ski World Cup. Along the way, we saw the bonnet of a car travelling beside us fly open and another car that had somehow "missed" the lane at a toll station. These are the things that make travelling so unforgettable…
DAY 2
Graz - Szonbathely - Bratislava - Brno - Prague:
1,416 km from Milan
TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS. We can sum up the second day as follows: we had breakfast in Graz (Austria), lunch in Bratislava (Slovakia) and dinner in Prague (Czech Republic). In 611 km, we crossed three more borders (Hungary, Slovakian Republic and Czech Republic), getting three more motorway stickers and loving every minute of it. That includes a close encounter with the Hungarian police in force (6 officers was less of a patrol and a more of a platoon), who stopped us for speeding in the middle of nowhere. In fact, when they stopped us we were going slow but the speeding issue was related to a town we had passed through 4 km before. Result: the police only spoke Hungarian and German, we only spoke Italian and English. None of us could understand what the other was saying and, following a scene worthy of Mr. Bean, they let us go with a warning to slow down in built-up areas. Built-up? The towns in Hungary all seemed to be uninhabited and the streets bare (see the photos). The idea of traffic is almost surreal: hardly any cars, long straights and flat Hungarian plains as far as the eye can see. The famous castle in Bratislava welcomed us and, after a quick lunch, we were back in the saddle on the motorway to Brno, where both MotoGp and Superbike races are held. Leaving the suggestive settings of the track where many bikers go for a free testing day, we headed for Prague, which welcomed us like long lost friends and is a real must for any traveller.
DAY 3
Prague - Plzen - Munich - Chur - San Bernardino - Milano:
2,235 km from Milan
FROM PRAGUE TO MILAN IN ONE DAY. Our journey continued with a lovely time on the German autobahns, where on derestricted stretches powerful German cars simply flew past us when we were already doing over 200 kph. Our route, which we had changed slightly from the original plan, took us to nearly 2,300 km with one additional crossing. Indeed, we actually visited nine and not eight countries, as we also passed through Liechtenstein, a small enclave in Swiss territory. Years ago a comic joked: “Liechtenstein is so small that every time you do a U-turn you need your passport”. Completing the trip in just three days was no great physical hardship. We also demonstrated that even if you don't have much free time, the desire to travel – by motorbike, naturally – can provide you all the energy you need to experience a unique trip like ours, which took us to eight European countries - sorry, nine.
Liechtenstein:
a sovereign state in 160 km²
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a land-locked state in Central Europe between Switzerland and Austria. It measures about 160 square kilometres and is home to under 40,000 inhabitants (a third of which are foreigners: Swiss, Austrians, Germans, Italians and Turks). In ancient times, the territory was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It is the fourth smallest state in Europe, but the citizens of this principality have the highest per-capita income in the world. Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy headed by a prince (Fürst in German). The current prince is Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein, who lives in the 14th century Castle in Vaduz, the capital of the principality. The castle is one of the main tourist features along with the Kunstmuseum (Modern Art museum) and the 13th century cathedral of St. Florin.
PHOTO GALLERY
CITY TOUR IN THE CAPITAL VADUZ
Community
MOTO GUZZI TROPHY & GENTLEMAN CUP 2014:
SAFE FUN ON THE TRACK
The seventh season of the “Guzzi Trophy & Gentleman Cup” organised by the Moto Guzzi World Club is under starter’s orders. The first season, in 2008, attracted 13 riders; now more than one hundred bikers try out their track skills in the various categories of this increasingly popular trophy. The underlying principle of “safe fun” on the track, has been enhanced with the time-trial championship format, offering all Guzzi bikers the chance to experience the thrills of a real race, in both the “Vintage” category (more than 20 years) and the “Modern” category.
Technical checks, timed heats, formation lap, warm-up lap, red/green light and chequered flag: all the racing ingredients are there. Together with the unique atmosphere only Guzzi can create.
For information on regulations, registration forms, licences:
trofeoguzzi@motoguzziworldclub.it
TRACK EVENTS CALENDAR FOR VINTAGE BIKES 27 APRIL: RICCARDO PALETTI RACETRACK, VARANO DE' MELEGARI (Parma) 25 MAY: ADRIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, ADRIA (Rome) 22 JUNE: VALLELUNGA RACETRACK, CAMPAGNANO DI ROMA (Rome) 13 JULY: UMBRIA M.U. BORZACCHINI RACETRACK, MAGIONE (Perugia) 7 SEPTEMBER: FRANCIACORTA RACETRACK, CASTREZZATO (Brescia) 12 OCTOBER: MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT, MISANO ADRIATICO (Rimini)
The season also includes the “Moto Guzzi Regolarità Vintage Gr. 4” trophy (road bikes of all displacements, up to 1991, are eligible) and the “Gentleman Cup Multimarca” trophy for bikers with modern two-wheelers who want to get a flavour of track racing, safely.
( www.motoguzziworldclub.it)
TREATS:
A RARE BLACKJACK TRIKE WITH A MOTO GUZZI ENGINE
A rare Moto Guzzi Blackjack reverse trike at the Burger Run.
Video by DougCameraman. January 11, 2014.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND RALLIES
Community
OFFICIAL CLUB SHIVERITALIA.IT:
2014 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Shiveritalia.it is the name of the Official Club "dedicated to Aprilia Shiver, the shiver from Noale”, with its own website and news forum full of information about activities and gatherings. The first of the many projects for 2014 arranged by the Club organisers is a tour of Monti Lessini (Verona) which is scheduled for 13 April. On 26 April, a meeting is arranged at the Franciacorta track. All Aprilia owners are invited, as are fans of track sessions.
On 25 May, there will be a panoramic tour of Lake Garda, setting off from Bergamo and going on to Idro and Molveno Idro, to arrive in Tremosine via a panoramic route along a gorge.
PHOTO GALLERY
The main meeting of the year will be on 14 and 15 June, when the Bergamo valleys and the banks of Lake Iseo will host the National Gathering. The programme will begin with a group departure on 14 June from the Aprilia Dealership, Aprilia Roby’s Garage in Curnasco di Treviolo. Their staff will be your partners for the whole event and will take care of welcoming, transporting baggage and will provide free mechanical assistance ( https://robysgarageweb.wordpress.com). The itinerary chosen by the organisers includes a long panoramic route through the valleys of Bergamo – from the Valle Imagna in Val Taleggio on to Val Brembana, Val San Pellegrino, Val Seriana and Val Rossa, as far as the banks of Lake Iseo. The first day will end in the Hotel Romanella, which will then serve as the departure point for the next day's trip: Lake Iseo, Valle Camonica, Val di Scalve, Vivione Pass then on to the Presolana Pass and back to the Hotel for the return journey to Bergamo.
There will also be many events in the second half of the year, from July to September, with summer tours, a couple of days at Grossglokner (in the Austrian Alps and one of the favourite destinations of summertime motorbike tourism riders), and a tried and tested ride and relax weekend at Monte Bondone, in Trentino. The season will end with a festive event on 12 October.
INFO: www.shiveritalia.it
APRILIA SEPANG CIRCUIT TRACK DAY: ON BOARD SHIVER 750
THE BEST VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE
“GUZZI TOUR DE FRANCE”
WITH THE CALIFORNIA 1400 TOURING
“Volzzius” is the name chosen by the German star of this fascinating video entitled “Guzzi Tour de France”: a remarkable trip on the new Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring, accompanied by the friend who shot the film, who rode a Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport. Fourteen emotion-packed minutes in the south of France, climbing up Alpine mountain roads to the 2,800 metres of the La Bonette pass, along the road from Nice to Briançon (which Napoleon III took in 1860), down in the valleys to admire the Route de la Lavande in Provence. Or trying out the most exciting roads of the Tour de France, like the legendary Col de Izoard.
In the video, Volzzius takes this itinerary: Vercors, Pont en Royans, Mont Ventoux, Gorges de la Nesque, Ardeche, Cevennes, Tarn, Millau (Viaduc de Millau), Route de la Lavande (Provence), Castellane, Gorges du Verdon; Route des Grandes Alpes: Col de Vars, Col de Izoard, Cime de la Bonnette, Col d’Allos.
The powerful California is astonishing in the effortless ease and surprising agility with which it takes on ascents, descents and hairpin bends. A true “super tourer”.
MY BIKE MOVIE
ANDREA LIVIO: FILMMAKER AND TRAVELLER
“THE GUZZI STELVIO IS MY FAVOURITE BIKE:
IT’S TAKEN ME 100,000 KM AROUND THE WORLD”
STELVIO2 STELVIO ADVENTURE
Andrea Livio, a director by profession, a passionate traveller and motorbike fanatic, has completed a round-the-world trip on a Moto Guzzi Stelvio: 100,000 kilometres in two and a half years. He left from the Stelvio Pass (a height of 2,758 metres) and travelled through France, where he boarded a ship for South America; from Patagonia, he rode to Canada, and through to Alaska, then back to Vancouver where he missed the ship for Japan. So he travelled back to South America, to Bogota, then to Peru, and headed for Korea, returning home through Russia, to reach his final destination, the Stelvio Pass, from where the journey began.
“Stelvio2Stelvio” is the title of his adventure ( www.stelvio2stelvio.it).
In this interview for Liguria Nautica, Andrea Livio explains why he chose the Guzzi for his great adventure. “Because the factory where it’s made is close to where I live, where I was born. It’s like travelling with something from home, something personal. And the Guzzi is my favourite bike. I call my Stelvio Mastellona because it’s so hefty.”
A trusty companion, a friend that has taken him to difficult, wonderful, unforgettable places.
CREDITS. Liguria in moto, a Liguria Nautica blog. Interview by Manuela Facino; filmed by Sara Verterano; editing Riccardo Molinari.
YOU AND YOUR MOTORBIKE
ON WIDE!
For true bikers, their motorcycle, whatever its age, is a cult object to be treasured, cared for and kept proudly for years; a faithful companion for travel and adventure. The new WIDE feature “My Bike Movie” is dedicated to everyone who rides off to work on a brand new bike in the morning, to everyone who fondly conserves a bike handed down in the family from generation to generation, to everyone who lovingly cherishes a vintage motorcycle.
MAKE YOUR
BIKE MOVIE!
Make a short video of your Aprilia or Moto Guzzi motorbike to tell us what it means to you. You can tell the story of your bike or recount a trip you’ve made together. You can include shots of daily life, or evoke the emotions you have shared.
The videos we select will appear on Wide, in the new feature “My Bike Movie”, to present you and your motorcycle, the most special bike in the world, to bikers all over the globe. Because every bike’s story is unique.
