Product

PREMIERED AT INTERMOT 2014

NEW APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 RALLY:
THE PERFECT CROSSOVER

Aprilia introduces a new version of the super technological Caponord 1200 that breaks down the confines of paved roads to become even more transversal and suitable for any trip. Introducing the new Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally: more eclectic, more protective, more comfortable, super equipped. The high performance of the twin-cylinder is a perfect match for the exceptional chassis features typical of all Aprilia bikes as well as the technological contents such as ADD, the semi-active suspension system that automatically adapts calibration based on road surface and riding style. Available on the European markets starting January 2015.

After introducing the Caponord 1200, the perfect crossover for any type of road use, at the top of its category for technical content and chassis quality, Aprilia introduces a version capable of pushing beyond the confines of paved roads, where travel turns into adventure. Introducing the Caponord 1200 Rally, a splendid representative of the global bike, suited for fun and long range touring and not only on asphalt, as well as daily mobility, of course.

The concept of a single bike for any type of road broadens. The new spoked wheels - with 19 inches on the front – that the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally mounts, shod with versatile tyres suited for any terrain, make any destination reachable, no matter what type of road surface you need to tackle. Making the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally even more versatile is the sophisticated ADD semi-active suspension system (covered by four patents), capable of detecting the rider's riding style, the amount of cargo loaded and the road surface conditions to adapt the set up automatically and in real time. This is an exclusive patented by Aprilia and based on its extensive experience in the field of electronic solutions that the brand from Noale has gained by winning top level competitions like the Superbike championship where Aprilia has been crowned world champion five times in four years. The electronic control package for safety and riding comfort that comes standard on the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally is completed by traction control adjustable to 3 levels (that can also be disabled), Ride-by-wire multimap, cruise control and ABS (which can also be disabled).

The touring and adventure vocation of the new Aprilia flagship is emphasised by the spacious and rugged hard panniers that allow even a passenger to travel without making any sacrifices. The Rally is the “premium” version of the Caponord 1200 and it relies on standard equipment that is unparalleled in its segment, including the handguards, the oversized, height adjustable windshield, the ample side guards and the supplementary LED lights which complement the already powerful triple front headlight typical of the Aprilia style.
The 1197 twin-cylinder engine is at the top of its class for quality and full power output even at low rpms, the amount of torque output throughout the entire range of use and for its easily modified performance thanks to the triple mapping that the sophisticated electronic management allows, including (as with all new generation Aprilias) the electronic Ride-by-wire accelerator. More comfort, more protection and more riding pleasure are characteristics that imply uninterrupted travel, made possible by the excellent capacity of the 24 litre fuel tank, nestled in a sleek and easy to manage body, partially due to the overall weight of the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally, one of the lightest in its category.

The graphics are completely new, with brand new paintwork on the engine and frame that match three colour schemes for the superstructure: Giallo (Yellow) Dune, Verde (Green) Army and Grigio (Grey) Safari, all matte, with a wide variety of available accessories specifically designed and developed for this model – including the innovative AMP multimedia platform – that let you make your new Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally even more personal and complete.

SUPER STANDARD EQUIPMENT!

The standard equipment on the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally truly includes everything:

Electronic Ride-by-wire accelerator with triple maps (Sport, Touring and Rain) that can be selected by the rider;
Two-channel ABS (can be disabled);
ATC (Aprilia Traction Control) adjustable to three levels (can be switched off);
ADD (Aprilia Dynamic Damping), a system capable of "reading" the road, recognising the rider's riding style and automatically adjusting the suspension set up;

ACC (Aprilia Cruise Control);
Pair of panniers;
Adjustable oversized windshield;
Hand guards;
Side guards;
Pair of supplementary LED lights;
Spoked wheels with 120/70R19 (frt) and 170/60R17 (rear) tyres.

Product

PREMIERED AT INTERMOT 2014

NEW MOTO GUZZI V7 II
THE SECOND ACT OF A FIRST RATE WORK

PRESENTED AT THE COLOGNE FAIR THE FINAL WEAR OF THE NEW GENERATION OF MOTO GUZZI V7 MY 2015, DISCLAIMED IN THREE VERSIONS: V7 II STONE, V7 II SPECIAL, V7 II RACER. THE RANGE WILL AVAILABLE ON EUROPEAN MARKETS FROM NEXT MONTH NOVEMBER

Improving a Moto Guzzi is never easy. It takes courage, passion and skill to live up to the expectations and reputation of a legendary brand that is beloved the world over for its coveted motorcycles. The best recent example of this magical combination is the California 1400, a final exam passed with flying colours by the market critics. Now Moto Guzzi relaunches, improving on the other pillar in its product range: the V7. On the best selling Moto Guzzi of 2008 every possible useful element to enhance the sensation of quality, even tactile, has been finely fashioned. The most radical change was to the engine and the chassis where every possible path was explored to increase the level of safety, ergonomics and comfort - in short, the pleasure of riding. The result achieved represents enough of an evolution to warrant a new name: V7 II. The addition of the Roman numeral historically identifies the most successful and longest running products to come out of Mandello del Lario, such as the V50, Le Mans, 1000 SP, California and now also the V7 in its well known and popular versions: Stone, Special, Racer.

AN EXTRA GEAR
It's not just an expression; the V7 truly has an extra gear. One look at the gearbox is enough, now completely redesigned in order to house forced lubrication with an oil pump.
The new six-gear spacing allowed the first and last two ratios to be reduced, decreasing the drop in rpm between one gear and the next. The primary drive ratio has also been changed, going from 16:21 to 18:23. Along with the gearbox the clutch was also improved, with modifications to the lever, the linkage and the cable in order to achieve a softer action and a more even release.

TOTAL SAFETY
Moto Guzzi has always had a keen eye toward safety aspects, even as early as the days of the famous combined “integral” braking system. Today Moto Guzzi continues to develop solutions to increase active safety features for the rider and on the new V7 II the ABS braking system and MGCT (Moto Guzzi Controllo Trazione/Traction Control) system have been introduced. The former is a Continental two-channel unit, whereas the latter is a system passed down from the California 1400, simplified in operation, which adapts to the vehicle speed, springing into action based on the difference in speed between the front and rear wheel.
Among other things, the system allows the tyre contact surface with the ground to be recalibrated, thereby compensating for any wear or the use of units that have a profile different than the original standard equipment. Two indicator lights on the instrument cluster signal activation of the ABS and MGTC action.

THE FIRST IMPRESSION IS THE ONE THAT COUNTS
Looking at the V7 II for the first time, the trained eye of an enthusiast may sense an initial significant difference: the bike appears to be longer and more front-loaded. This is not an optical illusion: the engine has been tilted 4° toward the front axle and lowered 10 mm compared to the previous model. This has created three more centimetres of knee room which, along with the new 25 mm lower footpegs, provide a comfortable position even for taller than average riders.
Besides comfort, the Moto Guzzi V7 II is a whole other bike in terms of riding pleasure. All you have to do is squeeze the clutch and engage the gear to appreciate a soft and quiet action, which was unheard of on the previous five-speed gearbox. Once you are in the saddle, lowered to 790 mm, you'll discover how the new saddle-handlebar-footpegs triangulation transmits the pleasant sensation of being in the bike and not on top of it like with the previous version. The new riding position allows you to fully enjoy the changes made to the chassis, which thanks to the new lower and farther forward position of the engine, have made it more communicative and efficient in demanding riding.
The rear axle has also been restabilised, increasing suspension negative travel by lowering the cardan final drive output 50 mm. This now allows greater tyre grip during load transfer, both in braking and direction changes.
Sure, the V7 II is not a bike designed to break track records, but even in that situation it is faster now than the previous version and then its direct competitors.

V7 II STONE: ECLETIC, ESSENTIAL

Eclectic and essential, the V7 II Stone now has new “Rough” colours: black, red, grey and yellow. They are all satin finishes and inspired by typical ‘70s colour schemes that enhance the contrast of the new frame, built with more aesthetic welding where brilliant paintwork has been applied to enhance the ingenious architecture. The rear light cluster is new, done in black like the new, more ergonomic clutch and brake levers. The technical characteristic that differentiates the V7 Stone from her big sisters is the lightweight alloy wheel rims, a unique modern concept on a decidedly vintage design.

V7 II SPECIAL: ORIGINAL SPIRIT

Of the V7 versions this is the one that most approaches the original spirit of its ancestor, beginning from its graphics, christened “Essetre” (S3) and inspired by the famous 1975 V750 S3. Following this graphic concept, the V7 II now has three glossy colour bases: classic black with orange stripes to faithfully revisit the colours of its famous ancestor and two brand new schemes on metallic red and light blue with a silver stripe. As with the Stone, the Special also has a new frame that stands out, besides for the different engine and shock absorber mounting distances, for an improved finish in terms of welding and paintwork, as well as for the redesigned black brake and clutch levers and the new rear light cluster. Unlike the Stone and the Racer, the V7 Special has a fork stanchion protector instead of the dust boots that are fitted on the other models in the range.

V7 II RACER: SPORTY SPIRIT

Manufactured in limited edition as the celebratory plate located on the upper steering yoke indicates, the V7 II Racer confirms the previous model's equipment and features when the total-black look was introduced on the side panels, mirrors, silencer brackets and foot-peg guards in contrast with the bright 22 litre chromium fuel tank. Other premium components include the aft-mounted foot-pegs machined from solid billets, the lightened steering stem and the steering yoke guard consisting of a double chromed ring, which is so exquisitely crafted that it looks like an ornamental feature. Particularly satisfying, not only from an aesthetic point of view but also in terms of dynamic performance, is the presence of a pair of WMY01 Bitubo shock absorbers with adjustable spring preload, in extension and compression, thanks to a 12 click-adjusting knob. This is a bike that was born to be ridden strictly one-up, in black leathers, a skullcap helmet and leather stud palm gloves.

Event

THE PIAGGIO GROUP AT THE COLOGNE SHOW

THE EAGERLY AWAITED NEW MODELS FROM MOTO GUZZI AND APRILIA MAKE THEIR DEBUT AT INTERMOT 2014, THE 50^TH EDITION OF GERMANY’S TOP MOTOR SHOW

Cologne (Germany), 30 September 2014 – Italian motorcycles dominated the opening of Intermot 2014 in Cologne. During the international press day, at a world preview Aprilia and Moto Guzzi unveiled two of the Group’s most important new two-wheelers for the 2015 season: the latest generation of the Moto Guzzi V7 and the new Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally.

PHOTO GALLERY

Cologne’s Intermot show (1-5 October 2014) is one of the most important and traditional motorcycle exhibitions in the world; this year, it celebrated its 50^th anniversary with a show attended by 900 exhibitors from 35 countries.

Piaggio Group - Intermot

In addition to the three new Moto Guzzi V7 II bikes – V7 II Stone, V7 II Special and V7 II Racer – and the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally, the Piaggio Group showed the best of its extensive motorcycle and scooter ranges. Beginning with the 2014 Vespa 946 collection, Bellissima, flanked by the Vespa GTS, Vespa Primavera and Sprint ranges, and continuing with the Piaggio MP3 range, the Beverly SportTouring and the X10. The Group’s motorcycle brands were equally well represented, with the Moto Guzzi California, Touring and Custom, side by side with the MG Griso and the Stelvio. Racing thrills were provided by the Aprilia brand, with the RSV4 range (R ABS and Factory ABS), the RS4 125 replica, the powerful Tuono V4 R ABS and the Caponord 1200 crossover, now also available in a Rally version.
The Group’s branded accessories and apparel collections also attracted great interest.
The next date on the calendar is the centenary edition of the EICMA international motor show in Milan (6-9 November 2014).

Event

MILAN: A DATE WITH EICMA 2014

THE WORLD MOTORCYCLING SHOW CELEBRATES ITS CENTENARY, FROM 6 TO 9 NOVEMBER 2014. PRESS AND TRADE PREVIEWS ON 4 AND 5 NOVEMBER. MORE THAN 1,000 EXHIBITORS. THE LATEST FROM THE PIAGGIO GROUP IN HALL 10 OF THE MILAN-RHO EXHIBITION CENTRE

EICMA, the World Motorcycling Show, is revving its engines. This is the world’s leading exhibition of two-wheel motor vehicles, attracting more than 500,000 visitors and over 1,000 exhibitors to the Milan-Rho exhibition centre, a short step away from the pavilions of Expo 2015. This year’s event will be particularly important, because EICMA is celebrating its centenary (1914-2014). 100 years have passed since the first show was organised: a century during which everything has changed, including the idea of motorcycling itself. What has not changed, however, is bikers’ passion for the motorcycle: today’s users are informed and knowledgeable, but they experience the same emotions as the early pioneers.

Eicma 1914 - 2014

A CENTENARY EDITION THAT LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

EICMA president Antonello Montante sums up the significance and goal of this very special show: “We want the 100th show to represent the industrial and cultural heritage of the two-wheeler sector. Intensifying our work with all the top players and offering the best to the public also means underlining Italy's role on the international stage. Although Europe has experienced a 54% fall in production in the last 5 years, Italy has maintained its leadership as the number one producer on the old continent. Our mission, as always and with even greater emphasis with this edition, is to sustain the entire supply chain and manage all the opportunities for collective and individual growth, to consolidate existing ties and to meet a wide public who sees the vehicles on display as effective solutions for sustainable mobility, and as objects of desire. In other words, we want to confirm once again that EICMA is the world’s most important event for two-wheelers.”

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

According to figures published by Confindustria ANCMA (Italy's national cycling, motorcycling and accessories association), worldwide production of motorised two-wheelers in the last five years has risen by 39% in terms of units, while Western manufacturers have suffered a 59% fall in production (-54% in Europe). Although Italy has seen production drop by 52%, it is still the leading European producer of motorised two-wheelers. There are about 32 million mopeds and motorcycles on Europe’s roads, of which 8.6 million in Italy alone. Turnover for manufacturers with production plants in Italy has been estimated at 3 billion 700,000 euro (53% of European turnover); companies located in Italy have about 15,000 employees (56% of the European workforce). The turnover of companies producing parts and components for the two-wheeler market is even more significant: 1 billion, 600,000 euro (66% of European turnover), with 14,600 workers (71% of workers employed across Europe). Overall, the two-wheeler market (+50cc registered scooters and motorcycles) shipped 157,011 vehicles from January to September 2014, down 1.4% from the year-earlier period.

THE PIAGGIO GROUP UNVEILS ITS NEW ENTRIES FOR THE NEXT SEASON

EICMA will provide a stage for the launch of the most eagerly awaited models from the world’s top two-wheeler constructors (about 20 world premieres are planned). The Piaggio Group will be present with all its brands (stand G 70, hall 10), offering fans an opportunity to see and touch next season’s most desirable motorcycles and scooters. The enthusiasm and excitement generated by the new products will extend to the rich selection of accessories for the Group’s prestigious brands.

INSIDE THE SHOW: THE SPECIAL AREAS

The EICMA halls will include areas dedicated to the history of the top motorcycle manufacturers, for the initiative “100 years of history into the future”: because motorcycling also means culture, advances in technology and design, epic stories and great champions. Among the champions, some of the top Superbike and MotoGP names from past and present will meet visitors at a series of events to be announced on the official eicma.it website. Outside the halls, the traditional Motolive event with road and track races, to be held from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9, will bring together supermotard, supercross and enduro stars, notably multi-time world trials champion Toni Bou.
The many new initiatives planned for the centenary show will include the Temporary Bikers Shop, a new exhibition area where visitors can purchase the best two-wheeler accessories from recent collections, in a large outlet offering great prices and helpful staff.
EICMA Custom is the special area hosting the International Custom Bike Show. The Lady Custom Bike Contest, for which qualifying rounds have been held in Italy throughout the year, will crown the winner. The Artist Contest promises great emotions, with live work on the theme of 100 Years of EICMA and 100 Years of two-wheelers. Indian Larry Motorcycles, David Uhl, Kevin Bean're, Charlie Gnocchi and Charly Castro are just some of the guests who will be there.
The Green Planet area, in cooperation with the InSella monthly, will take a new approach: organised not as a specific space but as a “distributed” event with display of a stamp denoting the manufacturers showing electric vehicles. Visitors can use the official EICMA app to follow a special route through the halls and stands to look at green vehicles.
The Safety area is an institutional space for infrastructures and products that help improve road safety.
The EICMA website provides constant updates on the packed show program.
INFO. www.eicma.it

VISITING EICMA 2014

DAYS AND TIMES

Press and trade:
Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 November: 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Public:
Thursday 6 November: 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Friday 7 November: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday 8 November: 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Sunday 9 November: 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

TICKETS

Full price: 18 euro.
Groups: 14 euro.
Children (0-6 years): free.
Students (7-16 years) and over-65s: 12 euro.
Evening (Friday after 6 p.m.): 12 euro.
Friday 7 November free entrance for women.

INFO. www.eicma.it

Event

OPEN HOUSE MOTO GUZZI 2014: WHERE THE LEGEND BEGAN

Mandello tradition dictates that the second weekend in September is the Moto Guzzi rally weekend. The custom began in 1989, when the widely popular former rider and dealer Duilio Agostini and his daughters Alis and Lindy decided to organise the first meeting for customers and friends, together with a visit to the historic factory in Via Parodi 57. Over time, the rally has generated two other events in Mandello, Guzzi World Days and the Open House. True to its name, Guzzi World Days or GMG – Giornate Mondiali Guzzi – is a global event offering devotees from all over the world the opportunity to come to Mandello. The most recent GMG, held in 2011, marked the company’s 90^th anniversary. The Open House, on the other hand, attracts a largely European public and is a chance for people to make an annual visit to the factory to see production operations, the museum and the wind tunnel, and to try out the latest products.

Open House 2014

A WONDERFUL WEEKEND FOR TEN THOUSAND FANS

Ten thousand Moto Guzzi fans descended on Mandello del Lario to celebrate the immortal appeal of one of the world’s most glorious motorcycle brands. The 2014 Moto Guzzi Open House weekend, a traditional not-to-be-missed September date for bikers and enthusiasts, exceeded last year’s success, aided by weather that enhanced the late summer beauty of the lake, and gave everyone a chance to admire the new arrivals in the Eagle family, from the luxurious California 1400 to the three versions of the young and agile V7: Racer, Stone and Special. The weekend saw an exceptional turnout, from all over Italy and abroad, including the members of a convoy from Mantua who left from the Piaggio Group’s Motoplex concept store, as well as Moto Guzzi dealers from Siracusa, Lucca, Milan and Bari.
The most popular locations were the Museum (where more than 150 motorcycles from the original GP to the MGS01 can be seen, as well as the first Normale built in 1921), the assembly lines that turn out Moto Guzzi bikes for all world markets, and the always fascinating Wind Tunnel. The tunnel, which opened in Mandello del Lario in 1950, was the first in the world for aerodynamic motorcycle testing.

PHOTO GALLERY

The road tests were a great success, giving more than 500 visitors the chance to try out the latest entries in the Italian manufacturer’s range: from the three versions of the “little” V7 to the California 1400 flagship powered by the largest V-twin engine ever produced in Europe, the Stelvio, a splendid tourer, and the rugged Griso 1200.
The bookshop had an impressive selection of new items (clothing, accessories, merchandising), with previews of the 2015 fashion and accessories collection and articles from previous collections available at outlet prices. The Moto Guzzi fans took full advantage of the opportunity to buy exclusive items with the eagle brand.
Another popular spot was the Custom Area, where dedicated bikers admired the best “special” vehicles developed from small and big Guzzi blocks by some of the most famous custom shops: RossoPuro, South Garage, Millepercento and Radical Guzzi. On hand to chat with the most skilled customisers was Miguel Galluzzi, the Argentinian designer who created the latest California 1400; Galluzzi had flown to Mandello from Pasadena, California, where he heads the Piaggio Advanced Design Center, which, along with Moto Guzzi, designs and engineers many of the vehicles for the Piaggio Group brands.

PHOTO GALLERY

The Moto Guzzi factory in Mandello is an iconic location in Italian motoring history and one of the most famous in the world. It has been manufacturing Moto Guzzi bikes without interruption since 1921, the year the company was founded. Steeped in history, it has accompanied industrial development in Italy and the global affirmation of the eagle, one of the best-loved brands among bikers on every continent. From here have come such legendary models as the Falcone, the Galletto, the V7 family, the Le Mans and Imola sports bikes, through to the latest-generation cutting-edge V7 and California 1400. The Mandello factory is also the home of the Moto Guzzi racers, bikes that dominated the heyday of motorcycle racing, with 15 GP world championship titles (8 rider titles and 7 manufacturer titles).

THE MOTO GUZZI MUSEUM

PHOTO GALLERY

This year’s Open House (12-14 September 2014) enjoyed exceptional weather for Mandello, three days of warm sunshine, unprecedented in the last ten years of Moto Guzzi rallies according to regular attendees. The mild weather was an additional factor persuading biking enthusiasts to polish up their Moto Guzzi motorcycles and make the “pilgrimage” to the legendary red gate of Via Parodi 57.

THE FACTORY: BIKES AND ENGINES

PHOTO GALLERY

Confirming the lively atmosphere, the factory entrance was guarded throughout Saturday by a group of Moto Guzzi Alce bikes and uniformed former servicemen; on the Sunday, their place was taken by a squad of Moto Guzzi Falcone motorcycles in a road police configuration, flanked by uniformed police officers.
Inside the factory, the main attraction was the Moto Guzzi Garage displaying the creations of some of the most famous Moto Guzzi transformers: Filippo Barbacane from Officine Rosso Puro, Stefano Perego from MilleperCento, Ghezzi&Brian, and the Germans from Stefan Bronold’s Radical Guzzi. Their “sartorial” creations put a gleam in the eye of true devotees, even if in most cases that gleam was no more than wishful thinking, given that prices began at thirty thousand euro.

MOTO GUZZI GARAGE

PHOTO GALLERY

A more affordable and no less exclusive option were the bikes provided for test rides: the V7, the Griso, the Stelvio and the California 1400 flagship. The number of test rides was impressive, with more than 500 bikers taking turns to try the two-wheelers, most of them owners of competitor motorcycles attracted by the new Moto Guzzi range.

TEST RIDE

PHOTO GALLERY

The bookshop, museum and production lines also attracted large crowds, while the location of choice for lovers of the selfie was, not surprisingly, the Wind Tunnel. As unique, as its fans. See you next year!

Event

MANTUA

A VISIT TO MOTOPLEX,
THE BIG PIAGGIO GROUP STORE

CELEBRATIONS DURING FESTIVALETTERATURA 2014, WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW OUTDOOR AREA. TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE STORE WITH THESE VIDEO CLIPS

This year once again the Piaggio Group was one of the sponsors of the Festivaletteratura literary festival in Mantua (from 3 to 7 September 2014), and a partner of an event in Piazza Castello: the preview of a play by and with Beppe Severgnini, "La vita è un viaggio" (life is a journey). On Friday 5 September, the spotlight was on Motoplex, the Piaggio Group’s first and largest concept store, officially opened at the Boma in Mantua last June, during the extraordinary Vespa World Days 2014.

Motoplex. Aerial View

During Festivaletteratura, the Motoplex store opened its new outdoor area with a happy hour party offering the typical flavours of the city once ruled by the Gonzaga family. The evening’s music was organised by internationally famous DJ Mirko de Crescenzo. Meanwhile, two smart white Ape Calessino three-wheelers were used to shuttle visitors between the centre of Mantua and the Motoplex store.

Motoplex. The Event

The evening was a chance to admire Italy's most impressive motorcycles and scooters and to try local produce; bikers were also able to register for the two-wheeler caravan that, in mid-September, took part in Open House Moto Guzzi 2014, in Mandello del Lario (Lecco): a three-day celebration of this most noble of motorcycle brands (read about the Open House in the Wide Event column, Motorcycle section).

INVITATION TO MOTOPLEX.

PHOTO GALLERY

A paradise for two-wheeler devotees, Motoplex is a window on the future of the Piaggio Group. It is dedicated to the Group’s top names – Vespa, Piaggio, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia – and to the millions of customers, owners and fans who follow the brands all over the world.

Motoplex. The Store

Not just a store (vehicles and accessories) and a showroom – now enhanced with a large welcoming outdoor space – but an important meeting place for scooter and motorcycle enthusiasts: 1,300 square metres with 46 vehicles on display, and two lounges complete with bar, where visitors can relax and follow events live on web streaming on the two 138” videowalls.
Come to Motoplex: it’s a unique experience.

PHOTO GALLERY

INFO. Motoplex, piazza Vilfredo Pareto 1/2, Mantua. Showroom opening hours: Monday 15.30-19.30; Tuesday to Saturday 9.30-12.30/15.30-19.30.
Telephone: +39-0376246911. Email: motoplex@dealer.piaggiogroup.net
FB: www.facebook.com/motoplex.mantova www.motoplex.it

Event

PRESS TOUR 2014

THE CALIFORNIA IN CALIFORNIA:
MAGIC MOMENTS

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN JOURNALISTS TRY OUT THE TOP PLAYER IN THE MOTO GUZZI RANGE. IN THE STATES, THIS IS A MAGIC MOMENT FOR THE ITALIAN BRAND

In America, this is a magic moment for Moto Guzzi. Its brand visibility and sales are soaring, thanks to the warm reception given to the V7 and California ranges and the success of its advertising programs, notably the campaign fronted by actor Ewan McGregor, a passionate devotee of the Italian eagle.

Ewan McGregor and Moto Guzzi V7 Racer

So it was time to give the European press a taste of the American take on the Moto Guzzi legend. The idea came to life in July, when fifty journalists – from Italy, France, Britain, Germany, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland and, of course, the USA – travelled to Pasadena to meet Miguel Galluzzi at the new Piaggio Advanced Design Center Corporation (PADC) and try out the Moto Guzzi California 1400 range.
The tour was organised with Piaggio Group Americas and the Strike Agency: a test ride organised in six “shifts” for the members of the press, and a closing session for US VIP clients and dealers.

Westin Hotel location

The schedule for the journalists was an opening day at the PADC to meet Miguel Galluzzi, and a second day riding a 140-mile route on the Pasadena-Malibu highway; on day three, the return journey home.
For everyone involved, operations HQ was the imposing Westin Hotel, where for more than a week the fleet of California 1400 motorbikes attracted excited interest from the hotel guests, even managing to distract attention away from the flashy Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros parked outside the entrance on 191 N Los Robles Avenue.

PASADENA, THE SMART CITY
For soccer fans, Pasadena means the Rose Bowl, the huge stadium built in the 1920s, sadly familiar to Italians as the ground where Roberto Baggio missed a penalty kick twenty years ago, giving the 1994 World Cup to Brazil. More notably, this city with around 138,000 residents has one of the highest average densities of scientists, researchers and students in the USA; it is home to the Caltech (California Technical Institute), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the NASA space agency and the Art Center College of Design.
When you come in from Los Angeles, just ten miles away, Pasadena is an immediately welcoming sight: broad green expanses, in the background the mountains of the Angeles National Forest and, in the centre, City Hall, a symbolic building inspired by Spanish and Mediterranean colonial architecture. For Europeans, it does indeed have a familiar feel, as does the blue PADC plaque of the Piaggio Advanced Design Center a few hundred yards down the road.

FROM 191 N LOS ROBLES TO 35 E ON COLORADO BOULEVARD
For eight days, we walked the one mile from the Westin Hotel to the Piaggio Advanced Design Center. The walk is sufficient to get a feel for the multi-ethnic culture of this Californian city. After leaving the hotel, we pass by City Hall and the train station and then take Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena’s main shopping street. The PADC is located at 35 East.
You enter the PADC through a door next to a telephone shop, and go up a flight of steps to reach the first and only floor of this building, constructed in the 1930s. At the top of the steps, the blue Piaggio logo, on the bare brick walls blow-ups of the main Piaggio Group models, including two Moto Guzzi bikes, a V7 Racer and a California 1400, respectively behind and in front of Galluzzi’s desk. Every evening, Miguel Galluzzi and his staff wait for us here to meet the journalists. The program includes a short slide-show to present the PADC, the staff and the test-ride route. After the presentations, the evening ends with dinner in a room with a picture window framing the show provided by this part of moving America. Every so often, a car or a motorbike or some other strange vehicle captures your attention, and the talk turns to how and why it exists here and not somewhere else. The indefatigable Miguel explains, tells stories, shows the sketches that led to the style of the new California 1400, the first Moto Guzzi bike created at the PADC. The evenings speed by, and despite jet-lag and an average twelve-hour flight for each guest, we rarely get back to the hotel before 10 p.m.

ON THE ASPHALT TRAIL FROM PASADENA TO MALIBU
At the Westin Hotel, the wake-up call is 6.30 a.m., breakfast by 7.30 and assembly in the hotel yard by 8.00. Miss these deadlines and you risk reaching the first photo stop more than an hour late: ten minutes trapped in the hotel elevator means an hour blocked at the intersection between the 101 for Ventura and the Interstate 405 for San Diego.
This is what we are told by Cat MacLeod, our tour guide from San Francisco, who, helped by his impressive girth and manner of an ex-Marine, manages to convince the reporters, all of whom turn up with unusual punctuality. Like Cat, the photographer Kevin Wing, the operator Ray Gauger, and Shane and Willy from the Piaggio Technical Department in Costa Mesa, which has supplied the ten Moto Guzzi California bikes and the two Aprilia Caponord models in our fleet, are California natives.
The motorcycles are, of course, configured for the USA, with red rear indicator lights, 19 decals warning of a variety of hazards and prohibitions, and, above all, the new 2015 colours for this market, Amaranth Red for the Touring and Sapphire Blue for the Custom.

Moto Guzzi California action
Moto Guzzi California Custom black

Every day at 8.15, after the briefing, Cat gets the caravan moving, watched by a curious crowd of hotel guests attracted by the splendid Moto Guzzi bikes. They included a charming Texan who took out his wallet hoping to buy one of the bikes on the spot, offering us a choice of two forms of payment: cash or his stainless steel Visa Black card.
We take the freeway for Ventura, keeping immediately to the left to move into the HOV carpool lane, reserved for cars with at least two people on board and motorcycles. For the entire week, this double yellow line allows us to speed past the long queues of stationary cars (but never at more than 70 mph), and quickly leave the traffic-congested area of Los Angeles. We exit the freeway at Calabasas and take Mulholland Highway, heading for the Rock Store, where Ray and Kevin are waiting for us, armed with their cameras and video-cameras. The Rock Store is the meeting place for Los Angeles bikers, and opens only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. People come here to see and be seen, only with real shining motorcycles, any make and period, from the 1930 to superbikes: the important thing is to stand out from the crowd.
This, however, is exactly what we can’t do during our photo shoot, Kevin warns us: a visit from the sheriff could mean we lose the whole morning and have to change our schedule. In any case, for the most part the few houses around here are Hollywood-style villas belonging to the jet-set, not all of whom are biker fanatics like Ewan McGregor. Mulholland Highway is an incredible, perfectly smooth, asphalt ribbon, which zig-zags through the canyon, the scent of eucalyptus in the air, bend after bend, each one with a different curve radius: not surprisingly, it is commonly known as "the snake". It would be difficult to think of a road that would be more fun to ride, especially during the week when the only traffic you meet are vintage cars and supercars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. When Mulholland intersects the Malibu Canyon, the scenery changes and from the mountains we head towards the ocean.

THE GREAT ITALIAN BIKE AT PARADISE COVE
A steep descent takes us to Malibu and after a few miles riding towards Santa Monica we reach the sign for Paradise Cove, Malibu’s most famous beach. This spot is a classic postcard from California: the small bay comprises everything we know about the area and have read or seen on television. We add our Moto Guzzi bikes, which – against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, with its surf and bikinis – win many admiring glances.

Moto Guzzi in PARADISE COVE
Moto Guzzi California Custom Blue Silver

Paradise Cove is also our halfway mark: we’re about 70 miles from Pasadena. We set off again, up through the Encinal Canyon, turning right on to Las Virgenes Road and then on to the 101 for Ventura. From here to Pasadena, the landscape is traffic and cement, but we bless the providential carpool lanes, which allow us to get through the Los Angeles traffic, and avoid getting jammed in a queue under the Californian sun. Right on time, by 6 p.m. our convoy makes its triumphal entrance into the Westin Hotel yard. Engines off, it’s time for handshakes and high-fives. California is a great place and the Moto Guzzi California is a great bike. They really are made for each other.

Interview

MIGUEL GALLUZZI
THE MOTORCYCLE ARTIST

Galluzzi heads the Piaggio Advanced Design Center Corporation in Pasadena, California; in collaboration with the world’s most advanced research institutes and universities, studies style trends and cutting-edge technological solutions. This is where the most innovative ideas come from

Born in Buenos Aires in 1959, Miguel grew up in a household of two- and four-wheeler aficionados. His father and brothers were all involved in racing and in the production and sale of bicycles and later of motorcycles, from off-road models to racers. In addition to his passion for bikes, Miguel also showed an outstanding talent for drawing and an enterprising spirit, which, combined with his love of two-wheelers, has taken him round the world. He left Argentina for California, later moving to Europe, Germany first then Italy.
For Miguel, Pasadena is a return home, since he moved there in the 1980s to study for his degree at the Art Center College of Design. He left with a specialisation in Transportation Design, which brought him his first job, with Opel in Germany, working on the interiors of the Corsa and the restyling of the Omega, the Opel flagship. Nevertheless, motorcycles held greater appeal for him than automobiles, and as soon as he could, he abandoned the steering wheel to jump on a two-wheeler.
Miguel got his first break with Honda Europe in Germany. A year later, he joined the Cagiva group, whose brand portfolio in 1989 also included Husqvarna, Morini and Ducati. Here, he designed the 900 SuperSport, then the Monster, an unprecedented success, and restyled the Husqvarna bikes. For Cagiva, he designed the River, the Planet, the Raptor, the VRaptor and the Xtra-Raptor. In 2006, he moved to Noale and created the new generation of Aprilia motorbikes, including the Dorsoduro series and the RSV4, a technical and stylistic masterpiece regarded as the emblem of the modern generation of superbikes.

PHOTO GALLERY

Concurrently, he was involved with all the Piaggio Group motorcycle brands, notably Moto Guzzi, where he restyled the Norge and the Stelvio with the new 8V models, and the V7 Racer, a concept heralding the cafe racer style. His latest creative success is the Moto Guzzi California 1400, on which he began working in Italy and completed at the new style centre in Pasadena. This is where we met him; as this interview shows, his enthusiasm is as strong as ever.

Let’s talk about the future: what bike will appear in the next few years?
“The future is now, and you can see it in our California 1400, a careful balance of tradition and innovation. The bike’s design is intended to reflect the characteristic design of the California, with the sinuous shape of the fuel tank, the curved handlebar, the chrome grab rail for the Touring passenger and the long mudguards. At the same time, the new 1400 had to be more modern, comfortable and hospitable, richer and more sumptuous than the previous model. The result is a style that, I think, successfully blends tradition, which we don’t want to forget, and the innovative, advanced spirit a latest-generation Moto Guzzi must have. This bike also offers a level of technological content that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.”

Worryingly, motorbike customers are getting older, not just in Europe but here too…
“Kids here in California still love motorcycles. The difference, compared with previous generations, is that they’re less well-off, but they’re as interested in motorbikes as ever. You can see it in the numerous ten- or twenty-year-old bikes still on the road, bought for just a few thousand dollars and completely overhauled. Not in terms of performance, as might have been the case in the past, but in their style and finishes, creating something unique and personal.”

So we have to make less expensive bikes…
“Well, price is always a challenge, what we certainly have to do is go on making motorcycles that people love riding. Let me give you an example: my son had a top-of-the-range Ducati Monster, I don’t know what the horsepower was but it was certainly well over 100. Not long ago, I bought a Moto Guzzi V7 Racer (750cc, ed.), as a gift for my wife. Intrigued by the new bike, my son took it out for a ride on the Angeles Crest Highway, a mountain road full of bends near here; he came back smiling from ear to ear. ‘You enjoyed it, didn’t you?’ I asked him. ‘This bike’s magic,’ he said, ‘I didn’t think a bike like this could be so satisfying to ride!’”

Will the future be electric? An electric motorbike isn’t the greatest in terms of riding pleasure…
“Development of electric vehicles is a cornerstone of President Obama’s political strategy. There are currently 250,000 electric cars on US roads, of which 50,000 in California alone, and countless start-ups are developing electric drive technologies.
One of the reasons the PADC is located here in California is to intercept the right time for the electric motorbike. The electric car is already making headway, as the success of Tesla shows. It will take longer for the electric motorcycle, but we shall certainly be coming out with something that is fun to ride, as well as reducing fuel consumption and emissions.”

INSIDE THE PADCC IN PASADENA

Take a tour of the Piaggio Advanced Design Center Corporation in Pasadena, California, with these exclusive photos and video clips.

PHOTO GALLERY

PADCC

RACING

APRILIA ENTERS THE MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP

THE ITALIAN MANUFACTURER ANNOUNCES ITS DEBUT: IN 2015, IT WILL COMPETE IN THE MOTOGP CLASS. ITS RETURN TO THE TOP WORLD MOTORCYCLING COMPETITION COMES A YEAR EARLIER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. THE FIRST RIDER WILL BE SPAIN’S ALVARO BAUTISTA

Aprilia (Piaggio Group) has officially announced its entry into Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the MotoGP class. The Aprilia brand will make its return to the top world motorcycling championship in 2015, a year ahead of the Group’s previously announced plans. The aim of the Piaggio Group strategy for the Aprilia brand in the MotoGP class is to foster rapid growth in competitiveness, focusing all Aprilia Racing’s technical and organisational efforts on prototype development. To do this, Aprilia Racing will field its motorbikes on the racing circuit supported by an agreement with Gresini Racing.
The agreement will allow Aprilia Racing – an example of Italian excellence in sport and a protagonist of motorcycle racing on a global level – to take advantage of Gresini Racing’s significant contribution in terms of MotoGP experience and know-how, and confirms its strategic decision to debut next season. The agreement has a four-year term, so Gresini Racing will be managing the Aprilia bikes on the track in the MotoGP class until the 2018 season.
Directed by two-time 125cc class world champion Fausto Gresini, Gresini Racing has been active in Grand Prix motorcycle racing since 1997, with impressive results: in addition to the two world titles won in 2001 with Daijiro Kato (250cc) and in 2010 with Toni Elias (Moto2), 40 wins and 114 podiums, it was also MotoGP runner-up in three consecutive seasons, in 2003 and 2004 with Sete Gibernau and in 2005 with Marco Melandri.
Gresini Racing has been home to champions of the calibre of Alex Barros, Loris Capirossi, Colin Edwards and Marco Simoncelli.

Fausto Gresini (Gresini Racing) with Marco Simoncelli

The first rider chosen for the Aprilia MotoGP project is Spain’s Alvaro Bautista; selection of the second rider is still underway. The agreement is for two years, covering the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Alvaro Bautista

A highly experienced rider, Bautista was born in Talavera de la Reina on 21 November 1984 and began racing in the World Championship on an Aprilia 125cc, taking the world title in 2006 in the “eighth of a litre” class.
After five years in MotoGP, Bautista has 3 podiums and one pole position; over his career, he has clocked up 16 wins, 33 podiums and 18 pole positions.
“We decided to make our debut a year earlier than planned because Aprilia Racing’s technical and racing expertise are absolutely top-notch,” commented Piaggio Group chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno. “In this sense, our growth in Superbike has been exemplary, from our rookie year in 2009 to the five world titles we’ve won so far with the RSV4.” Aprilia’s track record over the past ten years has been extraordinary: “The Piaggio Group has been managing Aprilia since 2005,” says Roberto Colaninno “and in less than ten years, Aprilia has won 26 of the 52 world titles the Group has attained in its history. In addition there are four more titles, Marco Simoncelli’s 250 world championship with Gilera and three 125 class world championships won by Derbi, also part of the Piaggio Group, which brought a very young Marc Marquez his first world title.”

Marc Marquez, 2010 World Champion in the 125 class on the Derbi RSA 125

racing

WSBK 2014: APRILIA RULES SUPREME AT JEREZ AND MAGNY-COURS

THE TWO APRILIA RSV4 BIKES RIDDEN BY MARCO MELANDRI AND SYLVAIN GUINTOLI LEAD THE FIELD IN SPAIN AND FRANCE. APRILIA MOVES TO THE NUMBER ONE MANUFACTURERS’ SPOT, THE RIDERS’ TITLE IS UP FOR GRABS WITH JUST ONE RACE TO GO, IN LOSAIL, QATAR, ON 2 NOVEMBER

Aprilia had no rivals at Jerez and Magny-Cours, the tenth and eleventh rounds of the 2014 World SBK Championship. The RSV4s from Noale proved their superiority, taking first and second place in both Race 1 and Race 2 in the two rounds, and pushing the Italian manufacturer to the top of the Manufacturers scoreboard (418 points) with just one competition before the close of the season. In the Riders championship, only 12 points separate Guintoli from the leader Sykes as the teams prepare for the final meeting of the season, in Qatar.
At Jerez de la Frontera, it was Melandri who earned both wins with authority and employing a similar strategy. In both Race 1 and Race 2, Marco found himself behind in the initial laps, sixth in the first race and fifth in the second. In both cases, he skilfully and steadfastly came back, demonstrating undisputed superiority and an excellent bond with his RSV4. In the two Spanish races, Sylvain Guintoli took the lead early, pulling away from his rivals. Once he had been overtaken by Melandri, Guintoli kept in confident control, finishing in second place twice to earn 13 championship points and close the gap with championship leader Sykes.

PHOTO GALLERY - JEREZ

On the French track at Magny-Cours, Guintoli and Melandri divided the spoils with one win each, also taking turns on the runner-up’s step on the podium in both races. The script for the two French races was similar, wet conditions with a series of crashes. The Aprilia RSV4 bikes and their riders demonstrated a crushing superiority – a replica of their performance, on a dry track, at the previous round in Jerez. In both races, it was Guintoli who did away with the niceties and broke away at the front. Only Melandri succeeded in leaving the pack to join his runaway teammate, demonstrating his potential in the first heat. Guintoli’s victory in Race 1 allowed the French rider to earn some precious championship points. In Race 2, after catching up and taking the lead from his teammate, Melandri built up a clear advantage, going on to win his sixth race of the 2014 season.

PHOTO GALLERY - MAGNY-COURS

Let’s hear what the team themselves had to say after the triumphant French weekend.
Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing Manager: “The results of the last few races are extraordinary, five wins out of six, which have taken us into the lead in the Manufacturers standings and placed us in the best possible conditions to attack the leadership for the Riders’ championship. This is further proof of Aprilia’s value and the absolute competitiveness of our RSV4, a project that continues to be victorious four years from its debut, with five world titles under its belt. We’ll be fighting tooth and nail to hold our position in Qatar.”

Sylvain Guintoli: “This was a great weekend for the Team, we are definitely back in the running for the championship. As soon as I saw the weather forecast, I thought this would be a great opportunity to get some important points. I took a few risks at the beginning of the races, then, once I had established a good lead, I concentrated on avoiding pointless risks and bringing home the best possible result. I’m very pleased, but I’m already thinking about Qatar, where the championship will be decided. It’s a track I know well and that I like, and I think it will suit the RSV4 well. I wish we were racing tomorrow!”

Marco Melandri: “Today we did a great job, the bike was fantastic and I was able to confirm my performance in Jerez. Sylvain was very fast and difficult to overtake in the early laps, but we soon established a strong lead over our rivals. The win in Race 2 is the reward for my efforts and those of the team, and has put me in third place in the standings. Since the halfway point of the season, we have set a good pace, so now we’ll see how things go in Qatar.”

Racing

A WORLD ON WHEELS

THE SUPERBIKE SHOW BEGINS WELL BEFORE THE GREEN LIGHT COMES ON. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE APRILIA RACING TEAM ON TOUR. MAXIMUM PROFESSIONALISM AND PASSION, FROM THE PADDOCK TO THE TRACK

Sunday evening. The crowds make their way towards the race-track exits. The last drops of Prosecco are drying on the podium, while an almost surreal silence envelops the track itself after hours of engines at maximum throttle. The race is over, but it’s not time to relax in the pits: up until a few minutes ago, the teams were monitoring times, positions and points on the screens, now they’re busy dismantling and packing up what has been their “house” for three days. The World Superbike show is not just about heats and tyre changes. The paddock is literally “built” each weekend: an itinerant village, like a circus it will leave town and reappear in a new location miles away, race after race.
Work begins the Wednesday before the race. A few days earlier, two trucks leave the Aprilia racing sheds in Noale, loaded with all the necessary equipment: motorbikes, spare parts, equipment and the “pit”, a set of modular panels and frames. During the season, the trucks cover around 20,000 kilometres: from Spain to the UK, passing through France, Portugal and Italy. When they reach the racetrack, they park in the back of the team garage and “building work” gets underway.

PHOTO GALLERY

The team members, who have travelled in by plane or car, get busy: first of all, they unload everything they need and set it out in the empty (for now) garage space. Assembly of the pit begins, with the official colours, the rider and sponsor logos, the toolboxes. At the back of the garage, the tyre racks are mounted, equipped with an automatic system to regulate the thermal covers and keep the tyres at the right pressure and temperature. Not far away, the workstation of the track engineers is a heap of cables and computers connected to the database and to the bike data entry system, which supplies real time information every time the bike leaves the track. The information flow is two-way, so the engineers can adjust the electronic bike management strategies at any time, according to the telemetric data or input from the rider. In the nearby paddock, another structure is set up: the hospitality tent, a mobile restaurant that feeds the team and any guests. With around 60 seats, the Aprilia hospitality tent turns out from 150 to 200 covers at every meal and, if necessary, works on a shift basis.
At the end of the race weekend, the whole procedure is reversed: the pit and the hospitality tent are dismantled, checked and reloaded in the trucks, unless the next stop is a non-European location. If so, the equipment is loaded into special fire-proof cases, which will be sent directly to the race-track. For a team like Aprilia, this means 25-30 cases for a total weight of 6 – 7,000 kg. When they reach the garage, the teams find their cases and… everything begins all over again!

PHOTO GALLERY

Professionalism, passion and team spirit are what unite the engineers and mechanics of the Aprilia Racing Team, who always work to the limit, round after round. Proud to be members of Aprilia Racing, the most successful European racing team of recent decades: an extraordinary heritage of Italian technical expertise, which, in little more than twenty years, has made the Noale manufacturer a leading player at all the most important motor-racing meetings, with an impressive 52 world titles.

photo
video

ART & CULTURE

A MEETING WITH THE AUTHOR

BEPPE SEVERGNINI:
LIFE IS A JOURNEY

FIRST PLAY BY THE JOURNALIST AND WRITER (A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER): NATIONAL PREVIEW AT THE “FESTIVALETTERATURA” IN MANTUA

Two travellers, a cancelled flight, the Lisbon airport departure lounge turned into a stage for an encounter between two generations. These are the ingredients of “Life is a journey”, the first play by and with Beppe Severgnini, which had its national preview at the “Festivaletteratura” literary festival in Mantua on 4 September, in Piazza Castello. With Marta Isabella Rizi and Elisabetta Spada, directed by Francesco Brandi; the play was a sosia&pistoia production.
The play – one of the most popular events at the Mantua festival, which this year celebrated its 18th edition, attracting distinguished international figures from the arts and literature – was partnered by the Piaggio Group as sponsor of one of Italy’s most important arts festivals, with a packed schedule.
A leader writer for Il Corriere della Sera and a well-known author (New York Times Bestseller in 2006), Beppe Severgnini was presenting his first play, “Life is a journey”, based on his eponymous best seller.

PHOTO GALLERY

Severgnini played a paternalistic fifty-year-old waiting in the departure lounge of a small airport, where he meets a very young traveller, a disillusioned jobbing actress, who is leaving her country to start a new life. At first, as they wait overnight for their delayed flight to be called, they study one another, with a touch of diffidence. Then their enforced proximity changes the mood: they discover they are both seasoned travellers, and begin talking about arrivals and departures.
Their conversation becomes animated as they discuss crucial life issues: ambitions, tenacity, talent, the importance of guidance and points of reference. And the wisdom of finding satisfaction in simple things, where the talk considers the things we take with us and the items we could leave behind, what we leave behind and ought to take with us. The night hours pass. As the two travellers chat, their conversation questions the commonplaces underpinning a society geared increasingly to individualism, which has lost sight of the primary objective of individual realisation. The two learn to listen to each other and to appreciate the differences age and experience bring to their viewpoints; as they eventually discover, they share the same basic aspirations and objectives, in the journey of life.
Great applause from the packed audience, for a play that made them smile and think.
INFO: www.beppesevergnini.com

ARRIVEDERCI UNTIL FESTIVALETTERATURA 2015

A success foretold, whose winning formula has been confirmed with each new edition, this year’s Festivaletteratura (3-7 September) closed with an increase in its vital statistics: more than 200 events (conversations with famous and new authors, presentations, shows), 66,000 tickets sold and 53,000 participants at the free events.

PHOTO GALLERY

The literary festival always attracts a large number (more than 700) of young volunteers, eager to give their time and enthusiasm. Here are some of them “on duty” on a Piaggio Porter.

The festival’s “virtual plazas” – from the website to the social accounts – also attracted large numbers, with a high level of interaction: thousands of tweets among the public, authors and editorial volunteers; on Facebook more than 60,000 people commented, clicked and shared news about Festivaletteratura, reaching a total of more than 700,000 users.
The next Festivaletteratura (the 19^th) will be held in Mantua from 9 to 13 September 2015.
INFO: www.festivaletteratura.it

ART & CULTURE

“THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS FORWARD”
THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE
GAZZETTA DI MANTOVA

IT’S THE ITALY’S OLDEST SURVIVING NEWSPAPER. AN EXHIBITION AT THE PALAZZO TE ORANGERY UNTIL 31 OCTOBER

This is one of those records in which Italy takes great pride: La Gazzetta di Mantova, a daily newspaper founded in 1664, is celebrating its extraordinary achievement as Italy's oldest newspaper still printed on paper with a special exhibition. “The event is a unique account of an observatory that has been watching the world for 350 years: an alliance with the city created by the Gonzaga family that constitutes one of Mantua’s most exciting stories,” write Daniela Ferrari (director of the State Archives) and Cesare Guerra (director of the City Library), who curated the exhibition and edited the catalogue published by Publi Paolini.
Housed in the splendid setting of the Orangery at Palazzo Te, the exhibition was designed and promoted by La Gazzetta di Mantova, in cooperation with the Mantua City Council, the Ministry for Culture & Tourism and the Mantua State Archives. It is sponsored by the Piaggio Group.
The exhibition can be seen until 31 October 2014. It was officially opened at the beginning of September (in the Davide Loggia) by the editor of the Gazzetta, Paolo Boldrini, the Mayor of Mantua, Nicola Sodano, and the curators Daniela Ferrari and Cesare Guerra. The vernissage was well attended, with guests from the arts, business, institutional and media communities, as well as Piaggio Group top management.

INSIDE THE EXHIBITION
Ferrari and Guerri take up the story: “The Gazzetta was founded in Mantua in 1664. At first, it circulated in the form of newsheets, or ‘notices’, with which since the 1500s the menanti – paid reporters – had been informing the Gonzaga family, the rulers of Mantua, about events in the rest of Italy and Europe. In June 1664, however, the Osanna, the ducal printers since 1588, received exclusive authorisation from Charles II Gonzaga-Nevers, Duke of Mantua, to print newsheets, at their expense. These sheets, sold in Venice for two soldi, were commonly known as ‘gazzette’, from the name of the coin that was local legal tender, which had a magpie – a gazza – on one face.”
The exhibition displays the first known copy of the Gazzetta printed in Mantua: issue 48 from 27 November 1665. The opening article is a report on the visit of the Duke of Modena’s ambassador to the Court of Mantua, when Charles II died. The other articles relate to foreign capitals, notably Vienna.

The curators continue: “This exhibition looks at the history of Italian journalism as well as the history of a city that, for centuries, had one of the most international profiles in Europe. It shows 160 items: old and new editions of the paper, prints, portraits, views of the city and its monuments, medals and coins, photographs, as well as the linotype machine used until 1981. Visitors can also see pages reporting major events in Mantua: the canonisation of St. Luigi Gonzaga (1726), the beginning of construction work on the dome of the basilica of Sant’Andrea (1732), or the visit to the city of a very young Mozart for a concert at the Bibiena Theatre (1770).” The exhibits also illustrate the changing face of the city as new monuments were built, such as the Academy, commissioned by the government of Maria Teresa of Austria and designed by architect Piermarini, or the Teresiana Library (1780), named after the empress. Always a newspaper with an international dimension, in the 18th century the Gazzetta was published with the title “Ragguagli universali d’Europa e di altri luoghi” (universal information on Europe and other places) and was even read by Sultan Mustapha III in Constantinople.

MANTUA, INTERNATIONAL AND WELCOMING
“This exhibition is an opportunity to read the history of an entire country through the development of a single enterprising city, famous around the world today for its art treasures, notably Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te, and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Mantua has been enhancing its heritage since the 1960s, and the Gazzetta has been reporting on its progress in this area, beginning ideally with the Mantegna exhibition in the castle of San Giorgio in 1961, which, with 250,000 visitors, fuelled the development of modern cultural tourism. Today, Mantua also hosts the Festivaletteratura literary festival, a successful formula all over the world. In addition, Mantua has an extraordinary centuries-old rural and agricultural tradition thanks to its location in the centre of the Po Valley, on which, not without difficulty and sacrifice, it successfully based an industrial vocation after the Second World War”. The Gazzetta was an attentive witness to the creation of the first great factories.

On many occasions, the Gazzetta di Mantova was also the first paper to report events that became worldwide news. History has passed through its inked pages. Many people still remember the tragic accident in Guidizzolo during the 1957 Mille Miglia race, which led to a permanent ban on the competition. One of the first people to reach the accident site was Gazzetta reporter Paolo Ruberti, who helped those injured together with photographer Quinto Sbarberi, whose photos were seen around the world. Or the death of Ayrton Senna (1 May 1994 at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola), “foretold” by the driver himself in a video filmed by a Gazzetta reporter: Senna can be seen, in the heats, flagging a bend in the circuit he considered dangerous, the exact spot where the fatal accident later occurred. The exhibition displays the exclusive sequence of photos published by the Gazzetta.
Visitors can also watch the projection of a selection of the more than 3,000 photos taken by Sbarberi from 1950 to around 1970, donated by the Gazzetta to the Baratta Library. The exhibition sound track is taken from the “I racconti del lago” cd, composed by Stefano Gueresi ( www.stefanogueresi.com).
The event has been marked by Poste Italiane, with a celebration stamp and six special postmarks.

INFO. Entrance is free and the exhibition is open until 31 October 2014. Visiting hours: Monday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
www.gazzettadimantova.gelocal.it/mantova

Survey

USA: TWO WHEELS,
A MOOD-ENHANCER TO BEAT STRESS

AN AMERICAN SURVEY REVEALS THAT MOTORBIKE TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR YOU: A COMBINATION OF RELAXATION AND ENJOYMENT, IT BOOSTS SELF-ESTEEM AND IMPROVES RELATIONSHIPS

Two-wheel travel is a balm for today’s hectic lifestyle. It reduces stress, boosts self-esteem, improves relations with partners, friends and family, and facilitates freedom of movement and expression. As growing numbers of women are discovering: according to a report from the US Motorcycle Industry Council, the percentage of women making independent motorcycle purchase decisions is rising: 12.5% last year, compared with 10.5% in 2009.

The analysis by the Kelton agency, based on an online survey to which more than 2,000 women replied, reveals much more. The study finds that riding a motorcycle improves self-esteem; more than half the women (53%) consider their bike an important source of happiness; almost three out of four (74%) said their life had improved after purchasing their bike; 37% feel very happy (compared with 16% of non-riders); 27% feel more attractive (compared with 7% of non-riders); 35% feel greater self-confidence (compared with 18% of non-riders).

The study shows that riding a motorcycle, in the open air, is a powerful factor in reducing stress and can also improve relationships. More than one third of women riders (34%) says daily tensions diminish as soon as they get on their bike, and 50% of them are very satisfied with their relationships; probably, having a motorbike changes your lifestyle and can bring couples closer, creating opportunities for on-the-road tours (certainly a more exciting alternative to going out shopping together and facing the stress of city traffic).
Male riders have always felt the positive effects of two-wheel travel, and now women have discovered the benefits too.

INFO. The US “Motorcycle Industry Council” began operations in 1914 and this year celebrated its centenary. It promotes motorcycling through institutional and media relations, conducting research, publishing data and statistics, organising development programs. A not-for-profit body, the council represents manufacturers, distributors, dealers and resellers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs and accessories. It is headquartered in Irvine, California, and has a government relations office in Washington DC.

www.mic.org

MOTORCYCLING WITH STARS AND STRIPES “WHY WE RIDE”: THE TRAILER

To get an idea of how much US bikers love motorcycles, take a look at the trailer for “Why We Ride”, a documentary released last October, and now distributed worldwide. The video has already won many awards: 2013 Motorcycle Film Festival (Best Documentary); 2014 Family Choice Award (Best DVD), 2014 AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award; 2014 PDX Motorcycle Film Festival (Best Documentary & Audience Choice); 2014 New Media Film Festival (Best Documentary); 2014 AutoMoto International Film & Arts Festival (Official Selection).
INFO. www.whyweride.com

Digital Download / Streaming / Worldwide DVDs; Directed by BRYAN H. CARROLL; Produced by JAMES WALKER, p.g.a. BRYAN H. CARROLL, p.g.a.; Written by CHRIS HAMPEL; Directors of photography ANDREW WARUSZEWSKI DOUGLAS CHENEY; Edited by RYAN WISE DAVID BLACKBURN; Music by STEVEN GUTHEINZ;Executive producer WALTER ZUCK; Co-executive producers GEORGE GIER ANDREW HILTON; Co-producer CHRIS HAMPEL; Associate producer GREGORY M. GERLICH.
PRESS COMMENTS. “Why We Ride will surely warm the souls of bike enthusiasts while prompting many nonriders to join the fold.”– Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times.
“It’s an 89-minute love song to the sport of motorcycling in all its forms. Go see this movie with a crowd – with our community of motorcyclists. Oh, and take a non-riding friend or two.” – Evans Brasfield, Motorcicle.com

On the road

USA: TOUR OF A LIFETIME

ON THE MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA
ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

California in California? No, it’s not a play on words, but an event organised by Moto Guzzi this summer for a group of journalists from all over the world, who met up on the planet’s most famous coast to enjoy the unique pleasures of the Mandello del Lario motorcycle, in the Custom and Touring versions. In this legendary land of the American dream, the California bike is perfectly at home, thanks to a story whose main highlights took place on US soil: today, the latest model, successfully launched in 2012, is perpetuating the traditional fascination of the California, while embracing the technology and the functional and aesthetic innovation that put Moto Guzzi motorbikes at the top of their respective market segments.

CUSTOM AND TOURING: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Moto Guzzi California, static

The Custom and the Touring both feature the weighty V-twin engine with 1380cc, a record-breaking displacement for European motorcycle production, close to the “monster” power of the top American models. The engine’s elastic assembly in the frame is the technical solution chosen to enhance riding comfort and reduce vibrations for the rider. The electronics are cutting-edge too: the multimap ride-by-wire system offers three fuel distribution modes, with very evocative Italian names (Turismo, Veloce and Pioggia). To make the 96 hp even more rider-friendly, Moto Guzzi has implemented its MGCT traction control on three levels, which can be easily deactivated. The chassis features an unquestionably custom wheelbase (1,685 mm), an open-angle steering head (28°) and a 155 mm front wheel trail, but don’t let this deceive you: the California is reactive, even fast, when changing direction, especially in the Custom version. The Touring favours a more relaxed approach, with the emphasis on riding comfort, assisted by the broad protection against the air provided by the windshield. Neither version comes anywhere close to the frame’s limits: the Teflon sliders beneath the broad footboards touch the tarmac much sooner, alerting the rider that it’s time to change game.

SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS

Moto Guzzi California Custom, action

After leaving the chaotic eight-lane highways heading north around Los Angeles, our route weaves through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a splendid park just a few dozen miles from the city. The asphalt of Mulholland Drive, one of the many legendary names that have entered our collective imagination, is smooth, sleek, well cared for. The traffic is far away now, while the road winds gently through the mountains. The eye takes in the panoramic views that fade into the distance and the trajectories of bends you can lean right into, exploiting the California’s efficient frame: the Custom, in particular, is enormously reassuring from the very first bends, its impressive dynamic behaviour distinguishing it from competitor models.

MALIBU, WAVES AND WIND

Moto Guzzi California, white static

Malibu, 27 miles of the world’s most famous coastline. Nature and cliff-top villas overlooking the Pacific Ocean, waves and wind. “Malibu – Life is too short to live it elsewhere”: the phrase hangs in the air while the Moto Guzzi California ploughs peaceably up the Pacific Coast Highway, careful not to exceed the strictly enforced speed limits. Selection of the fuel distribution maps could not be easier, allowing you to adjust the performance of the twin-cylinder according to the conditions of the road surface and to personal preference: in Malibu, the Turismo map is perfect to enjoy the scenery with just a trickle of gas, taking full advantage of the outstanding elasticity of the Moto Guzzi V-twin.
California. Los Angeles and its interminable periphery of one-storey houses. Eight-lane highways. Sports cars. Malibu and its surfers. Beaches and fairytale mansions looking out over the Ocean. Timeless icons. Like the Moto Guzzi California.

PHOTO GALLERY

TRAVEL TIPS

Flights. If possible, choose a direct flight, such as Alitalia’s Rome-Los Angeles. With about 13 hours of flying time, you optimise the journey and avoid the hassle of transiting in other European cities and possibly losing your luggage. The aircraft is the Boeing 777-200 ER, the world’s largest twin-jet. Fares depend on the season and how far ahead you book: people travelling Economy class might consider an upgrade to the relatively inexpensive Premium Economy, which offers a level of comfort not too far removed from Business class.

Visas. Unless you are in possession of a permanent entry visa, a relative rarity, you need to complete the application form (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/), which takes a few days to be approved, and pay a small sum by credit card.

Telephone and currency. Before you leave, make sure you have activated one of the many offers provided by national telephone service operators for people travelling in the USA: otherwise, you could end up with a hefty bill for phone calls and data traffic. To buy goods in the USA, you need local currency unless you use a credit card, which is accepted even for small transactions such as coffee and newspapers. Go through your own bank to get the best exchange rate and keep commission to a minimum; alternatively, currency exchange offices operate in airports and large hotels.

Info. www.ca.gov

People

VITTORIO BRAMBILLA:
“THE MONZA GORILLA”, GUZZI RIDER SUPREME

The town of Monza recently named the small square at Porta Vedano, the main entrance to the Monza motor-racing track, after racing driver Vittorio Brambilla.

After the official naming ceremony, the association formed to honour the memory of the legendary Vittorio organised "A Day for Vittorio Brambilla”, an event presented by Nico Cereghini and Barbara Milani to launch the project for a statue and museum dedicated to the Lesmo-born rider, at the race-track. On show were Brambilla's legendary Formula 1 March-Ford car, with the distinctive orange livery of the sponsor Beta, with which he won the Austrian GP in 1975, and his record-breaking Moto Guzzi V7: a 65 hp prototype weighing 185 kg with which he and fellow riders Venturi, Patrignani, Mandracci, Tenconi, Bertarelli and Pagani established 19 world speed records over 100 and 1,000 km distances.

Vittorio Brambilla

With his forthright but cheerful character, Vittorio was always extremely popular among racing enthusiasts and fellow drivers, and Nico Cereghini, Bruno Giacomelli, Emerson Fittipaldi and Carlo Faccetti had some touching tales to tell. Nicknamed "the Monza gorilla" by the British press, Brambilla was highly respected in the sport community. A genuine personality, he grew up in a Monza motorcycle shop, which continues to restore Moto Guzzi bikes today, thanks to the passion of his son Roberto.

With his impressive mechanical expertise and outstanding sensitivity and versatility as a driver, before moving from two to four wheels, Vittorio competed together with Mandracci in the 1971 “Bol d’Or” endurance race on a Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, maintaining the lead until the tenth hour when engine trouble forced him to abandon the competition. In 1973, he won the Monza “4 Ore” at the wheel of a BMW 635, ahead of Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda. The following year, he moved into Formula 1 racing, competing until 1980 as a driver with Alfa Romeo, when he retired at the age of 42 to go back to his mechanic's shop in Via Lecco.
In 2001, Brambilla collapsed and died at his home in Lesmo, while he was mowing the lawn. He was born in Monza in 1937, and his older brother, Tino, was also a racing driver. Evidently a passion that runs in the family.

Style

Trends:
gentleman & lady bikers

If you still favour the tough, creased look, chin stubble, unbrushed hair, studded clothes, outsize combat boots, take note: for motorcyclists of both sexes, it’s time for a change! The image accompanying the latest trends is quite different: bikers yes, but gentlemen, and ladies too. New riders are smart, they pay greater attention to their look, choosing their colour matches and details with care, picking out vintage trims and updated retro touches. Yes, of course, it’s not a look for every day, nor is it suitable for travelling, where you need comfortable protective clothing and accessories, because safety has to be the top priority.
Nevertheless, if you want to have a good time and sport an alternative look during happy hour in town or at biker events and rallies, why not surprise everyone and stand out from the crowd with a gentleman & lady biker look? “The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride” is a worldwide event dedicated to style on the saddle of your favourite two-wheeler: more than 200 rallies held simultaneously in 200 cities round the world, attended by 20,000 bikers, as smartly polished as their motorcycles, classic models or the very latest arrivals (proceeds go to charity). The 2014 edition took place on 28 September: 258 events in 57 countries!
Take a look at the photo gallery and video clips, and make your next outing on your bike a celebration of style!

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE – LOS ANGELES 2014

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE – TAIWAN 2014

EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD

LONDON

Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 2013. Setting off

SINGAPORE

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 2013

MOTO GUZZI COLLECTION:
STYLE DETAILS

Browsing through the Moto Guzzi apparel and accessories collection, we have chosen a number of items that are “easy” to wear and match, and give that unmistakeable touch of style.

MOTO GUZZI JET HELMET

In fibreglass with retractable sun visor, in the exclusive original colour: stone green. Produced in cooperation with SUOMY, totally made in Italy. Shell: made in composite material and different weights of fibreglass. Visor: with scratch-proof heat-formed polycarbonate sun visor. Strap: simple and sturdy quick-release system. Inner lining: in high-quality fabric, fully removable and washable. Type approval: ECE 22.05. Sizes: XS 53 - S 55 - M 57 - L 59 - XL 61. The model is also available in black and white.

GOOGLE GLASSES

Matt black and polished steel parts (black central bridge, polished steel earpieces). Black elastic. Silver pad-printed logo on central bridge (eagle). Silver/grey embroidered logo on elastic. Clear blue lenses. Anti-fog surface. Available in black or brown.

LEATHER JACKET

Nappa-look leather jacket, tanned and finished in Italy. For him and her. Elasticated cuffs and waist. Wool and polyester lining, red piping. Moto Guzzi and California inner logos printed in silver on leather patch. Three pockets (two on the woman’s version) and one inside pocket. Heat-formed tone-on-tone Moto Guzzi logo on the back.

BELTS WITH OVAL

Belt in natural “cognac” colour leather, with varnished vintage Moto Guzzi eagle oval stud, black or blue.

SHOULDER BAG

Messenger bag with shoulder strap in technical fabric with leather inserts. Button close. Moto Guzzi logo on leather patch.

Community

WELCOME TO THE CLAN

DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO LIVE AND BREATHE THE PRIDE OF RIDING A MOTO GUZZI: ADVANTAGES AND UPDATED. FREE SUBSCRIPTION ONLINE

You and your Moto Guzzi, a love story like no other. An anthem of freedom that is renewed each time you don your helmet and turn the key. We know this vibration because it is something that those, like us, who ride a Moto Guzzi, have had in common for almost one hundred years.
You too can become a part of “The Clan – Moto Guzzi Proud Owners”. A new and passionate world for all Guzzisti who, like you, live and breathe these sensations. You'll have access to countless advantages, discounts on our original accessories, official merchandising and products and services from our best partners. You'll receive news and updates from the Guzzi world ahead of time and you'll have privileged access to official events. Participation is free and will be valid through 31 December 2015.
Experience an unforgettable event astride your bike. For us a Guzzista is not simply a biker, but something much more important: our pride!

INFO: www.theclan.motoguzzi.com

DEBUT AT THE MOTO GUZZI OPEN HOUSE

For its official introduction, The Clan could not have chosen a better setting. The appointment was the historic red gate at Via Parodi 57, in Mandello del Lario, for the first days of registration during the event Moto Guzzi Open House 2014, that took place with a great success on mid September: the Guzzisti who came to the event on their bikes had be able to register with The Clan directly in the factory. This has given them a 10% discount on any on site purchases of clothing and official merchandising in the event shop.

OFFICIAL LOOK

The clan Moto Guzzi proud owners” T-shirt”: 100% cotton, printed “The clan” logo on the front and Moto Guzzi logo on the back; in two models, for him (sizes M to XXL) and for her (S to XL).
Moto Guzzi baseball cap: 100% cotton with stitched Moto Guzzi logo.
“The clan” patch: 2 versions, both with stitched logos.
All products are available from Moto Guzzi dealers.

GENOA: SUCCESS FOR THE FIRST MOTO GUZZI SPORT 14 MEETING

History, legend and mechanics. Above all, enormous enthusiasm. These were the ingredients of the first meeting for the Moto Guzzi Sport 14 (the fantastic single-cylinder 500cc motorcycle produced from 1928 to 1930). On the starting grid, a varied array of 30 Moto Guzzi Sport 14 bikes. After posing for a group photo, the participants registered, free of charge, for an event including breakfast, lunch, a St Christopher medallion for their handlebar made with an original die from the 1930s. Despite the disrespectful June rain, a total of 70 Moto Guzzi motorcycles paraded from Genoa to Zoagli, via Recco, Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo, attracting admiring glances along the way. The 30 MG Sport 14 bikes completed the 35 km route in a proud and dignified manner, their advanced years – 85 – notwithstanding!

PHOTO GALLERY

Attending the meeting were the organisers and members of the Clan del Volano, including Paolo Rossi and Flavio Mellano (authors of the cult book “SPORT 15 – Istantanee di una passione"), Carlo Spotti and Claudio Bonalberti. The event also marked the 50^th anniversary of the death of Carlo Guzzi and ended with a short but intense speech by Federico Parodi, the last direct descendant of the “founding fathers” of the Mandello Eagle, who always has an abundance of anecdotes about the Guzzi epic. Parodi presented all the participants with a copy of an unpublished letter from the family archive, written by Carlo Guzzi to Parodi’s father, "Richetto". As the organisers noted, the great success of the meeting demonstrates “that the essence of vintage motorcycling continues to live and burn ardently in our hearts! We want to thank the Veteran Car Club Ligure and the Clan del Volano. So arrivederci to 2015 for the second world meeting dedicated to the Moto Guzzi Sport 15.”
INFO: www.clandelvolano.it

NEXT EVENTS AND MEETINGS

THE BEST VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE

USA: FROM SAN DIEGO TO PHOENIX
FOR A MOTO GUZZI V7

There are no limits to people’s love for Moto Guzzi. That’s clear from the video posted by Rex Hermogino, a young American singer-songwriter (as well as a video clip designer and director) and a passionate biker, who shares his love story with his bike in this YouTube clip. The video narrates his trip from San Diego, California, to Phoenix, Arizona: about 570 km to go and pick up his new bike, a V7 Classic.

MY MOTO GUZZI V7 CLASSIC

Viewers watching the clip experience the emotions of the journey and enjoy glimpses of the USA as Rex heads off to meet his new Italian bike. He talks about the two-wheeler throughout the video, even with the taxi driver who takes him from the airport to his final destination; here, when he sees the Guzzi bike (practically new, with just 736 miles on the clock), he exclaims: “It’s beautiful!” Then he puts on his crash helmet, jumps on the bike and sets off to make the journey home. Rex’s happy grin is no surprise: a Guzzi has that effect.

A SONG FROM REX
HIS HALLOWEEN COSTUME

MY BIKE MOVIE

A TOUR IN TURKEY
WITH THE APRILIA CAPONORD

Tolgahan Yilmaz

A three-day trip to Edirne, Çanakkale and Tekirdağ on an Aprilia Caponord ETV 1000: this was the journey undertaken recently by Tolgahan Yilmaz, a native of Istanbul, who filmed the ride with a GoPro camera and posted it on YouTube. The cities and countryside roll by: Edirne, the former Adrianopole, in Western Turkey near the border with Greece and Bulgaria; Çanakkale, located on the Asian side of the Dardanelles; Tekirdağ, the ancient Greek settlement of Bisanthe.

The trip also involved the Yilmaz family, who followed Tolgahan in a car. A true biker, Tolgahan rides his Aprilia even when it snows in Istanbul (as the photo on his website shows). The tour ended with a visit and photos at the Akbaş Şehitliği war cemetery and memorial.

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.

1. Product. NEW APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 RALLY: THE PERFECT CROSSOVER

2. Product. NEW MOTO GUZZI V7 II THE SECOND ACT OF A FIRST RATE WORK

3. Event. THE PIAGGIO GROUP AT THE COLOGNE SHOW

4. Event. MILAN: A DATE WITH EICMA 2014

5. Event. OPEN HOUSE MOTO GUZZI 2014: WHERE THE LEGEND BEGAN

6. Event. A VISIT TO MOTOPLEX, THE BIG PIAGGIO GROUP STORE

7. Event. THE CALIFORNIA IN CALIFORNIA: MAGIC MOMENTS

8. Interview. MIGUEL GALLUZZI THE MOTORCYCLE ARTIST

9. RACING. APRILIA ENTERS THE MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP

10. Racing. WSBK 2014: APRILIA RULES SUPREME AT JEREZ AND MAGNY-COURS

11. Racing. A WORLD ON WHEELS

12. ART & CULTURE. BEPPE SEVERGNINI: LIFE IS A JOURNEY

13. ART & CULTURE. “THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS FORWARD” THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE GAZZETTA DI MANTOVA

14. Survey. USA: TWO WHEELS, A MOOD-ENHANCER TO BEAT STRESS

15. On the road. ON THE MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

16. People. VITTORIO BRAMBILLA: “THE MONZA GORILLA”, GUZZI RIDER SUPREME

17. Style. Trends: gentleman & lady bikers

18. Community. WELCOME TO THE CLAN: MOTO GUZZI PROUD OWNERS

19. The best video of this issue. USA: FROM SAN DIEGO TO PHOENIX FOR A MOTO GUZZI V7

20. MY BIKE MOVIE. A TOUR IN TURKEY WITH THE APRILIA CAPONORD

NEW APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 RALLY: THE PERFECT CROSSOVER

SUPER STANDARD EQUIPMENT!

NEW MOTO GUZZI V7 II THE SECOND ACT OF A FIRST RATE WORK

THE PIAGGIO GROUP AT THE COLOGNE SHOW

PHOTO GALLERY

MILAN: A DATE WITH EICMA 2014

VISITING EICMA 2014

DAYS AND TIMES

TICKETS

OPEN HOUSE MOTO GUZZI 2014: WHERE THE LEGEND BEGAN

A WONDERFUL WEEKEND FOR TEN THOUSAND FANS

PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO GALLERY

THE MOTO GUZZI MUSEUM

PHOTO GALLERY

THE FACTORY: BIKES AND ENGINES

PHOTO GALLERY

MOTO GUZZI GARAGE

PHOTO GALLERY

TEST RIDE

PHOTO GALLERY

A VISIT TO MOTOPLEX, THE BIG PIAGGIO GROUP STORE

PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO GALLERY

THE CALIFORNIA IN CALIFORNIA: MAGIC MOMENTS

MIGUEL GALLUZZI THE MOTORCYCLE ARTIST

PHOTO GALLERY

INSIDE THE PADCC IN PASADENA

PHOTO GALLERY

APRILIA ENTERS THE MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP

WSBK 2014: APRILIA RULES SUPREME AT JEREZ AND MAGNY-COURS

PHOTO GALLERY - JEREZ

PHOTO GALLERY - MAGNY-COURS

A WORLD ON WHEELS

PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO GALLERY

BEPPE SEVERGNINI: LIFE IS A JOURNEY

PHOTO GALLERY

ARRIVEDERCI UNTIL FESTIVALETTERATURA 2015

PHOTO GALLERY

“THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS FORWARD” THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE GAZZETTA DI MANTOVA

USA: TWO WHEELS, A MOOD-ENHANCER TO BEAT STRESS

MOTORCYCLING WITH STARS AND STRIPES “WHY WE RIDE”: THE TRAILER

ON THE MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

CUSTOM AND TOURING: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS

MALIBU, WAVES AND WIND

PHOTO GALLERY

TRAVEL TIPS

VITTORIO BRAMBILLA: “THE MONZA GORILLA”, GUZZI RIDER SUPREME

Trends: gentleman & lady bikers

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE – LOS ANGELES 2014

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE – TAIWAN 2014

EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD

LONDON

SINGAPORE

MOTO GUZZI COLLECTION: STYLE DETAILS

WELCOME TO THE CLAN

DEBUT AT THE MOTO GUZZI OPEN HOUSE

OFFICIAL LOOK

1. Product.
NEW APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 RALLY: THE PERFECT CROSSOVER

2. Product.
NEW MOTO GUZZI V7 II THE SECOND ACT OF A FIRST RATE WORK

3. Event.
THE PIAGGIO GROUP AT THE COLOGNE SHOW

4. Event.
MILAN: A DATE WITH EICMA 2014

5. Event.
OPEN HOUSE MOTO GUZZI 2014:
WHERE THE LEGEND BEGAN

6. Event.
A VISIT TO MOTOPLEX,
THE BIG PIAGGIO GROUP STORE

7. Event.
THE CALIFORNIA IN CALIFORNIA:
MAGIC MOMENTS

8. Interview.
MIGUEL GALLUZZI
THE MOTORCYCLE ARTIST

9. RACING.
APRILIA ENTERS THE MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP

10. Racing.
WSBK 2014: APRILIA RULES SUPREME AT JEREZ AND MAGNY-COURS

11. Racing.
A WORLD ON WHEELS

12. ART & CULTURE.
BEPPE SEVERGNINI:
LIFE IS A JOURNEY

13. ART & CULTURE.
“THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS FORWARD” THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE GAZZETTA DI MANTOVA

14. Survey.
USA: TWO WHEELS,
A MOOD-ENHANCER TO BEAT STRESS

15. On the road.
ON THE MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

16. People.
VITTORIO BRAMBILLA:
“THE MONZA GORILLA”, GUZZI RIDER SUPREME

17. Style.
Trends:
gentleman & lady bikers

18. Community.
WELCOME TO THE CLAN:
MOTO GUZZI PROUD OWNERS

19. The best video of this issue.
USA: FROM SAN DIEGO TO PHOENIX FOR A MOTO GUZZI V7

20. MY BIKE MOVIE.
A TOUR IN TURKEY
WITH THE APRILIA CAPONORD

NEW APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 RALLY:
THE PERFECT CROSSOVER

NEW MOTO GUZZI V7 II
THE SECOND ACT OF A FIRST RATE WORK

A VISIT TO MOTOPLEX,
THE BIG PIAGGIO GROUP STORE

THE CALIFORNIA IN CALIFORNIA:
MAGIC MOMENTS

MIGUEL GALLUZZI
THE MOTORCYCLE ARTIST

BEPPE SEVERGNINI:
LIFE IS A JOURNEY

“THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS FORWARD”
THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE
GAZZETTA DI MANTOVA

USA: TWO WHEELS,
A MOOD-ENHANCER TO BEAT STRESS

ON THE MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA
ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

VITTORIO BRAMBILLA:
“THE MONZA GORILLA”, GUZZI RIDER SUPREME

Trends:
gentleman & lady bikers

MOTO GUZZI COLLECTION:
STYLE DETAILS

USA: FROM SAN DIEGO TO PHOENIX
FOR A MOTO GUZZI V7

A TOUR IN TURKEY
WITH THE APRILIA CAPONORD

YOU AND YOUR MOTORBIKE
ON WIDE!

MAKE YOUR
BIKE MOVIE!