THEIR ROOTS: A GUZZI BIKER FATHER AND A MOTO GUZZI MG 35C. “I think DNA is the only explanation when a person has a passion for something,” says Maurizio De Biasio (a furnishings salesman from Sacile, in the province of Pordenone). “In my case, if it hadn’t been for my father’s love of engines, we probably wouldn't be talking here today. I met my first Guzzi bike back in 1984, thanks to my favourite “sponsor”. Carried away by an enthusiasm for a return to his origins, my dad bought me a wonderful brand new V 35C. He had always been a Guzzi devotee and he introduced me to what is still my hobby today, my real passion: motorcycling....”.
MY FIRST TRIPS WITH DANIELA. “It was 1985: my wife Daniela first saw me sitting on my dazzling Guzzi with a shiny all-black full-face helmet and our future was set. The 35C taught us a lot about riding, travelling, eating up the miles! Our first trips outside Italy were to visit relations in Germany. They were great journeys, the first time that we really felt a sense of freedom, the ‘easy rider’ experience…with it of course came the first aching backs, the first cold and rain, the first ‘who made me do this!’. If you can survive all this, then the trio has what it takes to go further.”
ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD. “But in 1989, I met Her… a wonderful brand new Guzzi Florida 65; this time my father didn't open his chequebook (he’d already given!), Daniela approved (if nothing else, the Florida was more comfortable and got you home faster!), and so I reluctantly had to say goodbye to my V35C. But the roar of the 650 twin cylinder dispelled any sadness or melancholy, it was time for a change! And it was time to look beyond Germany and venture into Europe!
Since then, for the three of us, me, Daniela & Motina (a perfect team), it’s been one discovery after another: Austria, France, Spain, Syria, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Morocco, Lithuania, Andorra, Ireland, Holland, Slovenia, Estonia, Belgium, England, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Latvia, Iceland, Bulgaria, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Turkey, Russia, Czech Republic, Belarus, Slovakia, Greece, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, as well as the USA (coast to coast), Tourist Trophy, North West 200, Bol D’Or, North Cape, Elefantentreffen, the incredibly fascinating Australia, and South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Twenty-five years, in which time Motina has ‘digested’ more than 270,000 kilometres, always by our side and in tip-top form.”
“The website sets out to be somewhere where travellers, bikers, Guzzi bikers and so on can browse travel diaries, photos, videos, articles from magazines or newspapers, and share emotions, find useful information, develop their motorcycle skills or discover new places. Travel for passion, for humanity, for fun… the important thing is to travel, explore, learn, know, compare, or at least… dream.” (The photos for this article have been taken from the website).
INFO:
www.mauriziodebiasio.it
One of the stories in the “collection” of Maurizio and Daniela’s journeys on their Moto Guzzi, all carefully prepared and organised, starting with a detailed “check-up” for the motorbike before each departure, is “Meeting with Africa”: South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. More than a month of discovery and adventure, starting from Cape Town (where the bike had been shipped to from Italy): the Namibian Desert, the Etosha park, the Trans Kalahari Highway, hoping they wouldn’t run out of fuel, with warthogs crossing the road. And a thousand and one other landscapes, faces, emotions; close-up encounters with lions and gazelles and the pleasure of an ice-cold beer. The intrepid “Motina” covered 9,800 kilometres, in extreme conditions and temperatures. But then again, Moto Guzzi bikes have always been formidable travellers.
