Orson

You'd be hardpressed to find a lovlier village than Bellagio... Narrow shopping street in Bellagio. A park and a weir at the tip of the Bellagio peninsula looking west towards Menaggio. Another narrow alleyway opens up onto a view of the lake. A quiet lakeside cafe I head south towards Lecco at dusk to capture the image of the road carved from rock. Apologies for the poor lighting. The ever-suffering team orson photographer continues to whine that he can't work with inferior equipment. Another ferry approaches Bellagio. The ferry service is quite efficient as I never had to wait more than 15 minutes to catch one. The Italians love for speed is evident in the super cool hydrofoils that ply the lakes. Disclaimer: team orson regrets having to post these images of rampant hedonism. It is hoped that by publishing these images, we can better understand the mindset of the hedonist. Sunset over Lake Como from the hotel balcony. Watching the news, it is evident that a emminent cold front is approaching from northern Europe and bringing rain with it. team orson is forced to make an executive decision and drop down south to a defensive line along the Ligurian coast. The next morning still has blue skies, so we make time for a quick dash eastward via Varese, skirting Lake Varese to the Lake Maggiore ferry crossing at Laveno. Crossing Lake Maggiore looking towards Verbania on the opposite shore.

An Aston Martin Vantage V-12 is like honey to a bear for Italians The following morning, I hop on one of the numerous ferries to Menaggio on the western shore. Looking back at Bellagio off the ferry stern, the good weather was still staying with me. I follow the old road north along the lake. From Menaggio, I continue west to Lake Lugano. Italy shares Lake Lugano with Switzerland, however, wanting to avoid border crossing delays and snooty Swiss border guards, I decide to stay in Italy. I trace the southern shore of Lake Lugano before heading south into the hills between Lake Lugano & Lake Como. October is a wonderful time to visit Italy. Most of the tourists have gone home, leaving the roads and the sites relatively traffic free. A soft, autumnal light caresses the landscape giving everything a portrait quality. Climbing the road into the hills with Lake Lugano in the background. Tiny villages cling to mountainsides. The further I got into the hills, the narrower, the road became. It was probably a good thing I was on the Stelvio, as the road became a veritable goat path. After about 20 kilometers of this, I finally made it over the ridgeline and began decending with Lake Como stretching out below me. Typical narrow streets encountered in the small mountain villages. Yes, trucks and busses pass this way. With the sun sinking in the west, I tried to capture an image of the steep Lake Como hillside near the town of Pigra. Apologies for the poor lighting. This was the best shot I could get of the road that clings to the lake shore near the town of Argegno. Making my way back to Menaggio, it's late afternoon by the time I hop on a ferry back to my hotel in Bellagio. Approaching Bellagio on the ferry.

team orson managed to get one last ride in before winter's icey tendrils gripped the Italian landscape. We decided to stay close to home and explore the Italian Lake district in the foothills of the Alps. After retrieving my Guzzi from Moto Guareschi in Parma, we made our way north via the backroads under sunny blue skies. The first lake encountered would be Lake Garda. The southern end of the lake is a bit touristy, including the kitschy Gardaland, an italian takeoff on Disneyland. However, once you head north along the lake shore, you encounter many quaint villages, some with their own medievel castles. Stopping for a leisurely lunch at the town of Garda on the east side of the lake. Climbing up into the hills that surround the lake provide a better view. At the north end of the lake, in the town of Arco, stands the imposing 12th century Castello di Arco. Heading south on the western shore of Lake Garda, the road spends half the time cutting thru tunnels due to the steep cliffs. The plan had been to head west towards Lake Como. However, at a gas stop in the town of Storo, just west of Lake Garda, the Goose began running on one cylinder. Fortunately, there was a car/motorcycle garage right across the street. The mechanic couldn't do anything for me, but offered to load up the bike in his truck and take me to the Guzzi dealer in Rovereto. I found a hotel room for the night and returned to the Guzzi shop the next morning. As they weren't making any headway, they offered to let me take a new Moto Guzzi V7 for a ride. never one to turn down a free test ride, I jumped on it before they had any second thoughts. I headed southeast from Rovereto on SS46 thru the Passo Piani di Fugazzi. This is quite a spectacular pass with freshly paved tarmac and the little Guzzi performed admirably. Unfortunately, it had no place for my camera, so no pictures Returning to Rovereto, they were still having no luck diagnosing the Guzzi's electrical problem. With the weekend looming, I didn't want to be stranded, so I called Mr. Guareschi to come rescue me, since I was only 2 hours from Parma. For those who haven't heard of him, Papa Guareschi is to Moto Guzzi as Pops Yoshimura was to Suzuki Returning me and my Guzzi to Parma in his van, and seeing the next day was a Sunday, he kindly offered me the use of his new Moto Guzzi Stelvio. Top bloke I stayed in Parma the night before continuing my vacation the following day. Not willing to lose any more precious time, I blasted north to Lake Como via la autostrada. Lake Como is the spiritual home to Guzzisti the world over. Every Guzzisti is required by his faith to make the pilgrimage to Lake Como at least once in his lifetime Heading north to Bellagio Lake Como is shaped like an upside down Y with the idyllic town of Bellagio at the tip of a peninsula where the Y comes together. I arrived on a Sunday afternoon and Bellagio was bustling wth day trippers from Milan, including a wide assortment of bikers. I also saw quite a noticeable contingent of Harley riders. Not the wannabe badasses seen in North America. These were the style with the wide beach bars. I call them George Clooney clones, as Mr. Clooney has been known to partake on the Lake Como roads on his Harley from his nearby villa.

I asked Mr Guareschi about the factory closure. He seemed to say that only some front office types would be moving and that production would remain in Mandello.\ Of course I was talking Spanish and he was answering in Italian, so sumthin may have been lost in the translation

I think it was the single plated clutch, titanium nitride coated fork tubes, and carbon fiber coated exhausts

I just wanted to add, if I had only a 30 minute ride instead of a nice, long 4 hour ride, I may have never gotten on so well with the bike. 4 hours allowed me time to build a nice relationship

During a recent trip to Italy, I had a chance to take a V7 for a 4 hour romp in the hills. My initial impression after sitting on it was that this was a child size bike. I'm 6'2". Also, the forks look decidedly on the wimpy side. I had a chance to see last year's white paint job alongside this year's new black paint job, and I think I prefer the old white....maybe because the Guzzi label is more noticeable. Taking off, the engine felt predictably gutless, but that was to be expected. I wasn't expecting much, to be honest. The transmission selected gears with a pleasing "snick". Once away from the stop lights of town and into the hills, the bike began to show its true colors. Free from the start and stop of city traffic, the engine began to shine. Slowly, the bike began to win me over. That trademark Guzzi low end torquey grunt and growl is there. Handling was light and easy in the turns. It made my V11 feel like a Harley in comparison. Although it gives up some 100cc to my Triumph Thruxton, it somehow felt just as powerful and with a more useful torque curve. It also felt a lot more planted and stable in curves than my Thruxton. The last hour was spent on magnificent, freshly-paved twisties and I was really enjoying the ride. The aforementioned wimpy looking forks made a decent accounting for themselves as well as the rear shocks, for the bike never once felt upset or rattled. Keeping the rpm's up above 4000, all thoughts of being underpowered dissolved. I was having such a good time, even the initial thoughts about the bike being child sized had evaporated. I have to admit, this bike is more enjoyable than my Thruxton. If Guzzi put in a 1000cc engine in it, yet managed to keep the light handling traits, they'd have a real winner.

I have an Aprilia RSV as well as the V11. The V11 makes a much better sport tourer by a wide margin. Aprilia specialize in racing bikes. I enjoy riding the Aprilia, but it is way beyond my capabilities as a rider

In no particular order: Guzzi Quota BMW K1 with the faired front wheel The original Buells Amazonas

Who cares about the name? Nice bike!

another "Wish I'd never sold it" thread on the horizon either that or a "Boy, I miss my V11" thread

How many threads have we seen featuring former V11 owners rueing the day they sold their Guzzi?

Big kudos to Rower307 for helping a fellow rider in need

I was parked up waiting for the ferry to Corsica. A Dutch rider on a Yamaha couldn't stop shaking his head in disbelief that I was touring on a Guzzi. I shrugged it off 40,000 miles and was only stranded one time by a rear wheel bearing.

Thanks for the pics! New Mexico is one of my favorite states

Beautiful! Thanks for the pics

maybe someone flashed a "Rossi -0.5" pit board sign at him?

just like one of those chic new Belstaf jackets then I have to admit, I like the looks of it myself.

actually, I was put off by Mr. Roper's description of wax cotton way back on page # 1

I heard they spent a buncha money modernizing the factory. surely it's just closed for August. I can't see them transferring the Norge & V7 lines to other factories.

when I was there in 2002, there was a pleasant, young lady who stayed at her desk near the entrance. I had the whole museum to myself except for maybe a couple of other people. She even allowed me to store my helmet & jacket near her desk. I seem to remember the hours were 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, but Guzzi being Guzzi, they may change at a moment's notice

For myself, the Ducati 750SS (complete with dead fly embedded in the fiberglass) embodies all that is lustworthy and uniquely quaint about Italian motorcycle design

So, it's settled then...poseur fashionista kit still oddly attracted to "The Look", although not attracted to the price they want to achieve that look.

dang I was hoping to see that some day.

I wish I'm never home enough though