MisterSmooth goes to Italy...and is sent to Switzerland

[MsLusty]

 

Great report!  Like everyone else, I'm jealous.

[MisterSmooth]

Ah, bello!  This is the trip report I've been waiting for and it did not disappoint!  

Wonderfully done Smooth and please don't sell your pictures short, they are wonderful!

...I also like that Agostini can for the Grizzo.  Other aftermarkets I've seen for it (you simply cannot leave that butt-ugly, stock exhaust on it!).  Some of the other replacements are almost as bad as the original Agostini got it right...

Gil, you are too kind.

I agree about the Agostini can.  What's short about the stock can is the overstyled nature of it; not just the steamstack size.  I think it could be kinda big-ass and cool if it didn't feel like it was trying too hard.

The Agostini can just looks right and it's beautifully built.  There's a plug in the end of the can that you can pinch a circlip to remove...and then, I was told, it would rival the musical sound of Mookie's seismic Falco.  If you live close to the neighbors, you just leave the insert in.  

[MisterSmooth]

...You being the tuono man, i'm a little dissapointed I didnt see pics from the aprilia factory  
 

There are two factories for the Mille and Tuono; one is in Scorze and one in Noale.  Both cities are exurbs of Venice.

I'd like to go to the Aprilia factories, especially the Scorze plant.  My Tuono was built in Scorze (you can tell by the serial/VIN number).

However, Aprilia is not set up for tours at all and my man Dave Richardson tells me that there isn't much to see.       Aprilia's literbikes are assembled from outsourced parts, so the "factory" has big rows of overhead doors where the "just-in-time" parts inventory comes in, the bikes are assembled in Noale and Scorze and shipped.

Ducati and Moto Guzzi seem to have much more of an understanding of the passion of their clientele and have created factory experiences that mirror their respective heritages.  

[xdbx]

ah, yea that's what i originally thought, but they came up with quite a bit of material for that aprilia story they did on corbin's show.  The aprilia special seemed to have quite a few areas for product testing and seemed like the people were nice enough to show you around what they had at least.  any idea which factory that was, or if both?  

I especially like the luigi character, I believe he was my favorite!  

[Req]

That was wonderful.  I'm very jealous.  

[Cricket]

Way cool ride report. Like the pictures of the Futura in factory colors were neat to bad they didn’t come to North America. Make me wish I never got ride of mine. Keep the reports coming.

[MisterSmooth]

Way cool ride report. Like the pictures of the Futura in factory colors were neat to bad they didn’t come to North America. Make me wish I never got ride of mine. Keep the reports coming.

There's a member on the Aprilia forum who thinks that this is a respray.  I don't know about that; if the bike was repainted, it was very carefully done.  It looked like factory paint and the red and gray is a tasty scheme.

[ol Rocket]

OK, I'm as jealous as everyone else.  Two things stick out at me.  Your wife is fluent in the language-you married above your station, my friend (" 'Tish-you spoke French!").

And you dared to eat at a place called Cafe Marmot, or loosely translated, le Roadkill Cafe.

Good job.

[MisterSmooth]

OK, I'm as jealous as everyone else.  Two things stick out at me.  Your wife is fluent in the language-you married above your station, my friend (" 'Tish-you spoke French!").

And you dared to eat at a place called Cafe Marmot, or loosely translated, le Roadkill Cafe.

Good job.

Yeah, Mark, I definitely married above my station.     Page is a kick in the pants to travel with, and one reason for that is her gift for language and actor's ear for pronunciation.

One day in Paris she was complimented on her French no less than four times!  The last time, we were in a restaurant and the waitress looked with a jaundiced eye at our ten-top of clueless American tourists.  Page spoke with her for a minute and the waitress replied back, in French, "thank goodness there's a Frenchwoman with this crew," or some such.

In Arezzo we (or, rather, she) had a conversation with an Italian couple in Italian, English, Spanish, French, and a little bit of German.  Mein Gott!

My language skills are limited to a rudimentary command of English.  A pic of my fabulous wife:

[Nimh]

Great Report!    Thanks so much for all the great pics too.  

[Daniel Kalal]

outstanding!  I want to go back...

[Zen Rider]

Fantastic Report and Pics  

Your ride report made my day!!!

I'm looking forward to hearing more about the vacation trip at the Ell Brewery!

[Jeff N]

Excellent stuff!   Attractive family, too, except for the old man.  

That Moto Guzzi is one fine looking bike. Pennies are being saved cuz I think I've seen my next bike. Loved the way you described the riding of it.

Get a DOT sticker for that lid if it doesn't have one. You know how cops can be if you get caught up in one of those inspection deals.

The valley is steep and way up on the hillside you can see a little town.  What in the world made building a town up there seem like a good idea?

That village is probably 800+ years old. Back then they built things on hilltops as a defensive measure against wandering hordes of contemporary era bikers looking to rape and pillage.

[MisterSmooth]

Excellent stuff!   Attractive family, too, except for the old man.  
That Moto Guzzi is one fine looking bike. Pennies are being saved cuz I think I've seen my next bike. Loved the way you described the riding of it...

Yeah, I'm the runt of the litter.  Story of my life.  

Glad you liked the report!  I posted more complete riding impressions of the Sport under "Moto Guzzi", if you're interested.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Yeah, I'm the runt of the litter.  Story of my life.  

Glad you liked the report!  I posted more complete riding impressions of the Sport under "Moto Guzzi", if you're interested.

Awww - I think you're sorta cute  

Nice job on the report, the ride and the new lid. I love that flip down sunvisor. It comes in handy for the Mercer Island tunnels too  

[Jeff N]

Glad you liked the report!  I posted more complete riding impressions of the Sport under "Moto Guzzi", if you're interested.

I'm there.  

[XLR8]

Very cool. It looks like you had a great time.

[MisterSmooth]

Bump for 1KperDay!
 


-Smooth out.

[FutRider]

That is about the coolest thing I've ever seen.  Love the photos of the Futura.  I remind my wife almost on a daily basis of riding in Italy.  Love it! Love it! Love it!

[XLR8]

Wow!

Somehow the first time I read this, there were only about 3 pictures (they were still great pictures) and I don't remember the great writing to go with them.  

Really really wonderful job on the writing and pictures. I love Italy!

I too love the Futura and the old Guzzi in Cortona.