Happy New Year - onwards and upwards - motorcycles for life

Call me a miserable bastard but I hate this time of year. Grey skies, flu and colds, tax returns, my birthday just round the corner on the 2nd January and I ain't getting any younger. But it's not all that bad. I'll be having a few glasses of Chablis and cooking our favourite nosh - fish and seafood - for the wife this evening, and thinking of the year gone by, and 2011 to come.

2010 was the year I started a magazine, and I could never foresee how many brilliant people I've met either in person or virtually this year, just through publishing the magazine, or via this blog and the many others out there. And the response has been fantastic - I'm so happy to have got past Issue One - so thanks to everyone out there who bought a copy, and I hope you liked it.

2011 will be more of the same. I've been beavering away on Issue Three - yeah it's a bit delayed but like the slow train, it'll be along soon. More on what's in it soon. I'll be at more events this year so come and say hello if you happen to be there. More bikes from Italy, more bikes built by people with vision and talent and more stuff on motors from Italy.

Have a fantastic 2011 from all at ITALIAN MOTOR magazine. Motorcycles for life.

Talk of the devil

Ok, not a CSL, but the slightly later CGT, for sale on US Ebay here.

It's described as a '49 model, which isn't possible as the CGT didn't appear until 1950. Apparently it might also need new main bearings, which may either be an easy task or nightmare job. Still rare and desirable though and in my eyes beautifully designed. Take it from me, these MV Agusta scooters (CSL, CGT, Ovunque), outhandle any Vespa from the same period and are just a laugh to ride.

'49 MV Agusta CSL

What better to blow away the Christmas cobwebs than a custard-yellow 1949 MV Agusta CSL 125, two stroke of course. Rare as hell and a blast to ride. If you find one, keep hold of it...

Merry Christmas!! Buon Natale!!

ITALIAN MOTOR magazine wishes all our readers, subscribers, contributors, advertisers and blog followers and readers a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year, wherever you are.

Onwards and upwards for 2011, finishing Issue Three of the magazine and lots of warmer weather to come, we hope!! Have a great time...

Patina Motobi Imperiale

Big Red Book

The only big red book I ever knew about was the one clutched by Eamonn Andrews on 'This is Your Life', until for some reason the magazine was invited to attend the launch of 'Ferrari Opus' this Friday in Regent Street. Three days notice isn't enough for me and Friday between 7-8.30pm is the only time all week I manage to get a couple of pints in and speak to real people face to face, so I'll be in my local.

Anyway if you have space for, let alone the strength to lift a book that "weighs an impressive 37kg and runs to 852 pages, each measuring half a metre square and personally signed by iconic Ferrari legends, The Official Ferrari Opus is available from www.ferrariopus.com in three limited editions, including the special Enzo edition (400 copies worldwide) which is offered with a specially commissioned stand by world-famous interior designers Candy & Candy." 

"Prices start from £2,000".......

Ottonero - normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Ottonero, one of the best blogs around, has had problems with over-zealous Google anti-scammer robots (or something) but will be back up and running as soon as possible I've heard through the blog grapevine...

If you haven't seen it, you should - click here: http://ottonero.blogspot.com

Iso Tonic

Hands up who wants one?

Moto Morini Corsarino 50

The most four-stroke fun you can have with 50cc, the Moto Morini Corsarino is a mini thumper, pulls like a train and looks damned good whichever type it is - choose between Scrambler, Sport, Turismo etc. I had one and stupidly sold it for peanuts, now want it back. Getting hard to find now too - these were spotted at Mugello in June.

Learn more here and practice your Italian at the same time: http://www.ilcorsarino.it

1928 Guzzi Two Valve head racer

Stunning machine, and yes I got to ride it, lots. Up on Bike Exif currently and in Issue Four of the magazine sometime in spring..

WTF? Bevel Chop

Ha! Spotted on http://laverdaforum.com

Wreck of the week

I've known this 750S for at least 16 years, and have only ever seen it in motion once, back in about 1994. Last time I saw it a few months ago it looked like this, not going anywhere, but apparently still owned by the same person who has owned it for years and years. Check out the kitchen sponge knee pads.

Shame - the Moto Guzzi 750S is now a desirable motorcycle (or at least sell it to me please...)

Shed Sorrows

I'm depressed about the state of my shed - it's already small, nowhere near where I live and now it's just a mess. It's become a dumping ground for all kinds of stuff. Work on motorcycles has been zero. It's dusty damp and draughty, and the recent minus 5 degree temperatures here in this part of the UK mean I can't do anything. My tools are in a state and all over the place. Bits of motors and unfinished or started then abandoned projects sit gathering dust. I need to have a clearout and get sorted and organised but just haven't got the time at the moment. To cap it all the aerial on my cheap-as-chips radio snapped off, so not even any more Radio 2 to do nothing by.

I think of the days when I lived in Italy and I had a nice workshop next to the house. I had separate and plentiful storage for bikes and parts. I built and restored more bikes in 5 years there than I have in the UK in 20 years. I dream of the day that I will have my own purpose built workshop a step or two from my house, but living in the South East of the UK, it may always remain a dream. I photographed the shithole of a shed in the hope that it'll galvanise me and make me sort it out....