Reggio Emilia mostra scambio

My father-in-law Alfonso was at Reggio Emila mostra scambio (autojumble/swap meet) yesterday, and sent me some photos. I first went to Reggio Emila 20 years ago on my Guzzi S3 while I was living in Italy, and it was, in those days, smallish, friendly and lots of stuff to see. Now it's bigger, still lots of stuff to see, but all of it expensive, but it still retains the best atmosphere for any Italian mostra scambio, and I miss being able to go there for the day - and wander about rummaging through boxes of oily stuff and eating gnocco fritto - terribly.

 Thanks Alfonso!!

Moto Guzzi Falcone - Supercharged

This is Leo and his extraordinary Guzzi Falcone 500c compressor cafe' racer - it eats pistons like spaghetti and can be unpredictable like Sophia Loren in a huff but it's a work of motorcycling and technical art.

Full feature in the new Issue Three, out right now!

Issue Three posted out today to subscribers - and a message from the Ed

Issue Three finally in stock!!

Finally, after more delay at the printers, Issue Three is here, in my hands, and it's looking good.

Subscribers' issues will be going out first, in the next couple of days. If you'd like to buy a copy, you can get it here

More on what's in it very soon...

Knee down scraping action on the Baines Imola Ducati 900

This bike handles like the proverbial train on rails, as its owner Nick shows, and those pipes make a sound made in heaven. This is Baines Imola number 001 - full feature in Issue Four, coming up in a couple of months...

Happy 90th Birthday - Buon Compleanno - MOTO GUZZI

I love my Moto Guzzis, and I'm very happy to know that Moto Guzzi is 90 years old today. Can't be many manufacturers still around that are still producing bikes after almost a century. Here's how it began on the 15th March 1921:

On 15 March 1921, in the office of notary public Paolo Cassanello, the “Società Anonima Moto Guzzi" company was established in Genoa, for the "manufacture and sale of motorcycles and all other related activity in the metalworking industry". The partners setting up the new enterprise were Emanuele Vittorio Parodi, a well-known Genoese shipowner, his son Giorgio and his friend Carlo Guzzi; Parodi and Guzzi had served in the Italian Air Force together with Brescia-born Giovanni Ravelli, a pilot killed on 11 August 1919 during a test flight and remembered by the founding partners with the winged eagle, the symbol chosen for the new company and soon to become famous all over the world as the Moto Guzzi emblem.

Treat 'em mean

Spent a great day yesterday with Nick and his fabulous Baines Ducati Imola, the first one made, and his rather lovely 944 Superlight. The Baines Imola is a stunning bike to ride fast, and as good as I hoped it would be, encouraged by Nick who told me to redline it whenever possible - easier said than done.
Nick likes to ride rather than polish his Ducatis, though burning rubber is always optional. Thanks Nick!!

More on Nick's Baines Imola in Issue Four of the mag..