YOUR Italian Bike Thread

Hard to beleive that Advrider has lasted all this time without an Italian bike thread.

Now we all know that the internet is chock full of pictures of beautiful Italian bikes that any fool can find, cut, and paste or link to with a "I always liked these" or "I always wanted one of these" or "I'm gonna get one of these someday".

But let's leave that for other threads, and post here only pictures of the actual Italian bikes you actually own or have owned. And let us know something about it: such as why you bought it, what you really liked about it, etc..

And naturally I'll start off



I picked this up recently, my 4th Ducati. Always liked the looks, love the story behind it, and how it evolved. I liked that it competed against my favorite bike (RC30) during the earliest World Superbike days. This is a good unmolested runner- not too pristine to actually go out and ride around without worry; and old enough that there's no performance image to try to uphold. They're selling for stupid money and seem a better investment than a CD (more fun too )




Here's my other Italian; which I've had for almost 7 years.. Just passed 30,000 pretty much uneventfull miles. I went to look at it with little expectation of buying. A 20 minute ride changed my mind. What I liked about it was that it had a very engaging ride and I loved all the human-bike intersection and interaction points- something Aprilia does very well.


So, what'ca got?

Bought it new in 74, rode it for about 5 years... let it rust for 30 years.


Total resto 5 years ago with some embellishments.



Now a daily ride

I've always wanted a Ducati, never had the time and money to devote to owning one until now.



This is next on the list, just need to convince a friend to sell it to me.

This is my one and only Italian two wheeled girlfriend. It is an '03 999s. It is the near one with my brother's 05 999 in the middle and The owner of Desmotimes '03 999s (check out the CF wheels!). It's safe to say we were the only trio of 999's running through Southern Alabama that weekend.

This is my Laverda Jota. Bought it in 1992, basically it was handed to me on a silver platter, I wasn't really looking for one. I had gotten burned by a terrible Ducati ownership, and had swore myself off of Italia until I rode this beast. The pride of Laverda ownership is deep, and they are an easy machine to live with.
Meeting Mr. Laverda in 2005 and then visiting his estate in 2008 made me realize how special any Laverda is. Their robust build means they last for decades, and their rarity is only put to rest by the numbers of Bimota.
They are big person bikes, with big clutch, throttle, sound presence, visual presence. There is nothing subtle about Laverda's 180 triple.
Many thanks to my good friend Robert Smith for this favourite picture of mine.
I'll try to dig out a picture of my other Italian bike.


Steve

https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/S/Steveg_photo_IMG_0042.jpg%3Ft%3D1256184904

Here's my other Italia. What can you say about Moto Guzzi? Well, This bike really should have continued in some sort of way IMO, as a retro bike that it is. Look at the success of the lovely Ducati classic series, the Triumph Bonnelville series, and you can see that this segment has 'legs'. Moto Guzzi decided instead to go with the Breva, perhaps a better bike, but a sales flop, why??, because it's ugly. This V11 Sport is one of the best selling Guzzi's ever made, Why?? Cause it looks good.

Steve

Here's what currently clutters my garage:

The Stormtrooper!


My '93, which is probably my favorite. It has huge FCR carbs, coils, an open airbox and Ferracci carbon pipes...It sounds like the apocalypse! It snapped a head stud a few weeks ago and it's all fixed and ready to be picked up. I can't wait for Saturday!


This will someday result in my loss of my license...


This has kind of turned into a garage queen. I really need to ride it more. I'm looking for a Bimota DB4, and if I find one I may have to let this go...unless of course it will fit through my kitchen door and I can get it in the house!

Here's mine. Got it a little over a year ago. Spent tons of time on it, much to my wife's displeasure, and then had to put it away when I went to Afghanistan. Now been giving it lots of love, and money, since I have been back.

My Monster 1100... I was going to wait till spring of 2010, but my girlfriend talked me into buying it this summer instead. I am extremely please with it so far
<img src="http://gallery.me.com/barkertodd/100223/100_0194/web.jpg?ver=12561501830002" />

Just wanted to say

The one bike I regret having sold:


It was as reliable as any Honda I've owned and survived killing a suicidal deer.

Mine up at Lake Erie NY

this is the one i never should have sold,to you it's just another monster but i know different,it must have been built on a monday because it was the sweetest running bike with more personality than all my bikes put togeather.but they are small bikes and i'm no 135 lb. kid anymore.

Man- this was a great idea for a thread! Keep 'em coming!

Thanks for catching the spirit of the thread

A couple of Lavs, a Guzzi, and some fine modern Ducs on the first page. About the only thing needed to complete it is a Bevel. So here you are.



This had a nicely worked worked SS+ spec engine. Was actually the sweetest running Bevel I've ever ridden (about 10 of various types). Always a 1-2 kick starter, very reliable, comfortable, and nothing sounds better than a Conti-equipped Bevel thundering along through a wooded glen. Like most of my bikes, I sold this to a friend and can visit if needed

Former isde bike, and veeeery Italian,

Here are my two Ducs. The 1993 888 SPO was my first bike that I actually learned to ride on. I bought it used in 1995 and fouled a few plugs learning to ride. Still have it and always will, I really love the old Superbikes. The 1996 900 SS/SP I got new in 1996 and actually won it on a raffle ticket. I still have it and love it.