Two Wheel Warehouse Blog

Ducati Tour Summary

The Trip:
Overall the trip was excellent. A trip to remember for life. 10 out of 10.

The people:
Jamie, Joe and Sharon run a very tight ship. They are constantly thinking of how to make it a better experience and it shows with all the litltle things they do for us.

Rafi, Eran and Uri where great riding companions. We all ride about the same pace so it meant we were not constantly waiting for any one individual. They are all very nice blokes and I couldn’t have asked for a better group. I have listened to more hebrew than the rest of my life put together but their English improved the whole time and their company was very worth sharing.

The bikes:
The 1098 was good but not for me.

The 1098s in Parc Ferme

The 999 was fun to belt around Mugello but not what I want to own.

The 999 in Parc Ferme

The 1198 was sublime, the best race bike/sports bike I have ever ridden. It seems the most refined out of all the Ducatis I have ridden with a smooth power delivery, awesome brakes and it is absolutly gorgeous. In fact for a Duc it is even quite refined.

The 1198s in the McD's carpark in Carpi

The Streetfighter was an amazing bike to ride with brakes that would not be out of place on a superbike (and I needed them a few times too). It is a nice bike to look at and of course is as cool as any Ducati could be. I would love the have one but I have to say with retuning of the ecu and suspension on my honda CB1000R I prefer it for both looks, sound and comfort plus with $10k change compared to the Streetfighter. The Streetfighter is lighter than the Honda and if I was to own only one bike and it was to be a Ducati then possibly the streetfighter for its performance over the Monster 1100.

The Streetfighter S in the snow at the top of the Gavia Pass

So it comes down to this, of course my favourite and I always come back to it the Monster 1100. It does everything you need it to plus more. For outright performance it is not at the top but take into account comfort, history and basic cool factor the Monster gets a big nod. I am sure the guys I ride with are sick of hearing me talk about it but in fact the choice goes to the 1198s, I have never seen a bike with more sex appeal and it be as awesome to ride. As soon as I can afford one we are good to go.

The Monster 1100s

I will have to come home and ride them again. It is an interesting perspective to have only ridden Ducatis all week as they got smoother and more refined as the week went by

The country:
Italy is my favourite country and I would love to come back and share the romatic side of the place with some one that befits the romance. And who knows I may even stop to look at the view a bit more often.

The roads it seems are built for riding bikes on. Everywhere you go there are great bends, smooth roads, positive camber and limitless other riders to share a wave as you pass them in the opposite direction.

I will be back.

The gear:

Gimoto custom 2 piece race suit. This is the same price as an off the rack suit from other manufacturers and it is custom fit to every measurement on your body – check it out in the photo above with the 1198 and on line at www.gimoto.net.au

The Kreiga R15 back pack. These back packs are made especially for the motorbike rider. It fits superbly and with the special clips on the flaps to stop them falpping in the wind yuo hardly know you are wearing it. Check it out on line at www.kriega.com.au

TW Moto GRIP gloves. You can see a write up about them in the product reviews blog and buy them from our store.

Ciao.

The final day.

Firstly thanks to all for the overwhelming response to my blister. To my brother and others who merely suggested to HTFU, thank you. To those who sent practical advice, this was helpful as it did get worse. But all I have to do now is sit with Dan on the beach or in a cafe, drink coffee and ponder which Ducati I want to buy.

A latish rise to the day that started with a good breakfast and a call from my team at work to say how jealous they are thanks for the call guys.

Then a jaunt through about an hour of some gentle sweepers with a few nice tight ones to keep you awake. I am still struggling as I am so mentally and physically tired so I took it easy for the morning enjoyed much more of the view.

We had a stop at San Gimignano. The below photo of Jamie and me is at the entrance to the city.

Entrance to San Gimignano

This place has a number of towers that it is famous for. Very Italian like they started building them and then it became a competition to see who could build the biggest. Then the local council built the biggest and would not approve any more. So it stands today the biggest tower.

Tower in San Gimignano

Then to Volterra for lunch and an hour or so ride home.

The view from to top in Volterra

We go to some shopping for bike gear for the Iraelis as it is much cheaper here, and by the amount they bought they saved an absolute fortune.

Dan arrived and joined us for the farewell dinner. Before dinner and after shopping the holiday started as for about 3 hours Dan and I sat, drank coffee and ate. 2 more weeks of this is going to be hard to take …… NOT!!!

Tomorrow we are on a train to Viareggio and change at La Spezia for Monterosso.

So we say goodbye to the walled city of Lucca and Ducati Tours.

Good bye to Lucca and Ducati Tours

On to Monterosso in the Cinque Terre for 5 nights and Rome for 6. See you in a few weeks.

My love to all.

PS:the blister has gotten worse but now to beach and doing nothing. Thanks also to a sydney based ex-motorcycle racer who shall remain nameless for his email re the blister and no it was not in any way related to the beautiful waitress, I don’t know what you mean

Day 7. Firstly an apology to anyone who can speak Italian (Lori) because I have been mispelling July until today. I am sure there are also other errors in these daily updates but so be it when you scribe an entire tour on a blackberry. Scrivo non bene.

Today is the second last day and we having some thoughts of how it will change us. All 4 of us ride japanese 4s (3 Honda and a suzuki 750) but there is a firm belief that each will keep the bike they have. I feel Eran is the most likely to update as at home he has a CBR600RR and has been riding the 1098, once you have had the torque it is addictive. However I cannot imagine how much a Ducati would be in Irael as he paid €20k ($33,000 AUD) for the 600. It is criminal.

The day started again with some yoga. I am undecided if this is good for my stiff body first thing in the morning but I will likely try again tomorrow as it is something different. Riding today in temps starting at 17 and getting to just over 30, it was hot.

Yesterday’s 8.5 hours only yielded more than 300kms even with the stops. Today we had some time on the autostrada back towards Lucca which racks up the kms so I think we did closer to 400kms. We also planned to stop off to watch the Moto GP but we arrived too late. I had planned to watch it after dinner tonight but of course it is on in the afternoon here when it is a european race, sometimes the feeble brain of mine is slower than it should be .

There is one standout thing on the roads here in Italy. No matter where you go there is great respect for motorbikes and scooters. Everyone is crazy but there is respect for two wheels. People will constantly make room for you to split lanes or get past them in some way and even give way to you in general. Some Ducati riders have a lesser amount of respect for those riding japanese 4’s.

Ducatisti opinion of Japanese 4 cylinder bikes

After a very nice breakfast where I finally got some scrambled eggs the mornings ride had me a little out of sorts mentally. My riding was rough and jerky, the smoothness I had spent the last couple of days working on with the Streetfighter was gone. So I slowed right down and started again, with some success but very limited, it was a waste of good roads. But I put it down the being physically and mentally tired – the last few days have been hard work iin this heat.

The skins under the leathers have been very good. For my Iraeli friends check out www.skins.net but for me the skin tight shirts have lost some appeal with this weeks diet adding excessive kgs.

The highlight of the day for me was Jamie’s wheelie at 160 in third down the autostrada. It went for about 1km and finished at 220 in 5th gear. WOW! We pulled over for a short brake and I think, as a new addition to the Ducatisti for this week anyway, Eran saw a Honda in the bushes.

Eran the Ducatisti spots a Honda in the bushes)

I am very surprised that from my family and best of friends that I received no sympathy emails or texts for my blister, I guess I will just have to soldier on.

We eventually stopped at Chalet Raticosa on the Passo del Futa, where we were to watch the race. It is a big bike hang out and there about 250 bikes (see below photo). It was about 5pm and apparently half the maximum amount of bikes were gone. Passo del Futa is Jamie’s favourite road in Italy and is was a fantastic road. Like the good bits of the Great Ocean Road without cops. There very many italians out for a sunday ride and some of them can really ride. They all think they are Valentino but some really ride.

Top of Passo del Futa

A simple pizza dinner again with just one beer. I am looking forward to tomorrow night to have more than one beer as there will be no riding the next day.

It also might be time for a haircut as the hair out the back of the helmet is long enogh to get knotted from the wind on the autostrada.

Tomorrow is the final day. I finally get to ride the Monster 1100s and Dan arrives to share the farewell dinner.

The Monster 1100s

Take care and safe riding.

Ciao.

Leaving the Spa Resort Bagni Nuovi in Bormio the forecast was for 7 to 18 degrees for the day and showers. Well they lied. Its good to see the weather forecasters in Italy are just as crap as they are at home. The temp leaving the hotel was 7 degrees, but it got down to 5 in the mountains as we did the Passo Tonale. We were riding above the clouds and it was cold in summer gloves, thin socks and no warm pants. I gave thanks for the jumper I was laughing at myself for bringing just 2 days ago. I took the below photo just after we arrived at back Bormio the night before from our drive in the van. The view the nexty morning was the same but everything was wet.

The bikes at Bormio

On the way down as the temperature was increasing to at least 10 ……… the 848 wouldn’t start cause it blew a fuse for the fuel pump. I think this random break down is one of the included Italian design options that make Ducati expensive. Another excellent design feature of Ducati is that you have to remove the fairing to replace this fuse so after realising we had lost the Iraelis Jamie went back to find them and spent 20 minutes replacing the fuse.

We then went to the same place for lunch we went on day 4 (we have tracked straight back down the alps to get quickly away from the cold and wet). It was a popular place amongst the group, the waitress was one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. Today we found out she was 16. Please no-one tell her father what we were thinking. Actually don’t worry he probably knows.

At lunch we spoke to a bunch of local guys who had come from where we were going and vice versa, we told them not to bither and they told us the weather down lower was good so we took off all the wet weather gear and risked it for about 15 – 30 minutes. We did however keep on everything under the leathers to keep warm, i.e. afforementioned jumper with a long sleeve t-shirt.

On the way we ride through Pinzolo and there is a Ferrari show/club in the parking lot of the Juventis offical summer training camp venue.

The Ferrari show in Pinzolo

Then we drove out of Pinzolo to see an enormous crowd spilling out of a hotel carpark and onto the street. The Juventus team bus had just arrived. We didn’t stop.

Then 10 minutes out of Pinzolo I have a couple of moments with the rear sliding a bit too much out of corners. I stop to look at the tyre and I can compress it with a thumb ……….. for those who don’t know, this shouldn’t happen. So I have to trek back into Pinzolo past the Jeventus team bus crowd and the Ferrari show to find a servizi stazione to pump up the tyre. It had 22 pounds in it ….????
We put 40 in to give it some room move and got back on our way.

We stop a little further down the road for some photos and I take the chance to have my photo taken in my Blue Mountains Bikers shirt – BMB in Italy.

Blue Mountains Bikers, in Italy

Today was certainly not without more than its fair share of dramas because again we were stopped but this time by the optional features of the italian design.

We switched off and de-helmeted for a re-look at the map as the road we were going to take was closed. I was the last one to take off, but the Streetfighter would not start. So I had to try clutch starting it on my own as the guys had disappeared around the bend. Without me knowing Joe from Ducati Tours had decided that the bike being the performance machine it is and him not being someone who does things by halves had installed a slipper clutch (for those who don’t know a slipper clutch allows the clutch to slip more than normal under compression).

After two goes at pushing it up the hill, further the second time to get more speed I got it going just as one of the guys came back for me. I however stalled it again later and we had another go at push starting the Streetfighter but no luck, without a decent hill like the first time we were not going to get it to the 30km/h we would need to repeat our earlier success. Jamie the genius then came up with the brilliant plan to switch battery with the 848 as it doesn’t have a slipper.

Jamie and Eran replace the 848 Fairing

Did I mention that the fairing has to come off for this type of activity? We do this switch the batteries and then clutch started the 848 first go and off we went. It was our last delay for the day.

The roads into Riva del Garda were baked in sunlight and well dry by the time we reached them so it was an awesome finish to the day. Suffice to say that now having been up and down the alps and done more Passo’s than I care to remember we have doen our fairshare of 1st gear hairpin corners. I think I will passo on anymore hairpins (come on you were expecting some kind crap passo joke weren’t you?).

The second half of the day was brilliant riding even if a little hot as we had put on all we had to stave off the cold from the morning. There ends another days adrenalin.

The hotel for tonight is on Lake Garda and the restaurant for dinner was in the building, see below photo of the view.

Dinner view in Riva del Garda

I have also attached a photo of the worsening blister, all sympathy accepted via email or text.

The Blister

Finche domani.

H

Benvenuti a Giorno 5.

After 300 kms yesterday, a spa and water massage we went to dinner in a german/italian restaurant and then I slept very well. The dinner was very weird but great food and not too expensive, in stark contrast to the night before with the 4 course meal outside on the edge of Lake Iseo.

Today is the optional day were anyone who is tired or just wants to take advantage of a day at the spa can. I said last night I would ride again and then come back for a massage. But alas the rain came to the Alps so we drove into Switzerland via the Passo della Stelvio in the support van which was good fun and much better than staying in the hotel even though Bormio is 1225m above sea level and the view is great from my room, the views from the Stelvio are just spectacular.

The Passo dello Stelvio

The drive with the boys in the van ended up being very relaxing, a good view with the iPod on, it was a break from the adrenalin of the two previous days with its intensity from concentrating on staying in the right hand side of the road. The heart does get a flutter when you see a car on the left side coming towards you through the bends but I just breathe and tell myself “right hand side of the road”.

We stop in Livigno ski town for some food and a walk around through the shops. I of course bought some shoes and a couple of gifts. Here is the view from the main street in Livigno. You can see the ominous clouds and the drying ground, but it rained again later.

Livigno Ski Town

So we arrive back through Switzerland where I took the below photo out the windscreen of the van. I arrive back to a massage then a spa and back to my room for a rest before dinner.

The road back through Switzerland

I also found out today our Israeli electrcian Uri is also a yoga instructor so we did yoga, which was quite helpful to stretch out some sore and tired muscles, especially for the idiot with the saw ribs who fell of his bike.

To add insult to injury today another injury appeared, even more serioius than yesterday’s crash. A blister has developed on my right hand, and it is quite painful. These delicate hands are not used to such hard work. I am now what the Ducatisti call disabled with a less than perfect throttle hand. This of course is completely not true, the Ducatisti would call me soft, just like everyone else, including all of you.

Ciao Amici.

H

Welcome to Day 4.

So far the decision the pay extra to join Ducati Tours has been a very good one, and its going to get better. The standard of hotels, food and hospitality has been excellent. On top if this hospitality etc there is the 1098 and 999 on the track, yesterday’s 8 hours and 400kms on an 1198 (which would have even kept the Governer’s happy) and today on the brand new Streetfighter (with a capital S) has been awesome.

The Streetfighter S

The roads today were fantantastic, and the views were amazing, almost worth stopping to look at . Almost, until the top as the views were spectacular.

Day 4 Views at the top.

I mentioned the optional speed limits, well I have a very good example. Today we were doing 130km/h and were overtaken by a rider in shorts and a t-shirt on a scooter while in a tunnel just south of Riva del Garda. I actually laughed out loud. I can’t understand how the motorcyle clothing companies make any money in Italy as they never were anything protective. Even a simple fall like today could have taken off some amount of skin.

Today was about mountains – 20 deg air temp, sweeping mountain roads and beautiful views. Then we arrived at the Bormio Spa Resort, but more about that in a minute.

So today at a hairpin on one of those mountain roads someone hit the bitumen. Unfortunately it was me (don’t stress Mum I am fine). A little bit of gravel under brakes and down I went. On the bright side I was going very slowly and the only thing damaged other than a few scratches and a gear lever was my ego. But I guess I can live with that, I can afford to lose a little bit. Braddy and Simon you would be proud – we made a makeshift hook on the broken lever with with a copper 90 degree pipe join and some black duck tape

The gear lever repair with tape and a corner piece of copper pipe

Today at the end of the day to get to the Spa Resport we did the Passo Gavio. This is a stage in the Giro d’Italia. Inhabited by sheep, sheep herders and cyclists (both moto and bicycle). I did not envisage having to honk sheep off the road on this trip but I guess you just never know. One sheep even jumped from the higher bank into one of the other riders, kamikaze sheep in Italy? The Passo del Gavia (Gavia Pass), is a “sacred monster” for the riders of the Giro d’Italia, and represents a now legendary ascent. It was the second last leg of the 2008 race.

Views at the top of Passo Gavia

This Bormio spa resort is gorgeous and since arrival this afternoon I have had a mud bath, hot sauna, salt spa bath and a water massage. My room has a view of the mountains and cable. I am spoiled. This is trip with Ducati Tours is 100% worth doing.

Tomorrow I think is Switzerland and then the Passo Stelvio.

Top of the world to you all.

Heath

Hi All.

Dinner as suspected was Pizza but its nice to have something simple as we don’t was fancy dinners every night.

Speeds today were not quite the 272 km/h on the 1098s down the straight at Mugello but speed limits on the autostrada its seems are optional.

Today however was even hotter than yesterday but I was riding the bright red and sublime 1198s with Zards exhausts, the sounds eminating from my rear while belting through the hills was awesome.

Day 1 on the 1198s

Today the ambient temp ranged between 25 in the trees through the hills and 41 in the traffic in the towns. After over 8 hours travel time and 400kms including a few stops we are all very tired. Suffice to say it was so hot and we were sweating so much we only stopped for fuel and drinks I think it will take a good night in the air conditioned room to dry out my leathers.

Photo stop day 1

We stopped at a very out of the way cafe to have some lunch. It was fun ordering food as Jamie and I both know only a little Italian of course the Israelis none. In the photo from left to right are Jamie, Uri, Rafi and Eran.

Lunch Day 1

The path today from Lucca to Iseo included places called Marenello, Modena, Carpi (stopped at McD’s for a drink and some airconditioning), Lake Garda, Brescia and Abetone.

Turning into the hotel carpark I can see a pool on the edge of Lake Iseo. The place is beautiful as you can see. The first photo was taken from my seat at the dinner table. It is a pity that there is not a beautiful woman here to share it with as it is quite romantic if you excuse Joe’s head in the pic

View of Lake Iseo at Dinner Day 1

This second photo was a view from the edge of the pool across Lake Iseo.

The view across Lake Iseo

So after some antipasto, a steak with pasta and a few beers we say buona notte to day 3.

Ciao

H

Ciao Amici.

Allora, just before dinner on day 1 of riding (day 2 in Italy), all is good and we are all still in one piece. There 3 brits running the show (Joe, Jamie and Sharon) and 3 Iraelis riding like me (Eran, Rafe and Uri).

We drive for about an hour an a half from Lucca to the track – it is a very similar drive from Melbourne to Phillip Island. We arrive at the track about 9am.

The Entrance at Mugello - the home of Italian GP racing

We have on hand to ride the entire range of current model Ducatis plus a 999, which ended up being my favourite superbike to lap Mugello on. Lap times were not impressive so I will not share but suffice to say I would love to come back on my own bike so as to be able to give a red hot go. (See the blog of building the Two Wheel Warehouse track Bike Build Project

I will post up the photos of me lapping on the 1098 and 999 when I get them.

Mugello is very fast and flowing circuit like Phillip Island and even more blind corners like Lukey – it was “fun” getting to know those turns with 50 crazy italians passing me like I was standing still. But they were all very good and polite riders, which is more than I can say for their city driving. They are all mad, drive like they have a pregnant women in the car and no-one wears seatbelts.

I will also add that the temperature was very very hot today. The air temp was 40 degrees so you can imagine the temps on track or standing around in the Two Wheel Warehouse Gimoto custom race suit, and althoug it is as comfortable as my pyjamas it was hot as hell!

Two Wheel Warehosue at Mugello

The on the track action was awesome having lapped on the 1098, 999 and 848. For those who have done a PI ride where “it is s ride day not a race day” and no timing devices are allowed, at Mugello they allow lap timing. In fact they don’t just allow it, they give everyone a transponder so you can record your lap times.

I am off to dinner now to fuel for the start of the tour tomorrow, I think its Pizza. Tomorrow we will ride from Lucca to Iseo (pronounced Iz-ay-oh). Iseo is on a lake and at the foot of the Dolomites (Northern mountains).

Ciao per adesso, grazie per la volta leggere che cosa scrivo.

Heath.

I spent the day helping out in the garage to get our bikes ready and getting over the jet lag.

Ducati Tours Garage in Lucca Italy

The first 2 nights I stayed in Lucca which is a very old walled city 20 minutes south of Pisa Airport. It is very beautiful and you should definitely visit Lucca if you get the chance and drop in to say hi to Joe and the crew (www.ducatitours.com).

The itinerary for the trip is:

Here is a link from Ducati Tours describing the Stelvio Tour – this is not the exact tour as we made some changes.
7 Night tour Alps, Switzerland and Monte Carlo tour