Your Italian Information Connection...

Derek · Aug 27, 2013

Alright,

It's been awhile since I've been on here. I've moved from the East Coast to Italy, so, if you have any questions on the differences in Bikes, Maintenance, or Products... I'll do my best to answer.

FYI... I will not ship anything, please do not ask.

Some differences I've noticed:

1. My Ducati dealer only has one mechanic. He is the only certified 1199/multistrada mechanic in the entire area, and he has a degree from the university. (He is good and takes great pride)

2. It is easier to get products. My dealer back home had the race seat on back order for quite some time. If the item is not in the warehouse, he orders it and it arrives within the week. (Ducati, HQ is the next city).

3. I'm not sure if anything is cheaper here.

4. Daniese has the HQ one city away from Ducati HQ. Also, Daniese has what they call D-Garage (not available in the states). Its a discounted outlet (huge) consisting of protective riding, MTB, and skiing gear.

5. It is illegal to exceed the speed limit. However, a group of riders race in the mountains every weekend (Aprilia, Ducati, BMW, MV Augusta) and it seems locals turn a blind eye and have even given a thumbs up. [With that said, I am sure if you wreck and damage/injury something... there will be a problem.]

Cheers,
Derek

wilkson · Aug 27, 2013

Have you met Valentino Rossi yet ? Is the Eiffel tower really big .
Do they speak English . Have you been beat up by the Mafia yet ?

Nikt · Aug 27, 2013

Derek said:
Alright,

It's been awhile since I've been on here. I've moved from the East Coast to Italy, so, if you have any questions on the differences in Bikes, Maintenance, or Products... I'll do my best to answer.

FYI... I will not ship anything, please do not ask.

Some differences I've noticed:

5. It is illegal to exceed the speed limit. However, a group of riders race in the mountains every weekend (Aprilia, Ducati, BMW, MV Augusta) and it seems locals turn a blind eye and have even given a thumbs up. [With that said, I am sure if you wreck and damage/injury something... there will be a problem.]

Cheers,
Derek

It's not illegal, you just need to make sure you go to places with no "Carabinieri" and "Vigili". If you get caught by Carabinieri they will point at anything that seems not roadworthy (=forget slip ons)....and be careful of "Vigili"(=Rangers) as well who are equipped with lasers.

A pain in the neck are the highways: I spent my whole life cruising at 170-180 on the highways...before the average speed control was introduced. 20 demerit points in 6 months....split 10-10 with my GF. She got charged 10, I got charged 0, she still hates me for that...but that is another story that is tied to Italian inefficiencies

Source: I'm Italian and in Italy it's way easier than here in OZ

Phl · Aug 28, 2013

just spent a week in italy (Bologna and the Chianti region), was doing 20...50 over the speed limit all the time, guess i was lucky not to get caught. They would have charged il piccolo tedescho big time

Scorpio66 · Aug 28, 2013

Derek said:
Alright,

It's been awhile since I've been on here. I've moved from the East Coast to Italy, so, if you have any questions on the differences in Bikes, Maintenance, or Products... I'll do my best to answer.

FYI... I will not ship anything, please do not ask.

Some differences I've noticed:

1. My Ducati dealer only has one mechanic. He is the only certified 1199/multistrada mechanic in the entire area, and he has a degree from the university. (He is good and takes great pride)

2. It is easier to get products. My dealer back home had the race seat on back order for quite some time. If the item is not in the warehouse, he orders it and it arrives within the week. (Ducati, HQ is the next city).

3. I'm not sure if anything is cheaper here.

4. Daniese has the HQ one city away from Ducati HQ. Also, Daniese has what they call D-Garage (not available in the states). Its a discounted outlet (huge) consisting of protective riding, MTB, and skiing gear.

5. It is illegal to exceed the speed limit. However, a group of riders race in the mountains every weekend (Aprilia, Ducati, BMW, MV Augusta) and it seems locals turn a blind eye and have even given a thumbs up. [With that said, I am sure if you wreck and damage/injury something... there will be a problem.]

Cheers,
Derek

Derek,

I'm Italian and I can tell in the past the speed limit was just a "suggestion". In the past 10 years they found out it's a good way to pay their checks and they cranked down badly, be careful if you go to Val Trebbia or places like that, la Polizia get your bike for any modification you made and give you a big fine plus you need to re test your bike with the stock parts. Pain in the ....

Where do you live?

P.s. anything is expensive.

Don't hesitate to ask ;-)

Phl · Aug 28, 2013

i also heard about cops at Lago di Garda checking the angle of the license plates. if it is steeper than 30 degrees, they confiscate the bike. ridiculous.

Scorpio66 · Aug 28, 2013

Phil said:
i also heard about cops at Lago di Garda checking the angle of the license plates. if it is steeper than 30 degrees, they confiscate the bike. ridiculous.

Eheheh, yes I know, people gets to lean the tag because in Italy takes a photo of it when you speed up. More is angled less probability to get the # from the pic ;-)

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